IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1916, Page 8

IN THE WEST.

ENEMY ATTACKS FAIL, EXCEPT AT ONE POINT. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT, Paris, June 2. A communique states: By our counter-attack- we advanced a hundred metres in the enemy's .communication trenches south of the Caurettes Wood. The enemy attack between tlie wood and Cumieres failed. There was an extremely stubborn battle day and night from Xhiaumont Farm to Vaux, also from Vaux Fort to Damloup. All the enemy assaults on the Thiaumont and Douaumont sector failed, but the enemy penetrated the southern portion of the Cailefte Wood and the outskirts of Vaux Pont. The enemy attacks at Vaux and Damloup afiled, with heavy losses. SHARP FIGHTING. AT YPP.ES AND VERDUN. UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE BEFORE VAUX; Wellington, Saturday. The High Commissioner reports from London, under date June 3, 2.5 a.m.:— There wirs sharp fighting on Friday in the Ypres salient, on a front of three thousand yards. Following artillery activity oil Thursday, the Germans began an intense sustained artillery fire, followed by infantry attacks, penetrating our front at several points, but were repulsed elsewhere. , v On Thursday night, after combined artillery 'bombardment, op infantry penetrated the German trenches, but subsequently withdrew. The German statement that strong English forces were tepulsed in this vicinity is untrue. \ On the left bank of the Melise th»re was a heavy artillery fire in thp sector at Hill 304 and between Mort Homme and the Meuse. On the right bank there was a powerful German' offensive all day. The continuous attacks were led with compact enemy masses following unceasingly. A magnificent resistance wa9 offered by our troops, who retained the mastery. West of the Vaux fort our counterattacks replied to each German attack. All enemy progress was stopped in front of Fort Vaux, which the Germans sought to capture at all costs. The struggle reached unprecedented violence. Storming columns were mown down by our guns and machine-guns and suffered enormous losses. Enemy masses of reinforcements were caught 'by fire of our heavy guns and driven back in disorder. THE BATTLE OF VERDUN. APPROACHING ITS ZENITH. ENEMY'S STUBBORNNESS. Received June 4, "i.5 p.m. Paris, June 3. A says: Two German attacks at Fillemorte, in the Argonne, were defeated. The Germans repeated their furious assaults on Fort Vaux, and despite the ravages in their ranks, parties entered the fosse at the north fort All attacks east and west failed. Senii-oflieinl: The enemy at Verdun has ;riven the impression of being otKgid to finish as quickly as possible in order fo delay or prevent an offensive by the allies. There can be no other explanation of their stubbornness for several days in continuing the battle despite their terrific losses. The contiim'ty of the offensive in the last twenty-four hours indicates that the battle has reached a, culminating point, and the result appears to be clearly in our favor,