BIG FIGHTING FORESHADOWED

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9091, 9 July 1915, Page 5

BIG FIGHTING FORESHADOWED

ALLIES WAITING FOR FURY OF GERMAN OFFENSIVE ; . LONDON’, July 7. A correspondent in Northern France says there arc indications that tht Allies arej awaiting the full fury of a German offensive- ‘ The enemy’s plan seems to be to multiply the number of points of attack and to prevent the Allies knowing where the biggest effort is to be made. A French Staff officer states that the Allied line is so strongly held and supported by formidable artillery that it is a barrier to any serious German offensive, which would cost the enemy terrible losses. ' ■ NIGHT-LONG BOMBARDMENT AT ARRAS PARIS, July 7. A communique states: There was a nightlong bombardment north of Arras. We repulsed two feeble German attacks at Souehez. Our lire stopped fresh evening attacks at Sonvaux. The Germans, after a most violent bombardment, south-east of St . Mihiel, took the offensive on a wide front. Only one point was penetrated along our first lino trenches for a distance of 750 yards; elsewhere the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. . At Bois le Pretre wo checked an attack which was preceded by a deluge of burning liquid. “HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON THE ALLIES” LONDON, July 7. A German official report states; Wo inflicted fearful losses on the AngloFrench forces at Arras and La Bassee. There were only eight hundred survivors out of a regiment numbering 4200. North of Vpres the British penetrated a portion of our trenches on Tuesday last, but were thrown out in the evening. During our bombardment of concentrations of the enemy at Arras, tho town caught fire, and the Cathedral was burned. Tho French attempted to recapture positions south-west of Les Eparges. They entered our trenches but were ejected, except for a space of one hundred yards. We captured a position between Ailly and Apremont, making prisoner three hundred. Our airmen successfully bombed a. camp south-west of the Suippos. MINING AND COUNTER-MINING ( LONDON, July 7. ‘Eye-Witness” states that the operation's for tho five days to July 2nd were mainly confined to mining and counter-mining, in which we destroyed portions of the enemy’s trenches. , . A" Guinchy, Neuv© Chapello, and La Bassee there were numerous patrol skirmishes, and sniping continued steadily. Our shells exploded a poisonous gas cylinder near Hill 60, asphyxiating sixty Germans. In some sections of the enemy’s front a number of men carry reservoirs of oxygen, for reviving soldiers who have suffered from tho gas fumes, ' THE TERRIBLE STRUGGLE UN THE LABYRINTH . “Times” and Sydney “Shn” Service*. LONDON, July 7. The war in the trenches is described as nothing compared with tho struggle in the subterranean passages of tho Labyrinth. The narrow galleries are feebly lighted by oil lamps, where the adversaries are separated by bags of sand, which they keep pushing towards one another. Tho moment there is an opening a terrific fight ensues. The only weapons possible are hand grenades and bayonets, although the Germans employ revolvers and long knives, and occasionally vitriol. Thet galleries are not longer than ten yards, the walls ooze with water, and the odour is insufferable. The French have never had a chance 1*) remove their dead, and have practically lived amongst the bodies. It took thirteen days to win sixty yards of gallery. Tho Germans erected barricades at every step, and built many ingenious traps. Tho French always risked falling upon tho points of bayonets placed in excavations covered with a thin layer of sand. During the whole period they "never saw daylight, and never stopped fighting. Despite their sufferings, many of tho wounded refused to leave the ranks. ALLIES RESOLVE TO ENDURE TO THE END LONDON, July 7. Lord Curzon, Lord Privy Seal, speaking at a Franco Day garden party, said France had lost hundreds of thousands of the flower of her population, but was persisting bravely in a struggle which he believed was nearing its supreme climax. Tho Allies were resolved to endure to the end. IMPORTANT NEW WEAPOWPOSSESSED BY THE r FRENCH LONDON, July 7. There are rumours that the French possess an important new weapon, both for offence and attack. TO MAKE THE WArTeLF-SUPPORTING PARIS, July 7. The Gormans’ offensive is exemplified in the renewed use of burning liquids, a fresh supply of gases, and increased shelling. They are even stimulating the men to attack by means of drugs. The immediate object is to hold as much land as possible for harvesting, to make the war as far as Possible self-supporting. For the same reason Germany is multiplying the fine? on conquered towns and districts. Exports anticipate the maintenance of such an’ offensive as in the vicinity of tho Souehez sugar refinery, as long as the beetroot, corn, .and potato crops are not gathered. The French crop prospects are better than expected, though some ■ have been damaged by storms. . , _ ‘ The Government has given the Territorials a fortnight’s leave. Gangs of soldiers are also assisting the farmers, but the .women of Franco are mainly responsible for keeping agriculture going. TRENCHES RECOVERED~AFTER FIGHT WITH „ GRENADES (Received July 8, 10 p.ra.) PARIS, July 8. Official.—“ After a fight with, grenades, we recovered two hundred metro) of trenches in the Bois ,le Pretre.”