In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 98, 27 July 1916, Page 5

In the West.

WOUNDED ARRIVE AT COLOGNE.

Press Association— Copyright, Australian and'N-Z. Cable Association'. ji'iiw ipoihnß Amsterdam, July 25. Five thousand severely wounded Germans have arrived at Cologne from the Somme. BRUSSELS FINED ONE MILLION MARKS. London, July 25. The newspaper L'F.cho do Beige states that the Germans have fined Brussels a million marl's hp a result of the patriotic demonstration on fete day, held on the 21st inst,

GENERAL ITEMS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable-Association. ' London, July 26. M. 'Marcel Hutin writing in L'Echo de Paris, states that the problem of mobilisation, of heavy artillery has been completely solved*; Ho saw engineers lay, take up, move, and then relay railway lines in a few hours, which were sufficient to move 15-inch howitzers, fining 7001 b shells every minute, and quick-firing howitzers firing two or three shells a minute, each of 110 pounds, whereof 201bs "were explosives.

General Verraux in a tribute to the British says: "To tenacity and method our Allies add tho remarkable gift of observation: They quickly recognised the causes of their first checks, which were due to insufficient artillery preparation and rash attacks, reflecting bravery and a misconception of their adversary's resources. As the routine does not oppress them the British do not hesitate to scrap old •methods."

The brilliant fighting has justified the special training courses :in gro 5 nade throwing, which was often the only method of clearing such burrows and underground works as exist at Pozieres.

French military critics regard ' the British progress at Pozieres, and Longuevat as exceedingly favourable. The enemy, however, still holds the highest ground consisting of Hills 136,\ IGO, 156, and 155, stretching from Thiepval to Foureaux Wood, but when driven out of this line they will be in an exceedingly awkward position in the-lowland behind, hence the pertinacity of the Germans in hanging on to Pozieres and Foureaux. They have even sent such crack corps as the Brandenburgers from Verdun, where they captured tjie Douaumont fort. Very much of the British success is due to the ingenuity and courage of the gunners.

The Frankfurter Zeitung's correspondent, describing the British prisoners captured at Montauban and Ovillers says they are proudly defiant and like boys caught after a good fight. Their attitude is one of extreme indifference. One prisoner, when told what Germany would claim when she had won the war, replied: "Germany will never win; it is quite impossible." Australian wounded who have arrived in England state that they are

absolutely convinced that German snipers deliberately pot at the wounded and train the machine-guns on bhem

sign of men moving. "I lay," said one man, "for seventeen hours dead quiet, and had many marvellous escapees, shells ceaselessly bursting aad machine-guns sweeping the ground with terrific curtain-fire, preventing the stretcher-bearers from conducting rescue work."

FRENCH SUCCESSES

CALM NICHT ON THE SOMME. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON THE MEUSE. The High Commissioner reports: — London, July 26 (3 p.m.') On the Somme, the night was calm. In course of the fighting -yesterday, the French were enabled to take an island of houses southwards of Estres. We took 117 prisoners, and brought back three more cannon, making six that were taken that day north of Soyecouvt. On the right bank of the Mouse, there is great artillery activity in the sector at Floury. We dispersed, by fire, detachments of the enemy northward of La Chappello and St. Fine. GENERAL HAIG'S REPORT. TERRITORIALS ADVANCE. «• POSITION ELSEWHERE UNCHANCED. The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 26 (12.10 p.m.) General Haig reports: The whole of Pozieres is now in our hands. Westwards the Territorials further advanced and captured two strong trenches, also a number of prisoners, including five officers. The position elsewhere is unchanged.

ACTIVITY OF FRENCHMEN.

BOMBS ON MILITARY WORKS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Paris, July 26.

An air squadron dropped forty-two bombs on military establishments at Thionville and Rombach.

The same squadron before daybreak flew out and dropped thirty-eight bombs on the munitions depot at Dun, and also bombed the rail stations at Vilosues, Brieulles, Bivouacs, and Dannovoux.