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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 926, 29 January 1917, Page 6

The recent fighting on the Western front—which it may reasonably be supposed is part of the “preliminary sparring” to the desperate struggle which will open i;i all its ! fury in a few weeks’ time—seems to have been of a much more violent nature than the somewhat at-1 tenuated messages received last night would indicate. Until one as-j certains the exact time of commence- 1 ment of the. various engagements, it would be idle to speculate as to whether there was any definite connection between the German onslaught on the west bank of the Meuse and the British activity in Belgium and on the Somme, or whether the re-! vival of activity in the different ■ sectors was merely a coincidence.) The heaviest fighting took place north-west of Verdun, where the Germans, after a violent bombard-' meat, launched tremendous attacks with well-tried troops on the region between Avocourt Wood and that grimly-named hill—the scene already of ghastly slaughter—le Mort Homme (Dead Man’s Hill). Driven, back with heavy losses on several occasions, the enemy eventually, forced a way into several trench elc-) mcnls on Hill 30-1 on Thursday, only to be driven out again next day. The result of this battle shows clearlythat the splendid defensive lines of i Verdun are as strong as ever, and that whatever temporary gains of a microscopic nature they might ichieve, the Germans are still mere-

Iy butting their heads against a stone wall in further attempts to capture Verdun the invincible. While apparently on a smaller scale, the British attack between the Anere and Somme was crowned with success, all objectives being reached, and 350 prisoners taken. Lc Transloy, the scene of the operations, is an important point, less than a mile west of the high road from Bapaume to Peronne. This road has already been cut at several points, notably at Sailly, Rancourt, and Bouchavesrres, and it is obviously the desire of the Allies to obtain full possession of it, in order to aid them in the coming great offensive, the first aim of which will undoubtedly be the capture of Bapaume and Peronne. With these points in British hands, the way will be cleared for a much greater advance even than that of last July-September. The British have not confined their attention to the Somme, but have been active all along their front, right up into Belgian Flanders, and everywhere they have met with success. Altogether, the news from the Western theatre is full of cheer.