In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 2, 6 December 1915, Page 5

In the West.

ANGLO-FRENCH CONFERENCE AT CALAIS. United Press Association. (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 5. The Press Bureau states that Mr Asquith, Lord Kitchener, Mr Balfour, and the military and naval advisers held a conference with Mm. Briand, Gallieni, and Lacazi, at Calais, to-day, and returned in the evening. ACTIVITY IN THE CHAMPAGNE. USE OF CAS AND LIQUID FIRE. - MASSES OF GERMANS WIPED OUT. SUPERIORITY OF FRENCH —r Me : MACHINE-GUNNERS. ‘!J V . / i C iParii, Decemberts,.r.( A correspondent writing from Champagne states;..that a large number of Germans from Russia are concentrating at St. Quentin, Laon, Mezieres, and elsewhere, which operations led to th 6 general belief that a renewal of the German offensive was impending, hut, apparently, General Voneinem’s attack between and Prosnes persuaded the enemy that the French lines were too strong. General Voneimen is holding a position of extraordinary strength, the trenches being cut in chalky rock, and is always threatening a sudden descent on the camp at Chalones. In the last big fight General Voneimen launched two divisions in the centre, the attack farm upon the R|ihipmVSfi|fepos road, and 'which wjil waves- of excepii<&aM^ thi‘o)igu tile a'Ftgr the came flaming liqilfd, but, this was ineffective. French sharpshooters picked off the sprayers, and the machines often sprayed the oncoming Germans. The enemy charged, at an ambling trot, which was in curious contrast to the elan of ,the French bayonet charges. French machine-guns soon reduced the' massed formation to disorderly groups, which were finally •wiped out. Recent fighting has proved that the superiority in machine guns has passed t 0 the French, whose gunners have developed all the German expert science.

JOFFRE’S SUCCESSOR.

AN UNCERTAIN APPOINTMENT.

(Received 11-35 a.m.)

Paris. December 5

Though the Journalist states that the Government does not intend to airpoint a successor to General .loflre to take direct command at the front, several newspapers assert that, a successor has already been chosen, vho will act in close collaboration with General Joffre. In some quarters General Castlenau is mentioned.