VIOLENT FIGHTING AT CHAMPAGNE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13745, 7 April 1915, Page 5

VIOLENT FIGHTING AT CHAMPAGNE.

THREE WEEKS' CONTINUOUS

BATTLE

HAND TO HAND FIGHTING IN

THE TRENCHES

(Received April 6, 9.35 p.m.) London, April 6

Tho "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent says there has been an almost continuous battle in the Chamgagne region for three weeks, the French taking the offensive.

The fighting has been most violent north of le Mesnil les Hurlus. Nothing of Meßnil remains but a heap of ruins. It has been a perfect tempest of fire-swept ground for nearly a month, not a yard of ground being unploughed by shells.

There have been terrible struggles fcr the enemy's trenches, the melee being indescribable. Without room to fire the riflemen fought with unfixed bayonets, pickaxes, iron bars and their fists.

The French tenaciously hold the ground they have taken.