In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 92, 20 July 1916, Page 5

In the West.

FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT.

The High Commissioner reports :- • London, July 19 (3 p.m.)

The French official report says: Tho night was calm on the greatei- part of the front. Two coups de main by the enemy on our small posts in'the region of Passehendqele, in Belgium, and noiib of the Aisne, near Passy, failed under our fire.

On the right of the Meuse, ihere ,has-.,Ueen lively artillery work in the sector at Fleury. We made some progress with grenades at Chapollo and St. Fine.

SACRILEGE OF THE HUN.

CRULU CEMETERY DESECRATED ;.. ED. 1 . ■ ■ .J."];'-' CRAVES EMPTIED AND CORPSES fp THROWN OUT. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ' (Received 9 a.m.) London, July 19. Mr Warner Allen, who is with the French on the Somme, describes the sacrilege practised by the Germans. They made fortresses of the Curlu graveyard, emptying the graves and vaults, and using them as dugouts. They flung out the coffins and corpses, uprooting the headstones and railings for barricades, and linking, up the whole with subterranean passages forming elaborate defences. The works were full of concealed shelters and machine guns, where the Germans were driven from the village and finally took refuge, compelling the French to concentrate their artillery thereon, thus laying the church in ruins before the place was conquered. BELGIANS RAID TRENCHES.

Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Paris, July 19.

A Belgian communique states: A detachment raided tlie enemy trenches north of Dixmude, killing the majority of the occupants. We captured some unwoundeel prisoners.

GENERAL HASG'S REPORT.

VIOLENT ENEMY ASSAULTS.

THE POSITION AT LONCUEVAL.

The Higl) Commissioner reports: London, July 19 (3.45 p.m.)

General H,aig reports: An enemy attack, the beginning of which has already been reported, was directed during the night against our positions east of Bazentin village. Very large German reinforcements were collected for the attack after intense artillery {ire, and the first assault was delivered in den*' masses at 5.30 p.m. The. fighting continued particularly violent at BelviUe Wood throughout the night. After suffering very heavy losses, the enemy succeeded in recapturing a portion of BelviUe Wood, and also obtained a footing in the northern outskirts

of Loagucval. Elsewhere, [ho alt.-.vk, including three sopaiato a'«"iiUs "" Walevlot Farm, completely bin :e down under our fire. From the re <i of tho front, tho news is unimportant. BIACHES CLEARED OF ENEMY. Paris, Jjuly >■>■ A communique states: We drove out the Germans who for soma hears held Biaches. All is quiet eLt >\ here. KAISER WITNESSES OVILLER3 BATTLE. Paris, July 18. Lo Petit Journal states that the Kaiser witnessed tho British capture of Ovillers, wherein the Guard* battalion contested every yard, compelling tho British to besiege the ruins of every hofese. <

GENERAL HAIC'S REWARD.

Press Association—Copyright. Renter'b Telegrams London, July 18. The King telegraphed to General Sir Douglas Haig his great admiration of the successful advance made. He also convoyed the Czar's congratulations.

General Haig replied, conveying the army's thanks for the King's gracious appreciations. .

MILLION SHELLS DAILY.

Press Association—Copyright, Austra-

lian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, Julv 18

The Morning Post's correspondent on the Western front says it is roughly calculated that since June 22 we ruined half a million shells on the enemv daily.