GREAT BURST OF ARTILLERY ON THE BRITISH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2807, 27 June 1916, Page 5

GREAT BURST OF ARTILLERY ON THE BRITISH FRONT

.',; ' HEAVY BOMBARDMENT DAY AND NIGHT GAS ATTACK ON THE GERMAN LINES ■ ':• r , ______ (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright). ; London, Jun« 25. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that the British artillery is more jactivo than usual on tho whole front. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— ■■'■'. London, Juno 26, 1.5 a.ni* On Sunday the British artillery continued very activo along the whole of the front. There was artillery firo at many points on both, sides, the heaviest smelling being about Neuvillo-Saint Vaast, south, of Vailly and north of the Yr)resMenin.Road. * (Rcc. Juno 28, 5.35 p.m.) The. Press Association message covering Sir Douglas Haig's report adds: "The only other incidents were small and unsuccessful raids on the British trenches. German, mines were exploded without causing a casualty." .'■ QUICKENING INTEREST IN THE BRITISH FRONT. (Kec. Judo 26, 10.55 p.m.) London, June 26._ The newspapers give prominence to tho communiques from Berlin and Sir Douglas Haig's report of .tho heavy night-long bombardment on ' tho British front. • GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, June 25. A German official commumque states: "The British and French have developed an unbroken and lively artillery action in tho region from tho south of tho La Basse© Canal to beyond tho Sonime, continuing'tho fire all night. They also heavily bombarded the neighbourhood of Lens, and discharged gas unsuccessfully over our lines in the region of Beaufort and Hamel, and northward of Albert." THE GREAT FIGHT FOR VERDUN TRENCH REGAIN SOME LOST TRENCHES. Paris, June 25. A French official communique states: "Our fire stopped attacks on the trenches on the slopes southward of Mort Homme. "A counter-attack restored to us some portions of the trenches westward or tho Thiaivmont work. . • "We progressed at Fleury by means of grenades. "German aeroplanes bombed Lunevillo, Baccarat, and Saint Die, where some children wero wounded. Tho bombardments are noted in view of reprisals." • HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— London, June 26, 1.5 a.m. The French official report says.—"On the loft bank of the Jleuso thore is intense artillery firo in tho region of Hill 301, and at Mort-Hommo and Chattan"6n tho Tight bank the bombardment was redoubled in violence at the end of the afternoon Si the Froido Torro and Floury sectors.-" THE GERMAN ATTACK ON FORT THIAUMONT TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHT OF HEAVY SHELLS AND MASSED INFANTRY. UJec. Juno 2G, 8.35 p.m.) Paris, Juno 28. The capture of Fort Thiauroont was Germany's supreme effort. It was evident that the Crown Prince was desperate. Ho was reinforced, and heavy artillery from Metz was massed on the right bank of the Mouse. Eight-inch and 15inch shells and tear bombs rained for fifty hours on a front of 3} miles north of the village of Floury. ~,..,,,,.,... , After the bombardment tho enemy attacked with at least six divisions, workin" out a fantastic figure of twenty-seven attackors to each yard of front. Tho ouemy's objective was tho village of Fleury and tho adjoining Bois do Chapitrc, which would enable them to deliver both a frontal and rear attack on Fort I Sonville, which is tho last dofence but one on tho right bank of the Mouse, and I only twolvo hundred from tho now Gwwm fcogiiion,

Throughout Friday mornmig the French artillery held back the Germane, inflioting the heaviest losses on. tho storming parties. Prisoners estimate that the losses of tho attackers dnrinfl: tho forenoon were at least 60 per cent. _ After twelve charges had been' made, tho Gormans, reinforced, made a broach in tho Fronoh line east of the Thiaiißmont work, into whioh they immediately flung all their available reserves, submerging that fortified work under their assaulting waves. 'ifhiaumont Evacuated. The French then •evacuate-? Thiaumont, and this advance enabled the Germans to drive a wedge betweaa the two main French positions. So elated wero they with their success at Thi-.lmnont that the Germans surged on to Floury, where they met such a determined resistance that further progress became impossible. The French at the citftical momont made a bayonet attack, and drove the enomy to tho northern confines of Floury. Tho Germans' net advanco for the day was seven hundred yards. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, June 25. • A German, official comnvuniriliie states: "Tho onemy's fire on the left bank of the Meuse attained great activity towards the evening, especially at Mort Homme. Small infantry, undertakings occun.'ed at night, in which' we -wero successful. "Many violent battles have (Hiwelopod, under continuous artillery fire, around tho positions wo captured eastward of the Meuse. All the French attempts to Tecapture the lost ground broke down, after suffering tho lieaviost losses." WHAT IS BEHIND THIS NEW ATTACK? • ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Ecc. 3'uno 26, 5.10 p.m.) London, Juno 25. A semi-official statement from I'aris states that the oattlo of Verdun has Been resumed with sudden brutality and infernal violence. The heavy gun fire and the extreme fierceness of the infkntr y assaults indicate that the Germans are delaying us n,t Verdun. They wish t'B> foil our plans, the approaching realisation of which threatens them, or else to tjistract our attention while they transfer troops to Bussia. TIME TO CALL A EALT ON THE SLAUGHTER TO EASE THE GROWING STRAIN ON FRANCE. (Kec. Juno 26, 10.55 p.m.) London, June 26. The "Daily Chronicle" says:—"Unless tlho slow and steady advance of the Germans at Verdun is interrupted it linust end in tho fall of tho town. The French commanders value the ground aolely'-as a means of bleeding the-enemy, but the Germans rely on tho superiority of their heavy guns to neutralise their loss in tho infantry attacks. Wo.caumot accurately determine which way the balance has inclined in, the last chapters of this Moody rivalry. We Should all like to see some diversion which will ease tho growing strain of this gruesome coutesff upon France."