In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 90, 22 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

ALLIES STRENGTHEN POSITIONS. United Press Association London, March 21. A semi official note says that successive waves of assault, at least a division strong, assailed Mori Homme,but could not gain a footing on the hill. The movements of troops suggest tlia L an attack on the French right wing is imminent, hut every day is being utilised to strengthen the positions.

AN ATTACK REPULSED Paris, March 21. A communique states: Our artillery at Haute Crevauchee destroyed the German reservoirs, releasing clouds of sulphurous gas. A fresh German division, using flaming liquids, attempted to extend their front west of the Meuse, between Avoncourt and Melancourt, but our guns broke up the attack, inflicting heavy losses.

COMMANDERS’ MESSAGES’. , London, March 21. General Sir Douglas Haig telegraphed to General Joffre: “While deploring the loss of gallant F renchmen in the great battle, the British army desires to assure you of their admiration of the heroic performances of the French army at Verdun, where Germany has chosen to break her strength in vain against the unconquerable soldiers of France.”

General Joffre replied: “The French army is confident that it will obtain results from which all the Allies will reap advantage. It remembers that the recent cajl upon the comradeship of the British army met with an immediate and complete response.

NO BRITISH FORCES ENGAGED. Paris, March 21. It is definitely confirmed that no British, Australians, j hor Canadians were fighting at Verdun, .aiitfauTLFf . • :dTiM» T /MT ■' j ‘ f'W. <y\Slk- ■ AT DOUAUMONT AND VAUX. V ■ '! ’ > Berlin, March 21. A communique states: For the purpose of preventing our further preparations against the enemy defensive works in the vicinity of Douaumont fort and Vaux .village, the French attacked the village with portions of a ,newly brought up division. They were repulsed with heavy losses. Wo shot down seven more enemy aeroplanes. London, March 20. The Times’, correspondent at Paris reports that-, the enemy, continues to squander men in further attempts to p^itftsa3t©| Jshq&Fjiepich position in the. neighbourhood of Vaux, and that these isolated attacks are difficult to reconcile with any comprehensive plan. ENEMY REPULSED IN BELGIUM. ARCONNE ARTILLERY ACTIVE. GERMAN PROGRESS WEST OF THE MEUSE. FOOT-BY-FOOT FIGHTING. The High Commissioner reports:— London, March 21 (4.30 p.m.^y In Belgium, an enemy reconnaisance which invaded the French lines north of Pont de Bosinghe was immediately driven out by a counter-attack. In tbe Argonne, the French artillery is very active on the border south of Choppy Wood. West of the Meuse, the Germans, after several repulses, in the course of the night, renewed their attempts on the front, Avcrcourt to Malaucourt where a bombardment by large calibre shells was continued without interruption, the attacks.being accompanied by jets of light fire thrown by detachments carrying special apparatus. Despite the losses inflicted on him, the enemy was able to capture, after foot-by-foot fighting, the south-east part called the Wood of Avcrcourt, which we occupied, of the Wood of Malancourt. All the enemy efforts to debouch from the wood were checked. The night was calm in other sectors of the region of Verdun.