ENEMY ATTACKS. IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 141, 4 March 1918, Page 5

ENEMY ATTACKS. IN THE WEST

FRENCH LINE HEAVILY BOMBARDED AMERICAN TROOPS ENGAGED By Telegrapli-Prosß Aecooiation-CopyrieUs (Rec. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 2. A French communique states: ''Two enemy columns attacked yesterday night oast of Chavignon, but were thrown back with heavy losses, after violent hand-to-hand fighting. Another attempt east of Corbeny was equally unsuccessful. There is lively mutual artillery firing between Meurthe and tho Aisne, and the sector of Reims, where a civil hospital was sot on lire and systematically bombarded during the fire. The enemy bombarded our first lines in the Champagne during the night, notably in mountainous regions of Suippe, and the direction of Butte du Mesnil, we3t of which the enemy attack was driven back, except -at one point. Simultaneously a powerful enemy raid cast of Suippe was completely defeated. There is considerable artillery firing' in the Woev re. One of our crews carried out a photographic reconnaissance as far as Marienhurg, SO kilometres (50 miles) behind the lines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 2. "A French communique states:' "There is an intense artillery duel in the ,-egion north and north-west of Iteimsand in the Champagne, south-ivest of Butte du Mesnil. The enemy, after being driven out by counter-attacks from some points, reassaulted with fresh troops. •. After several unsuccessful attempts with heavy losses, the enemy regained a footing in part of tho positions we captured on-February 13. .'The enemy violently bombarded our first lines in front of Beaumont and Chaume Wood, also at Sucheprez, where a big raid was repulsed at two points last night. In to-day's attacks the American troops came into contact with special raiding troops. The Americans everywhere held their lines intaot, inflicting appreciaable losses."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rise. March 3, 5.20 p.m.) London, faarch 2. A French communique states: "There is intense artillery fighting , at many points from the Chemin des Dames'to the Meuse. .The enemy is aggressively active, notably north-west and south-east or Reims. He attempted to debouch against the salient at Neufcbatel, but a counterattack drove him out from elements in which lie had succeeded in get'ting a footing in our advance posts. Simultaneously lie fruitlessly attacked ■La Pompelle, and then violently reattached, making renewed efforts to leach the fort of La Pompelle. In isolated elements he succeeded in gaining a. footing in the northern portion of a small work west of the fort. An element was also, abortively attacked east and south of La Bertonnorio, in tho Champagne. The Germans attacked in the direction of Mont Cornillet, on afront of eight hundred metres, but found the four trenches to have been previously evacuated under instructions. Tho enemy was immediately driven out by a counter-attack, and the positions,entirely re-established. Our fire broke another attack east of the Teton. We inllicted serious losses. A violent bombardment is proceeding south-west of Butte du Mesnil. Enemy raids in Lorraine and the Vosges were'repulsed." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. ' (Rec. March 3, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 3. A French.communique states: "We completely re-established the lines'at La Pompelle where the enemy attacked on Friday night. There is lively artillery firing on the right bank of the Meuse, north ol Bezonvaux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

RAID UPON ST. MIHIEL SALIENT i AMERICANS COMPLETELY REPULSE THE GERMANS. (Reo. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, March 2. _ A correspondent at Headquariers reports that a raid upon the St. Mihiel salient was : preceded by a gas attack. The ground in front of the trenches was strewn with German dead. The Americans lost many killed and wounded. An American captain led a com pany into No Man's Land after the Germans were repulsed, and decimated them with machine-guns. The captain was killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - (Rec. March 3, 5.20 p.m.) New York, March 2. The Americans completely repulsed a strong German attack at St. Mihiel. There were many casualties on both sides.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NANCY BOMBED BY GERMAN AIRMEN (Reo. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) , Paris, March 2. ■ Serenten, German aeroplanes bombed Nancy. Much damage was done and several fires started.' Ten people were killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cake Assn. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS , ENEMY ATTACKERS REPULSED. D - t. i tt • ' London/March 1. bir Douglas Haig reports :—"Our troops conducted a successful raid near Gonnelieu. The Dorsets, Manchesters, Lancashires, and Scots in Thursday night s raid south of Houthulst Fores t penotrated to a depth of twelve hundred yards, taking prisoners and inflicting large casualties. There is hostile artillery aotion at St. Quentin, Arrnen tieres, and Zonnebeke."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 3, 5.20 p.m.) London, March 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We made successful raids southward of Armentieres, and in the neighbourhood of Arleux-en-Gohelle. Two enemy night raids entered the British trenches and captured a few prisoners. In n third raid all the raiders were killed or captured. After a heavy bombardment on a wide front northward of Neuve Chapelle a strong party attacked and entered the Portuguese front trenches, but was immediately ejected, and the position restored. Tbe British repulsed raids at Yprcs and on the Comines Canal southward of th e Houthulst Forest."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Reo. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports;—" The Portuguese have made successful patrol encounters. Our airmen have been busy bombing dumps, railways, and aerodromes in the vioinity of Lille, Courtrai, Tournai, and Mons."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 3, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There is great enemy raiding activity on the whole British front. All the raids were driven off after sharp fighting, with considerable enemy loßses. The British air service is active, and brought down four German machines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

A BELGIAN REPORT ' ENEMY COUP DE MAIN FAILS. London, March 1. A Belgian communique states: "Following a violent bombardment the enemy attempted a coup de main north of Dixmudc but failed. A number of rafts employed were destroyed, also a pontoon bridge which was being built across the Yser. Heavy artillery fighting continues in the region of Nieuport, Pcrvyse, and Dixmudc."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SPLENDID WORK OF ALLIED AIRMEN (Rec. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, March 1. An expert commentator states that between December 1 and February 15 allied airmen in the West carried out 22,518 flights, and 104 enemy 'planes were brought down and 93 put out of control. They took 21,300 photographs, and dropped 192 tons of explosives, with remarkable success. — The "Times." GERMAN METHODS OF DEFENDING ZEEBRUGGE (Roc. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) ■ Amsterdam, March 1. The "Telegraaf's" frontier correspondent states that the Germans are continuously thinking out new methods for the defence of Zeebrugge by sea and air. They_ send up_ nightly unmanned captive balloons fastened by electrified steel wire, forming a great danger to airmen coming into contact with it. New German aeroplanes are fitted with three screws, one so arranged that it keeps the machine stationary for some time, permitting of more accurate bombing. Marine nets aro spread far seaward. Smaller submarines are now being built.—Reuter. . , .