Second Edition. In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 18 December 1916, Page 6

Second Edition. In the West

GERMANS LOST TWO DIVISIONS. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH STRATEGY ■■■ Prgss Association—Copyright, Austra lian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.55 a.m.) X Paris, December 17. It is estimated that General Mangin inflicted losses equivalent to two divisions. l T ntil the last moment the Germans were uncertain where the attack would be.made. It was expected tKe Assault would be on the left bank, where the artillery preparations ban been extended far enough to the west ward. Thither their principal barrage of fire was directed , while the French were attack! Anr the right hank. After a night of rivin and snow, the weather cleared, and the visibility steadily improved, facilitating aviation work. The enemy’s artillery was paralysed by the French and reduced to silence an hour before the attack. The rapidity of the assault is shown in the capture of twenty guns and twelve hundred prisoners in two hours. It was a complete surprise to the enemy. The advance was strongly pushed home to Vacheranville, with Poivre Hill on the left and then Heidromont Wood and farm in the centre, where the German front was soon driven in. Finally, the French right wing swept victoriously along the • Douaumont-Bezon-Vaux road^ The enemy brought reinforcements and fought obstinately at certain points but the vigor of the French troops was increasing with every yard gained, and the Germans yielded and fled in disorder.

The victory deprives them of the observation points helping them in the operations before Verdun.

General Nivelle, in the evening, on the assembling commanders, said; “I leave, you, gentlemen, after a splendid day, the experience of which is conclusive, or the method has again proved, that the Second Arnfy can assert its superiority, moral and material, over the enemy.”

NEWS IN THE TRENCHES. ' GERMANS EXHIBIT BOARDS. ,;*• r 'i. ■' ■ ALLIES RECEIVE INFORMATION •h. WITH SARCASM. ■ . • Press Association —Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams ■ (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, December 17. Headquarter’s first intimation ol the pqace proposals was from the first line of trenches, and came mostly from the German trenches, where chalked boards quoting the Kaiser’s grandiloquent address were exhibited It was received: with scepticism and sarcasm. A correspondent summarising the views of the officers and men said the speech .was dntef*preteci as an admission that the Germans wish for peace badly, but on impossible terms. The troops vbelieve that the terrible hammering the enemy received or was about to receive at the Somme was the governing factor of the proposals. The correspondent declares there will be the most profound indignation if order to cease hostilities is given on any other condition than those which are tantamount to a German admission of coming defeat. GERMAN LOSS AT VERDUN. - $ 4 IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH ... -VICTORY. Press Association—Copyright, Auscra lian and N.Z. Cable Association. . . .... (Received 11.15 a.m.) Paris, December 17. The Petit Parisiene says the Germans considered the Verdun positions impregnable. The npasses of wire entanglements asd the concreted galleries, shelters, and redoubts' had converted Poivre Hill into a fortress, the capture of which was most important, because from there the Germans enfiladed the French positions at Vaux and Danamont, while Bezonvaux dominates the whole of Woe vie Plain.

\ ENEMY EFFORTS FAIL. (Received 11.15 a.in.) London, December. 17. A French communique states: An enemy minor reconnaisance in the .Champagne was shattered. They were only, patrol encounters. On the right of the Meuse an enemy attack in the Saint Mihiel sector failed. HUN DESPONDENCY OF LATE. . DISCLOSED IN CAPTURED j ORDERS. Press Association—Copyright. Published in “The Times." (Received 9.10 a.m.j London, December 17. The Times’ headquarters correspondent says it is significant that among the prisoners on the Somme taken since August, there was no talk of German, victory. Cyders of the na.v which were captured, show that there is a steadily grooving note of despondency. They continually refer to officers and men malingering, and contain frenzied exhortations to troops to bold their ground, and threats and humiliating regulations against an increasing tendency to desertion. On the Somme'. alom, the Germans lost approximately , two-thirds of thenstrength and one half (\f all the units in the array.