In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 11 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

AT ANZAC HEADQUARTERS. | CASUALTIES TOTAL 262. U.VTTKD PRESS a -JU'inJATinx London, May 9. | TJio Anzae Corps is now composed ■of Now Zealanders and Australians, muter the command of a senior Australian officer in France. , The men in London speak’ cheerful(ly concerning the conditions in France, admitting that ■ the j shelling was heavier than anything they had encountered at Gallipoli, hut the long spells in the billets behind the trenches relieve the strain. Officers and men are eager for raiding, and cutting-out expeditions which, as the troops settle down, will relieve the monotony of trench life. 1 The men’s work so far has been almost solely in supporting the trenches.

A man of the Second Division, writing to London, says that the Division is confident that it will make a hole somewhere when it gets loose. | The name of “Anzac” .will be retained for the Australasian army, i and General Birdwood’g quarters are , officially called the “Anzac Headj quarters.” ! A soldier on furlough says that the Australasians’ first real action in France took place on Friday. The enemy raided the trenches after bombarding them, but' were immediately j driven out. Friday afternoon was calm on the Australian front,'but in 1 the evening several batteries terrificaljly bombarded a sixty yards’ front, more intense than anything they had , experienced at Gallipoli. The ground rocked from the concussion of various calibre high explosives, and then sharpnel. The Australasians jwere ordered to withdraw to the support trenches, apd then a hundred Germans rushed the trench, only thirty reaching it, the rest being mown down by banking machine-guns. An English-speaking- tofficok, disguised in Anzac uniform, attempted to deter, the Australians from obeying tliq order to retire;, calling, “This way, boys,; the ~. Germans;; are coming!” None were deceived into the belief that lie was the leader of the Australasians’ t! s‘iipport, > and several Gdrhlans werfe bayohetteff. Then- the true support arrived,’ ! making slioi’t work‘of the enemy. Next/'day 'the Australasians bad their revenge. The Germans, bringing up supports or a relieving force, were caught by a concentrated fire in a communication trench on rising ground behind their front, and suffered heavily. Observers saw them carrying off dead and wounded during several hours.

THE FIRST CASUALTY LIST. , The .Australasian casualties in France are: Killed, 8 officers and 76 men; wounded, 10 officers and 168 men. ; i• , 9 PRAISE FROM FRENCH PRESS. ANZACS’ “TITLE TO GLORY.” (Received 9.20 a.m,) , Paris, May 10. Newspapers, in commenting on the arrival of the Anzacs, pay a warm tribute to the bravery displayed by them hitherto. Le Journal says: “There is no liner title to glory in this war than theirs which was gained at Gallipoli. Their sacrifices were in vain, but they gained undying fame. History will tell again and again the story of the great deeds of these improvised soldiers from the Antipodes, who struggled vainly to wrest the key of the Dardanelles. These brave men of Anzac are now to participate in our battles, and they will find here brothers-in-arms worthy of them.” LETTER FROM THE GENERAL. MAORIS PERFECTLY HAPPY. BIRDWOOD’S CONFIDENCE IN HIS MEN. Wellington, May 11. In a letter to the Deience Minister, General Birdwood says ; “The Maoris seem to me to bo really happy in their pioneer battalion. I have had more than one talk with Captain Buck recently about them, and I gather that he is now perfectly satisfied. “Before they leave for France, 1 am seeing every brigade in turn, and telling them 1 have not the least doubt whatever about their fighting qualifications, but that 1 roly upon every man individually to uphold the honor of Now Zealand and Australia in discipline, which I confidently expect 'them to do when we get to France. We now have a Rifle Brigade complete, and a really fine body of men they are.”

the silly censor.

SYDNEY SAYS SOMETHING SANE. IF NOT, WHY MOT? (Received 8.30 a.m.) Sydney May ,11. The Telegraph comments ou the arrival of the mistral avails in France, ino writer says it was made the occasion tor one of the pest jokes of tno war. The censor allowed the lact v to he cabled tnat the Germans opposite our men’s trenches welcomed them, which could hardly be done if they did not know ■ where they were; yet he conceals' the troops’ whereabouts from the public; that is, though he lets us know that the Germans know where the men are, he will not let us know where they are for fear of letting the Germans know that we know that they know. How on earth would it help the enemy if they were to make the important discovery that we know they know where our men are? Only the censorship knows.”

GERMANS CANNOT BREAK THE LINE. ARTILLERY FIRE LESSENING. Paris, May 10. A communique says: The artillery bombardment is less violent. Our curtain of fire'checked an. enemy attack west of Hill 304, the Goi mans being unable to debouch. Details of the attacks on the night of May 8-9 show that they cost the enemy heavy looses. Our artillery swept the revictualling convoys and enemy detachments bn the road between Essey and Bayonville, northwest of Pont-a-Mchssdn.

WORLD’S GREATEST BATTLE. London, May 9. The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says that the German artillery at Verdun was the most powerful yet employed, but it is waning. The Gorman infantry was unable to hold the ground, and thus cleared the face for the French infantry’s furious conn-, tor-attack. The Pomeranians, to! which forlorn, hopes are allotted, have • been withdrawn, from the Champagne, where they had been intended to lead the offensive/ 'i FJ H 'ft- 1) > j SOUTH AFRICANS LAND AT MARSEILLES. II H■; ; I'Ci C-t 1 1 i.; i m Paris,; May 10. A South African-contingent has been; welcomed at’ Marseille's. ' VERDUtt FAILURES. FIERCE ATTACKS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS. t• Jf }(. <$ B J TV ■« GERMANS AS THEY WERE. (Received 9.5 a.m.) Paris t May 10. Semi-official.—Tim German objective west of the Meuse is still Hill 304. Three German attacks on Monday night in dense formation were attempted in a frontal, ,qpd assault f but all completely' failed with heavy losses. Renewed -attempts on Tuesday met-the same fate. jTt is believed the Germans employed throe fresh divisions, .all .being decimated.| Tbps, after five days of furious assault, costing enormous sacrifices, the recrudescence of the Verdun offensive with unprecedented violence leaves the enemy exactly where they started.

GERMANS CALL UP YOUTHS OF 17. DISSATISFACTION IN THE COUNTRY. Amsterdam, May io. | In .consequence of, the losses sus-< tallied at Verdun, Germans attaining the age of seventeen years in April have been summoned for immediate enlistment. j The news has discontented the Gorman upper and middle classes, who are complaining that the call will denude the country of its best youths, who are now at college.