In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 82, 13 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

AN OFFICER'S STOJIY. EXPERIENCE OF SEVENTEEN DAYS. A FLIGHT OF RAVENS, FRENCH READY IN ALL PARTS. CONFIDENT, United Press Assooutiok. ' (Received 8.15 ii.m ) London, March 12. An officer who fought at Verdun says:. "For over seventeen (lays the Germans hurled their manses against our 'unshakable wall. Their aircraft reminded one of a flight of ravens. Notwithstanding an intense bombardment, our supply of ammunition is still enormous, and reinforcements are arriving at all parts ready to meet the new German troops which are constantly appearing. Nobody ' in. the [French Army feajp that the Germans villi; succeed in breaking through ' to

GERMAN PLANS ON BELGIUM. REPORTED PEACE MOVEMENT. « (Received 8.20 a.m.) London, M arch 12..' $, j The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent states that secret German organisations are attempting to establish a sort of provisional Belgian Government at Brussels. It has been pre-arranged for the purpose o 7 making a treaty of peace. • Several newspapers in Germany's pay are endeavoring to persuade the outside world that the Belgians accept the German occupation. LORD NORT H C LIFNE'S MESS ACE. REMARKABLE 1 CONTRAST IN THE TWO armies;'" ' IWM. lilN ABLE' At *f fc W'A L SL.'' ; EFFECT OF THE BLOtJkADE'. '- ; v; '* ! -. ? V .:■, j&eicivcd 8.45,,a.an.)!".7,'', ri :■ i ..A»:J ! «' T/oiftfoiJj, ! j -';' 'in a message'' to Mie'r>Vf.epi{|j- (Despatch, contrasts f the. ■line physffne and bearing"of the German prisoners at the jVfarne with the undersized"and badly-dressed prisoners" taken at Verdun. An indelible look of frighfclJ-S-rfitamped on their faces, "i11*,.; |is difficult to believe that the corps d'elite.. in a, han4- :^aj|d; counter"vgjjthj the speoulate(|!upon. which thej| are drugged and the cover of .two giant guns, enpbjed them to isVrvive the terror of the French, instance. No word has }weu hinted inJ|Germany of the horrible slaughter |bf :the Germany jthis. week> ThewAlliejf wall across France is impregnable the attempt to secure a definite military position. The German line; may be ditto, but the #s that Germany is besieged, and even a feeble blockade can deprive the German troops of proper clothes.

THE GERMAN CASUALTIES. London, March 12. The German casualty lists in February showed : —Dead, 21,625;/ prisoners and missing/ 3362. The aggregate casualties since the waiy exclusive*of the navnt'atid colonial casualties, are 2,667','372. ''•" * . ' >'. 'i>l: fji •■'•■ HUNDREDS OF HEAVY GERMAN GUNS. „ DESPERATE FRENCH RESISTANCE UPSETS PLANS, £ (Received 9.40 ; a.m.]i; . Paris; March 12. A German artillery officer who was taken prisoner states that the Germans have brought into battle hundreds of heavy guns, and advanced them in a solid block intending to blast their way through the French lines. They had mountains of shells, and were given the order to fire unceasingly until the gunners were exhausted, but the French artillery rained shells on the German batteries and forced them to disperse. The German supplies were disorganised.

and the infantry met with resistance, the deeperateness of which astonished the German commanders. Thus the whole initial plan ivas upset, and the Germans were forced to resort to isolated attacks. ACTIVE ARTILLERY FIGHTING. i ENEMY MOVE FRUSTRATED. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Paris, March 12. A communique states: There has. been active artillery lighting at Bois-des-Bute, and intense bombardment at Bethim-ourt, also east of Douaumont Fort, and in the region of Vaux Fort. The enemy attempted since Friday to reach Vaux Fort plateau. DESPERATE CERMAN COURAGE. (Received 11.40 a.m.) Paris, March 12. A French -officer says it is impossible not to admire the German bravery. In their attacks on Fort Vaux they 'tried its capture, regardless Of a fusilade, their desperate courage helping one another! on the steep slopes until they fell. THE OFFICIAL REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— London, March 12 (4.30 p.m.) North of the Aisne there has been very active artillery fighting in the region of Bois-de-Buttee. On,the left bank of the Mouse fairly intense bombardment is going on in the region of Bothincourt. On the right bank a small German grenade attack near Pepper Hill was easily repulsed. The bombardment continues violent east of Fort Douaumont and in the region of Vaux, where the enemy has made no fresh attempt to reach to the plateau around the fort. At the Woevre last evening, after artillery preparations, the Germans captured a, small trench adjoining the ; fcvaih\Roatl, north of Eix. , .