IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

LEAVING METZ. r important work in. sight. Amsterdam, May 4. The civilian population is quitting Metz. NEAR THE MEUSE. . ANOTHER FRENCH SUCCESS. >!rs Paris, May 4. A communique states: A violent bombardment tool?, place at the Avocourt end thtis afternoon. Our troops, by a brilliant assault, carried the German "jjcfiiitions north-west of Mort Homme. GERMANS MASSING. *Times and Sydney Sun Services. Amsterdam, May 4. Amsterdam alleges that the massed movements of troops to Belgium conc tinue. The German strength on the now 700,000. The Kaiser is : feeing to Verdun to inspect the front. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, May 5. The High Commissioner reports under date Hbn4 on , 4, 3 p.m.: — In Belgium our artillery fire destroyed eneAty organisations, exploding a munitionsdepot. West ol the Meuse there has been a

violent bombardment in all sectors. Gren- , /f ade fighting occurred at Avocourt Wood. In the coarse of the night we enlarged - and consolidated our gains at Mort Homme. It is confirmed that the enemy , losses were considerable and chiefly due to our artillery preparations. At one , point t#6 men surrendered, being the only survivors of a trench. East of the Mense there lias ueen a bombardment in the region of Vaux. In the \yqeyre our artillery concentrated on many., Knots. At Eparges we blew up ft miafrahd'organised the crater.'East of St. Mflilel a strong enemy reconn'aisBtvcfc, Which attempted to attack one of ouir postsinthe region of Apremont, was repulsed.- ■ One of-oiir aeroplanes attacked two German machines in the region of Douaumoat. fell, disabled and the other fled

Tlie Hig*h Commissioner reports, under dateitondon. May 5, 4.45 a.m.:—

A.' Frejich official message says that west oftlie Meuse a violent bombardmint took plac<>; in the region of Hill 304. At Mort Homme a small German attack oft the trenches we recently ponqnered was stopped by our curtain of fire. • ;

A British official message says that the artillery on both sides are active at Maricourt. Near Nouchy the enemy, after a heavy bombardment, raided our tienches, causing -some casualties. At Hooge we sprang a mine, damaging the enemy's underground workings. FRENCH REPORT. Paris, May 4. A " eommuniqbe states: —A violent bombardment took place at the Avo / - court dnd this afternoon. Our troops, by a brilliant assault, carried the German positions north-east of Mort Homme.

FIGHTING AT MORT HOMMjs. Received May 5, 8.40 p.m. Berlin, May £ A communique states: Vigorous fighting occnrred at some points between Armenticres and Arras. The British, following a mine explosion, attempted to attack on the north-west of Lens, but the effort failed.

Though the French attack on the western slopes of Mort Homme was repulsed, the enemy gained a footing in our advanced positions on the southWestern slopes of Mort Homme.