IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

HiLL 304.

FURIOUS ATTACKS. TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENTS. Paris, May 7. A semi-official message says the incredible violence of the German attacks on Hill 304 failed to overwhelm the French, and the battle was resumed in the last 48 hours with a fury unknown prior to Verdun.

The repeated failure to capture Hill 304 from the rear led to an attempted flank movement, involving a frontal attack on the northern slopes and an intense bombardment by guns of the biggest calibres. The French batteries replied vigorously. The Germans at some points reached the front French lines, but the northern slope is now a neutral zone, the French holding the summit and the Germans being at the bottom.

The German bombardment continues with sustained intensity, but the infantry is not moving, which is probably owing to their overwhelming losses.

FRENCH REPORT. GERMAN ATTACK REPELLED. IParis. May 7. A communique says: After an intense bombardment the Germans on Saturday evening attacked southward of Lihons. Our curtain of Arc dispersed them before they readied our entanglements. There was a night-long violent bombardment in the Verdun region. Twenty captive balloons broke moorings during a storm on Friday. Most of the observers landed oy moans of parachutes, but some were carried into the enemy zone. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Yesterday. The High Commissioner reports under date London, May 6, 3 20 p.m.: French official messages say that south of the Somme on Saturday evening the Germans, after intense artillery preparation, attacked our trenches south of Lihons. The attack was arrested by a curtain of fire, and dispersed before reaching the barbed wire.

At Verdun there is a continued violent bombardment of Hill 304, and in the sector Haudremont-Thiaumont. At St. Mihiel we repulsed a strong enemy reconnaisance attempting to carry one of our small posts east of Bislee. During a storm the day before yesterday twenty of our captive balloons broke away. Some were carried into the French lines and some into the German lines. Most of the observers, using parachutes, descended in our lines.

THE FRENCH COMMANDERS. GENERAL PETAIN PROMOTED. Received May 8, 11.30 p.m. Paris, May 8. General iPetain has been promoted to Coixinm.-.aei-ni-C 1 ' 1 "' of the central armies, irom Soissons to Vemun inclusive.

General Nivelle commands the special army at Verdun.

VIGOROUS BOMBARDMENT. GERMANS PENETRATE UNIMPORTANT TRENCHES. Received May 8, 9.10 p.m. Paris, May 8. A communique states: After two days' bombardment a strong German force attacked between Hill 304 and Mort Homme. After repeated efforts they penetrated n communication trench east of Hill 304, but everywhere else they were repulsed with heavy loss." The enemy, after an intense bombardment, made several attacks between Haudromont wood and Douanmont fort. The Germans gained a footing in the western part on a length of Ave hundred metres, on the. first line of trench. Ail the central and eastern attacks were shattered.

TRYING A NEW OPENING. - VERDUN A STUMBLING-BLOCK. Received May 8, 10.40 p.m. Paris, May 8. Le Temps' military correspondent says that the troop movements in Belgium, together with the enemy's aerial activity over the British lines, are probably connected with a German attempt to find and pierce a le3s tenacious line than that of Verdun.

A CUTE WAY.

CONTRABAND IN THEATRICAL PROPERTIES.

Received May 9, 12.30 a.m. Amsterdam, May S. A German Wagnerian Opera Company that was touring Holland was detected conveying contraband secreted in their theatrical properties. The members of the company were detained.

KILLED AT THE GRAVESIDE

A' HUN BOMB JROPPED ON A MOTHER IN PRAYER. Received May 9, 12.30 a.m. Paris, May 8. A tragic episode occurred at Charlons-sur-Marne. A mother, learning that her son was killed in the Champagne distriot, in September, went with her daughter to visit his grave, While praying at (he graveside a German aeroplane dropped a 'bomb, which billed the mother and desperately wounded the daughter and a hospital attendant who wa n identifying