THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15603, 30 May 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

MINOR OPERATIONS

NO NEWS FROM VERDUN. %fcSy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) PARIS, May 28. An official communique says:— "We occupied the southern lips cf three cnitors caused by the explosion of German mines on the Haute Chevauehee, in the Argonne. "Our fire stopped two attacks northeastwards of Belschweiler, in Alsace." BATTLE OF VERDUN. INFINITESIMAL GERMAN GAINS* THE FIGHT FOR CUMIERES. (By Cablo.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received May 29th, 10.15 p.m.) PARIS, May 29> The German gains on the Verdun front for tlio last eight days total 300 •yards. The enemy was not long in possession of Cumiercs. A scries of grenade attacks on Friday enabled the French to quietly organise two attacking columns cast and west of the village. The eastern column captured the mill (on the bank of the Mouse) by nightfall. They found that the enemy had dug trenches, one behind another, across the main street. The Frencli troops proceeded to recapture* the houses by siego operations lasting all night. Meanwhile the western column was progressing, and the enemy, fearful that the village would be surrounded, hastily threw in heavy reinforcements. The however, maintained their gains, though the Germans were coun-ter-attacking with a brigade and a half of troops. GERMAN CHARGE EXPLODED. A FICTITIOUS AIR RAID. AN OBVIOUS FABRICATION.

k i " j (Bv Cable.—Press Association. —Copyrigiit.) J ; PARIS, May 23. 5 The "Matin" says:—"At tho end of t twenty-two months of war Professor r Schwalde, directpr of the German 'Weekly Medical Review,' writes as follows: —'It is untrue that aviators on 1 August 2nd, 1914, bombed Nuraberg. i The Mayor of Xurnberg recently declared that the commandant of the 3rd

Bavarian Corps was never aware of the bombardment of the stations at Nurnborg, Kissingcn, and Nurnberg-Ans-bach. either before or after the declaration of war.' "'This charge, which was made with ■visible emotion by Baron von Schoon. has boon Germany's priueipal argument with a view to giving neutrals the impression that. France was tho aggressor. It is an obvious fabrication, paralleled by tho famous Ems telegram which precipitated the Franco-Prussian war in 1870." GENERAL GALLIENT. A STATE FUNERAL. PARIS, May 2S. General Gailieni will be accorded a State funeral,..and will be buried in the Invalides. THE BRITISH! FRONT. FIVE MONTHS' OPERATIONS. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DESPATCH. STEADY, CONTINUOUS STRUGGLE. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. (Received May 29tli, 10.55 p.m.) " LONDON, May 29. Sir Douglas Haig's first despatch covers tho five months of operations smco December 19th. Ho says there has been no incident of historic importance, hut a steady, continuous struggle has been maintained above and below ground. There have been many sharp local actions. The period covered by his despatch has seen the British initiation of "cut-ting-out raids," in which the British, on the -whole, still hold the initiative. Sir Douglas Haig alludes to tho extension of the British front in order to release French troops for the operations in the vicinity of Verdun. He describes tho French evacuation on a considerable front, where they were everywhere in touch with the enemy, as a delicate operation but one which was completely successful. He clears up the confusion relating to the British attack at St. Eloi (south of Ypres) on March 27th. The object was to straighten tho line. Fighting for the mine craters lasted for a week. The British then secured the whole of their original objective, but tho wet state of tho ground and an intense enemy bombardment prevented the consolidation of tho captured positions. The Germans recaptured two mine craters. It was erroneously reported to Sir Douglas Haig on April lltli that the British had gained all craters, whereas the old craters were mistaken for the new. Tho latter were rendered untenable, and have since been abandoned. The British line is, roughly, the same as it was before tho first attack. "My forces," says Sir Douglas Haig, "have been considerably augmented by the arrival of new formations from Home, and the transfer of others released from service m the Near East. This increase enabled us to relievo one French army at the time of the Verdun battle. "Among the newly-arrived troops aro tho Anzac Corps. With the Anzacs, the Canadians, and a portion of the South African oversea troops, the forces of the Dominions are now a valuable part of the Imperial Forces in Franco. "Tho appearanco of tho Fokkers in December obliged tho British to send escorts with their reconnoitring aeroplanes. Consequently air fights which were previously exceptional aro now an everyday occurrence. "There has been no serious epidemic disease. The sick-rate is low. Enteric, the bane of tho armies of yore, has almost disappeared owing to theadoption of energetic preventive measures. "The Graves Registration Commission has marked over 50,000 British graves." Tho despatch concludes with a tribute to the work of Lord French, who, "starting with the small Expeditionary Force, faced tho enemy in far superior numbers and fully prepared for this great campaign. During the long and anxious time needed for the improvisation of tho comparatively large force now at the front, Lord French overcame all difficulties, and before relinquishing his responsibilities ho had tho satisfaction of seeing tho balance of advantage swing steadily in our favour."