In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 88, 20 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTION AT VAUX. ALLIED AIRCRAFT BUS 7. United Tress Association. Paris, March 18. A communique says: We carried out a concentrated fire on the German trenches towards Hill 265 and Crows' Wood, also a violent artillery action in the Vaux region. Our long-range guns all night bombarded the Aupremont-Vigneulles road, where the enemy regiments were marching from the north. Seventeen aeroplanes dropped forty bombs an Conflans station, and fourteen on Metz station. There were many explosions along the lines. Three were fired on at the Metz-Sab-lon station, and other aeroplanes dropped ten bombs on the Aerodrome at Dieuze, and caused a fire at Armavilla station. A communique says: A series of partial enemy attacks between Vaux village and Haudremont farm were stopped before they reached our trenches.

LOSSES AT VERDUN. TALK OF "THE DAY." - Paris, March 18. The German losses at Verdun exceed 300,000. German prisoners state that they were assured Verdun would be the last great battle. A wave of depression and discontent had swept over the Crown Prince's army owing to the poorness of food and illtreatment by the officers. Suddenly, in the middle of January, the attitude of the officers changed,' and by orders from headquarters they began to mix with the men and talk familiarly about the offensive. The rations were increased and the pay raised. The men weVe told that a mass of artillery and huge reinforcements were coming and that the war would be over before the summer. Then the men took heart, particularly when troops arrived from Russia, who were in the best humor owing to escaping the terrible climate-in. Batteries of heavy artillery arrived from all parts; the cavalry were rehorsed ; and the men were ordered to advance, they firmly believing that "The Day" had come. GERMAN WASTAGE OF SHELLS. Paris, March 19. It is dstimated that the Germans at Vevdcm employed three thousand guns deluding a dozen 16m. howitzers throwing projectiles of a ton weight Five million shells were fired during the first fortnight, including 100,000 on Douaumont in ten hours. FRENCH WAR MINISTER. Paris, March 17. General Gallieni, Minister of War, has resigned owing to ill-health, and General Roques has succeeded him,,.., BELGIAN RELIEF FUNDS, AUSTRALIA'S WONDERFUL RESPONSE. j

London,- March 18. The National Committee of Relief for Belgium states that out of £1,400,000 transferred to Hoovers, commission to the end of February, £737,463 'came from Australia and £291,759 from New Zealand. GERMAN ARDOR WANING. CONFIDENCE BEING BROKEN. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Paris, March 19. Semi-official—The latest fighting in the Verdun, region showed that the enemy's ardor is daily waning and their confidence is victory is being increasingly shaken. It is now foreseen that the successive hursts must gradually ease off, because the enemy was destined to be broken against the fortress.

OFFICIAL REPORTS!. The High Commissioner reports: London, March 19 (4.40 p.m.) East of the Meuse, after violent bombardment, the Germans yesterday directed a fairly lively attack on the French front at Yaux and Damloup. The attack was repelled by a curtain of fire, and the enemy offensive was completely checked. In the course of the night, there was no infantry action, but the artil lery was intermittently active on all sectors of the region of Verdun. Five French aviators bombed Mazasbonz railway station and munitions depots at Chateau Saline and at Dioutzo aerodrome, discharging thirty heavy calibre shells altogether, including twenty at Metz. j Twenty-three French aeroplanes discharged seventy-two projectiles on the aviation field at Hapheim and the station for merchandise at Malbouse.