RAIDING WARFARE ON THE BRITISH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2812, 1 July 1916, Page 9

RAIDING WARFARE ON THE BRITISH FRONT

. '''i ■ —— ■' ' i A BAD DAY FOR THE HEAVY CASUALTIES INFLICTED The High. Commissioner reports:— London, June-29, 11.40.pim-. "During yesterday a large number of. British reconnoitring and. raiding par- • ties entered the enemy's trenches at various points along the entire. front. . All these enterprises successfully achieved their purpose, inflicting'heavy casualties on . the Germans, arid'capturing prisoners and warlike stores. In several instances ' tho British remainid a. considerable time in the-German lines, repelling counterattacks'across ttio open.-' -. "One enterprise occurred after a disoharge.;.of gas,: and our-troops, on.-onter- c in* 1 tho. German''Frenches,; found a considerable ji-iimbet; ; ,of;,dead.,, .Our,. ; cas;ualKes - were insig'nificint. : -V'.'-- " '"/'The artilleiyV on-both sides, is active along/the whole "front.. The .hostile trenches are being much damaged in many places.' : "An intermittent discharge of smoke and gas ■ aroused. the enemy's guns, , causing him to disclose his.battery positions.". . ' GERMAN OFFICIAL. COMMUNIQUE,' ; ; X (By Telegraph—fress Association—Copyright).' i London, June 29. A German communique states ere have been more numerous assaults bj- patrols and stronger infantry attacks, accompanied by gas. attacks, .by tlio British in the northern wing. The enemy was. everywhere repulsed; and the gas • was ineffective. . ' "The artillery fighting reached- great violenco at times. "The French aro developing greater artillery violonco on the Aisne and botweon Auberivo and the Argonne." 'GEBMAN' DESERTERS FEAR THE BRITISH GUNS. London, Juno 28. 'Amsterdam reports tliat German deserters, who have arrived in Holland, mode-up their minds to desert when sent to Ypres because of the reputation nf tho accurate. British fire, which is dreaded by the German army. UNINTERRUPTED ROAR' OF THE GUNS. (Rec. June 30, 10.53 p.m.) - <- .. • ' Paris, June 30. ' The ionrnal/'Liberte" 6ays: "The British bombardment has increased in violence.: For'-twenty-four- hours, the roar of the cannonade has been uninterrupted. ,-The explosions of. the big ..shells follow a intervals of a few seconds. Not only .have the German first-line trenches been obliterated at certain*:points,.- but... ;the • British-artillery-has reached the-second and third lines, and exploded ammunition depots five* miles , behind the enemy's, front. German prisoners'are dazed and bewildered by .the .bombardment and the incessant raids by the" British infantry, which the enemv is powerless to stop. The British soldiers are in excellent spirits.' Their detachments go to the front singing as they march." ■. i ; ■ • OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT , The High Commissioner reports: , , ■ London, June 29, 11.45 p.m. "On the French line, between Soissons and Reims, we effected a coup-do-main in the German trenches north of Sapigneul, destroying the enemy's shelters, and taking many prisoners. "In Champagne, our artillery overwhelmed the enemy's organisations at tho Mont Tetu, Butte du Mesnil, -""d north' of Tahure. "On the left bank of the Mwe. after a heavy bombardment stretching from Hill 304 to the B«is d'Avncoiirt, the. Germans made a pronounced attack on our positions west'.of the liil:, but were repulsed by our infantry and curtain of fire. "On tho right bank there was no infantry notion, but lively artillery activity is being maintained on the Fleury Wood, Vaux, Chapitre, and Clienois sectors." HIGH.COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho High Commissioner reports:— , . _ .' London, Juno 29, 2.5 a p.m. "In the Champagne region, towards Tahure and west of Butte du. Mesnil, a coup-de-main-permitted us to destroy (he enemy's first'line of trenches and penetrate points in his second line by blowing up several Shelters. "On tho'left bank of the Meuse there is artillery activity at Hill 304, but no infantry action. •„ „ ~ „ • "On tho right bank, after a bombariment lasting all afternoon, the Germans attacked -at eight o'clock in the evening, north-west of 1 hiaumont work. lho attack was arrested by our shell curtain and machine-gun fire. The enemy was unable to penetrate our lines, and suffered sensible losses. "During tho night there was a lively bombardment at Chenois. THE GERMAN LOSSES AT VERDUN. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) • London, June 28. The Paris "Matin" estimates the German losses, covering 130 days' fighting at Veiduu, at half a million. GERMAN BRUTALITY: FRENCH NOTE TO NEUTRALS. (Rec. June 30, 10.40 p.m.) Paris, June 38. M Briand (the French Premier) has forwarded a Note to neutral Governments' protesting against the Germans' brutality in enforcing the evacuation of civilians from Tjille, Roubaix, and Pom coiug.