In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 45, 27 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

ENEMY REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES. {Unitjcd Puksb Amm'CiamomJ Paris, May 25. A communique slates that the Germans' series of attacks at five o'clock between Haudromont wood and Thiaumont farm were all repulsed with heavy losses, except at one point, where 1 the enemy carried a trench element. Sfs^i The artillery destroyed a Gorman depot at Handicourt. Violent artillery attacks on Hill 301 and Douaumont continue. TERRIBLE CARNAGE AT DOUAUMONT. HOW THE FORT FELL TO THE ENEMY. London, May 26. The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says that the French weakness at Douaumont fort lies in the tangle of ravines'from Lavauche Hill, which terminate the base on the north-western salient of the fort. When the French recaptured the fort, the Crown Prince brought up 120,000 troops from Valenciennes and Cambria, but the attack was still a failure. At dawn on Wednesday the Crown Prince ordered another operation, and hastened forward finally 50,000 Bavarians, who attacked on a front of three thousand yards. The storming parties were so dense that they choked the ravines. The French had the exact range, and every' gun within a space of 10,000 yards was trained on the narrow corridors, the French meanwhile sheltering behind the ruined walls of the craters. The German artillery mad* it almost impossible to get supplies of ammunition, which were running low, so the French retreated to previously prepared trenches on the southern slopes of the fort, where they are awaiting a favorable moment : tp sally forth and recapture the!fort! • ■

THE Ar4ZACS IN FRANCE. IN THE FRONT LINE TRENCHES. (Special Cable from' Official '"'New Zealand War Correspondent.) '<'■'''' i : Wellington, May 26. j The New Zea lander's arc now in the front line, where they relieved British troops. The men weve keen to get into the firing-line and arc enjoying 1 their new experience. Up to the present there have been very few casualties on our side, and the New Zealanders have already accounted for several German snipers. Soon after we entered the' trenches the enemy fired forty-three shells into one section, and though the trench was much battered none of our men were hit. At one spot the trenches are so close together that we can hear the Germans, talking and, singing. One afternoon we were interested spectators at close range of some intensive .shelling' with German 6-inch high explosive. Great clouds of dirt and smoke rose in the air. One farmhouse was shattered and another was burning. The enemy was apparently searching for some of our batteries. Our men are almost daily witnesses of air combats and heavy shelling of the aeroplanes from both sides, the spectacular effect of which is thrillingly interesting. The Magnificent dash and bravery of our Flying Corps have already earned the admiration of New Zealanders.

, A noticeable feature of the campaign 'here, as compared with Gallipoli, is the keenness in observation by many captive balloons and planes all along the line, making the concealment of moving troops and gun emplacements all important. What will probably be the greatest sporting athletic contest in this war took place to-day, when three teams of axemen from the Canadian and Australian battalions :■»-natively, and one from the Maori contingent, met in friendly rivalry in a forest. The competition was the outcome of a recent tree-felling contest in which the Maoris defeated a team of. French woodsmen. Li to-day's trial the Maoris easily outdistanced the other teams, three men felling three trees in 22mm. 40sec acainst the best Australian team s 30 min. Bsec. and the best Canadian team's 45min. 22sec. The Maori s victory was heartily cheered. The logchopping competition was won by the Australians, another New Zealand team being second. The Maoris did not complete. In the sawmg conte t the Canadians were first and the Moaris. second; it was almost a deadheat A Maori won the prize for the best' axemanship, a Canadian being second. Several generals, officers soldiers and British war correspondents we ve present, also an official kmemato!,Sier. An Anaac General, in prethe prizes, cordially welcomed the Canadians amongst us.