In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 27 December 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE SOMME BATTLE GERMANS SAY OVER. BACK TO THE TRENCHES. Press Association—Copyright, Austra lian arid N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Amsterdam December 20. A German semi-official message states: The Somme battle lias finished, and an extensive trench system has again been constructed over a dozen lines of defence. FRENCH AERIAL ACTIVITY. BOMBING BIVOUACS.

Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn., and Reuter. (Received 9.45 a.m.) London, December 26. A French communique states: Ten French aeroplanes bombed the railway station and hutments at Xosle. Bivouacs and Chapitre. BELGSAN DEPORTATBONS. GERMAN CULTURE AGAIN. DISCOURTEOUS REPLY TO THE NETHERLANDS. Press Association—Copyright. Reuter's Service. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Amsterdam December 26.

The Telegraaf confirms the statement of Le Temps that Germany's reply to -the Netherlands' protest against the Belgian deportations was so discourteous that it could not he communicated to Parliament, and the Government has -requested Germany to send such a reply as can be communicated to Parliament. CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES. Pross Association—Copyright, aukb:i» Han and N.Z. Cable Association London, December 25. Mr Philip Gibbs telegraphs: Christmas Eve was mild and springlike, with a glint of sunshine. The supply columns of motor lorries, containing Christmas provender for men, beasts, and guns, ploughed through the thick slime. The camps, hutments, and dugouts resemble islands in an ocean of mud. The Australians and New Zealanders were observed flinging money about the booths and market places upon trinkets destined for a long sea journey. These fellows in slouch hats wandered into the best restaurants in the region of the battlefields and chose dishes without worrying about the price. Some of the'units had the bad luck to be in the trenches, ' but there was no grousing, though the shell holes were half full of water and it was hard to keep from freezing. Every effort .was made to get a lump of plum pudding. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided trendies south-west of Lens and eastward of Armentieres. The enemy blew up Camonlet, south of Saint Eloi, the damage being slight. We shelled the enemy defences and headquarters north of the Somme, doing much damage. We raided trenches in the neighborhood of Hebuterne, taking prisoners, and successfully discharged gas. West of Mesine the enemy > at Camonflet and Mount Sorrel bombarded us without damage. We shelled a working party north-east of Morval. Details of the raid north of Arras on the 20th show that two lines of trenches were penetrated in broad daylight on a 400 yards front, and all the objectives were attained.