FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 20

FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER.

VAUX AT ANY COST. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. | PARIS, June 2. A communique states; By our counterattack we advanced 100 metres along the enemy’s communication trenches south of Caurettes Wood. An enemy attack between that wood and Cumieres failed. On the east bank of the Meuse an extremely stubborn battle lasted all day and night from Thiaumont Farm to Vaux, also from Vaux fort to Damloup. All the enemy assaults on the Thiaumont Douau- | moot sector failed, but the enemy penej traled the southern portion of Cailletto i Wood and the outskirts of Vaux Pout.

Enemy attacks between Vaux and Damloup failed, with heavy losses. June 3. A communique states: Two German attacks at Fillemorte, in the Argonne, were defeated. The Germans made repeated furious assaults on Fort Vaux. Despite the ravages in their ranks, parties entered the fosse north of the fort. All the attacks in the east and west failed. Semiofficial: The enemy at Verdun have given the impression that they are obliged to finish as quickly as possible in order to delay or prevent an offensive by the Allies. There can be no other explanation of their stubborn' ness. For several days they have been continuing the battle despite terrific losses. The continuity of the offensive during the last 24 bours indicates that the battle has reached a culminating point. The result appears clearly in our favour. A communique states : The Germans attempted a powerful offensive between the Vaux pond and Damlonp village. Continued attacks in compact masses followed each other, but the magnificent resistance of our tro<:ps got the better of the enemy. Our counter-attacks west of Vaux Fort, replying to every German attack, prevented any enemy progress. The fighting is of unprecedented violence before the Vaux Fo.'t, which the Germans are attempting to capture at any cost. Our cannon and machine guns mowed dow-ii the assaulting columns, which are suffering enormous losses. Enemy masses attempting to reinforce the fighting battalions. were taken under our heavy battery fire and driven back in disorder. The enemy in the Damloup sector, at the Meiise foothills, succeeded in penetrating the village, of which we hold the greater part. THE BRITISH LINES. GERMAN PRESSURE. LONDON, June 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been sharp fighting on the Ypxes salient over a front of 3000 yards between Hooge and the Ypres-Comines railway. An intense bombardment of three hours "was followed by infantry attacks midway which succeeded in penetrating our front trenches at. several points. The enemy were repulsed elsewhere. Fighting still continued at nightfall. June 4. Sir Douglas IT.aig reports: There is severe and incessant fighting between Hooge and the Ypres-Menin railway. Pursuing Friday's initial advantage in this neighbourhood, the Germans penetrated our defences to a depth of 700 yards towards Zillebeke. The Canadians holding this sector gradually recovered much of the ground. They behaved with the utmost gallantry in counter-attacking successfully, after a heavy continued bombardment. The enemy's losses were severe. Many dead were abandoned by them on the recaptured ground. General Mercer Williams, of the 3rd Canadian Division, Avho was inspecting the front trenches during Friday's bombardment, is missing.

ATTACKS ON FORT VAUX. SITUATION UNCHANGED. PARIS, June 4. The situation at Fort Vaux is unchanged. The enemy did not attempt to develop Friday night's advantage. A further communique states : The enemy, after a violent bombardment, made several attempts to turn Fort Vaux from the south-east. A heavy attack at eight o'clock last evening from the ravine between the fort and Damloup gamed a footing in our trenches, but our immediate counter-attack completely repulsed the enemy. A further attack in the morning at the same point failed. June 5. A communique states : Our curtain fire stopped a German preparation for attack in the region of Hill 304. The enemy attacked the slopes of Fumin Wood, northwest of Fort Vaux, but our machine guns stopped the advance. Artillery damaged three German batteries at Caurettes Wood, and also caught and dispersed the enemy at Caillette Wood. German aeroplanes bombed Toul, killing six and injuing 10. Our squadron pursued and brought one down in our lines and two others in German lines. THE BRITISH LINES. NO MATERIAL ALTERATION. LONDON, June 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports : twenty-six of our aeroplanes bombed points of military importance with, it is believed, considerable damage. Gun fire brought one down. There was increased activity along the whole British front. On Saturday night a heavy bombardment north of Fricourt was followed by a German attack, which was driven back. Several British parties successfully raided trenches at various points. The Germans to-day heavily shelled north-west of Arras, and also Fricourt, Souchez, and Loos. There were artillery duels south of Arras. The situation at Ypres is unaltered, and bombardments continue. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. AMSTERDAM, June 4. A German communique states : The Wurtembergers stormed and captured a ridge south-eastward of Zillebeke and the

British position behind. We took prisoner a slightly wounded general. The British counter-attacks were easily repulsed. Six enemy attempts to penetrate our trenches south-westward of Vaux collapsed, with heavy losses. LONDON, June 4. A German communique states : Everywhere we repulsed several British attacks against their lost positions south-west of Ypres. Artillery fighting northward oi Arras continues. We repulsed a British reconnaissance. We easily repulsed a weak attack westward of Hill 304, west of the Meuse. Hard fighting between Caillette Wood and Damloup is proceeding in our favour. We took prisoner 500 French yesterday. Several enemy gas attacks westward of Markich had 'not the slightest effect. Enemy airmen killed several civilians in Belgium. WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT BUSY. June 1. There has recently been slightly more activity on the few miles of the 'British sector held by the New Zealanders, our artillery having stirred the enemy up on several occasions. Recently our guns put 300 18-pounder and howitzer shells on the German position in 40 seconds, and subsequently we fired another 303 upon the German trenches in four minutes. The shooting was excellent, the enemy wire being cut and the trenches badly damaged. This afforded a fine spectacular effect, enabling us to realise what a continued intensive bombardment over a larger area would be like. The enemy retaliated on our trenches, and searched unsuccessfully for our gun emplacements. Later they sent with great rapidity several high explosive shells into the town behind, killing a child and wounding a few civilians and soldiers. Our guns again promptly retaliated. The same day the Cermans determinedly shelled a church in the town, and a building was set on fire. A former aide-de-camp to a Governor, with a small band of New Zealanders, acting as a fire brigade, extinguished the flames in face of some unexploded shells remaining in the building. A great portion oi the town has been for some months in ruins, but several shops remain open, and a large number of dwellings are still occupied by civilians. A neighbouring suburb is almost totally destroyed, and is occasionally still furiously shelled by the enemy, but a fewinhabitants remain. The damaged shops and houses present a pathetic sight, yet one old woman pluckily keeps her establishment open in a badly-damaged building. Our men in the firing line make periodic night forays between the trenches, and occasionally meet opposing patrols. A southern member of Parliament recently led a night patrol up to the enemy's wire entanglements, and another member, with two lieutenants, has been busy with his company in the firing line. The men when out of the trenches are industriously training, there being much that is new to learn. During several visits to the firing line I found them well satisfied. The sick and wounded are well looked after, the arrangements being excellent.