In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 70, 27 June 1916, Page 5

In the West.

CAPTURE OF THSAU?tfIONT. I HE GERMAN WEDGE, [United Phkss >\psooiatiok. 1 Paris, Juno 20. The capture of Thiaumont was CerImany’s supremo effort, j It is evident that the Crown Prince was desperate. The enemy, reinforced Iby heavy artillery from Metz, massed jon the light hank of tire Meuse with 'B-iu ami 10-ineh shells and tear bombs, i which rained for fifty hours along a front of -'h miles, north of Floury vil- ■ lage. After the bombardment the enemy (attacked, at least six divisions workling out at the fahtastic figure, of (twenty-seven attackers to each yard of the front.

The enemy's objective was Fleury village and the adjoining Chapitre Wood, which they were enabled to attack on the front and in the rear. Souville fort is the last defence but one on the right bank of the Mouse, which is only twelve hundred yards from the front of the new German position. Throughout Friday morning the French infantry and artillery held back the Germans, inflicting very heavy losses on the storming parties. Prisoners estimate that the loss ot the attackers in the forenoon was at least 60 per cent. After twelve charges the Germans were reinforced, and made a breach in the French line, oast of the Thiaumont works, wherein they immediately flung all their available reserves. The French then evacuated Thiaumont', and the advance enabled the Germans to drive a wedge between the two main French positions. So elated were they at their success a*; Thiaumont, that the Germans surged on to Fleury, but met with such determined resistance that progress was impossible. The French, at a critical moment, made a bayonet attack and drove the enemy to the northern confines at) Fleury. The net advance during the day was seven hundred'yards. PRESS CO?yIMENT. 'London, June 26. The Daily Chronicle says that unless the slow and steady German advance at Verdun is interrupted it must end in the fall of the town. The French commanders Value the ground solely as a means for bleeding tho enemy, while the Germans 'rely on their superiority in heavy guns to equalise the loss in infantry attacks. We cannot accurately determine which way tho balance is inclined in the last chapters of this bloody rivalry. We should all like to see some diversiou which .would.ease. the .growing, strain of this gruesome contest upon France. Newspapers of. prominence in Berlin reprint General, Sir Douglas ifliaig's communiques reporting the heavy night-long bombardment on the British front." . . i, ~i.,

ON THE BRITISH FRONT. i o'- 1 ' i,9(1 -i • ?*? : ff !aiiX a boot'll GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. London, Juno 26. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artillery is very , active along the whole front. The heaviest shelling is at Neuville and St. Vaast, north of the Ypres and Meni Roads. The only other incidents have been small unsuccessful raids on the British trenches. German mines exploded without casualty. M, BRIAND VISITS THE BRITISHERS. i ■ (Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, June 25. M, Briand visited the British front on Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by General Haig. THE KARLSRUHE RAID. FRENCH REPRISALS. Berne, June 26. The air raid on Karlsruhe caused a panic in the town. Travellers state that the populace were holiday-mak-ing. Many people were attending Hagen beck’s menagerie, and bombs that wore intended for the railway must accidentally have fallen among the spectators at the •circus, killing 120. Tlie German press is indignant at this reprisal for attacks on French towns. THE BATTLE OF VERDUN. RESUMPTION OF VIOLENCE. Paris, June 25. Semi-official: The battle at Verdun lias been resumed with sudden brutality and infernal violence. There was heavy gunfire, and the extreme fierceness of the infantry assaults indicates that the Gormans are delaying us at Verdun, wishing to foil our plans, which are. approaching realisation, and which threaten them, or else to dis-* tract attention while the enemy transfer troops to Russia.

LNCMV SUCCESS UNCONFIRMED. FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN AT TMIAUMONT. ARTILLERY FIGHTING GENERAL. The Commissioner reports:— London, dune 23 (.'3 p.m.) In ti 10 Argonne the enemy r.ttemp s on small posts at Fillo Morte were repulsed by grenades. On the left of the Meuse, an artillery duel was particularly lively at Moi fc Homme. On the rigid bank, a Gorman attack during the night on the west work and riiiaumont completely failed owing to our curtain and infantry tiro. Between Fmmin Wood and Chenois during the course of local operations, the French took some elements of a trench. Elsewhere, the,re was artillery lighting. GERMAN NIGHT ATTACK AT THIAUMONT FAILS. LOCAL FRENCH CAINS. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, June 25. A communique states: A German ngiht-attack on positions west of llu aumont completely failed. We gained during local operations some enemy trenches at Fumin and Chenois Woods.