In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 49, 25 September 1916, Page 5

In the West

COLONEL REPINCTON'S VIEWS. FAVORABLE TO THE ALLIES. GERMAN INFERIORITY PLAIN.

Press Association—Copyright. Published in "The Times." (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, September 24

Colonel Repingtori, reviews the position favourably for'the Allies. lie says there is indisputable evidence that the blockade is severely affecting Germany internationally. The Allied hammering at the Somme. is increasing the national dejectio'n. Other causes of anxiety arc the war loan and the constant- -shifting of troops on all fronts to repair deficiencies. When the veil is lifted, it; will show that Germany has suffered greater misery and losses in men, money, ships' and credit than could possibly be imagined. The Allies are methodically blasting their way towards the Meuse. They have encountered and overthrown nearly half the German Western divisions, their failures to recover the lost ground, thus demonstrating that their inferiority in the Western pressure is adversely affecting General Hindenburg's eastern plans. ' /' ■ ■ —; STRIKING BATTLE INCIDENT. THE "MOP-UP" BATTALION ' WINS THROUGH. Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, September 24. Air Gibbs Writes: The Canadians' capture of Courcelette was one of the most astounding things in tlie battle. After the sugar refinery had been taken, the officers who were nol wounded held a conference as to t'n po§MWlity df taking-Couroe.lette.Al. denied .quie't. ill" the/ruins, but no or knew tlie siseHofMsne garrison, though an occasional burst from maehineguns""showed that defenders remained there. It was manifest that there was a big adventure for the fag-end Qtlie day. The conference decided ttry.. The honour of leading the a tack was given to '.the "mop-up" bat talion, which was largely composed c French-Canadians. It was afterward discovered that there were 15,500 Ge mans in. the village, greatly outnum boring the stormers. Tiny parties o Canadians dashed into dug-outs i of Germans, One boy brougnt J twenty prisoners. Two German col, nols were chagrined to find that they surrendered to such a small force < attackers. The .enemy made «ev< counter-attacks in the night. J tang often looked black, but the Canadian bovs canio through.

TEN MILLION CALLED UP.

SEVEN MILLIONS EXPERIENCED THE FIRING LINE.

Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N r Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.45 a.m.) Copenhagen. September 24. The National MitiemV. states that in all ten millions have been called „p for military service in Germany, and seven millions -actually been -n the ffring line. ENEMY DRIVEN FROM TRENCHES. press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, September 24. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: WV continued to improve our position southward of Autre, Lulling uetaeJiments of the enemy from: their huvanced trenches. % During Friday's bombardment, tei enemy gun pits were destroyed, and fourteen severely damaged, while live iimmunition pits were exploded toIday. Our artillery also caused a bi five in a village largely used for the transport of supplies. Fifty aeroplanes successfully raided an important railway junction causing .much damage, including the destruction of two ammunition trains. Othei successful raids were carried out on railway works at aerodromes. ! MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS I BOMBED. Paris, September 21. A communique states: There r violent artillery activity at the Bouchavesnes, Belioy and Berny sectors. An enemy attack southward of Cal Sainte Marie, in the Vosges, was re-

pulsed.' Our airmen bombed tha mil tary establishments in the Ludwigsh; vn Palatinate, and a big factory an Mannheim., A vast fire- and sever. explosions wen- observed.

CAPTUt OF COUR"ELHTTE

MACN IFIC ENT C NA!. I N WORK Press Association —Copyright, Anstra. Man and N.Z. Cable Association. London, September '23. The Canadians took a brilliant share in the battle on September 155.1 - Tbey forced back the Germans for over a mile and captured Mouquet Farm. Aft-:' ;• desperate resistance they carried the sugar refinery, and then advanced and .captured the whole village of Courcelette. Altogether they took 1200 prisoners, including thirty-two officers. The artillery barrage was advanced before the Canadians stage with remarkable precision. The infantry moved forward in successive waves. Directly the first lines of the German trenches had been secured, the assaulting waves pressed on. In their midst were several armoured cars, which the Germans were powerless to stop, and these cars assisted materially in silencing the machine guns as well as enfilading the enemy trenches. The attack was so successful that they decided to press on to Courcelette and Mouquet Farm. Within twelve hours the Canadians had captured the whole defensive works on a wide front and a depth from 1000 to 2000 yards, despite the fact that the Germans were fighting with the courage of despair.