Official News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 4 February 1915, Page 5

Official News.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. Wellington, February 3. The High Commissioner reports under date, London, February 2 (8.40 p.m.) : The Admiralty denies that the. Suez Canal is elosed to traffic. As usual, it is subject to precautions for the safety of vessels. Paris reports that the artillery struggle was more intense at the Lys and the Somme. A British post was driven back, but the ground was regained and the enemy's trenches recaptured. The action reported at midnight was a particularly brilliant infantry affair, few Germans returning. Petrograd reports that the German offensive on Sunday in the region of Soehaczeu and Bolimow was marked by great tenacity It was conducted in close formation strongly supported behind. The Herman offensive compelled a retirement to the second line of trenches. A counter-attack repulsed the enemy from all trenches occupied. The German casualties were colossal. Rim- \ ultancously, German attacks on the front from the village of Govimo to the hamlet of Moghcly were repulsed, partly by rifle fire and partly by bayonet Energetic artillery fire enabled them to occupy part of the trenches, but they were, dislodged from nearly all later. The German success in the Borzimow districts is insignificant compared with the losses sustained on Sunday by fire and bayonet attacks. Fighting in the Carpathians, the Russians successfully advanced. The German losses at Bolimow for the week were six thousand killed and many wounded. In the Carpathians, the Russians captured 78 officers, 4000 men, four guns, and ten mitrailleuses. ALLIES PROGRESSING IN FRANCE. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner, dated London, February 3, 4.45 a.m.:— Paris reports that the enemy's batteries near Soissons were damaged. An infantry attack at St. Paul was repulsed. The Allies made further progress at Perthes les Sni'lus. in the Vosges. After a night bombardment of Uffholz, the Allies advanced towards lo Bas.