ON THE WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2959, 23 December 1916, Page 9

ON THE WEST FRONT

EFFECT OF SOMME OFFENSIVE Paris, December 21. ' General Delayroix, analysing the re- ■ suits of the Somme offensive upon Verdun, bays ihat'the situation in June was serious. The Germans had twenty-two divisions, with six hundred batteries, in action, and twelve divisions in reserve. The Franco-British" offensive, by July 9, had compelled eleven of the reserve divisions to be engaged on the Somme..'-'.' Finally'the.GermansWere obliged to detach units from . allthe .calmer sections of the front. '' During \fuly the Crown Prince was. compelled to give up a hundred batteries, and during August he gave up part of his "infantry, and aeroplaiies ; _ Only 18£ divisions were left in October, \vhen another hundreff* Batteries were taken.—Reuter. AEROPLANE ACTIVITY HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS ' London, December 21. A. French communique states:—lt is calm on the whole West front. Our aeroplanes heavily bombed several railways, also hutments and bivouacs, and convoys on the march.— Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. A TON OF EXPLOSIVES DROPPED BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES ' 1 (Re'c. December 22,11.30'p.m;) London, December 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"A strong raiding party were promptly ejected. "TVe successfully -raided trenches southward of Armentieres. . "Aeroplanes dropped a ton of explosives /it points of military importance behind the enemy's lines."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GAS APPARATUS'DESTROYED BY FRENCH ARTILLERY (Reo. December 23, 1.30 a.m.) Paris, December 22. The enemy violently bombarded the sector Louvemont-Vaux. We replied. In the course of other artillery work we destroyed the gas apparatus between. Berry a'u Bac and Reims.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Reuter. ' " ' GENERAL CASTLENAU APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF Paris, December 21. . .General Castelnau. has,been-appoint-ed 1 Chief-of-Staff of. the. French armies in tlie North.—Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn. ' CHIEF OF STAFF ' FRENCH APPOINTMENT ; (Rec. December 22, 11.30 p.m.), Paris, December 22.i General Nivelle has appointed General Pout Chief, of the Staff. V ' ■■ ' '