In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 63, 19 June 1916, Page 5

In the West.

VIGOROUS GUN Fine.

GRiTISH AND FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Tin' Mil'll Commission!-’!' reports:— London, lime 17 (.>.7) p.m.) British ollimal reputs state; Th re has boon vigorous bombardment ol the trenches in the neighbourhood of Wieltje, but no infantry attack. The British successfully raided twice on the river Lys at Givenchy, and also

exploded mines successfully near Mubleucht. Near Loos, the British caused considerable damage to the enemy’s underground works by mines. French official reports state: There has been a violent artillery duel south of Vaux, and French heavy gunfire set fire to the Vigneulles station. French Aviators did great damage at Bar le Due.

ALLIES' PROGRESS REPORT.

RECENT CAINS MAINTAINED.

The High Commissioner reports: London, June 18, (3.10 p.m.)

South of the Somme, a strong enemy reconnaissance of onr trenches before Fay was compelled to retire, leaving prisoners.

I In tlio Argonno, a lively grenade combat has taken place in the region of Vauqnois. | At La Fillc Morte, the explosion of la French mine made a huge crater, the southern lip of which wo occupied. Our long-range artillery lire caused a fire at the railway station at Challerangos, where movements of trains were noticed. On the left of the Meuse, the Germans, after an extremely violent bombardment, several times attacked our new positions at Mort Homme, using jets of liquid fire, but the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses at each attempt, the French entirely maintaining their former gains. On the right bank, a series of enemy sanguinary attacks on our trenches north of Thiaumont equally failed.

Artillery fighting continues lively in the sector north of Souvillc.

In aviation in Lorraine, four French machines engaged four Fokkers* above the enemy lines, and two of the latter were brought down.

<■ G ?> .: ; : f ALL GERMAN ATTACKS RES' * PULSED.

‘ (Received 9.10 aim.) Paris, June 18. •? A conpnuniqnc states: After an extremely violent bombardment, , the Germans made several attacks on our new Mort Homme positions using liquid fire, but they were repulsed with serious losses. Our gains were entirely maintained. A series of Gorman attacks on < the trenchers north of Thiaumont were bloodily 'repulsed. , ,6ur aviators in the Verdun region engaged enemy airmen attempting to raid Bar 1c Duo, and downed two machines. Our machine-guns downed three or four. French machines engaged four Eokkers over the enemy’s lines in Lorraine, and downed two. One of ours was forced to descend. Our squadrons dropped twentyfour shells on the Semide railway station, near Vouziers, twenty on factories in Thionville causing explosions, and twenty on aerial establishments at Etain and Tergnier. Amsterdam, Juno 17.

The Telegraaf says that i>ooplo arriving from C'ourtrai state that the German losses in the Canadians’ coun-ter-attacks at ixcogc were severe. They saw many train loads ot wounded men, and strings of ambulance cars. Some of the latter that were standing in the Hue do Lille dripped with blood. German reserves at Courtrai who were rushed to the fight declare that the Canadians fought like demons. London, June 17. The Times’ correspondent at headquarters report that a week’s incessant rain has occurred, and infantry work is almost impossible. The recapture. of ground reveals that the British artillery work has latterly been of the deadliest description. The Germans have been unable to consolidate, mount the machine-guns, or remove the supplies of stores and ammunition we had left there.

(ill Jellicoe came. It was a groat deed, daringly conceived and courageously executed, worthy of the traditions Beatty has inherited and true to the British conception that valour always counts even if the opposing numbers are overwhemiug. And alter Beatty came Hood, and after Hood, ) Arbuthnot, each thinking nothing of 'risk hut hoping only to he able to |hold the Germans from their ports, and force them to tight to a finish. Compare the scuttle of the Germans lo harbour whenever the numbers were turned against them, with Arbuth--1 not’s dash, with indifferent ships, into the thick of the fight, so that the Germans might be tempted to tarry, and then ask yourself whether the valour which we British have worshipped is not a great and inspiring thing, and whether there is anything in the North Sea battle of which the Germans can fairly boast or anything of which we British can think, except with pride and satisfaction.”