Official News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 260, 13 April 1915, Page 5

Official News.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, April 12. The High Commissioner reports under date, London, December 11, 1.30 a.m.:— Paris reports a calm day. generally. The position at Les Eparges is in the French power and the declarations of prisoners emphasise the importance of the French success. The Germans have had since the end of February at Les Eparges all the 33rd division of reserves. Towards the end of March this division was exhausted, and the Germans brought up the 10th active division of sth corps, including the best troops in their army. It is this division which lost a strong fortress on one spur of Les Eparges. The German troops had received the constant order to hold at all costs a "position of utmost importance" and their general stated that to hold he would sacrifice a hundred thousand men. The Germans sustained a loss of thirty thousand. In the forest of Mortmare the French'blew up a line of trenches and repulsed a counter attack north of Regneville. The French consolidated their "position on the Lorraine front. The French lost half a company on the nights of the flth and 10th near Benzance. The men were surrounded by a superior force and made prisoners. > Between the Mouse and Moselle fresh progress was made. Between the Orme and the Meuse there were no engagements.

Petrograd reports that a village near Ozernowitz was destroyed by Are. A Gorman train was derailed and superior officers killed. A German aeroplane was brought down and two aviators captured. A small Prussian infantry detachment stormed Guduniski and captured fifty Germans.

Paris later reports'that the. progress from the Mouse' to the Moselle is confirmed. A wood on.the Mortmare front was captured and extended towards the east 'by the capture of fresh trenches. Sever counter attacks were re-', palsed.