In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 27, 1 June 1915, Page 5

In the West.

- HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS. REPORT FROM THE TRENCHES. SOLDIERS SUPPORT KITCHENER. Wnitwu Prkii \mt.<OJ'Tio* (Uc:eived 9.0 a.m.) London, May 31. The Morning Post correspondent in the north of France, who made it his particular business to inquire into the shell supply of the army, says lie was assured from a number of reliable sources that the artillery was doing splendidly, and while high explosive shells were certainly required in an ever-increasing quantity, "the situation is altogether exaggerated in some quarters," to quote an expression from the front.

The correspondent goes on. "We are dynamiting our way through the German defences, much the same as the French are, blowing parapets to bits, and lining it rapidly and well in certain instances. We have been into a German trench and had the occupants trembling with fear. Their dug-outs and trenches were concreted and steel plated, but, notwithstanding this, were rendered absolutely untenantable.

"f find among the soldiers widespread indignation against the attacks on Lord Kitchener, and it is logically urged that if the matter is really meant patriotically, serious representations in the right quarter would have sufficiently called attention to any grievance." "From other sources, it is stated that the alleged scandal of the shortage of shells has been grossly exaggerated for political purposes of a crisis solely, and the result has been personal quarrels at the Admiralty and War Office."

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

London, May 31

Official:—On the right bank of the Vser we carried the whole of the German trenches at Hilt 17 in the Pilken region, capturing fifty prisoners and three quickfirers. A violent artillery duel continues on the sector north of Arras. We attacked a great German work known as the labyrinth, southeast of Neville anil St. Vaast. The action was hot, but we progressed four hundred metres and made many prisoners. We carried more trenches at Hois Le Pretre, and repulsed an attack on the schnepfoureith range and captured" the enemy's trench.

With the capture of Ablain the Germans lose what is considered the most strongly defended position after Notre Dame Lorette. Ablain had two thousand defenders, witli a hundred machine guns, of which many were destroyed by high explosive shells. The Germans had connected the houses by underground ways in which they sheltered during the French bombardments, emerging with maxims to meet the French bayonet charges. The French, therefore, had to blow up the houses one by one, and did not leave a wall standing, to prevent an ambuscade. The Germans converted numerous factories and colliery works westward of Lens into veritable blockhouses.

Sir John French reports further, small gains at Festubert since tho 28th. Otherwise matters are quiet on our front. j A British aeroplane brought down a German aviator in the neighbourhood of Moorslede. Dunkirk, May 31 There lias been violent fighting eastward of Dixmude. The Germans recaptured the La Yiolette farm. At 1 Sudestukvekenskerke the Belgians and the French vigorously counter-attack-ing, expelled the enemy, taking SSU prisoners and capturing machine guns. The Daily Mail says the Germans are using a new combination of shell, which by a simple manipilation enables it to be used as shrapnol, scattering small or large fragments. It can also be made a high explosive shell, but the most tenia -kable effect can bo given by its high penetrative 'power and exploding in lour seconds.