Official News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 29 January 1915, Page 5

Official News.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S RKPORT. GERMAN BRIGADE BEATEN. Wellington, January 28. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, January 27 (5.45 p.m.) : Paris reports that a German aircraft was brought down inside the Belgian army lines. Prisoners' statements show that a brigade, not a battalion, attacked the Allies' trenches east of Ypres. The enemy's losses were equivalent to a battalion and a half. The Germans had a severe reverse at La Bassee, Givenchy, and Guinchy yesterday. It is confirmed that the enemy left dead six officers and 400 men. The total German losses were two battalions. In the region of Perthes four violent German attacks were repulsed. In the Argonne region, at St. Hubert, a German attack was driven back by a bayonet charge. The new, German pontoon bridge over the Meuse at St. Mihiel was destroyed. The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner:—■ London, January 28, 5.20 a.m. Paris reports that the enemy attempted a coup de main in the wood at St. Mard, Tracy le Val. After a sharp fusilade they exploded a mine, which wrecked the Allies' trenches over a front of fifty metres, but the enemy was unable to establish himself there, owing to the Allies' artillery. The trenches were re-occupied and re-con-structed.

In ffghts on the 25th and 26th a landslide, caused by heavy projectiles, imprisoned two companies of the (Allies and the garrison of an old quarry used as a magazine shelter at- La Creute. The enemy having gained a footing, crept into Foulon wood, and rendered the neighboring trenches untenable. Brilliant counter-attacks restored a good part of the lost ground. The ardour of our troops was beyond praise. The enemy left a thousand dead, in addition to prisoners.