GERMANS MASSING IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2802, 21 June 1916, Page 5

GERMANS MASSING IN FLANDERS

GREAT PREPARATIONS BY THE ENEMY COMPARATIVE LULL AT VERDUN (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) '"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) "The Tiuies's" correspondent at 'Amsterdam writes that the" haVo massed more than 120 000 men at Zonnebeke, Gheluvelt, and the WCanal SS lfJ^ ei - iTOm %* B t lgium fO 7? eM 'Companies of Russian ifZ lT>??S nMa h™ been worbngior months past carting sand and gravel to the-front between Menia, Comines, Roulers, and Bruges. The Belg an factories aro incessantly producing bags and ban-bed wive and a™rnntt™ ously carrying timber %o the &rcs° front. An army of kblurer are digging' building, sawing, and boring water wells. Largo numbers of new young Toons are being trained.at various points is South Belgium. Lille, Roubaix, aid Tour" coing have been strictly isolated. ' There have been frequent arrests as the result of a recent tremendous explosion in a munitions depot at Lille, which the Germans assert,was the resuit an English plot. There was a terrific report, which shook houses and smashed windows for miles around. The shock opened the,ground in various places, and demolished buildings. GERMANS HARD HIT AT HOOGE ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) "The Times's" correspondent; at Amsterdam says that the'airivafT large numbers of wounded men and the frequent burials'indicate that the Germans* recent attack at Hooge cost, them dear.' Prisoners state that the British artillery made great gaps m the lines. • BUSY SUNDAY WITH THE BRITISH AIRMEN. (Hoc. June 20, 7.25 p.m.) c ti i tt • i ii ~1 i London, June 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports that there were twenty-seven aerial combats on Sunday. Five of the enemy's machines were brought down, and two of the British. THE OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT A' French official communique states: "A German attack Hill 321 was repulsed. ' ' "Our air squadrons dropped sixty-one heavy projectiles on the barracks and railway station at Vouziers, whore movements of trains were reported . aviators collided over Pantin, when at GOOOft. The machine' crashed to the ground, but both aviators miraculously escaped uninjured." (Rec. Juno 20, 7 p.m.) A communique states: "Affer sharp bombardment, an enemy V detachment rak™f a PPr° a °h °« 1- l"ios between the Avre and the Oise, but was re- ™ " T «ere was a violent bombardment north of Thiaumont and in the Vaux Chamtre, Souville sectors. ' "Tho enemy's air squadron bombed a village south of Verdun, kilTih" and wounding several German prisoners who-were camped there." D HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho High Commissioner reports: „£,,,, , ~ „ , , , London, June 19, 3 p.m. South of tho Somme an attempted coup-de-main by the enemy in the region of Lnnons was-completely ropulsod. • "On tho left bank of the Meiis» the enemy activelv bombarded the slopes of Mori Homme and the region of Chattancourt. French artillery everywhere replied effectively. "On. the right bank a German attack north of Hill 321 was completely repulsed. . / London, June 19. 11.55 p.m. "On the British front tho German infantry was inactive last night and today." '•■.". \ GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ' (Rec. June 20, 7 p.m.) m. , . , , „ m , , Amsterdam, .Tune 20. A German official communique states: "The enemy's' attacks at Thiaumont wood (Verdun) were repulsed; also repeated night attacks on the Fluniin wood "Two English biplanes were destroyed, and the aviators killed. "Our 'i.ir squadrons attacked the railway station, military works, and factories at Beccart, Rnoue, and Etape." THE GERMAN LOSSES AT VERDUN. . „, ~,.,,. , . . London, June 19. A semi-official estimate-, based on prisoners statements and documentary evidence, is that the German losses at Verdun up till tho end of May were 415,000. ' A HEAVY BLOW TO THE GERMAN COMMISSARIAT. , .',.,.,,,„., Copenhagen, June 19. An incendiary fire destroyed Heine s meat-curing factory at Halberstadt. It was ono of the largest in Germany, and was engaged on an important army contract. Two million pounds of tinned and enormous quantities of fresh' and cured meat were burnt. THE GERMAN FAILURE AT VERDUN ("Times", and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. June 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 19. Mr. H. Warner Allen, the British correspondent on the Western front, reviewing Verdun after the failure of the groat assault whereby it was hoped to produce a decisive effect by bringing about demoralisation and revolution in France, says that the Germans have now settled down to the slow and methodical wearing away of tho French defences. "Their heavy artillery work at Verdun represents tho highest conceivable effort of this great manufacturing country, but the German Press has now changed its tune, declaring that though Verdun has not been taken, France has baen bled white, whereas the French have continuously relieved and Tested their Verdun troops. The Germans have not attempted to economise. They have drawn every man available from the depots, heavily draining the new war contingents of the ages of twenty. Altogether 39J divisions—about 880,000 men—have linen hurled ait Verdun, representing half the German forces available in France. The Germans have failed to capture the fortress, or demoralise France, or interfere with the Allies' plans."