IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. ARTILLERY AT WORK. ENCOUNTERS IN THE AIR. Received Nov. 30; 9 p.m. London, Nov. 30. Sir John French reports: A party of our troops on November 25 forrtd an entrance to the enemy's trenches near Gommecourt wo«d. They bombed several deep dug-outs and then withdrew. We sprung a mine in front of Givenchy on the same night and destroyed two enemy galleries, causing considerable casualties. We have bombarded various portions of the enemy trenches during the last few days. The enemy's artillery is active east of Aveley, north-east of Loose, and east of Neuve Chapelle, Armentieres, and Ypres. On the 28th the enemy's aeroplanes were active. There were fifteen aerial encounters, and one of the Germans was brought down. One of onr pilots fought five aeroplanes in a single flight. We were successful in bombing attacks against,, tie German aerodrome at Gits and the ammunition factory at La Chapelette. Fourteen machines attacked the former, and nineteen the latter, dsing considerable damage. All our machines returned safely. A British aeroplane on the 28th de- ' stroyed an enemy submarine off Middelkerke. The submarine was seen to break in half. AEROPLANES BUSY. CUT AND COME AGAIN. Paris, Nov. 29. A' communique states: Four German aeroplanes bombed Verdun, tout did little damage. Five French aeroplanes, 'by way of reprisal, dropped twenty bombs on the railway station at Brieulles, south of Sterniy, and cut up the line. A train hurriedly turned back.