IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

VIGOROUS ENEMY OFFENSIVE. TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. Paris, June 30. A communique states:—The Germans attacked the salient near the Nieuportl.ombartsyde road. A counter-attack drove them out from a portion of a trench where we renamed a footing. Our fire caught a strong Herman reconnaissance between Chaulnes and Roys and dispersed it before it reached the trenches. Other patrols met the same fate at Quennevieres and north-east of Vingre. The enemy vigorously renewed the offensive from Avocourt Wood to east of Hill 304. A scries of most violent actions were preceded by intense bombardments, accompanied by jets of liquid flame against our principal salients. Our fire broke the attempts and inflicted heavy losses. East of Hill 304 the enemy succeeded in gaining a small fortified work in the.first line. The garrison were literallv buried by the bombardment. A counter-attack at 4 o'clock in the morning recovered the work.

HEAVY GUNS FOR FRONT. CEASELESS ARTILLERY DUEL. Amsterdam, June SO. Germans in Central Belgium are conveying to the front new batteries of long range and exceptionally heavy calibre. All Belgians from 15 to 45 in the occupied districts have been compelled to register and are not allowed to be absent more than twelve consecutive hours from the locality where they are registerd. Correspondents report a ceaseless heavy artillery duel from La Bassec to the Mouse. All trains in Germany have been commandeered and are rushing troops eastwards. GERMAN CRUELTY. SYSTEMATIC REPRISALS URGED. •Paris, July 1. Received July 2, 5.5 p.m. M. l'ichon publishes in Le Petit Journal an emphatic protest against German cruelty. Prisoners are deprived of food and beaten and compelled to work beyond their strength. They arc subjected to odious discipline and imprisoned on the smallest pretext in overcrowded and revolting places. The sick are allowed to die unattended. M. Pichon adds that they must expect sue!) treatment from a nation responsible for the brutality and savagery characterising them throughout the war. ]t is necessary that the Allies should take common action with a view to instituting systematic reprisals. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. TI-lIAUMOXT CHANGES Hasus. FRENCH REGAIN POSSESSION. Received July 2, 5.5 p.m. Paris, July 1. A communique states that the desperate struggle for Tbiaumont continued all day. Despite violent artillery fire, the Germans succeeded in regaining the work after heavy losses, but our counter-at-tack completely drove the enemy out again. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. LEADS TO CAPTURE OF THIAUMONT Received July 2, 11.05 p.m. Paris, July 1. After a violent bombardment of the whole of the region of Hill 304 and Mort I'omme our infantry recaptured Thiaumont. OTHER ACCOUNTS. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. The High Commissioner reports: On the right bank of the Meuse desperate lighting took place during the whole day in the region of Thiauiiiont. This morning, about 10 o'clock, in the course of a brilliant attack, the French captured the Thiauiiiont work in »pite of an extreme!v violent enemv ;urtain fire. During the afternoon the Germans multiplied their ell'orts to chase us out, submitting to considerable losses. In the course of his attempts, the enemy attack succeeded in entering towards three o'clock, but a vigorous counteiattack put us again in possession of the work. The British patrols, reconnoitring and raidmg parties continued to be active along the whole front, entering German trenches at many points and capturing some prisoers. .South of Neuve Chapelle a strong party entered the (Jerman support line. At night we successfully exploded a mine south of Auchy la Bassee, occupying the crater. Under the cover of a heavy bombardment the enemy attempted to raid the same neighborhood, but were driven back by rille lire. German heavy artillery was active during the day on the front between Souchez and Hohenzollern, also about Oitztje. An attack was made north of the Somme tl.4s in conjunction with the French. The British broke into the German forward defences on a front of sixteen miles. Fighting is continuing. Tlic French attack on the immediate right is proceeding equally satisfactorily. On the remainder of the British front, raiding parties again penetrated the enemy's defences at many points, inflicting loss and taking some prisoners. ! . :