IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

BRITISH FRONT EXTENDED. ; BY ninety MILES. London, March 26. The British front has been extended ninety miles from the Yser to the Somme, relieving the French of this and materially helping in the defence of Verdun, HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, March 27. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, March 26, 3.20 p.m.:— West of the Meuse there has been a very violent bombardment in the course of the night in the sector MalancourtEsnes and at Hill 304. East of the Meuse the night has been relatively calm. In the Woevre there 'hag been' some artillery activity. At Bois le Pretre, coups-de-main by the enemy on trenches at Croix de Caines were repulsed by the French fire. GERMANS DRIVEN OFF. A VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. Received March 27, 9.30 p.m. Paris, March 27. A communique says there was a most violent bombardment west of the Meuse. The Germans in an attempt at two ooups-de-main at Bois le Pretre, were driven off by rifle fire, leaving many dead. Two French aeroplanes at night time heavily bombed a German bivouac northward of Malancourt. FRENCH ARTILLERY ACTIVE. Received March 27, 10.5 p.m. Paris, March 29. A communique says there was a violent bombardment between Villa Wood and Malancourt on our second line positions. Our artillery ehowed great activity on the whole front, particularly at Grimancourt. We also dispersed an important convoy near Harville.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT. STRUGGLE FOR A CRATER, Received March 27, 11.35 p.m. London, March 27. General Haig reports: The enemy sprang a mine at Neuiallestvaait and occupied the crater. We then drove them out, but bombers again drovo us back. The Germans shelled Kruisti'aathoek and St. Jean, in the neighborhood of Loos. We retaliated by blowing up an ammunition depot near Oosttaverne. WAR'S HORRORS. FORESHADOWING FUTURE METHODS. GERMAN TRIBUTE TO FRENCH FOES. Times and Sydney Sun Service.?,

Received March 27, 6.5 p.m. London, March 26. The Vossiche Zeitung prints the following: "The battle of Verdun is no longer the work of men; it is hell. Nothing can storm over the fields of barbed wire, through the trap-pits, and against the machine-guns, while the storminga of troops, arc preceded by death, horror, and destruction. This war foreshadows the use of electric, steam, and gas flames, which will supersede artillery. He is no inferior opponent who faces us, either in men or material, and except in the matter of 17in. howitzers he is no weaker than we are.