In the Wast.
i ON THE FRONT. VIGOROUS GERMAN OFFENSIVES. ATTACKS ON ALLIED TRENCHES. AEF2AL ARE CONTINUES. j The High,Commissioner reports : London, May 21 (4.15 p.m.) j The French official reports say that ■on the left hank of the Meu.se the Germans on Saturday night continued their attacks on Mort Homme. At Aztin they were repulsed eastwards jby a curtain of fire. The enemy capjfcured one of our first line trenches on .the slope west of Mort Homme. There is lively artillery action in the region of Fort Vaux. . , j Following a violent boml)ardment, a sudden attack of the Germans penetrated ono of our trenches west of . but artillery and maohine.gun lire forced the enemy to. retreat ito his own lines, leaving dead and wounded. ' An enemy air raid on the region of ,Baccarat-Epinal-Yesoul has done inj significant damage. | On Saturday night our aeroplanes dropped numerous projectiles on military establishments at Thionville, Etain, Speincourt, and Bivouacs, in the region of Azannes-Damvillcrs. Bombardment of the railway station at Triage de Lugs caused the hasty flight of trains and an extensive fire in the I station buildings.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (Received 11.50 a.m.) Paris, May 21. A communique states: The Germans continued their attacks on Mort Homme and occupied the first lino of trenches on the western slopes. All their attempts on the eastern slopes failed.
Our aeroplanes bombed the enemy's 'cantonments, also the Lumes railway station, where a great fire followed .and the trains were obliged to leave 'at full speed. GERMAN CLAIMS TO CAPTURES'. (Received 12.30 p.m.) Berlin, May 21. A communique states:— By skilful artillery preparation we advanced to the Allied lines on the southern and south-western slopes ot I Mort Homme, capturing thirty-one officers, 1315 men, S guns, and sixteen machine guns. Feeble enemy counterattacks were fruitless. We brought down fifteen aeroplanes on the Western front. Our aeroplanes hotly bombarded Dunkirk at night. NEW ZEALANDERS IN FRANCE. INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THEIR EXPERIENCES. STEADY PROGRESS IN NEW PHASES OF MODERN WARFARE. (Special from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent). May 15. The New Zealanders are now in the trenches, having relieved a division of the British troops in an interesting !sector which, at present, is comparatively quiet. During the past fortnight, the New Zealanders have had a busy and interesting time, including marches up to fifteen miles, through picturesque and intensely cultivated country, dotted with towns and villages to their new billets close to the firingline.
j Since the evacuation, there has been [much beneficial re-organisation and [training, specially selected officers havjing taken a. course at British schools [behind the lines, and returned enthusiastic over their methods of instruction. They were specially impressed with the 'new bayonet drills, which the squads 'have been since ; rr.idrously practising, I wearing the new uu-imits. The men 'have been put through poisonous gas, 'and have also been given experience of '-.ear-gas and flame-projectors, and Itaught the use of smoke-clouds to mask [fire. The rest of the time has been fill'cd in with route-marching, rifle shooting and bomb throwing. } For days now I have watched them jover a wide area, making steady progress in the new phases of modern warfare. The re-organisation has included ,the meeting of the old Anzacs with the 'newer troops, so that fche brigade now in the firing line have a large sprinkling of experienced men, which cannot fail to be beneficial. The brigades on 'the march, with the bands playing, an occasional burst of song, the transport, and the steaming travelling kitchens, made an imposing spectacle, and took hours passing the villages, and the British officers who watched were impressed by the fine physique of the men. The first brigade made a fine 'inarch to the front, only one man fnllingo ut, but the others were less successful 'in this respect, though the march, on being repeated a few days later was quite satisfactory. ; To-day I watched our artillery en route to the front. Both men and horses looked well. Undoubtedly the force is splendidly equipped. All the men at the front wear steel helmets. Their billots are comfortable, and the food ulentiful.
The troops continue on the best terms with the French and Flemish people. Everyone is impressed'h.v the vast scale of the operations, and the wonderful British preparedness, and the organisation behind the lines. Australians who have now been in the trendies for several weeks have already proved their superiority over the German snipers, They arc also rapidly iniproving the trenches.
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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 22 May 1916, Page 5
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743In the Wast. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 22 May 1916, Page 5
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