IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

ON THE MEUSE. HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS. Paris, June 10. A communique announces bombardiiicnts on all sectors on the Meuse, but there was no infantry action. OFFICIAL REPORTS. Amsterdam, June 11. A Herman communique reports heavv artillery fighting on both sides of the Meuse. A German patrol penetrated trenches westward of Markirch. A German reconnaisance penetrated and octroyed Russian positions southward of Knevo. . Paris, June 11. A. communique says: There has been mine fighting to our advantage in the Argonnc. We destroyed some under ground works at Haute Chcvauche The explosion of two German mines created a single crater eighty metres in diameter.. We occupy the lips and three sides. There is an intense artillery struggle on both sides of the Meuse. Two attempted surprises against Hill 304 and "("twnrd of the nill failed completely. Ml ;'i'e been no infantry action on the ng'it bank. Hand-to-hand fighting in he Aprcmont Forest ejected wtih losses two detachments.intruding on our advanced positions. The enemy gained a footing, in the trenches southward of St Marie, in the Vosges. A counterattack with grenades drove them out

GERMAN LOSSES AT VERDUN. > NEARLY HALF A MILLION. Paris, June 11. The note-book of a captured German staff officer contains an estimate of the German-losses at Verdun to the end of May, which puts them at 425,000. This is based on information from the reports of the General Stall'. The figure is now probably 450,000. A semi-official report, commenting on the enemy's enforced inactivity after the fierce struggle for the Vauy fort, emphasises the admission of the Lokal Anzeiger that the fort was battered and the French artillery made it untenable. Doubtless the Germans are preparing further to exhaust their reserves. gether they have sacrificed outside Verdun nearly half a million killed, wounded, and missing, far surpassing the French losses. Colonel Rousset, in Le Petit Parisien, says the prevention af the reinforcements by which the repeated offensives against France have been maintained will be the best way of bringing the enemy to a standstill. He is convinced that means will soon he used to a sufficient extent to prove decisive. GERMANS CLAIM FURTHER SUCCESSES. Copenhagen, June 10. A German communique states that the Bavarian Rifles and the East Prussian infantry stormed the strong earthwork westward of Vaux fort, and took 500 prisoners and 22 machine-guns. The total number of prisoners taken since the Bth is 28 officers and IiSOO men.

AT YPRES. CANADIANS' GALLANTRY. London, June 11. Correspondents at Sir Douglas Haig's headquarters point out tliat the enemy was repeating, in a smaller degree, the Verdun tactics. The bombardment had also disclosed higli explosive shells from long-range naval guns. The enemy was on higher ground in this zone, and this gave him a preponderance of fire command, which he was utilising to the utmost. i When it came to a test of sheer human courage and endurance, the superiority of the gallant -Canadians was always demonstrated by the results. FIGHTING AT HOOGE. Amsterdam, June 9. ('Delayed in transmission.) The Telegraaf states that the German losses at Hooge were heavy. The Red Cross activity recalls the days of October, 1914, and April, 1915. Many hospitals in the rear are filled with wounded. The number killed was extremely large. Many hospital trains are leaving Courtrai northwards. GERMAN LOSSES London, June 11. The Press Bureau states that the German casualties in the official lists,, for May are:--Killed and died of wounds, 19,720; died of sickness, 2751, prisoners 1190; missing, (1771; severely wounded, 15,020; wounded, 5787; slightly wounded, 42,584; wounded remaining' with the units, 8684; making the. grand total to date 2,944,586. The above do not include naval or colonial losses.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, June 12. The High Commissioner reports from London under date June 11, 3.r>o p.m.:— Between the rivers Oise and Aisno French' artillery destroyed an enemy work in the region of St. Maard Wood, In the Argonne a mine conflict resulted to our advantage. North of Verdun there is intense artillery fighting on both hanks of the Meuse. On the left bank two enemy eoups-de-main, one on positions at Hill 304 and the other on the east of the hill, were completely stopped. In the Vosges, following on a violent bombardment, the enemy was able to reach our trenches south of the hill St. Marie, but were immediately expelled by a counter-attack. AN ACCOUNT FROM HOLLAND. Amsterdam, June 11. The Telegraaf says tlint the fighting at Ypres is restricted to artillery. All day long and all night long the bombardment is audible throughout Flanders. The Germans gained some ground southward of Hooge and penetrated the hills dominating Zillebeke, but their losses were heavy, Belgian civilians were compelled to dig holes, which already op . were filled with cwpiM,