In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 5, 4 August 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE MONTH'S WORK.

GERMANS EXAGGERATE BRITISH LOSSES.

IMPORTANCE OF CAPTURED POSITIONS.

Press Association—Copyright. Published in "The Times." London, August 3. Hf>ik correspondent at headquarters says the German estimates of 230,000 British losses is a grotesque exaggeration. The British may well be proud of the past; month's work. It was comparable with the German effort at Verdun, with the difference that we have broken the front at every point, breaking the enemy's fighting power. Captured documents confirm the importance of the .■ captured positions and the necessity for standing firm and making the enemy carve his way over heaps of corpses. He urges the post-haste construction of new defensive lines near at hand. INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF THE BRITISH. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, August 3. Mr Philip Gibbs, ' reviewing the month's fighting, says it has been a stupendous month. The finest flower of our race have flung themselves at the enemy with an exaltation and courage that is something divine and sacrificial. It was a case of intensive fighting all the way, every bit of ground was a phase, and it may well be called a "battle of the woods." In one month, by the greatest battle in the history of our race, as well as the greatest in numbers, duration and sacrifice, we have taken* eleven enemy strongholds, killed and wounded an immense number of Germany's finest droops—at least 100,000—andalso inflicted a mortal blow, to her pride.

There is not a soldier among our fighting men who has not escaped death by a hair's breadth too often for reckoning. They have faced this thing, not gladly, but with a marvellous devotion to something higher than themselves. They don't as a "rule go to battle with a prayer on their lips—more often they use outrageous language, which is worse when they come out. It is not hatred or passion now, or love of glory, that has inspired the Britisher to fight; but it is the ideal of his manhood, which will not permit him to surrender, though the earth opens at his feet and the heavens rain fire on him. At any time of the day or night he will lay down his life for his friends. That is \m spirit.

» FRENCH TAKE MANY PRISONERS. Paris, August 3. A communique states: We made many successful attacks on the front of the Mouse, southward of Fleury, also eastward of Vacherauville, and in 'y- the regions of Thiaumont and Fleury, capturing many prisoners.

FRENCH SPLENDIDLY EQUIPPED

London, July 27. Mr Warner Allen,, official British press representative on the Western front, writing from the Sonraie region says that for the first time since the Champagne offensive guns were taken into the open without prepare] cmplacements. The enemy's artillery also fought without emplacements. , The correspondent adds that an echo of the Damaraland campaign was recalled by the fact that the French tested wells in the captured villages. The offensive throws an interesting light on the vaunted superiority 'of the German methods, and shows that the French are splendidly equipped with 24-in. light railways, whilst the gauge of the enemy's light railways is 16-in. Tlie Germans have to push trucks by hand, those of the French being drawn by engines. SUBSTANTIAL FRENCH PROCRESS SOUTH OF FLEURY. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Paris, August 3. A communique states: We substantially progressed southward of Fleury, reaching the outskirts of the village. BRITISH CONSOLIDATE NEW GROUND. a Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable As->oci.'iti<m. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Loudon, August 3. General Haig reports: We spent the night further consolidating the ground gained. There has been heavy mutual artillerying.