In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 75, 26 October 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE VERDUN SECTOR.' '■" • \ SPLENDID FRENCH PROGRESS. i The High Commissioner reports: \ London, October 25, (12.5 a.m.) 'A French official message says: On the Verdun front, after an intense artillery preparation, an attack on the right bank of the Meuse was launched at, noon, on a front/ of seven kilometres. The enemy line was burst in everywhere, to a depth in the centre reaching three kilometres. The vil- > lage and fort at Douanmont were captured. On the left wing we, pass- ' ing"by ThiaumOnt farm, captured the Haudromont quarries, which we are 4 consolidating along the road, from Eras to Douaumont. On the right of the fort our line passed north of Caillette Wood, along the boundary west of the Aaux-Fumin wood, continuing north of Chenois wood and Damloup battery; Prisoners taken number 3500, including one hundred' officers. Our losses were slight. A communique says: Attacking on a seven'kilometre front on the right bank of the Meuse, we smashed the * ene^y's whole line for a depth of three; kilometres, captured the Douaumont fort and village, and the Haudromont quarries. Three thousand k five hundred prisoners have already been counted, including one hundred WS^fficers. W A communique says: Our troops, f advancing beyond Thiaumont "Work faian, seized the quarries and estab- / lished themselves along the ffrasDouaumont Road. Our lino on the right of the fort, passes northward or Cailiette Wood, and follows the western fringe of Vaux village and the eastern outskirts of Fumin Wood, continuing northward to Crois Wood and Damloup battery. The material , captured has not yet been catalogued. Our losses were slight. GERMANS TWICE REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports:— London, October- 25 (10.15 p.m.) The French official reports says:— Northwards of Verdun, the Germans twice attacked the wings of our new front, once at the quarries at Hardromont where they, were repulsed, and 1 the other time at Damloup battery. , Our new conquests were maintained. GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL. fcress Association—Copyngnt, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 10.5 a.m.) London, October 25. A French communique states:The German counter-attacks at Verdun failed. ■ . , 'i THE KAISER AT BAPAUME. ' Press Association— Copyright, Austra. Han and N.Z. Cable Association. Paris, October 25. Le Liberte reports that the Kaiser is at Bapaumc, supervising preparations for a great counter-offensive, for which German reinforcements ol , men and artillery have arrived.

BRILLIANCY *OF THE FRENCH. general' MINEHELERS SUC'^,;'"CESS. IMMENSE SATISFACTION. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.10 a.m.) ' London, October I The news ,of the brilliant French advanoe at, Verdun was received ioo late' for comment by the newspapers, but it was fully displayed in later editions. The advanoe was the means of regaining in a single day almost all the ground which the Germans won in the second battle at Verdun lasting during May and June. The French strategy, caused demoralisation among 'the enemy wherever it was not matched:by,:superiority of numbers. General Mineheler, who with General' under General Foch's , direction, , shares the honors of the Somme, .offensive and was promoted to Commander of the Legion of Honour. The Gazette says he was summoned to direct the offensive. The operations, which were conducted in,difficult terrain, obtained the most brilliant results, thanks to the profound grasp-of the methods of the present war, while his vigour and confidence were communicated to those acting under him. The Daily Mail says the splendid news from Verdun shows that the Germans have scraped together an army to invade Roumania at the cost of a dangerous thinning of the line elsewhere. It is a bitter pill^to the enemy to lose the ground, which was conquered at such a price in livefe and munitions. WITH THE BRITISH. ENEMY RAIDERS EJECTED. London, October 24. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was heavy mutual shelling ou Tuesday, southwards of Armentieres. A strong enemy party raided the tren* ehes eastward of Loos, apparently for the purpose of destroying the mine shafts, but they were immediately ejected.