OPERATION IN FRANCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1916, Page 5

OPERATION IN FRANCE.

TERRSBLE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING.

GERMANS MAKE TEN" ATTACKS.

OPINIONS OF FRENCH OFFICERS.

FRENCH RECOVERING LOST GROUND.

[PEE PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT.]

PARIS, January 31. Almost continuous terrible hand-to-hand fighting is reported at Artois for the last seventy-two hours. The Germans made ten attacks this week, with only one slight success at Frise. French officers consider that the operations represent the enemy's maximum efforts.

The Germans in the north sacrificed nearly a division, a'nd the ground at Neuville was so hotlycontested that the dead remained unburied and many of the enemy's wounded were left to die. Southward of Lens the trenches were taken and re-taken. The Germans lower down the line made a gas attack with some success.

The German infantry then stormed the trenches over a front of nearly a mile, and met with a desperate defence. The slaughter was terrific, entire companies of the enemy being mowed down. Fierce fighting in the craters took place, and when the grenades were exhausted the antagonists fought with their hands.

The French 'have already recovered much ground. v PARIS, January 31.

_ A communique says : —We carried out a destructive fire on the enemy's depots at Sallumines, south-east of Lens, and the German parks and bivouacs north of Vimv.

We also destroyed an enemy work opposite Soupex, north of the Aisne, annihilating the garrison.

The Germans claim that the prisoners captured at Frise included some English troops.

Received this day at 11.26 a.m

WELLINGTON, This Day. The Higli Commissioner reports from London under date of London, January 31st (4.35 p.m.) as follows: In the north of Arras two enemy grenade attacks were made during the night west of Hill 140, but failed.

In Champagne the Allies' artillery bombarded the trenches north of Weroines, and in the course of action explosions were seen at four points on the enemy's front. In the Argonne there has been mine fighting at Haute Chevauchee, and an explosion of a German mine. The Frenc hcountermined and destroyed an enemy gallery.