In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 91, 23 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

THE VERDUN STRUGGLE. OFFENSIVE BROKEN BY THE FRENCH. i Umtid Pbesr Assocutiom . Paris, March 21. All newspapers declare that a forma! assurance has been given by France { that she has now broken Germany's offensive at Verdun. "FLAMMSNDERFER." EFFORTS OF THE ENEMY. (Unitbd Pbwm Amooiatww i London, March 21. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that the German attack at a point on the left of the Meuse front is a confession of failure at Verdun. Throughout Monday morning heavy batteries on Mount Faucan shelled the trenches southward <f Malancourt, which is the meeting point of the French Argonne and Verdun armies. A division of reserve troops in the afternoon launched an attack eastward of Malancourt, and although broken by heavy losses they obtained a footing in a section of the French trenches, with the idea of breaking through and then turning on | the strong ramparts of Hill 304 and 1 Mort Homme.

The attack was renewed in the evening, under cover of a continuous bombardment. This continued all night long with some success, the French retiring step by step, but driving back successive charges. The French abandoned Avocourt Wood, remaining in the village.

I Preceding the infantry a body of pioneers advanced ( every fourth man carrying a huge cylinder, with others (manipulating a long tube of "flammm- ' derfer," throwing a jet of flame for I forty yards, with black smoke smelling like strong tar. The German gain of a few hundred yards was unimportant.

j THE LOSSES AT VERDUN. i DISASTROUS EFFECT UPON GERMAN PUBLIC OPINION. if PUBLICATION OF FIGURES URGED. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Geneva, Mar.ch 22. | Advices from Berlin state that the Verdun defeat has had a disastrous effect upon public opinion. I The Bavarian Stoats Zietung denounces the sinister agitation, which is undermining confidence -in the Government, and recommends the publication of the approximate losses on both sides at Verdun with a view to proving the baselessness of the rumours. OPERATIONS WITH ARTILLERY. (Received 9.55 a.m.) I . Paris, March 22. A French communique states; Operations in the Meuse district are confined to a lively artillery duel' westward of the river and an intense bombardment on the eastward. FURTHER ASSAULTS PENDINC.

London, March 21. . The Times' correspondent says that the lull at Verdun is not accepted as indicative that the-Germans , have abandoned the '-'•thrust. Concentration movements - of -troops .show that further assaults are contemplated. • '- <J_ ~ l OFFICIAL NEWS. The High Commissioner reports : London, March 22 (3.25 p.m.) East of the,Meuse there was lively aftillery diiel in the region ol Malancourt, Esnes, and Hill 304, : i beii4 particularly violent on the Manielb'n 1 : d'Haucourt sector.

East of the Meuse there was intense bombardment in the region of Vaux and Damloup, but there was no infantry action in the course of the night. The night was calm on*the rest of the front. BALLOONIST'S EXCITING EXPERIENCE. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Paris, March 22. The rope attached to a captive balloon while at a height of 11,500 feet over French front broke, and the occupant was compelled to use a parachute by which to descend. This did not open until after a drop of 150 feet, and then it planed gently. The balloonist alighted five hundred yards outside the German trenches and turned to the French lines.