In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 48, 26 June 1915, Page 5

In the West.

THE ENEMY’S SHELL FIRE. OPPOSING FRENCH PRESSURE IN THE ARCONNE. Times and Sydney Sun Service, (Received 8 a.m.) London. June 25. The Times’ correspondent at Paris says: The Germans are vigorously attacking in the Argonne, Lorraine, in order to relieve the increasing pressure of the French push towards Lens. The operations illustrate the overwhelming importance of shellfire. Day and night the Germans are pouring a stream of high explosives on to the French line, one sector having hurled twenty shells per yard for hours on a front of 220 yards.

CHECKS TO ENEMV’S OFFENSIVE. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Paris, June 25. A communique states: \V e attack 4 ed between Congre and Souchez, and made further progress, a counter-at-tack at the labyrinth being repulsed. The Germans delivered a violent attack on our whole front at Calonne. They hurled asphyxiating bombs, and threw burning liquid over our men, and peneterated a portion of their old second line, but our counter-attack drove them out. The enemy attempted at midnight a fresh offensive, but were caught within our curtain of fire and dispersed with heavy losses. Infantry attacks on our trenches at Reichackerkoff were stopped by arteillery and infantry. A German aeroplane dropped five bombs harmlessly on the Sanatorium at Zuydcooto. ENEMY’S POWDER MILL BLOWN UP. (United Pan** Association.] • (Received 9.15 a.m.) Amsterdam, June 25. A powder mill in the RuthlandHaentz district was considerably damaged by an explosion, and six persons were killed. THE WESTERN FRONT. The High Commissioner reports:— \ London (1.10 a.m.), June 25. Army officers killed 81, wounded 159, gassed 2, missing 14, prisoners 2. Men gas killed 2, killed 2/7, wounded 305. gassed 0, missing 80. In the region north of Arras the French consolidated the captured positions. The enemy violently bombarded BerrV-au-Brac and a neighbouring village, but there was insignificant loss. In the Argonne and on the heights of the Meuse, there was only artillery action. A local German attack was repulsed in the Vosges. The enemy bombarded tbe borders of Metzeral, the crests east of the village, where French progress sligtly accentuated. London (5.25 p.m.). Juno 25.

, The High Commissioner reports:— North of Arras the French attacked during the night between Angies and Souchez. and made further progress. A German counter-attack at , the labyrinth was repulsed. A violent bombardment of the French tren- , dies followed, and the French were ! repulsed. In Champagne, near j Rheims. and in the region of. Perthes, the enemy yesterday and at night ex- , ploded two mine chambers, but did .not follow up with an infantry attack or occupy the entities, which wen 1

under the fire of the French trenches, j In the Argonne at Vanquois, there \ was mino-fighting. On the heights of ; the Meuse, at the Calonne trench, || the Germans violently attacked along 1 the whole front, ami accompanied the I attack with asphyxiating bombs and , burning liquids. .After succeeding in patrolling part of their old second line, they wore thrown back by auJ : energetic counter-attack. At midnight the enemy again attempted 1 the offensive and was caught by on r cross-i'ire and dispersed with hem-y

losses. In Lorraine, the enemy tw.hce attempted to re-take the lost .trenches at Lailitre,y, and was completely repulsed. hi the Vosges, two German infantry attacks, directed after a violent Immbardment of the French trenches at Reicharkerkoff, were cheeked by artillery and infantry. A German aeroplane on Thursday threw five bombs on The Sanatorium at Znvdcoote, inflicting no damage.

FRENCH WAR -CREDITS PASSED.

Paris, June 25

rile Chamber voted the war credits

M. Viviani said: I'he task is hard* and perhaps long, huh me shall face it. Every man at his .pout can have confidence at this time when we are carrying out the re-organisation of our industries.

The Chamber also considered the Dal hie/. Bill ousting shirkers from safe billets by moans of penalties of two to five years’ inflicted on “soft job men,” and their protectors. A mixed committee of meai and masters lias been formed to bring cases of shirking to the notice of the authorities and discovering :tho names of men at the front who are> required in the. workshops. i