WAR IN THE WEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 617, 1 February 1916, Page 7

WAR IN THE WEST.

i EXTRAORDINARY ACTIVITY. DESTRUCTIVE FRENCH BOMBARDMENT. PARIS, January 31. An official communique says:— “We carried out a destructive bombardment of the enemy’s depots at | Sallaumines, south-east of Lens, and I of German parks and bivouacs north ! of Yimy. “We also destroyed an enemy work opposite Soupix, north of the Aisne, annihilating the garrison.” TERRIFIC FIGHTING. GRAVE HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE. PARIS, January 31. Almost continuous terrible hand-to-hand lighting in Artois lasted for 72 hours. The Germans made 10 attacks during the week, with only slight success at, Frise. French oflicers consider that the | operations represent the enemy’s jmaximum effort. I The Germans, in the north, sacrificed nearly a division, and the ground near Xeuville St. Vaast was so hotly contested that the dead remained unburied, and many of the enemy's wounded were left to die. Southward of Lens trenches were I taken and retaken. The Germans lower down the line made a-gas attack with some success. The German infantry stormed French trenches over a front of nearly a mile. They met a desperate defence. The slaughter was terrific, entire companies of . the enemy’s troops being mowed down. Fierce lighting took place in the mine craters, and when their grenades were exhausted the antagonists ! fought with their hands, j The French have already recovered much of the ground taken by the enemy. A GERMAN CLAIM. ENGLISH PRISONERS TAKEN. AMSTERDAM, January 31. ! The Germans claim that the prisoners captured at Frise included 'some English troops.