In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 20, 24 May 1915, Page 5

In the West.

FRENCH OFFICIAL NOTE. “DEFINITE MASTERY OVER ENEMY.” Txmkh avu Sydney Sun Seuvioe. (Received 8 a.m.) London, May *2B. A French official .Note, reviewing the fighting Iron) April 24th to May 18th, states: The operations resulted in the complete driving hack of the enemy. On the evening ol the l<th our offensive, by continual pressure, had established definite mastery over the enemy, whose losses were truly formidable: ours wen' more wounded than killed. It can he asserted that before this decisive engagement, we had obtained the moral ascendancy, summing up a series ol violent actions, We carried by storm three villages, four lines of fortifications, and three powerful redoubts. We killed 1000 Germans, and destroyed at least three regiments, causing the abandonment of advanced positions. The action was singularly expensive to Germany.

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Unite n Peehk Association. London, May 23. Victoria Crosses have been awarded to: — Private Anderson (Yorkshires), for bombing a large party of the enemy who entered the'British trendies at Neuve Chapeile, and saved what might have become a serious situation. Private Dwyer (East Surreys), who climbed a parapet at Hill 60, and drove off with grenades a party of Germans and with hand grenades attacking the trenches. Private Morrow (Irish Fusiliers), rescuing under heavy tire several men buried in the debris of a wrecked trench.

Lieutenant Moorehouse (New Zealand). bombing Coutrai railway and afterwards flying thirty-five miles though mortally wounded to report the accomplishment of the task.

Lieutenant Woolley (9th London Battalion), for holding a trench at Hill 60 under heavy fire until relieved.

AEROPLANE BOMBS' IN PARIS. (Received 8.10 a.m.) Paris, May 23. An aeroplane dropped three bombs in Paris, but they did no harm. The machine was driven off. FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT. (Received 8.-15 a.m.) Paris, May 23. A communique states: We repulsed several attacks last night , north of Ypres, east of the Yser Canal, Northeast and south-east of the plateau at Lorette village, and at the cemetery at Neuville, and we inflicted very heavy losses. The enemy gained a footing in an advanced trench at Neuville, but were driven out, leaving many prisoners. The enemy exploded many mines at Argonne. Strong forces attempted to occupy the 'craters, but our infantry, under a storm of bombs and grenades, threw them back to the original line, inflicting heavy losses.

OH A GERMAN DRIVE.

BRITISHERS SUCCESS IN FRANCE (Received 12.10 p.ra.) Loudon, May 23. “Eye-witness” describes the driving out of the Germans from entrenchments in the area between the Lichbonrg and Festubert salients. The Britishers pressed on them on three sides and subjected them to cross fire from several directions, and owing to the continuous bombing the position became untenable. Over three hundred surrendered. The Britishers joined bands and pressed the enemy further eastward, forcing them from one post after another until entire groups! surrendered. Meanwhile the Britishers’ front at Festubert progressed to a point south of that place, where they met strong resistance, and a series oi desperate hand-to-hand combats with the bayonet and hand grenades followed. (Received 12.45 p.m.) London, .May 23. “Eye-witness” continues: As the Germans were outflanked and enlilladed at many points, their losses were very heavy. There was no room to escape, and the narrow trenches, meaning either death or surrender, made a horrible sight. The trenches were heaped with German corpses, many having been blown to pieces by the initial bombardment. The Germans on the extreme l ight were pressed back in such large numbers that they formed an excellent target, and four machine guns, which were posted north of Givenchy, did great execution by night. In all we held the whole of the front trenches from Festubert to Bichebourg. Among the strangest spectacles of the war is the masses of Saxon surrenders, who, standing amid the dead and dying with their hands raised, were being butchered by their own comrades before Britishers’ eyes, j

BETWEEN THE SEA AND ARRAS. Tlio H if-cli Coiuissioner reports under date London, 23rd -May ,5.20 p.m.:— Last night several ol' the enemy counter-attacked between the sea and Arras, but were everywhere repulsed with heavy losses. At the Argonne, the Gormans, exploding several mines near onr positions, tried to occupy with large forces the cavities made, but our infantry threw them hack on their own lines, inflicting heavy losses. ith a shower of bombs and grenades, the repulse of the enemy was complete.