HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16314, 22 February 1915, Page 6

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLES

WELLINGTON, February 20.

The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner, under date London, February 20 (2.20 p.m.) : — Paris reports that an attack on the Allies' trenches east of Ypres was repulsed. Kheims has again been bombarded. In the Champagne region, at Souain, Perthes, and Beau Sejour, the enemy on the night of the 18th.and 19th made five unsuccessful attempts to regain the trenches lost the previous day. The struggle continued on Friday, when the Allies made fresh progress. In the Argonne some sudden German moves failed. The Allies destroyed a hostile blockhouse and occupied the site. In the Vosges the Allies established themselves on the heights, notwithstanding the violent efforts of the enemy to prevent them. The following has bsen received under date February 20 (4.45 a.m.): — Petrograd reports that on the front between the Niemen and the Vistula the Russians in the region of Augustowo are gradually leaving the sphere of fighting. An action is developing near Osowiec. In the Carpathians a series of hostile attacks were repulsed. The Russians by a dashing bayonet attack captured a height on the east of the Lupkow Pass. At daybreak on Wednesday the Russians captured a small fortification in the region of Zavadok, killing all the German defenders. German counter-attacks in masked formation were repelled with great losses.

At Wyszkow sanguinary fighting continues. Two thousand prisoners "were, taken in two days. The following has been received, under date February 20 (5.30 p.m.): — The British Admiralty announce that yesterday morning at 8 o'clock a British fleet consisting of battleships and battle cruisers, accompanied by a flotilla, and aided by a strong French squadron, the whole under the command of ViceAdmiral Sackville H. Garden, attacked the forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles. The forts at Cape Helles and KumKaleh were brmbarded at a deliberate long range fire. Considerable effect was produced. Two forts and two others were frequently hit, but, feeing open earthworks, it was difficult to estimate the damage. The forts, being outranged, were not able to reply to the (ire. At 2.45 p.m. a portion of the battleship force was ordered to engage the forts at closer range with their secondary armaments. The forts on both sides of the entrance opened fire and were engaged at moderate ranges by the Vengeance, Cornwallis, Triumph, SuiTrrn. Gauldi-. and Bouvet. supported by the Inflexible and Agememnon at long range. The forts on the European side were apparently silenced. One fort on the Asiatic side was still firing when the operation was suspended owing to failing light. The ships of the allied fleets were not hit. The action was renewed in the • morning after an aerial reconnaissance, his Majesty's aeroplane Arkroyal being in attendance with a number of reaplanes and aeroplanes of the naval win,g. The following has been received, under date February 20 (6.15 p.m.) :— Paris reports that the enemy bombarded Nieuport and Sains, and that the dunes batteries efficaciously countered. The Germans had important forces engaged in yesterday's attack on the trenches east of Ypres. A bayonet attack, after a bombardment, was repulsed, the

Allies' artillery preventing the reserves from supporting the Germans, whose losses were high. The news is confirmed of tlxj German losses in the Champagne district during recent days being considerable. According to prisoners one battalion was annihilated. On the heights of the Meuse on Friday night the enemy delivered a fourth counter attack against tho trenches that were caipturod at Lesetarges, and this was thwarted like their previous ones by the artillery. At Sattel, south of Lastrht, the enemy succeeded in getting a footing on the eastern .spur. Tho struggle at Reichackeroff continues.