IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

IN THE CHAMPAGNE. * A TRJiNCH DEM.OLISHED. RAILWAY STATIONS BOMBED. , Paris, May 11. A communique states: We demolished a German trench for a length of a hundred metres south-eastward of Tahure. A German attack westward of Vaux pond at 2 o'clock in the morning was repulsed with the bayonet and hand grenades. Four of our bombarding aeroplanes dropped twenty-six shells on the railway stations at Damvillers and Ltain. KILLED BY THEIR OWN DEVICE. AN INCIDENT AT VERDUN. Paris, May 11. During the fighting at Verdun the French discovered outside a German trench a vat of liquid ready to spray liquid fire, and promptly turned the apparatus on the German trenches. Red and green flames shot up like a fiery serpent, spread fan-like, and enveloped thirty Germans who were sheltering behind a barrier. An officer relates that he will never forget the piercing shrieks of the enemy caught in a wave of their own flame and unable to flee. They fell hack blinded and dying.

NO RETIREMENT. GENERAL JOFFRE'S WARNING. Eeceived May 13, 12.5 a.m. Paris, May 12. Official: General Joffre, on February 24th, gave warning that any officer ordering a retirement at Verdun would be court-martialled. OFFICIAL REPORTS. BOMBARDMENT INCREASES 'Received May 12, 8.40 p.m. London, May 12. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy unsuccessfully attempted to raid our trenches near Ovillers on Wednesday night. A severe mutual bombardment developed at Hohenzoilern on Thursday afternoon, Paris, May 12. A! communique says: The enemy are violently bombarding our positions at Bois de Caillette and the second lines on the right bank of the Meuse. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, May 12, The High Commissioner reports as follows, under date London, May 11, 3 p.m.:— In Champagne our destructive fire demolished a German trench to a length of 100 metres in the neighborhood of Tahure. On the left bank of the Meuae artillery fighting has been rather acti7e in the region of Avocourt wood. On the right bank a German attack at 2 a,m, on our positions west of Lake Vaux was repulsed with the bayonet and grenades. During the night four of our bombArd-' ing aeroplanes dropped twenty-six shells on the stations at Damvillers and Etain and an artillery park near Foameix, where a fire was noticed.