In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 65, 21 June 1916, Page 5

In the West.

FRENCH PROGRESS RcPORT.

j [United Press Association.]

Paris, June 20

A communique says: After a sharp bombardment an enemy detachment attempted to approach our lines between Aviv and the Oise, but it was repulsed. There were violent bombardments north ol* Thiaumont and in jie sectors 1 of Vaux, Chapitre, and Souville. An enemy air squadron bombed a village south of Verdun, killing and wounding several German prisoners who were camped there.

TWENTY-SEVEN AERIAL FIGHTS.

London, June 20

General Sir Douglas Haig reports that there were twenty-seven aerial combats on Sunday. Five enemy machines were downed, and two of ovir machines were downed.

FAMINE RIOTS AT AiX-LA-CHAPELLE.

Amsterdam, June 20,

j Serious food riots have occurred at Aix-la-Chapelle. Thousands marched in procession, and there were several police charges, which dispersed them. Some »f the demonstrators were injured. Supplies of foodstuffs have not arrived, owing to railway stoppages that are due to movements of troops, and the city is reduced to the verge of famine.

THE VERDUN ASSAULT.

NEARLY 900,000 GERMANS

ENGAGED.

London, June 19

Mr H. Warner Allen, reviewing the straggle at Verdun, says that after tlie failure of the great assault, whereby it. was hoped to produce a decisive effect, bringing demoralisation and revolutions in France, the Germans have settled slowly to a methodical wearingauay of the French defences. Their heavy artillery work at Verdun represents the highest conceivable effort of a great manufacturing country, but the German press has now changed its tune, declaring that though Verdun is not taken, France has been-■bled white. On the other hand, says -Mr Allen, the French "have continuously relieved and rested their Verdun troops. The Germans have not 1 ' attempted to economise, and they have drawn every man available from the depots, heavily draining the new contingent of the age of twenty, Altogether 39£ divisions, totalling about 880,000 men, were hurled at Verdun, representing half (ho Gorman forces that were available in France, but the Germans failed to capture the fortress, to demoralise France, or to interfere with the Allies' plans. A semi-official estimate, based on prisoners' statements and documentary evidence, puts the German losses at Verdun to the end May at 115.000. K;,;'''^;-;' -■■ i : ij.;,g.': ''HaJ» 'lit '''.■"■;>,■','.'■.;■.-'«'V-

GERMAN ACTIVITY;, BEHIND THE LINES.

London, June 19

The Times' correspondent at Amsterdam reports th'o arrival of numerous wounded and frequent burials, which indicate that the Germans'- recent attack at Hooge cost them dear. Prisoners are stating that the British artillery made great gaps in their lines. The Germans massed more than 120, 080 men at Zonnebeke. Gheluvelt, ted on the Comines Conal, who were mat.ily derived from the Belgian occupation force. Companies of Russians and civilian prisoners have been working for months past carting sand r. id gravel to the front between Menin, tiro Comines Canal, Roulers, and Bruges, and Belgian factories have Veen incessantly producing bags and barbed wire. Trains are continuously carrying timber to the Ypres front for tho army, and military laborers are digging, building, sawing, and boring water wells. Large numbers »f new young troops have been trained at various points in South Belgium. 1 ille, Roubaix and Turcoing are strictly isolated, and frequent arrests are made as a result of the tremendous explosion of a munition depot in Lille, which the Germans assert was due to an English plot. The terrific report shook houses and smashed windows for miles, opened the ground at various :>\awi, and demolished buildings. THREE GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received 11.30. a.m.) Paris, June '2O.

A communique states : Three Gorman attacks on Hill 321 out the right of the Mouse were smashed. BRITISH AIRMEN BRAVE SPORTSMEN. TRIBUTE FROM GERMAN OPPONENT. (Received 11.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, June 20. In an undated interview. Captain Boelko, the German aviator, said he regarded the British airmen as brave and tenacious sportsmen. The fact that so many had been dowued in the Gorman linos had not proved their unskilfuliiess but intrepidity.

THE DOCS OF WAR! j (Received 9 a.m.) ! Paris, June 20,

Hundreds of Alaska and Labrador dogs, which during the winter rendered yeoman service at Schulut Pass iu drawing heavy loads over almost inaccessible country for rovietualling. the French army iu tho Yo&geg, arc now

harnessed to trucks on two-foot light railways, which are running everywhere behind the front. On the sharpest gradients, eleven dogs and two men can pull :i ton. On precipitous slopes, two trains, each of seven dogs, are equal to five horses, with great economy in men.

PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS IN VIENNA.

PUBLIC DAZED AT RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

(Received 10.50 a.nO Geneva, June 20. Peace demonstrations wore made in Viouna on several nights, but no violence was used. The public are dazed rather than consternated at Russia's impetuous advance. Tho theatres are empty, but the streets and restaurants are filled nightly with anxious crowds discussing tho situation.