THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15501, 31 January 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

STRONG GERMAN ATTACKS. FRENCH POSITIONS CAPIURED. IX ARTOIS AND ON THE SOJI3IE. PRISONERS AND MACHINE-GUNS TAKEN. • (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received January 30th, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January 30. A German communiquo states: — "Wo stormed trenches northc-ast of Neuville-St. Yaast over a front of IVOO ' yard*. "We stormed trenches north-east of near Arras, and also the village of Fris?, and 100 Q. yards of the adjoining trenches, capturing 937 prisoners and taking thirteen machine-guns and four mine-throwers.'' Frise is a small village on the south bank of the Somme, eight miles southeast of Albert and about 21 miles east of Amiens. THE FRENCH REPORT. THE ATTACK STOPPED. SOME POSITIONS REGAINED. (Received January 30th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, January 29. An official communique says:— "The enemy, after a violent bombardment.. attacked several kilometres of our front south of the Somme. Ihe attack failed except at the village of Frise, overlooking the Somme. The attack is at present stopped. Our counter-attacks enabled us to rcoccupy some lost trenchcs. "Several German attacks in Artois were repulsed with heavy loss." (Received January 30th, 11 p.m.) PARIS, January 30. An official communique says:— "Our artillery started a fire in a German magazine in the Fecht Valley in Alsaco. causing many explosions. "We repulsed the- enemy's attempts to retake mine craters southward of the La Folic road." ACTIVITY IN ARTOIS. FOUR GERMAN ATTACKS. POSITIONS RECAPTURED. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, January 29 (2.25 a.m.). In the region of Artois the artillery firing is intense. The enemy directed repeated attacks on different points on our lines. West of Hill 140, south of Givenchy, after a series of mine explosions, the enemy wak able to take ft footing in portion , „f our front, lino trenches. Another I attack at the same time against our Sn at Ncuvillc-St. Yaast was completely repulsed. A tlurd attack, prepared by the enemy north or Roclincourt, was stopped by our art.l--lorv fire A fourth attack on the road from St. Laurent to i>t Nicholas, north of was compleWy eheekcd South of Neuville-St. aast the French retook on I "day morning a fresh mine crater after a violent fignt. The German" counter-attacks were repulsed: 115 dead Germans were count-

eel in the craters retaken by the French. Between the Soiunie and the Oiso Trench, artillery fire "punished" enemy works, destroying an observatory. Caole.—Preee Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 29th (5 p.m.) In the region of .Irtois west of Hill 1-10 the French recaptured in the morn'portion of the /"trench sections which the Germans occupied on Friday. South of the Somme, the enemy's wide attack was spoiled exceot in the village of Frise. Counter-attacks enabled the French to recapture some of the trenches. In the Fecht valley (in Alsace) the French heavy artillery caused a fire at the German ammunition depot. There were numerous explosions. LONDON, January oGth <1.3-5 a.m-.). 10-night s I 1 rench official communique states: —"We continue to reoccupy the trenches taken by the enemy. \\c liberated the French soldiers held prisoners in Artois. •"Between the Sommc arid the Oi'se there is considerable artillery activity. "'On the Aisne we destroyed observatories and overthrew the enemy's organisation." The Germans haw extended their operations in Artois. , The fighting earlier in the week took place on a front of slightly Jess than n mile in length on the road from Neuville-St. Vaast to La Folio farm, which is on the southern slopes of the Vimy heights immediately below Hill Tho operations mentioned in the above message covered a much wider area. Leading out of Arras there are four i mam roads branching north and northeast. One runs almost due north through fjouchez (seven miles) to Bethune; another to Lens (nine and a-half miles), a third north-east to trie main road from Lens t" Douai, and a fo.urth direct to Douai. The first and second roads branch off at St. Catherine, on the northern out-, skirts of Arras. St. Nicholas is on the third road, about a mile from Arras, and St. Laurent js on the fourth a mile further east. From St. Nicholas a branch road runs through Neu-villc-St. Yaast. four miles north of Arras, past Hill HO. and through Giyenc;htT to tho road from Sonchez to Lens. • Itoelincourt is between the second and third main roads on a road running from St. Nicholas to Tnclus (twn miles east, of Neuville-St. \ aast). Hiss 140 is half-way between Givenchj snd St. Vnast <tnd about a mile and a-half north of the latter village. R-oclincourt is two and a-half miles south by east of Neuville and about, two miles* north of the St. Nicholas-St. Laurent road. THE BRITISH FRONT. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. VIGOROUS ARTILLERY DUEL. (Received January 30th, 3.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "The Germans attempted an infantry attack on the salient north-east of Carnoy, but wore driven back." (Received January 30th, 11 p.iu.) LONDON, January 30. I Sir Douglas Haig reports:—''Following on a heavy bombardment the enemy | entered snnie saps near Carnoy, but I was driven outj "We repulsed bombing attacks near Givenchy." The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, January 30th (1.35 a.m.). British headquarters in France reports:—"Heavy attacks were made at Carnoy. The enemy entered our saps, but was driven out next morning, leaving dea<l and wounded. "A vigorous artillery duel is proceeding on both sides, the British fire doing considerable damage to the hostile trenches."