In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 16 August 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE FRENCH OPERATIONS. Press Association—Copyright. Renter's *5Ol vice. Paris, August 15. A communique states: Bad weather ■as hampered operations on most of the front. An artillery duel continues. German aeroplanes bombed Rheims, ml batteries shelled different quarters. The civilian hospital was destroyed and six civilians killed. Trustworthy advices state that the 'Tench captured 2000 unwounded prisoners and 70 machine-guns since Angst (3, principally northward of the •omnic, the advance culminating in ho seizure of upwards of half ol laurepas. They also took 600 prisonrs at Vans, Chapitre and Chenois iVood.

THE ALLIES’ OFFENSIVE.

INTERESTING REVELATIONS.

Tess Association-r-Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Sydney, August 15.

The Sydney Sun’s London correswndent writing on July 6, gives an 1 xtremely interesting resume of most f the facts which forced the Allied ift'ensives. These were not carefully Janned for a general attack which ,as to be the beginning of the ehd, nit were due to the necessity of reieving other positions against Austrojlerman attacks. When the Austrians were within .ight of the Venetian plains, Italy appealed to Russia, who wanted some nonths before the vast effort, which he General Staff was preparing, could jc made. Russia sent wprd along the ine, and General Brussiloff accepted he hint. He struck and shattered Austria’s southern armies. Meanwhile the enemy was within n ace of taking Verdun, owing to new rtillory methods, Germany being still .ir better supplied with heavy guns, ban we were. Germany struck so hard in her first attack that the I'Tench decided to evacuate, and only nintermanded the order when General ‘astelmain arrived and ordered the munis counter-attack, which drove ho Gormans to the east ol Fort Dou.uiuont.

General Joffre, continues the correspondent, has been fiercely assailed by .he French Parliament for ordering tho evacuation. A fortnight ago Verdun lad all but fallen. The French troops m the outer lines were completely cxlaustcd, and the supreme crisis had Arrived. if three days of heavy rain had not hillen it would have enabled the french to change their companies on jjo outer works, ahd Verdun would Hive fallen. This was the time when strong apiqaU wore made to Britain to take the iffensive. Germany knew about the ippeals, for there are few things which occur in Paris that are hidden from German spies. Before M. Briand ahd General Joffre had arrived in London upon their mission, the news of it had ieen published in the German press* Wo would have liked at least another two months, for we had not nearly •cached our maximum strength. The conscripted drafts had not been trained up to the full efficiency, nor had ,ve all the supplies of heavy guns and shells desired, in order to embark upon a supreme effort. We were ready for a serious, solid push, but the offensive, nevertheless, was,, forced on us by the German offensive elsewhere.

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

FRENCH TAKE TRENCHES.

The High Commissioner reports: — London, August 15 (2.55 p.m.)

The French official report states: There has been great artillorying on the Somme and on the right of the Meuse. North of Chapellc and St. Efine, the enemy trenches were taken on a front of 500 metres and a depth of one hundred metres. The counterattack was broken. ON THE BRITISH FRONT. lively engagements with THE ENEMY. The High Commissioner reports: — London. August 15 (2.55 p.m.) General Haig reports: As the result of local fighting north-west ofPozieres for two days, we retook nearly the whole of the remainder of the another hunnish act. BURGOMASTER OF NAMUR. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 15. A wireless message states that M. Golenvaux, burgomaster of Namur, was court-martiallecl and shot, no opportunity for a legal defence being afforded.

trenches which the enemy gained on Sunday night. We also forced an entry into the enemy trenches at ! Mouquet Farm, driving them back 'and taking eleven prisoners. 'lnwards the night small enemy attempts to raid our trenches won repulse! with losses. A CONFIRMATORY MESSAGE. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ■.Received 11.20 a.m.) London, August 15. General Haig reports: AVo retook nearly the whole of the trenches north-west of Poziers where the Germans penetrated on Sunday, We penetrated trenches at Monquot farm.

THE FRENCH OPERATIONS.

(Received 11.20 a.m.)

Paris, August 15

A communique states: Great artillery work has been experienced on the Somme front. A German detachment after heavy bombardment penetrated a small salient of our lines north-west of Heanrge and northward of Aisne, hut our counter-attack threw them out. Our Grenadiers brilliantly took three hundred metres of trenches to a depth of one hundred northwards of the Chapello-St. Efine road.