OBSTINATE FIGHTING IN ARGONNE FOREST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2407, 12 March 1915, Page 5

OBSTINATE FIGHTING IN ARGONNE FOREST

TRENCHES TAKEN AND RETAKEN ■■ ■ \ SUCCESS IN THE CHAMPAGNE DISTRICT * Paris, March 10. 'A communique states"We further progressed north-east of llesnil (between Keims and the Argonnc). Obstinate fighting between Foil' do Paris and the Bolanto AVood (in the Argonne Forest) was undecided. Treuches were taken and retaken. 'Hie High Commissioner reports (London, March 10, 5.20 p.m.):— "Reports from Paris state that the importance of „osterda.v's progress ill tho Champagne district is confirmed. The German counter-attack on the crest of Hill 106 was very violent, and was vigorously repulsed. "In the at Fontaine Madame, the Allies demolished a blockhouse, advancing their trenches a distance of SO metres about 100 yards). At fill. Finn' Parifi Mia twtielws tsfewi hy th« if'rsiieh W«# lost aud recaptured, A tewud &emsa wunter-attick is proceedins-' 1

FRIGHTFUL CARNAGE IN TRENCH ASSAULTS DEADLY STRUGGLE AT NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE. (Rec. March 11, 8.35 p.m.) Paris, March 11. Details of the fighting at Notre Dame Do Lorette (north of Arras), show that the Germans mined and blew up a French advanced' trench, and then charged. They foil in large numbers before a fierce French fusillade. The German officers pitilessly urged their men forward, and a terrible hand-to-hand struggle ensued,' converting the breached trench into a charnel-house. . The French fell hack to enable their artillery to como into action, and tile fire quickly demoralised aud swept the Germans from the second and third lines of trenches they had occupied when the French evacuated them. Under the cover of their artillery, tho French made a heroio onslaught, inflicting terrible carnage, and recovered the lost ground. In the confusion of tho onslaught the Germans fired on their own men, and finally retired to their original position, after losing three thousand men. GERMAN .VIEW OF.THE CHAMPAGNE FIGHTING. (Rec. March 11, 8.30 p.m.) , , Amsterdam, March 11. A German communique states: "With a view to relieving the Russians in East Prussia, the French, regardless of sacrifice, attempted to break through •> in the Champagne, district Fighting has been continuous since February 16. The enemy hurled six army corps and enormous masses of artillery at our front, which was successfully held by two weak Rhine divisions. We took 2450 unwounded prisoners. Our losses exceeded the Mazurian Lakes battle, but the enemy's loss was threefold, estimated at forty-four thousand."IMPORTANT ADVANCE NEAR LA BASSEE GERMAN LOSSES "VERY HEAVY."- . (Rec. March 11, 8.55 p.m.) Paris, March 11. Official.—"Nieuport has been .violently bombarded by the enemy's 42 centimetre guns. "Tho British, supported by our heavy artillery, have secured an important success, carrying tho village of Neuve Chapelle (five miles north of La Bassee), and eastward of the road from Estaires to La Bassee, and have advanced north-eastward towards Aubers (about two miles off), and southeast towards the Bois de Riez, capturing a thousand prisoners, including several officers and some machine-guns. The German losses were very heavy. "We have consolidated our positio.i in the Champagne district, inflicting heavy losses, and repelling counter-attacks. "Our artillery demolished a number of trenches on tho heights of the Meusc,"