IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. WORKING HAVOC AND DESOLATION. THE OBJECT SIMPLE AND TERRIBLE. I TO KILL GERMANS. Received June 2!), 10.25 p.m. Loudon, June SS. Correspondents op the British front B 'ate that heavy shelling of the Gcrmar lines lias been in progress since the 20th. If the enemy is in doubt as to the formidable character of the British artillery and our willingness to use ammuni< tion, that doubt must readily be dispelled. The British object is simple ant terrible—it is to kill Germans in large numbers and thus save our man-power. Also to destroy the German batteries, break the enemy's defensive works, blow tip ammunition stores, bring down balloons, bombard men and communieatioi trenches, billets and rest camps, and generally to ->ause destruction of the enemy's offensive powers. The Gorman reply thus far is slight and ineffective. We seem to be working havoc and desolation to the extent of the range of our guiw along the whole front. A "ertain village was used as billets for the enemy's local headquarters. That village to-day is non-exist-ent. Even the wood wherein the village nestled is gone. The boom of guns is practically ceaseless in the Loos salient. HEAVY EXPLOSIONS. HEARD ON DUTCH FRONTIER. GERMANS STRENGTHENING FORCES AGAINST BRITISH. Received June 29, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, June 2-8, Violent explosions lvave been heard or the Belgo-Duteh frontier. The thunder oi guns was unparalleled. British airmen were observed over Belgium. The Telegraaf states that the Germans were active in transporting large quantities of war material, including heavy artillery, to the Western front. Infantry have been sent to the British lines, including a reserve corps from St. Quentin. i HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. In the Champagne, after lively artillery preparation, the Germans succeeded in penetrating some small French posts at the salient at Ta-hure, but were outclassed shortly after by counter-attacks, To the loft of the Meuse heavy bombardments have continued m _he sectors of Avocout and Chattancourt Preparations for an attack, signalled from fclie Gorman trenches east of Hill 304, were smashed up under our artillerj- fire on the right anl;. During *he day we made some grenade progress north of Hill 321, and on the border >f the Tliiaumoiit work.