In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 28 August 1916, Page 5

In the West

ANGLO-FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT Press Association —Copyright, EcuWs Telegrams BLondon,' August 26. General Sir Douglas iHlaig reports Last evening there was artillery activity at Mametz Wood, north of Del ville Wood, RoulonCourt, Laconturo and east of Zilleheke. Our countei attacks destroyed many and damage other gun positions on the Somme Our aircraft attacks on points o military importance continue. A French communique states tha there is very lively artillery fi' northward of Maurepas, westward f Clery, and on the Thiuumont-Fleur; sector. _

BELGIANS BEAT BACK THE HUNS. ■■ .( .1 .) ' ..O' h Press Association—Copyrignt, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. >;!f< (Received 8.55 a.m.) i.-ij,,,-.,-London, August 'l'f. A Belgian communique states : Germans attempted to cross the canal near Hetsas. but wore repulsed with heavy losses.

CAPTURE OF 2f>o YARDS OF TRENCHES. The. High Commissioner reports:— •Londohy.'Augiust 27 (2.40 i>.nv.) A British official I’eport states: During yesterday evening, wo took a further 200 yards of German trenches north of Bazentin le Petit. BELGIUM’S DELIVERY. CARDINAL MERCIER’S PASSIONATE WORDS. . , J f . M q Press Association—Copyright, £ust^- f ,, lian and N.Z. Cable Asso.ciatx<,>p., ir ,, (Received 9.55 a.m.) . ( j^ New York, August 27. , V) - ;

The Times has published a translated report, of the recent defiant speech of Cardinal Mercier at Brussels, when his remarks were delivered heedless of German listeners. He said he glorified in the deeds of the Allies and predicted a speedy delivery of Belgium, when King Albert would soon reign again at the 'capital. Ho regretted that it was impossible to clasp the Nation’s berdes in his arms. I HEAVY ARTILLERY DUELS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Londbn, August 2?. General Haig reports; The artillery was active all night long between the Somme and the Ancre, and heavily shelled the neighbourhood of Bethune. Our artillery retaliated,- shelling the railway stations and uarracUs. BELGIUM MINED. NOTHING TO BE LEFT STANDING (Received 9.55 a.m.) New York, August 27.

Daysman’s expert munition marker, who escaped from Belgium and has arrived in the United - States, sa\s that the Germans have mined the whole country including the towns and cities. Bombs are everywhere and electrically controlled. A German officer boasted that il they ueie forced to retire* from Belgium they would not leave anything standing. If the Belgians refuse munition work, their wives and daughters are deported to Germany. the maurepas battle. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ; Paris, August 26. It is understood that the Germans at Maurepas comprised the hirst Division of the Prussian Guards, personally commanded by the Kaiser’s son, Prince Eitel Frederick. 1 he

French victory was neither difficult nor costly. A communique states: Prison r.i captured during Thursday’s combat:; total six huiulred. The Germans gained a footing m the advanced trenches at Ailly Wood, but were immediately expelled. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIEPVAL London, August 26. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: lie enemy bombarded the front Hue trenches on the greater portion of the front south of Aiicre. • Attacks in the morning' west of Guillcmont, between the quarries ol Montaubau and Guilleni*nt road, were repulsed. We further progressed east and south-west of Moquet Farm, and also captured another four hundred yards of trenches along the CourcclottcThiepval road.

The importance the enemy attaches to the Thiepval sector is shown by the groat effort made to recover the ground at the Leipzig salient. Ho recently effected a great concentration of guns in this area and in support of last night’s attacks also delivered an attack south of. Thiepval village, with the Prussian Guard. The attack was pressed determinedly, but was everywhere repulsed with very heavy loss. The success of our defence was largely duo to the gallantry of the Wiltshires and Worcesters, who, despite a heavy bombardment, held on. London, August 26.

. General Sir Douglas Haig states: Wo repulsed an attack on the trenches westward of Guinchy. (he enemy bombarded the captured Denches westward of Guinchy and at Delvillo Wood. Two of our aeroplanes raided some of the principal railway sidings on the lines of communication, social trains being hit, and considerable damage caused to rolling stuck.

GUNNERS WEAR RED CROSS. London, August 26. A correspondent at headquarters reports that an escap 'd British pi toiler emphatically assorts that all the German machine-gunners he saw wore Red Cross hands. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. GERMAN NIGHT-ATTACKS REoil r puLSED AT VERDUN. >d ■ REPORTS OF ACTIVE FIGHTING IN LORRAINE. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Paris, August 27. A communiqitp states: Bad weather continues to hamper pperations. The Germans thrice in the night attacked the wood at Yaux and Chapitro, but were repulsed with heavy losses. We repulsed, many coups (do mniiij in .Lorraine and checked an attackoMlu an 800-metre front, at Croix and-St.-Jean.