IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

INCREASING IN VIOLENCE. THE BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. GERMANS DAZED AND BEWILDERED. POWERLESS TO STOP BRITISH RAIDS. deceived June 30, 11 p.m. Paris, June 30. Le Liberie says the British bombardment has increased in violence. For twenty-four hours the roar of the cannonade is uninterrupted. Explosions follow at intervals of a few seconds. Not only the first line of trenches are obliterated, but at certain points the Rritish artillery reached the second and third lines, and exploded ammunition depots five miles behind the front.

Prisoners are dazed an<; bewilder* 1 ' 1 by the bombardment and the incessant raids of the British infantry, which the enemy are powerless to stop. The Britishers are in excellent spirits, and detachments go to the front singing. FURTHER RAIDS. ARTILLERY VERY ACTIVI. Received June 30, , r >.4,"> p.m. London, June 30. General Sir Douglas Haig reports a large number of raiding parties during the past twenty-four hours entered the enemy trenches on the entire British front, inflicting heavy casualties. The British casualties were insignificant. One raid occurred after the discharge of gas. Our troops found a considerable number of German dead. The artillery are active. The German trenches were much damaged in many places. The intermittent discharge of smoke and gas aroused the activity of the enemy guns and caused him to'disclose his battery positions. A COUP DE MAIN. GREAT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. Received June 30, 8 p.m. Paris, June 30. A communique states: We effected a coup <le main between Soissons and Hheims, destroying the German shelters. The artillery in the Champagne secW wrecked the enemy organisation at Butte de M.esni and north of Taliure. There was a violent bombardment of Hill 30+ to Avocourt Wood. The Germans late in the afternoon delivered an attack on the positions west of Hill 304. Our infantry, assisted by a curtain of~fire, repulsed the attack. The great artillery activity was continued in the Fleury-Vaux-Chenois woods sectors.

GERMAN BRUTALITY. A FRENCH -PROTEST Received June 30- 10.40 p.m. Paris. June 30. 11. Briand, Prime Minister of France, lias forwarded a Note to neutrals protesting against German brutality in enforcing the evacuation of civilians from Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing. GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL. EFFECTIVE ARTILLERY WORK. London, June 28. In the Champagne, after a lively artillery preparation, the Germans succeeded in penetrating some small French posts at the salient 'Failure, hut were outclassed shortly after by counter-at-tacks. To the left of the Meuse, the heavy bombardment has continued in the sectors Avoeourt and Chattancoiirt. Preparations' for an attack, signalled from the German trenches east of Hill 304, were smashed up under our artillery fire. On the right bank, during the day, we made some grenade pi ogress north of Hill 321 and on the border of the Thiairmont work.

A DESERTER'S STORY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, June 29. Amsterdam reports that a German deserter who arrived in Holland said he made up his mind «o desert when he was sent to tfpres, because of its reputation The accurate British fire was dreaded in the German army. OFFICIAL REPORT Wellington. June 30. The High Commissioner reports under date London, June 20 (2.55 p.m): In the Champagne towards Tahurc and west of Butte de Mesnil a coup de main permitted us to destroy the enemy in the second line, blowing up several shelters. Left of the Meuse there was artillery work at Hill 304, but no infantry attacks.

On the right bank, after artillery fire all the afternoon, the Germans attacked at 8 o'clock in the evening north-west of the Thinumont Wood, hut were arrested by the curtain and machine-gun fire The enemy was unable to penetrate our lines and suffered sensible losses. During the night there was a lively bombardment of Chenmis,

GERMAN REPORT. USUAL SUCCESSES. London, Juno 20. A fierman communique says that there have been numerous patrols assaults and stronger infantry attacks accompanied by gas by olie British on the northern wing. The enemy everywhere was repulsed and the gas was ineffective. The artillery lighting reached great violence at times. The lj'reneh are devolping greater artillery violence on (lie Aisnn and between Auberive nul the Argonne. CANADIANS AT YPRES. FIGHT TO THE DEATH. London, June 29. The Cologne Volte Zeitung, describing the Canadians' fight at Ypres, states that many preferred to be killed rather than surrender. Litt'e groups resisted desperately and their surrender was a mercy. A Canadian general, when surrounded, drew bis sword and refused to surrender. He cut down a Herman sergeant, whereupon an infantryman bayoneted ilie general, who was still fighting lilce a madman.