IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE ATTACK ON VERDUN. GERMANS SAY IT MUST BB j CAPTURED. ENORMOUS LOSSES, :/.■-.,.Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received April 8, 5.15 p.m. London, April 27. . According to a reliable French source a German communique relative to Verdun, states; "We will capture the fortress, whatever may be the cost." It is known that heavy enemy reinforcements have been brought up with that 'object apparently in view. It is confidently believed that the enemy losses at the Verdun fighting now total 280,000, and they have made so appreciable progress during the last three week*.

FIERCE WORK ON BRITISH ■!, FRONT. fiALLANTRY OF THE IRISH. BEDFORDSHIRES ALSO CONSPICUOUS. ENEMY KEPT AT BAY. Received April 38, 10.20 p.m. •/ London, April 28.

General Sir Douglas Haig reports:— The Bedfordshire? on Wednesday night made a successful raid near, Carency, and rushed the :nemy trenches. After fierce hand-to-hand fighting they drove the, Germans into their dugouts and bombed them. There was considerable ewtfmy loss. The enemy heavily bombarded our trenches east of Armentieres, and the Germans south of Frelingham entered our trenches in the evening, under fever of a bombardment. Our counterattack drove them out. We repulsed an enemy attack on Hill 60. The enemy gained a footing on our saipheads, but bombers drove them out.

On Thursday morning the enemy discharged gai south of Hullucn, and at the same time put an artilery barrage across our 'toes north of Loos. After a second gas attack the enemy gained a footing on out front and support lines east arid north-eajt of Loos, but the Irish fOunter-attacßed and drove out the enemy in balf-an-hour. Many dead Germans were left in our trenches. The enemy also advanced south of Hullueh, but our machine-guns enfiladed them, and many enemy corpses were >' There have ueen nineteen aerial comoats.. ¥wc of our machines ' were damaged, out all returned safely. CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY.

Received April 28, 9.55 p.m. Paris, April 28. A communique states: There is intense artillery activity at Avocourt, fisnes, and Cumieres. The enemy made two feint attacks, one at Haudromont farm and the other between Douaumont and Vaux. both being checked by our curtain of fire.

Three of our airships heavily bombed different stations in the valley of the Aire, the valley of the Orne, and at Other points.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS REPORT. Wellington, Yesterday. The High Commissioner reports under date April 27 (12.43 a.m.):— British Headquarters reports on April 26 that hostile aircraft were less active yesterday. This morning a hostile aeroplane was brought down J n our lines, after a fight in which .pilot and observer were killed. At midnight an airship dropped bombs near the coast behind our lines. No damage xas done. Last night we twice raided south of the La Bassee Canal and there was hand-to-hand fighting. Early this morning ft mine was exploded south-east of Souchez and the enemy obtained a footing in our .trfcnches, but was driven out by a counter-attack.