In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 9 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

CROWN PRINCE DEPOSED, I NEW GO til Ll.'.'::. 1 AT VERDUN. I GENERAL CONDEMNATION. j (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, May 8. | A Swedish despatch states that the German general staff has decided, with the consent of the Kaiser,, to remove the Crown Prince from the command at the Verdun front. CONFSRMATION OF NEWS. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris May 8. ! A communique states: Pierce fighting occurred during the night on the left hank of the Meuse, furious enemy I attempts to capture Hill 301 being smashed. The Germans' losses were extremely heavy. A sharp counter-at-tack enabled us to drive out the enemy from the communication trenches taken on the Sunday, and fifty were taken prisoners. We expelled the enemy from the majority of the first line elements captured southward of Haudromont Wood, thirty being taken prisoner. Two German aeroplanes were brought down during an air fight in the Verdun district.

OFFICIAL NEWS.

COSTLY GERMAN OFFENSIVE. The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 8 (3.5 p.m.) On the left of the Meuse, fighting continued in the course of the night. with stubbornness in the region ot Hill 304. Furious enemy attacks were broken before a stubborn resistance, resulting in the German losses being extremely severe. A lively counter-at-tack permitted us to drive out ihe enemy from a dug-out east of Hill 304, where he had secured a footing yesterday About fifty prisoners were taken. On the right of the Mouse, in the region of Haudromont Wood, a series, of combats at night drove out the enemy from the greater part oi the trenches in' the first line, which was penetrated yesterday, and.about thirty were taken prisoners. ~ U It is confirmed that yesterday s *eiroan offensive on. a front ,of,two Kilometres between Haudromont and Douaumont forts cost important saenhces. ' Artillery; is very active, in the region of Remieres and Jury Woods, west ol Pont-a-Mousson. . ~ I . Two German aeroplanes were brought down in aerial fighting in the region of Verdun and one in the neighbourhood of Omes, and another seriously damaged south of Anzannes.

VIGOROUS BOMBARDMENT. Paris, May 8. A communique ..states:, After .two days' bombardment a strong German force attacked between Hill 804 pad Mort Homme. After repeated efforts they penetrated a communication trench east of. Hill 304, but everywhere else'they were repulsed with heavy loss. ; The enemy, after an intense bombardment, made several attacks between Haudromont wood and Douaumont fort. - t The Germans,, gained a footingin the:, western 'part on a length of five hundred metres, on the first line of trench. All the central and eastern attacks were shattered.'

VERDUN A STUMBLINC BLOCK. Pans, May 8. Le Temps' military correspondent says that the troop movements in Belgium, together with the enemy's aerial activity over the British lines, are probably connected with a German attempt to find and pierce a less tenacious line than that of Verdun. THE FRENCH COMMANDERS. Paris, May 8. General Pot't'.n has been promoted to CommonJer-lii '..:: of of the central armies, from Soissons to Verdun inclusive. General Nivelle commands the special army at Verdun. CONTRABAND IN THEATRICAL PROPERTIESAmsterdam, May 8. A German Wagnerian Opera Company that was touring Holland was detected conveying contraband secreted in their theatrical properties. The members of the company were detained, i KILLED AT THE GRAVESIDE. Paris, May 8. A tragic episode occurred at Char-ilonssur-Marne. A mother, ' learning (that her son was killed in the ChamIpagne district, in went with her daughter to visit his grave. While praying at the graveside a German aeroplane dropped a bomb, which killed the mother and desperately wounded the daughter and a hospital attendant who was identifying the grave.