HEAVY FIGHTING TO END THE YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15807, 2 January 1915, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING TO END THE YEAR.

ALLIES ENDEAVOURING TO BREAK THROUGH. SUPPORT FROM BRITISH NAVAL GUNS. (Keceived January 1, 11 p.m.) London, January 1. The Dutch newspaper Tyd states that there has been especially severe fighting near Lombaertzyde since Christmas. The allies are making every effort to break through. The British naval guns are supporting them. The sluices at Zeebrugge have been repaired, and submarines are constantly leaving the port. MINING WARFARE ON THE AISNE. MORE TRENCHES FALL TO THE ALLIES. FRENCH IN PARTIAL OCCUPATION OF STEINBACH. Wellington, January 1. The Prime Minister's office has received the following cable from the High Commissioner's office, . dated London, December 31: — Paris reports state that in the Champagne region, north of Rheims, the enemy exploded two of our trenches, but their attack was repulsed. North of Mesnil les Hurlus some sections of the enemy's second line of defence were captured, and also north of Beau Sejour, where the German counter-attacks were repulsed, and more ground was gained. In the Argonne, towards Fontaines Madame, by exploding a mine, the allies slightly advanced- Between the Meuse and the Moselle 150 yds of German trenches were captured. In Upper Alsace half of Steinbach was carried house by house. A later message from the High Commissioner's office states that according to Paris reports an attack by the enemy from the Bois de Forges, on the left bank of the Meuse, was immediately repulsed. The positions gained by the allies at Steinbar.h have been maintained. Other positions are being attacked. GERMANS BLOW UP TWO OF ALLrES' TRENCHES. SUBSEQUENT ATTACK REPULSED. * London, December 31. An official communique states that the enemy last night blew up two of our trenches north of Sillery, north of Eheims. We repulsed the subsequent attack. We captured trenches and sections of the second line of defence in the Mesnil les Hurlus region and advanced towards Fontaines Madame by mining a line and occupying the hollows thus created. We captured 150 yds of trenches in Mortmatro Wood. In Upper Alsace we carried half of Steinbach house by house. RUSSIAN SUPERIORITY ADMITTED IN BERLIN. GERMAN LOSSES REACH COLOSSAL PROPORTIONS. THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THREE WEEKS. London, December 31. A Berlin wireless message states that the fact must be faced that the Russians on the extreme left wing, are proving superior to the German forces. , The Times/ Petrograd correspondent states that trustworthy sources assert that during the last three weeks on the Upper and Lower Vistula, along the lines of the Bzura, Rawka, and Nida Rivers, and also in Galicia, the Austro-German losses in killed, wounded, and missing have reached 300,000 of the 1,250,000 engaged. Another report states that the German casualties in Poland and East Prussia since November 9 are estimated at 600,000. CAMPAIGN AGAINST GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA. RESORT TO COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. UNION TROOPS REOCCUPY WALFISH BAY. (Received January 1. 7.30 p.m.) Pretoria, December 31. The Union Government announces that it is resorting to its powers under the Defence Act to commandeer men for service in German South-west Africa and in the Union. The proclamation adds:' The situation which has arisen cannot be adequately met by depending upon volunteer recruits. The Union troops have reoccupied Walfish Bay and Christmas Bay without opposition. Under the South African Union Defence Act, which became law in. 1912 all citizens in the Union are liable to compulsory service. Walfish Bay is a harbour on the coast of German South-west Africa, belonging to« Great Britain. It forms a detached portion of the Cape Province of the Union of South Africa. Early in the war Walfish Bay was attacked by the Germans.