In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 47, 30 May 1916, Page 5

In the West.

HAIC'S FIRST DESPATCH. FIVE fYfHNTHS OF THE STRUCCLE (IINITBD P»K8» Amociat^n.l London , "Xay 29. General Sir Douglas Haig's first despatch covers the five months since 10 th December. He says: "There has been no incident of historic importance, but a steady continuous struggle above and below ground, with many sharp local actions. The period saw the British initiation in cutting-out raids, wherein the British, on the whole, still hold the initiative."

The report alludes to the extension of the front, in order to release French troops for Verdun.. The evacuation on a considerable front, everywhere in touch with the enemy, was a delicate operation, but was completely successful.

General Haig clears up the confusion relating to the British attack at Saint Eloi on 27th March. Its object was the straightening of the line. Fighting for the mine craters lasted a week, and the British then secured the whole original objective, but the wet ground and the intense enemy bombardment prevented the consolidation of the positions, and the Germans recaptured two craters. It was erroneously reported to General Haig on April 11th that the British had regained all the craters whereas, the old craters had bom mistaken for the new ones,'and the latter were rendered untenable, and have since been abandoned. "The British line roughly, th; same as before the hVi attack," continues the report. "M.\ forces have' been considerably augmented by the arrival of new formations from Home and the transfer of others which have been released from nearest service. This increase enabled us to relieve ono French army at the time of the Verdun battle." Among the newly-arrived men were the Anzac corps. With the Anzacs, Canadians, and portion of the South African troops, the overseas forces from the Dominions are now a valuable part ek the' Imperial forces' in Franfcey> ■ The appearance of Fokkers in' December obliged the British to send escorts with, reconnoitring aeroplanes: Consequently, '"ah; .fights, which had previously beeri exceptional, are now ftn.ejery-day occurrence. | There has been no serious epidemic of disease, and the sick rate, is low. Enteric, the bane of the armies of yore, jhas almost disappeared, owing to the energetic preventive measures. The Registration Commission has marked over fifty thousand graves. General Haig concludes by paying a tribute to General French's work ill starung with a small Expeditionary Force. "He faced an enemy far superior in numbers ) "fully prepared for this gieat campaign. During the long and anxious time »pj§ d for fche i,ll P r:,vi *- ation of the; comparatively large force tjhat is front, General French overcame^ 1 difficulties, anu/before responsibilities he had' of Be ' 3,n ? tbe balance or adva'nMei steadily in our favor." ;;',.'.'.» •'.."' THE BATTLE OF VERDUN, FRENCH RE-CAPTURE OF CUMIERES. Paris, May 19. The German gains at Verdun, in the eight days, total three hundred yards. The enemy was not long in possession of Cumieres, for a series of grenade attacks on Friday enabled the French quietly to organise two columns of attackers east and west of the village. The eastern column captured the mill at nightfall, and found that the enemy had dug trenches one behind the other across the main street. They proceeded to recapture the houses by night-long siege operations. Meanwhile the western column was progressing, and the enemy, fearful that the village would be surrounded, hastily threw in heav> reinforcements. The French maintain their gains, though the Germans are counter-attacking with one and .a-half brigades."

A LULL AT VEROUN. CALM BEFORE THE STORM. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Paris, May 29. Semi-official.—There is a lull at Verdun, doubtless to be followed as previously by a resumption of the grea* offensive. THE SAVIOUR OF PARIS. THE LATE GENERAL CALLIENI. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Paris, May 29 General Gallieni was about to undergo an operation at the umo of his death. He was extremely weak, and was unable to take nourishment. Th« doctors tiied blood-transfusion, but without avail. General Gallieni was regarded as the "Saviour of Paris" during the critical days of August, 1914, when he rushed eighty thousand of the Paris garrison from Paris to the battle front and turned the tide of the great Maine struggle in favor of the French.

HIGH COMMIBBIONER'B REPORTS. GERMANS REPULBED AT SEVERAL POINTS. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AT VERDUN. DAILY AERIAL COMBATS. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY PLANES The High Commissioner reports : London, May 29 (4.20 p.m.) South of Hove, the French artillery destroyed the German organisations in the first line in the region of Bouvraignes.

Left of the Meuse, there was artillery activity on both sides in the course of the night. Yesteiday evening, at seven o'clock, a German attack, debouching from Cordeaux Wood, was completely repulsed by curtain and infantry fire. \ second attack at midnight equally failed. On the right bank, it was relatively calm, except in the region of Fort Vaux, where the artillery fire was very lively. \ In Lorraine, we dispersed a strong German reconnaisarice at the Parro.v forts, 'vi [-V] Yesterday evening there were fifteen air combats between French and German machines. Two of the Jitter wera brought down in flames, one on the borders of the Argonne near Monthois, and the other in the region, of Amifcuitaine, north of-Berry außac. • In the course of a trial flight one of our pilots was attacked by a Fokker machine, which fired over a thousand cartridges. Under tills 'shower of projectiles, though his machine. was riddled with bullets, our pilot returned to his lines, pursued by his adversary. Attacked in turn by a French machine, the enemy fled, but crashed to earth in the neighbourhood of Bourgogne, West of Rheims. ; West of the Meuse our anti-aircraft guns brought down two German aeroplanes.

FAILURE OF CROWN priINDE'S ; •'• ■ PLANS.: "• ' < : M' : -~\\ TJHE FIGHT FOR MORT H^MME*; j 3VIQ 3W ;_j JJft," • M^H "•<-...., SIXTEEN i SUCCESSIVE ATTACKS REPULSED. , ! (Received 10.55 a.m.) London, May 29. The Daily News' Paris correspoti* dent states that the Grown Prince manifestly wanted to settle Mort, Homme once and for all, hence the importance' of the assault on Cumieres. Though the village in the valley was not important, an advance therefrom would have threatened the eastern slopes of Mort Homme, and perhaps turned the second French line at Chattancourt.,,,j Four |divisions were employed on the west bank on Sunday, or Tuesday, simultaneously with three divisions on the right bank. Columns were hurled east and west of M ort , Homme one after ano^hef^ufatl' weie' cut up by curtain and-machine-gun., lire. There wore sixteen attacks on Monday betweeiiT Avdcoiift < Wofcd ran*; the river, fifty thousand assaulting Mort Homme and Hill 305, but it was useless butchery. The Fiench waited and thec Germans lost fifteen 'thousand. GERMANS WELL HELD. MANY AERIAL FIGHTS. (Received 10.40 a.m.) Paris, May 29. Our artillery wrecked the enemy first line works in the Beaursignea legion. The Germans on Sunday even--ing debouched from CarbeaUx Wood. One attack was completely repulsed and also the second at midnight. There were fifteen aerial fights ou Sunday. A Fokker attacked a French machine north of the Aisne and fired a thousand shots The pilot regained our line ß despite the fact that his machine was riddled. A second Frendi aviator attacked and downed the Fokker. Our aviators downed two other enemy machines, and motor guns downed two at Verdun.