ON THE MEUSE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15669, 6 June 1916, Page 8

ON THE MEUSE.

VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL

ACTIVITY ON BRITISH FRONT. ITALIANS HOLDING AUSTRIAN CENTRE.

(673 rd DAY OF THE WAR,)

THE WESTERN THEATRE. THE BRITISH FRONT. INCREASING ACTIVITY. * BOMBARDMENTS AT MANY POINTS. SITUATION AT YPRES UNCHANGED. (By Cab!®. —Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received June oth, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON., Juno o. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Twenty-six of our aeroplanes bombed points of military importance, and it is believed inflicted considerable damage. Gunfire brought down one. "There was increased activity on the whole of the British front on Saturday night. A heavy bombardment northwards of Fricourt was followed by a German attack, which was driven back. Several British parties successfully raided German trendies at various points. "The Germans to-day heaviiv shelled our positions north-west of Arras, also at Fricourt, Souchez, and LOO 3. There were artillery duels southward of Arras. "The situation at Ypres is unaltered. Tie bombardment continues." Tie High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, Juno 5 (1.20 a.m.). A British official message says: — "Our artillery engaged hostile batteries south of Lens and east of Arras. "The situation about Ypres, is not materially altered. There have been f artillery bombardments. Our troops retain the ground regained in the counter attack made on Saturday." THE ENEMY'S CLAIMS. BRITISH COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. (By Coble.—Press Association.—Copyright.) AMSTERDAM, June 4. A German communique states: — "Tie Wurtemburger s stormed and captured a ridge south and eastward of Zillebeke, and the British position boiind. We took prisoner a .slightlywounded general. "The counter-attacks were easily repulsed." LONDON, June 4. A German communique says: *— "We"everywhere repulsed several British attacks against lost positions j south-west of Ypres. i "The 'artillery fighting northward of Arras continues." (W THE ME USE. STRUGGLE AT FORT VAUX. GERMAN ATTACKS i'AIL. FRENCH GUNS TAKE HEAVY TOLL. The High Commissioner reports :— LONDON, June 4 (4 p.m.). East of the Meuse late yesterday, after a violent bombardment, the enemy made several attempts from the 6outh*-east to turn our positions at Fort Vaux. A powerful attack- towards 8 o'clock on the ravine between Damloup and the fort succeeded in gaining a footing in the French trenches, but an immediate counter-attack completely threw the enemy back. A second German.attack this morning OH the same point, completely failed under our artillery fire. j . (By Cable.—Presa Association —Copyright.) j LONDON, June 5 (1.20 a.m.). A French official communique says:— "In the Argonne an enemy attempt - to take one of our small posfts was xe- ' pulsed. "West of the Meuse the artillery ac- ' tivity on both aides was intensified during the way. "In the region of Hill 304 preparations for an attack were noticed in the German trenches, and checked, the trenches being raked by our curtain of fire. "East of the Meuse the enemy continued to bombard our position at Vaux-Damloup with particular vio- . lence. "At Fort Vaux an attack this afternoon on the slopes of Fumin Wood, • north-west of the fort, was arrested by our machine-guns. - "Our heavy artillery damaged three * German batteries in Caurieres Wood (north of Donaumont). "We caught under our fire and dis- . persed enemy gatherings in Caillette > Wood (between Douaumont and Vaux)."

THE GERMAN 15EP0RT. FRENCH ATTACKS DEFEATED. AMSTERDAM, June 4. A German communique says: '"Six attempts by the enemy to penetrate the trenches to the south-west-ward of Yaux collapsed, after he had sustained heavy s losses." LONDON. June 4. A German communique says:—

; "We easily repulsed a weak attack to the westward of Hill 304. : "Hard fighting between Caillette j Wood and Damlouii is proceeding in ! our favour. We too*- 000 prisoners yesterday. "Several enemy gas attacks to the westward of Markich. had not. the slightest, effect. ''Allied airmen killed several civilians in Belgium." GERMAN AIR RAID. CIVILIANS SUFFER AT TOUL. THREE ENEMY AEROPLANES DESTROYED. (Received June Gth, 10.20 p.m.) PARIS, June 5. An official communique says:— "German aeroplanes bombed Toul, killing sis people and injuring ten. "One of our squadrons pursued them, bringing one down in our lines. Two others fell in the German lines." THE ANZACS. ; WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS I SUCCESSFUL ARTILLERY I BO3IBARDMENTS. IN THE FIRING LINE. WELLINGTON. June 5. The following special message has been received from tlio New Zealand Official War Correspondent:— ANZAC HEADQUARTERS, June 1. Recently there has been slightly more activity on the few miles of the British front held by the New Zealanders, our artillery having stirred the enemy up on several occasions. Recently our guns put'3oo IS-pouncler howitzer shells into a German position in forty seconds. Subsequently we fired another 300 rounds upon German trenches in four minutes. The shooting "was excellent, the enemy's barbedwire entanglements being cut and his trenches badly damaged. This bombardment afforded a fine spectacular effect, enabling us to realise what a continued intensive bombardment over a larger area would bo like. The enemy's, artillery retaliated on our trenches, and searched unsuccessfully for our gun emplacements. Later on they sent with ureat rapidity several hi°fh explosive shells into a town behind cur lines, killing a child and wounding a few civilians and soldiers. Our guns ajain promptly re-' toliated. The same day the Germans determinedly shelled a church in the town, and a building was set on fire. A former aide-de-camp to the Governor of New Zealand, with a small band of New Zealanders acting as a fire brigade, extinguished the flames in tli® face of some unexploded shells remaininor in the building. A great portion of the town will be for some months in ruins, but several shops remain open, and a large number of dwelling-houses are still occupied by civilians. The" neighbouring suburb is almost totally destroyed, and occasionally is still furiously shelled by the enemy. A few inhabitants remain in the damaged shops and houses. These present a pathetic sight, yet one old voman her establishment open in a badly-damaged building. Our men in the firing-line make periodic night forays between the trenches, occasionally meeting the opposing patrols. A Southern New Zealand Member of Parliament recently led a night patrol up to the enemy's wire entanglements. Another Member of Parliament, with two lieutenants, has been busy with his company in the firing-line. The men out of the trenches are industriously training, there being much that is new to learn. During several visits to tile firing-line I found them well satisfied. The sick and wounded men are well looked after, the arrangements being excellent.