The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

THE ATTACK AT LA BASSEE. ADVANCE BY THE CANADIANS. RAPID CAPTURE OF TRENCHES. HEAVY CANADIAN LOSSES. Received June 27, 3.24 p.m. London, June 26.

A Renter correspondent describes the Canadian division in action on the 15tli and 17th near* La Bassce. The First Ontario Regiment with the Third Toron'to Regiment in support was ordered i,o attack a sector of the enemy's trenches simultaneously with the British. After a cannonade, the Canadians made a gallant bayonet charge, and in fifteen minutes obtained full possession of the first line of trenches. There was a momentary pause, and then they went tearing on and the second line of trenches were, carried, and in a few minutes the third and fourth lines were carried similarly. The Canadians were close on the heels of the Hoeing Germans, who at no time made a rally. The Canadians begun to.consolidate their positions, and the Germans counter-attacked. The Canadians' ammunition running low, all hand grenades were expended, and, amid a shower of shells and grenades, the Canadians had to abandon the front line. They had dearly Avon the trenches, and in a partial retirement their losses were very heavy. Luring the night the second brigade relieved the Ontarians who had demonstrated that a wedge could be driven through the strongest German lines. On the night of the Kith the Germans were heavily counter-attacked by the second brigade, who more than evened up the score against the Ontarians. They wait-' cd till the attack developed, and then, by rapid rifle fire, wiped out the German infantry, few of whom got back. The Canadians' heavy losses are attributed to the overwhelming rapidity of the advance, making it difficult for the troops on the flanks to conform.

"A MOST GLORIOUS DEED." FRENCH CAPTURE MKTZERAL. VICTORY BY STUBBORN FIGHTING. Received June 27, 3 p.m. Paris, June 20. The capture of Metzeral ranks among the most glorious deeds of French arms". The enemy transformed the ■village into a veritable fortress. The streets were •barricaded, and there were overturned carts masking machine-guns. Even the cemetery, which was the key to the village, was fortified and the vaults mined. After heavy shelling the French launched an infantry attack on the cemetery, which was the first objective. The Germans were driven out' after they had blown up the vaults, and they began to withdraw from the village, fighting every step. Every house had its quota of, defenders. The French Alpine troops drove the Germans from the rooms to the cellars, from the cellars to the barns, and then rounded up the remainder, who surrendered.

FRENCH FINANCIAL POSITION. MEETING WAR EXPENDITURE. Received June 27, 4.5 p.m. Paris, .lime 20. 11. Ribot (Finance Minister) in a financial statement to the Deputies, appealed for economy, but said France had no difficulty in meeting all expenditure. National defence bowls now exceeded .-).400,l)00 francs. He was a strong believer in the British financial mi-thuds, but the resource from taxation provided the least part of the expenditure. Nevertheless he would consider fresh taxation. PAD GROUND IMPEDES ADVANCE. MINOR INFANTRY ENGAGEMENTS. Received June 27. 3.30 p.m. Paris, June 2(1. Official: There were minor infantry engagements north of Arras. The state of t'ie ground, due to recent storms, has rendered advance almost impracticable at certain points. Mine fighting continues in the Champagne district to our advantage, A GERMAN REPORT. DEFEAT OP THE FRENCH CLAIMED. Received June 27, 3.30 p.m. Amsterdam, June 2(i. A lierlin official report nays: Hand-to-hand fighting north of Souchoz and between Souchez and Neuvillc, for the. positions which the French captured, concluded by the enemy being ejected on Friday night. They sent reinforcements, but were repulsed. There was heavy fighting';, on the Mense heights west of Combres. 'The French on a front of three kilometres, attacking in deep formation, four times attacked, and ,whercvcr they penetrated they were repulsed in hand-to-hand fighting with heavy- losses. The French still hold a piece of a trench captured on the 2(lth. Since the beginning of the Arras battle our airmen have been fighting for supremacy. The air losses have not been in vain, for on some days we Were obviously getting an advantage. FRENCH SUCCESSES. MORE GAS AND LIQUID FIRE. Paris, June; 2."). A communique states: We attacked between Congre and Souchcz and made further progress. A counter-attack in the labyrinth was repulsed. The Germans delivered a violent uttaclCon our whole front at Calonno. They; hurled | asphyxiating bombs and threw burning liquid over our men, and penetrated a portion of their old second Hue, but our counter-attack drove them out. The enemy attempted at midnight a fresh offensive, ami were caught within our curtain of fire and dispersed with heavy I losses. Infantry attacks on our trenches at Reicha-kcrkopf were stopped by the artillery and infantry. A German aeroplane, dropped five bombs harmlessly on a sanatorium at Zuydeoote. Customers for Pv-Nol Fluid for Autou.atV DHnfcctors nlea-e note tli.it the local agents for this hiirhlv ell'cctivo c0m,,,,,,.,.1 of disinfect!;- oiU are U'c-vs Jacl-scn and Paul. Price, lis 8d per gallon.

I YRJOLIOCS ATTACK LY GEIULAXS. I LAVISH USE OF .SHELLS. London, June 20. The Times' correspondent in Paris says the Germans are vigorously attacking in the Argonne ad Uirraiiu', in order to relieve the increasing pressure ot the French pus'i towards Lens. The operations illustrate the overwhelming importance of sliellfire. By day and night the Germans are pouring a sliv.nn of high explosives on the French line. In one sector they hurled twenty shells per yard for hours on a front'of 220 yards. FIGHTiNG NEAR CALONNE. GERMAN ATTACK REPUI.SIvD. Received June -28. 12.20 a.m. Paris, June 27. Official: The Germans eastward of Calonne delivered an attack, which was repulsed, except where, it penetrated a portion of a trench held by two soldiers.