In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 21, 29 April 1916, Page 5

In the West.

THE ATTACK ON VERDUN. "WE WILL CAPTURE THE FORTRESS." [United Peers Association.! London, April 27. According to a reliable French source a German communique relative to Verdun states: "We will capture the fortress, whatever may be the cost." it is known that heavy enemy reinforcements have been brought ujp with, that object apparently in view.. "."•■ ;•£' It is confidently that the enemy losses; afc. theVerdun* fighting now total 280,000, and they have made no appreciable progress during the last three weeks. FIERCE WORK ON BRITISH FRONT. ENEMY KEPT AT BAY. London, April 28. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Bedfordshires on Wednesday night made a successful raid near Carency, and rushed the enemy trenches. After fierce hand-to-hand fighting they drove the Germans into their dugouts and bombed them. There was considerable enemy loss.

The enemy heavily bombarded our trenches east of Armentieres, and the Germans south of Frelingham entered our trenches in the evening 3 under cover of a bombardment. Our coun-ter-attack drove them out. We reipulsed an enemy attack on Hill 60. The enemy gained a footing on-our sapheads but bombers drove them out. On Thursday/ morning the enemy, discharged gas south, of Hulluch, and. aty the same time pufr'an artillery'barrage across our lines north of Loos. After a second gas attack the enemy gained a footing on our front and support lines east and north-east of Loos, but the Irish counter-attacked and drove out the enemy in half-an-hour. Many dead Germans were left in our trenches. The enemy also advanced south of Hulluch, but our machine-guns enfiladed them, and many enemy corpses were ■oh. There have been nineteen aerial combats. Two of our machines were damaged, but all returned safely. Paris, April. 28.

A communique states: There is intense artillery activity at Avocourt, Esnes, and Cumieres. The enemy made 'two feint attacks, one at Haudromont farm and the other between Douaumont and Vaux, both being checked by our curtain of fire. Three of our airships heavily bombed different stations in the valley of the Aire, the yalley of the Orne, and at other points. BATTLE OF VERDUN ENDED. FINAL CHECK TO ENEMY'S PLANS. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Paris, April 28. Semi-official.—There is every reason to believe that the battle of Verdun has ended, and' the check to the enemy's plans can be regarded final.

OFFICIAL NEWS. The High Commissioner reports ; London, April'28 (12.30 p.m.) J A French official message says: On 'the left bank of the Meuse there is intense artillery activity in the regions of Avocourt, Esnes, and Cumieres. I On the right bank, the enemy threa- ; tened two attacks accompanied by vio- . lent bombardments. They were ar- ! rested by our curtain of fire. The Germans remained in their trenches. | In the region of Rove, west of Pont-a-Mousson, our batteries were very active yesterday. An enemy aviator was shot down in front of Fort Vaux. On the night of the 2Gth, three of our dirigibles dropped large calibre shells on stations at Ettin, Benstorff, and Arnaville. The same night our aviators drop* ped 37 shells on the stations in the valley of the Aire, 25 on encampments in the valley of the Onto, 6 shells and 2 incendiary bombs on Thionville station, and S shells on Conflans station.