In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 17 April 1916, Page 5

In the West.

THE VERDUN SECTOR. ENEMY REPORTS. [United Pkess Association.! Berlin, April 14. Official: There is nothing to report from Verdun. MUCH ARTILLERY WORK. Paris April 16. A communique says: There was a somewhat lively bombardment on our positions between Malancourt Wood and Hill 304. Our batteries showed great activity on this front. A later report says that the enemy's operations at Verdun are confined to an intense bombardment on both banks of the Meuse.

: LATEST NEWS FAVORABLE, FRENCHMEN LAUNCH SUCCESS* FUL ATTACK. The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 16 (4.45 p.m.) On the left bank of the Meuse, the bombardment continued in the course of the nigh§ in the sector of Avoncourt and Caurettjes Wood. | On the right bank, the French launched late yesterday, a lively attack, oji the German positions south of Douaumont, occupying part of the enemy's trenches. ON THE BRITISH FRONT. GENERAL H AIG'S REPORTS. .. London, April 14* General Sir Douglas Haig reports: We exploded mines east of Vermelles on Thursday evening, considerably damaging the enemyls »i successfully bombarded; .the: n|ighboi|s hood of Souchez. : . ->/ : V'' Several small enemy, bomb, sAfca'e&S' 6'n the craters at St. Eloi were repulsed. The enemy exploded five mines stea& ! the quarries at Hulluch, but tho damage done was slight. ■ i ; ' i ■ ■ ./: }'.) }'■'' ANOTHER GERMAN REPORT. j Copenhagen, April i 15. ,

A Berlin wireless, says: A strong English advance on the crater positions south of St. Eloi was completely repulsed. A few battalions, after artillery preparations had greatly increased in violence, were onlv able to carry out an attempted attack on our positions at Mort Homme. Thanks to our concentrated fire on both sides of the •Meusfe' th ! e attacking waves broke down, with very heavy losses, before' our lines. A few who penetrated thetrendies tfere killed- -in hand-to-hand encounters. : -•- BRITISH IN STRENGTH AT

i . ;i;Loid6p; April 15. The'Daily Mais wiTespdndent at Rotterdam says-nhat,. tbo.}'Bntisli strength at the the enemy a rude shock. The delivery of a local attack on one reported weak position was repulsed after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. German troops and guns continue to arrive at tne Yser, where the next great battle is expected. "HELL" ON THE VERDUN FRONT. GERMAN DESERTERS REPORT WHOLESALE SLAUCHTER, FRENCH PRISONERS BUTCHERED. (Received 8 a.m.) ' •> Amsterdam, April 16.

Two German deserters informed a Dutch correspondent that they were glad to escape trom the Hell on the Verdun front. They said they had witnessed the termination of the fight cabled on the Bth, when, according to the German report a French detachment which was surrounded resumed their arms and attacked the Germans in the rear, necessitating drastic measures. However, in reality, the French were cutoff and refused to surrender, and inflicted terrible losses on the Germans, who had passed on. Eventually the French, finding it impossible to cut their way through, surrendered, whereupon the Germans, after the men had disarmed, commenced a wholesale slaughter. Many of the Germans were disgusted at the butchery.

THE INCREASE IN MUNITION ..,-M PRODUCTION IN FRANCE. London, April 15. H Mr Warner Alien says, concerning ' I the French munition production: Tak-QjM ing the figure one as the normal output in August, 1914, the production of field guns and shells'rose to four-. :;H teen by May, 1915; to twenty-nine by* I December, 1915; ajid to'thirty and "fc*| . __■ half by February, 1916. The output -■ of all larger shells increased to forty- '■ four by February, 1916, the produc-fOTH tion of heavy guns thirty-three times,,':* r.fl and that of field guns times, greater tfian tho first montlwjjM The Government powder factories 1 ' :fl doubled their output, and the output*. of other factories had been twenty- 'I three times greater. ■ FRENCH ARTILLERY TRIUMPH. I Paris, April 15. «" '■ The latest triumph of French en-j ,■ ginecrs is the new 16in: hcwitzers,V' v "' ,l « which are said to equal tlie (terman--"''';*■ gun of similar dimensions. I GERMANS REPORTS CGRK -CTEO. Mf GENERAL PETAIN'S POSITION. jj (Beceived 8.5 G? a.m.) ; " • ,, * : ' I < t '' •parisj/:A,p|-i|fi6. Some official points out that "the"' ■ German communiques persistently al- g I lege .that .General Petain is ■ attacking \oi course unsuccessfully), but sufficiently violently to explain | that he is-protected in the operations. In reality, General Petain is still on the defensive, and will remain such as long as he thinks fit.