GERMAN ATTACKS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1266, 4 March 1918, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACKS.

FIGHTING IN THE WEST. FRENCH HEAVILY ASSAILED. (A. & NX"* Router) LONDON, March 1. A French communique states:— There is an intense artillery duel in the region north and north-west of Rheims and in the Champagne. South-west of the Butte du Mesnil the enemy, after being driven out by counter attacks from some points, re-assaulted with fresh forces, and after several unsuccessful attempts with heavy losses, regained a footing in part of the positions which we had captured on February 13. The enemy violently bombarded our first lines cm the front Beau-mont-Chaume Wood, also at Soucheprez, where a big raid was repulsed at two points last night. In to-day's attacks American troops were in contact with special raiding troops. The Americans everywhere held their lines intact, inflicting appreciable losses. March 2. There is intense artillery lighting at many points from the Chemin des Dames to the Meuse. The enemy is aggressively active, notably northwest and south-east, of Rheims. lie attempted to debouch against our salient at Neufchatel, but our counter-attack drove out the elements which had succeeded in getting a footing in our advance posts. Simultaneously he fruitlessly attacked at La Pompelle, then violently re-attacked, making renewed efforts to reach the fort of La Pompelle. Isolated elements succeeded in gaining a footing in the northern portion of a small work west of the fort. An element, also abortively attacked east and south of La Beatonerie. , In the Germans attacked in the direction of Mont Cornillet on a front of 800 metres, 1 but found that our trenches had previously been evacuated under in-1 structions. The enemy was imme-1 diately driven out by our counter- j attack, and the position entirely re-1 established. Our fire broke another attack east of the Teton, and we inf:icted_serious losses. A violent bombardment is proceeding south-west of Butte 'hi Mesnil. Enemy raids in Lorraine and the Yosges were repulsed. Later. Two enemy columns attacked last night east of Chavignon, but were thrown back, with heavy losses, after violent hand-to-hand fighting. Another attempt east of Corbeny was equally unsuccessful. There is lively mutual artillery activity between the Meurthe and the Aisne and the sector at Rheims, where a civil hospital was set afire and systematically bombarded during the fire. The enemy bombarded our first lines in the Champagne last night, notably the mountainous region at Suippes and in the direction of the Butte du Mesnil, to the west of which an enemy attack was driven back, except at one point. Simul-

taneously a powerful enemy raid east of Suippes was completely defeated. There is considerable artillery activity in the Woevre. One of our crews carried out a photographic reconnaissance as far as Marienburg, 80 kilometres behind the enemy's lines. POSITIONS RE-ESTABLISHED. (A. & N.Z. & Router) LONDON, March 3. A French communique slates:—We completely re-established our lines at La Pompelle, where the enemy attacked on Friday night. Lively artillery duels are in progress on the right bank of the Meuse and north of Bezonvaux. AMERICANS IN STIFF FIGHT. (A. & N.Z.) NEW YORK, March 2. The Americans completely repulsed a strong German attack at St. Mihiel. There were many casualties on both sides. (Reuter) WASHINGTON, March 2. Reuters correspondent at Headquarters reports that the raid upon the St. Mihiel salient was preceded by a gas attack. The ground in front of the trenches was strewn with German dead. The Americans lost many killed and wounded. An American captain led his company into No-Man's Land after the Germans had been repulsed, and decimated them with machine-guns. The captain was killed. DEFENCE OF ZEEBRUGEE. (Renter) AMSTERDAM. March 1. The frontier correspondent of the "Telegraaf" states that the Germans are continuously thinking out new methods for the defence of Zeebrugge from the sea and in the air. They send up nightly captive balloons fastened to elect rifled steel wire, which forms a great danger to airmen who come in contact with it. The new German aeroplanes are fitted with three screws, one of which is so arranged that it keeps the machine stationary for some time, permitting more accurate bombing. Marine nets are spread far seaward, and smaller submarines are now being built. ENEMY CLUTCHING AT STRAWS. Australian and N.Z. Cahle Association. (Roc. March 4, 11.40) NEW YORK, March 3. The United Press Hague correspondent has learned authoritatively that the German Liberals and Socialists are trying to convince FieldMarshal Ludendorff that he should postpone the WesT front offensive until President Wilson's answer to von Herding shows whether it is necessary. ENEMY SUFFERS HEAVILY. A. and N.Z. Cahle Association and Reuter. (Rec. March 4, 10.35) LONDON, March 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We successfully raided south-westward of Armentieres and repulsed attempted raids in the neighbourhoods of St. Quentin, Arleux-cn-Gohelle and Pontretet, inflicting considerable casualties on the enemy. GERMAN CLAIMS. A. and N Z. Cable Association and Reuter. ■Admiralty 'per -Wireless Press. (Rec. March 4, 10.15) LONDON, March 3. A German official message slates: Eastward of Rheims we forced our I way to Fort Pompelle, which was destroyed. We recaptured sections of trenches south-eastward of Tahure, and stormed trenches southward of Laucourt. . . We penetrated the American trenches north-eastward of Soticheprez, inflicting heavy casualties.