OFFICIAL NEWS.

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

OFFICIAL NEWS.

SATISFACTORY ALLIED REPORTS Thf His' l Commissioner reports: — t London, May 2d \-i.iio p.m.) 1 In the Argonnc region the French exploded a mine successfully at Filleuioi'to. On the right bank of the Mense, there was a violent art liery combat m the sectors at Avoncourt Wood and Mort Homme. In the latter region, a German attack which was preparing a debouch was immediately .stopped by our curtain of fire. | On the right bank of the Meuse, a counter-Attack made us masters of a poi tion of the trenches' occupied yesterday by the enemy between Haujdramont Wood and Thiaumont Farm. ! North of the farm, we progressed by grenades in course of the night, makling several prisoners.

GERMAN SUCCESSES CLAIMED. Amsterdam, May 25. A German communique claims that they captured 850 prisoners and fourteen guns in Caillette wood, and also [captured a quarry southward of Haudromont farm. EFFECT OF VERDUN LOSSES IN GERMANY. In a letter sent by a neutral correspondent to the London Times is the following .interesting passage*— ( "Verdun is the greatest advertisement the Allies have ever had in neutral countries. In Germany it had a terrible effect. i "A Dutch friend of mine went the other day to Cologne to see some relations of his wife. He was not allowed to enter the city, but had to stay at the station. His relations were sent for and they were allowed a short interview in the presence of an officer.

"Why? The city was in an uproar. The people saw the enormous masses of wounded arriving from Verdun, and clamoured for the end of the war. "Troops ; h,ad ; to .he summoned/ and j rifle fire was heard at the station as well as wild scouting, from the Dom- ' plat/, (Cathedral. Square)', which is not far from the station. This is all my friend Ho;wa? fyund- | led back into a train and had to , leave. ! "1 do'not-wvsh' to exaggerate the importance of such scones, but the fooling'they disclose ' is certainly not without significance." ' ;: —"--■■ i VERDUN AND TRENTINO. , MORAL FAILURE OF THE FORMER. j ,yj ? |]_l : U. .. >,< (Received 8.40 a.m.) • "'''•London, May 26. ; The Spectator states that the news from Italy and Verdun is superficially disappointing, but fundamentally good. The Italians are fighting for their existence while the Austrians' best troops who are being,used up will bo badly wanted when Russia resumes the advance in Galicia. The casualties on both sides at Verdun are enormous, but the balance must be against the Germans. The latter continue hammering for no reason except the potent one, fear—they would not dare to admit that they had failed morally, if not physically, at Verdun.

SAPPERS ARRIVE AT LEICE AND MEUSE LINES. GERMAN DEFENCES STRENGTHENED. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, May 26. The newspaper Echo Beige states that the Germans are greatly strengthening their defences at Liege and oh the Meuse lines, several thousand sappers vbaving arrived.