THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 April 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

IJCMCOTBIt) mjKGUAl'tl— UOritHIttHT.J (.PKB I'UKSS ASSOCIATION. J AT VMIUUN. , Paris, April 7. A communique states:— The Germans attempted to attack l'oivre Hill. Our tiro prevented them loaving their trenches. J i anil to hand engagements southwest of '.Douauimiunt rort enabied us to progress two "Uinireoi metres oil a five uundred metres lroni/. The enemy's counter-attacks failed. German aeroplanes brought down in .March number. 31. Machine-guns brought down number four. We lost thirteen machines. IN -MESOPOTAMIA. London, April 6. General Lake, Commander-in-Chief in -Mesopotamia. reports :—The Tigris Corps-, under Major-General Gorringe, Genera] A.vlmer's successor, attacked Um-eVHannali at five o'clock on the morning of the sth. Our trenches had been rushed forward bv means or saps to within 100 yards of the enemy's position. Tin nee the loading battalions of the Thirteenth Division rushed the enemy's first and second lines in quick succession. The third line was captured at 6 o'clock, supported by concentrated artillery and machinegun fire. The Thirteenth continued their victorious adrvance an hour later, and drove out the enemy from the fourth and fifth lines. Aeroplane reconnaissances reported, that the enemy were strongly fortified in the Falahiyah and _Sannayyat positions respectively 6000 and 12,000 yards from the front trenches at Um-el-Hannah. As these positions were only approachable over the open ground, General Gorringe, deferred a further attack till the evening. Meanwhile on the right bank the Third Division, under General Carv. captured the enemy-tren ches opposite FalaTiiyah. The enemy in the afternoon on this bank strongly counter-attacked with infantry and cavalry, supported by guns, but we successfully repulsed them and consolidated the position won. General Gorringe. at eight in the evening, resumed the advance and carried the Falahiyah positions. Reports state that the Hannah position was strongly entrenched, its left flank resting on' the Suwaichi marsh, and its right on the river, while the front trenchwere nine feet deep, and the system extended by successive lines to a depth of 2500 yards.