In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 23, 2 May 1916, Page 8

In the West.

FLAMING LIQUID ATTACK REPULSED. United Psessj Association. laris April 29. A, communique says : 1 lie Gormans on Friday evening, using flaming liquids, att-nr.-ed our trenches westward of Tbiai.mont farm, but were mown down and repulsed with heavy loss. Simultaneously our lire stepped another attack between Douanmont and Vaux.

CAS ATTACKS REPELLED. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Iwo siirui German attacks under cover o: gas were repulsed opposite Huilueh. 1 *'e ‘gas was blown back, and lorced tin 1 Germans to quit their trenches and run the gauntlet of our barrier of lire. I ney sustained considerable casualties. ON THE iifjniSH FRONT. AWAITING THE MOMENT TO STRIKE. Paris, April HO. Pressmen visiting the British front eulogise the development of strength and organisation.

Le Petit Parisian recalls tliat when the Verdun attack commenced Sir Douglas Haig wished to make a diversion, but General Jolfre requested him not to move. The Paris Journal says that Sir Douglas Haig is only waiting tor the moment to throw the army forward. Reports forecast an early resumption of the Verdun offensive, 'the Germans are rushing troops and munitions through Belgium, German deserters stating that it is intended to make a new offensive with half a million men, in order to force a decision before Whitsuntide.

FRENCH REPORT. Paris, April 30. A communique ■ says ; Wo captured a trench northward of Mort Homme, taking some prisoners, and repelled three attempted surprises at Bandesapt, Tcte-de-Faux, and southward of kargitzen, in the Vosges, inflicting losses. , j Our chascii 1 planes brought down an Aviatik in Pipe Valley (Argonno), the machine being intact, and its two ollicors were; taken prisoner. THE LOYAL IRISH. HOW THEY FIGHT IN THE TRENCHES. London, May 1. Mr Philip Gibbs gives the details of the incident cabled on April 29. While the ~Sirm Feihers were besmirching the honor ’of Ireland, the Irish Division in France was proving that there were no politics in the army. The, Dublin revolt is hateful to the men in the trenches. The Irish holding the chalk pit at Hnllucli experienced a hellish bombardment on April 27. All day, the right of the whole of the Loos salient was throbbing with high explosives, ilhe officers rallied their men with the cry “Steady, boys!” Then, at five in the morning there was a sudden shout of warning and the gas division donned their helmets amid remarks m which was expressed the wish that Casement would got a taste of this. The men fearlessly awaited the incoming cloud, behind which was the German infantry. The Dublin Fusiliers fiercely replied to the attack, a German officer and forty-seven dead being left entangled in the barbed wire at one point.

A second attack was made hy the Germans after more gas had reached a portion of the Inniskillings’ and Dublin-;’ trenches, but a counter-at-tack ejected the enemy in half an hour. Although this was the first time tin's Irish division had been :n action the hearing of the young soldiers was manifestly cool.

DOWNING ENEMY AIRCRAFT? SUCCESSFUL FRENCH DEFENCE. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Paris, May 1. A communique states: We brought down two Fokkers in the region of Roves and two others at Epargos and Douaumont. We pursued live aircraft which were homhing south of Verdun I and brought down three. FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN. (Received 11.30 a.in.) Paris, May 1, A communique states:—The tiermans powerfully attacked in close formation the trenches north of Mort Homme captured by us the previous day. Our curtain and machine-gun • fire broke up the assaults and inflicted enormous losses. Three counterattacks against a trench north of Cnmierros were repulsed with serious losses to the enemy. OFFIC3AL NEWS. ENEMY EVERYWHERE REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports;— London, April 2!) (3./5 p.m.) In the Argonne, a conn do main was eyecuted during the course of ti e night north of Four de Paris, which enabled us to take an adversary trench and several prisoners. On the left hank of the Meuse yesterday afternoon at five o’clock, the Germans massed in trenches north of Hill 301, with a view of action on our

linos, ami attacked with grenades, but the enemy were unable to debouch and | were dispersed by our artillery, who i blew up a munitions depot in the same region. The night bombardment of the whole sector was particularly lively in regions of Avoeourt, Ksnes. and Hill 304. On the right hank yesterday evening, after violent artillery preparation I directed on our lirst lines, and after a I most intense curtain of fire, the Gerjmans attacked our trendies at Douaumont farm, employing liquid flames, but they were mowed down by our artillery and machine gun fire, the enemy being repulsed with heavy losses. Simultaneously, an attack between Douaumont and Vaux was equally slopped by fire. In the Lorraine region, we repulsed a strong reconnaisance before wood and canal south of Domesore.

j ALL ENEMY ASSAULTS BROKEN ACTIVE AERIAL OPERATIONS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 1 (3.10 p.m.) East of the Mouse, following a violent- bombardment, the enemy yesterday evening directed a powerful attack in dense formation against the trenches taken by us north of More Homme. Our curtain of lire and machinegun tire caused enormous losses, al! the enemy assaults being broken. North of Cumioves, two counter-at-tacks at the same time on trenches j taken by us yesterday were equally repulsed. In the course of a third attempt, the enemy set foot in our lines, but was unable to maintain ’himself, ami was thrown out with serious losses. There lias been violent and continuous bombardment at Hill 304 and in tile region of Vaux. During Saturday night our bombarding air squadron dropped numerous bombs on the station food depot and munitions store at Sebastol, south of Tbieaucourt, on the roads about Etaiu and Bivouacs, near Spincourt, and stations at Aproment, Grande Challernngo and Vouziere. Numerous explosions and fires have been reported. I