ON THE WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 7

ON THE WEST FRONT

FRENCH AIRCRAFT ACTIVE v London, December 2§. ■' A French communique stales:'—Thirteen British naval aeroplanes dropped a ton of bombs on the blast furnaces at Dillingen. • .--''.. • French aeroplanes heavily bombarded -the railway stations at Montmedy .and Pierrepont (east of Longuyon), the factories at Thionville • and Jocuf-en-Briey, and coalfield blast furnaces at Rombach. and Hacoudangy. .TwodirU jxibles the factories at Hacoiidangy and the ironworks at . Neukir-chen.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■ ■ RAIDS ANDMFIGHTS ARTILLERY DUEL NEAR VERDUN ' (Rec. December 29, 8.30 p.m.) ; London, .December i 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports that enemy raids north-west of Gommecourfc wpro repulsed. The enemy fired 'many gas shells in the neighbourhoods of Arras and Lens. In air combats six hostile machines wore brought down.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. Paris, December 20. There is vigorous mutual ■ artillery cannonading at.Mort Homme and Hill 304.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. POSITION SUMMARISED MANY SQUARE MILES GAINED (Ree. December 29, 8.30 p.m.) London, December 29. Router's Headquarters correspondent, summarising the conditions on the British front for the expiring year, says tho enemy advanced a few acres in' two places. Wo gained thrice as many square miles. The enemy casualties, including Verdun, are well on towards one and a quarter millions. Tho British, lino is nearly'twice as strong as at the end of 1915, and cannon crash in scores where a year ago they did so in isolated pairs.—Router.

SAUNTERING THROUGH THE WAR REPINGTON'S CRITICISM (Roe. December .29, 8.30 p.m.) London, December 29. Colonel Repington, "The Times" military correspondent, says: "The Allies should place on the West front at least sixty now divisions, with their proper complement of guns of all calibres. The divisions can he drawn partly from Eastern expeditions as soon as Indian and African formations can replace them. It is also possible to copy tho Germans, and take three infantry battalions from old divisions and form them into new divisions. Some must bo new creations, formed From tho reserves of the manhood of Britain and the Dominions. Wo. aro sauntering through the war when we havo four millions' of military ago in civil life. Our age limit is still four years bolow tho German standard. Wo

have not yet answered Germany's masslevy. Our reserve-of manhood is larger than Germany's.—"The Times." TRENCH CHRISTMAS , . ""WON'T TOO COME OVER, TOMMY, . DEAR?" (Rec. December 29, 5.50 p.m.) London, December 28. Mr. Phillip Gibbs says the Germans were anxious to spend Christmas peace-, fully, arid did not seek trouhle,. apart from a. few raids and artillery duels from Ypres to the Sommo. Tho Tommies listened to the German carols and concert, but kept their rifles ready, in the event of raids. The Germans occasionally invited a truce, vainly shouting "Won't you come over, Tommy, dear?" Our men; pcriscoped, and watched the Germans baling water in the trenches, crawling from under falling parapets, and struggling up to their necks in shell-holes filled with ice-cold water. At some points the troops exchanged news, throwing cigar-boxes containing letters. ~\ " Tho drying-rooms are warmed with" a charcoal stove.-which is the latest British preventive for "trench foot." Tho troops -.holding the trenches cheerfully waited till Boxins Day for their Christmas dinner, enabling then to enjoy it under more, comfortable "ir'rnumlings at the. rear.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.