In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 96, 29 March 1916, Page 5

In the West.

SUCCESS FOR THE BRITISH. (Unitmu Pbbbb Amooution.l London, March 27. A Berlin wireless message states; ! A British mine damaged our position 'at St. Eloi, Ypres, blowing up over a i hundred yards of our trenches and I causing casualties. The English again shelled Lens. General Haig reports: We were successful in crater fighting near Hohenzollern. The enemy opposite Hullnch exploded mines, damaging our trenches, and we established ourselves in the crater. The Northumberland Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers, after a mine explosion, assaulted the German salient at St. F.loi, successfully taking the first and second lines along a front of six hundred yards. The enemy sustained heavy casualties. OFFICIAL NEWS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, March 28 (3.20 p.m.) The night Was calm cast of the Meuse. Artillery on both sides was rather active west of the region of Malancourt, Woevre,and the sector at tire foot hills of the Meuse. In the Lorraine forest at Parroy, a coup-de-main was effected on an enemy work. We took the occupants prisoners and blew up the work on retirement. ALLIES WAR CONGRESS WORK OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE United Pees* Arroci*t.(v» Paris, March 27. The great council of all the Allies opened amidst intense interest. It is expected tire conference will evolve coordinated plans j and plans of supreme importance in respect of the future operations. At the conclusion of the Paris conference Mr Asquith goes to Rome, where there will be a further conference next week. Possibly Mi Lloyd George will accompany him. The Daily Telegraph Paris correspondent says that the historic conference was opened at the Qnai d Oi say, in the same room in which the Congress of Paris sat in 1856. It is understood the conference provisionally considers an economic war, thus laying down the broad lines for a purely economic conference next month. Thirty-seven delegates, revaesenting eight nations, are participating in the war congress. THE GERMANS’ INTENTION. DESTRUCTION OF VERDUN. GRAPHIC PEN PICTURE. (Received 8.10 a.m.) Pans, March 28. Mr Simms, correspondent of the United Press of America, who visited Verdun, says:— The Germans are bent on the destruction of the city. They daily hurl 350 of the largest incendiary shells on the business and residential districts, where several fires are raging simultaneously. Verdun is 'becoming another Rheims. This scene is gripping in its awfulness, the conflagration hi the city being accompanied by a deafening roar, the crest of Douaumont, which the French are shelling, resembling Vesuvius. The German shells exploding on the southern slopes Hashed out like huge smoke from geysers. The officers say they ask nothing better than that the Germans will continue the attacks, as each attempt increases their losses. The Verdun sector is like a gigantic ant-hill, on which men and transports swarm unceasingly. The French guns and munitions seem to be unlimitedCOMBINED ALLIED ACTION. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Milan, March 28. Le Stampa, discussing the Paris conference, states that the western commanders agreed that Germany must not he allowed any facility foi accumulating forces against a single Ally. This must he met by a crushing combined action. The presence of the Allied Premieis in Paris gives the whole weight to this agreement, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MEETS APRIL 27. (Received 10.5 a.m.) London, March 28. , The International Parliamentary Conference meets at the French Senate House on April 27, and lasts for four days. All the Allies will be represented. Japan sends seven members of Parliament. The agenda paper includes matters of the commercial relations, compensation for war damages, reduced postal rates, international patents office, and international clearing house.

THE BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES (Received 8.10 a.m.) London, March 28. Ministerial circles declare that all along it was intended that Mr Bonar Law should attend the economic conference, hut a misapprehension arose, Mr Lloyd George stating that Mr Rnneiman was the principal delegate.