WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, 8 May 1916, Page 5

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

IN THE ARGONNE FRENCH ATTACK SUCCESSFUL. GERMAN BOMBARDMENT WEST OF THE MEUSE. PARIS. May 6. A communique states that a surprise attack on Friday evening penetrated the German trenches east-ward, of the Yinarvilla road, in the Argonne. We broughtin prisoners. A German bombardment -with heavy calibre suffocating gas shells continued with imprecedented violence at night, westward of the Meuse. We evacuated a portion of our trenches on the northern slopes of Hill 304. They were -completely wrecked .and untenable. ■Our batteries replied -with equal energy, checking the German advances. We repulsed with, the bayonet German attacks "westward and north-west-ward of the hill. There is a slow continuous bombardment against the Mort Homme-Cumieres line. ■■■ ■ : 5 J r "" A fresh German division attacking Hill 304 on Thursday sustained crushing -losses. VIOLENr BOMBARDMENT IS" VtERIH'X REGION. (Rec. Mav 8, 9.15 a.nr.) PARIS. May 7. A communique -states that after an intense bombardment the Germans on Safcordav evening -attacked southward of Lihons. _ •Our curtain of fire dispersed theni before they* reached -our entanglements. • • There was -.-sfc nicjht—loiig violent bombardment in the Verdiin region 1 ; Twenty captive ■balloons broke from their mooi"ings dairing the storm on Friday. Most of the observers landed b\- means of their parachutes. Some were carripd into the enemy zone. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS TUBES AND BULGARIANS FOR THE.-WESTERN FRONT, (Rec. Mav,B,- 9J.5 a.m) J BUCHAREST, May 7. . The Germans lave concentrated near Constantinople 80,000 Turkish and 40,000 Bulgarian infantry, who are shortly going to the West front. . , HILL 304 ATT AGES OF INCREDIBLE' VIOLENCE. . FURTHER GERMAN FAILURES. (Rec. May 8, ,9.45 a.m.) 1 PARIS, May 7. A semiofficial message says tl#t although. of incredible violencethe German attacks on H2L 304 failed- to overwhelm the < French. The battle was resumed' <hrrin E the last 48 ihoms.with a fury unknown prior to Verdun.-when they repeated the failure to capture Hill 304 ffons the rear a&toinipiecL a flank -movement "involving: a frontal attack on the (northern slopes. . There .was an intense ibombardmenifc from the biggest calibre, French batteries which was replied to vigorously. 13he Germans at some points (reached the front Ftemch lines but the northern slope is now a neutral zone with th<y French, on the sunHmbaiKL the Germans at the bottom. The German ibombardrnent continues with sustained intensity, the infantry not moving probably due to overwhelming losses. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE. The Higli Commissioner reports;— London, May 7, 3.20 p.m. - A French official message . says that south of the Somme on -Saturday even-" ing the Germans, 'after intense artillery preparation, attacked our trenches south. , of Lihorns. The attack, "was arrested I>y a curtain of fire and dispersed 'before reaching the wire. . At Verdun- there is a- - continued violent bombardment of .Hill 304, and in the sector' Haudremont-Thiaumont. At Saint Mihiel we repulsed a strong enemy, reconnaissance attempting to carry one of our' email posts.