FROM THE SOMME TO VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2801, 20 June 1916, Page 5

FROM THE SOMME TO VERDUN

FRENCH SUCCESSES REPORTED GERMAN ATTACKS AT MORT HOMME Tlio Higk Commissioner reports: . London, Jimo 18, 3.40 p.m. 'South' of the Somme, a strong enomy reconnaissance ot' our trendies before Fay was compelled to retire, leaving prisoners. "lu tho'Argonne a lively grenade combat has taken, plaeo in the region of Vauquois. < . ( "At La L'illo ITorte the explosion ol a French mine made a huge crater, the Houtliern lip of which we occupied. I "Our long-range artillery fire caused a fire at the railway station at Clialleranges, where movements of trains were noticed. "On the left bank of tho Aleuse tne Germans, after an extremely violent bombardment, several times attacked our new positions at ITort Homme, using 1 i jets of liquid fire. The enemy was repulsed with heavy losses at each attempt, .' tho French entirely maintaining former gains. . "Oa tho right bank a series of sanguinary attacks on our trenches north of Thiaumont equally failed. Artillery fighting continues lively in the 6ecto.i north of Souvillo." ■ , FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). , . . ' Paris, Juno 18. A communique states: "Our aviators m the Vortiun region, engaged enemy airmen who 1 were attempting a raid on Bar-le-Duc, and brought down: • two ir.achines. Our machine-guns also brought down three machines. Four French ■ machines engaged four Fokkers over the enemy's lines in Lorraine, and brought down two. One of our machines was forced to descend. Our squadtons dropped twenty-four shells on Semide railway station, near Vouziers, twenty-one on factories in Thionville, ca using explosions, and twenty on aerial establishments at Etain and Tergnier." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. . , „ . , , „ m , London, June 18'. , it. i rlni ! n communique slates: Tho re was night fighting by the infantry on the left bank of the Mouse for an advance! trench on the southern slope o£ ' Jlort Homme. A strong French attack at Thiaumont Wood, after several hours' artillery preparation,,failed. "The French mado a reprisal for tho air attack on military works at Bar-le-Due, and our anti-aircraft guns brought down a biplane." ARTILLERY POUNDING ON THE BRITISH FRONT ! ' •> f .. NEW ASPECT OF THE WARFARE IN FRANCE. . ■ 1 , .. (llec. Juno 19, 8.15 p.m.) . , , . ,/ , ' ' . ... ~ „ London, June 1!). Ihe governing factor in the trench fighting ou the British front has been- the development ot the artillory power on both sides. Not only have tho field howiteerbatteries been multiplied, but various new 'types of'trench guns hava been introduced, immeasurably increasing tho belligerents' pounding capacity which has already reached a phase when either side can make the front lines untenable Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There were thirty aerial combats on Saturday' We brought down oue machuio behind the enemy's lines. Otherwiso the whole front was quiet."