HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 17658, 16 February 1916, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

The High Commissioner reports, London, 14th February, 5.15 p.m.:— South of the Somme the French yesterday attacked German works south of Frise and succeeded in occupying portions of the German trenches. A coun-ter-attack was stopped by the French fire, by which a German company was decimated and a hundred prisoners and several mitrailleuses taken.

The prisoners stated that the enemy losses were considerable.

* In Champagne, in the course of an enemy attack, yesterday east of the road from Tahure to Somepy, the French exploded three mines under the advanced trenches. The enemy’s attempts to push on to the French support trenches completely failed. Despite serious losses the enemy maintained himself there. In Upper Alsace on Sunday night a new enemy infantry action east of Seppois was preceded by a violent bombardment. It gave the Germans possession of about two hundred metres of trenches, but an immediate counter-attack gave the French the greater part of the lost ground back again. Violent artillery actions continue this week.

The High Commissioner reports, London, 12.50 a.m., 15th: — Petrograd reports a gas attack near Dvinsk and an artillery duel in the Caucasus. .One Erzeroum fort has been captured after an explosion caused by our artillery. Many Turks were taken prisoner and much munitions. Belgian artillery exploded a munition depot north of Boesinghe. Owing to' the intense bombardment directed by the Germans on the position cast of Seppols in Alsace, we evacuated the positions, which were entirely destroyed. The enemy’s reinforcements were caught by our Are in the same region.