WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17199, 20 June 1916, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH LINES. THE FRONT QUIET. By Telegraph—Prew Association—Copyright. (Received Juno 19, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There were thirty aerial combats on Saturday and wo brought down one machine behind the enemy lines. Otherwise the whole front is quiet.

ARTILLERY DEVELOPMENT. LONDON, Juno 19. The governing factor of the trench fighting on the British front has been the development of artillery power on both sides. Not only havo field howitzers and batteries been multiplied, but various new types of trench guns have been introduced, immeasurably increasing the belligerents’ pounding capacity. The fighting has already reached a phase when either side can make the linfi-UllliflMbk.

VERDUN BATTLES.

GERMAN ATTACKS REPELLED

The High Commissioner reports : LONDON, June 18.

On the left of the Meuse the Germans, after an extremely violent bombardment, several times attacked our new positions at the Morfc Homme, using jets of liquid lire. The enemy was repulsed with heavy losses at each attempt, the French entirely maintaining former gains. On the right bank a series of sanguinary enemy attacks on our trenches north of Thiaumont equally failed. _ Artillery fighting continues lively in the sector north of Souville.

ENEMY CLAIMS.

FRENCH ATTACKS FAIL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright AMSTERDAM. Juno 18. A German communiquu states that infantry in the night were fighting on the left bank of the Meuse for an advanced trench on the southern slope of the Mort Homme. A strong French attack was made at Thiaumont Wood after several hours of artillery preparation, but failed.

SOUTH OF THE SOMME.

' ENEMY RECONNAISSANCE

REPELLED.

The High Commissioner reports:— . LONDON, June 18.

South of the Somme a strong enemy reconnaissance of our trenches before Fay (about four miles north of Chaulnes) was compelled to retire, leaving prisoners.

IN THE ARGONNE,

GRENADE FIGHTING. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, Juno 18. In the Argonne a lively grenade combat has taken place <in tho region of Vauquois. . , w . , At La Fille Morte the explosion of a French mine made a huge crater, the southern lip of which we occupied. Our long-range artillery fire caused a fire, at the railway'station at Challerange, south-west of Grand-Pre, where movements of trains wer6 noticed.

AVIATORS' ACTIVITIES.

RAIDS ON BAR-LE-DUO. PARIS, June 18. A communique' states:— : , . , The Germans made repeated air attacks on military works at Bar-le-Duc. Our anti-aircraft guns brought down a biplane.

FOKKERS BROUGHT DOWN. FRENCH RAIDS. , PARIS, June 18. Our aviatorsjjin the Verdun region engaged enemy airmen attempting a raid on Bar-le-Duc, and brought down two machines. Our machine-guns brought down three., Four French machines- engaged four Fokkers over th« enemy's lines in Lorraine, and brought down two. One of ours was forced to descend. Our squadrons dropped twenty-four shells on Senil Railway Station, near Vouziers.; twenty on Thionville factories, causing explosions, and twenty on aerial establishments at Etain and Tergnier.