DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 6

DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT

THE FIGHTING AROUND LABASSEE STERN WORK FOR THE GUARDS BRIGADE London, February 17. The Mowing is a continuation of the first of'Str John French's bi-weekly reports; publication of which has now been arranged: for:—... Fighting on the Bethune Canal. "On the morning of January 25 a strong artillery attack developed south of the Bothuno canal. The British line 1 near the canal was a pronounced salient, which. the Scotch Guards and Coldstream Guards were- holding. The trenches of tie" salient . wore quickly blown in, forcing a retirement. to a partially prepared second line, which \was strengthened by. the. construction of| ■ a keep. half , way between the canal and ; the main La Bassee-Bethune:road, lhe London Scottish were-, sent up to support, and .counter-attack's, . were organised north arid- south of tlie_ resulting in the Germans, -being, driven "Our ,Ist Guards Brigade, which had 'suffered severely, sent /for. reserves.' Meanwhile there was an equally severe attack at Givenchy. After a heavy bombardment with' • high' explosive • shells, despite'our krtillery being hammered by the; constant interruption of. tne telephonic communication between the observers, the' batteries' fire forced tho Germans to crowd-: .in .the. north-west corner of the village, <. , ; .

Clvenchy Cleared of the Enemy. • "Finally they broke through the centre of the village to the keep.. The Ger- > mans lost heavily; A well-timed local counter-attack. by the Welsh r.eßerves. ivas completely successful. After about an hour's i streeu fighting all the Germans- in Givenchy were captured or - killed, and the 'original line was ,-rfr . established.' . ' ! - "Part of tho 14th German: Army Corns on Jan.iary 29, after-.a :■ -severe - shelling/ made, a' violent attack,.-using scaling -ladders upon: .the .keep., .The Sussex Regiment was within, and in' • flicted serious : losses -on the Germans, who left 2iX> dead."-'•• ; : The dispatch, commends tne'. 2nd Coldstream' Guards and -the Trish Guards for plvck' m_ storming two sets;,of"'barricades,"' .capturing three ■trenches,': and : killing and making prisoner'.manv cf -the enemy, on; February lat Guinch'y.' . .. .." / \vV.

■A Word About the Troops. • The dispatch'continues:—' 1 ? "Tlie'. army,. corps; commanders _ are ; -loud;in-their,praises,o£ the Territorials. They say-that*-they.-are. fast approachl'ng," if -they. have;, not already reached, ; the stajidar'i.of efficiency, pf-the regular infantry > };:■ _ "Tho Artists' Training Corns is a ■■ great success,- turning cut 100 officers monthly.: •. .Their training ■ includes a :■-'forty-eight-hours' tour,of.; the. trenches, visiting observation posts. .; •■■ > "The Flyine Corns had covered 100,- .. 000' miles; - : Though t the' weather had been ■uniformly, badi_ there were- only V thirteen days on . which; reconnaissances i: ; had not be ell 'effected:;'! The/principle of "hostile aircraft on .every op- • portunitv had bean' continued, and ,r*-. l.^sulti^'-fiiHliW.-Ge^an-miichiries'immedi-' atcly- retreating whenever chased; Only 500 Cases of Enteric Since the War Began.. ~ - ':. : "r'"The 'troops ;.'were -subjected to' the ' severest. trial it -would possible to ■ impose on a body of men. ; The desperate -fighting"'mentioned; in' the last dispatch °had hardly-concluded when they were called upon to face a-rigorous .i. winter' campaign. Though everything' science arid; medicine suggested, was em- , ploved to mitigate.' the,T.ardsbipsj their 'sufferings.-;: were very, great;.;. Neyertheless,-: though 'they' now present a soldierlike and splendid, . though; war-worn, appearance,: their. spirits - are hi<rh', they are confident, and tleir health is excel- ■ lent.: The condition the British battalions '{from India isi particularly fine. Princess, Patricia's Canadians are . a magnificent set• of-men, > and do excellent work in tho trenches." .;

V'-TOe;dispatch commends the Royal En-, • gineers; and; Medical Corps, who are treating -eleven: thousand; daily on; tie lilies - of: communication.;; There :havo heen only five hundred cases of enteric fever since the. commencement of the war.: The dispatch concludes; "I gratefully acknowledge thei help and support of .Generals Foch, Durbal, and Maudfcuy."

BACK TO THE WORLD RETURNED PRISONERS EAGERTOE, NEWS, v., * ■ , , . Rotterdam, February 17. f Oris hirndred aiid ten .returning. British prisoners.eagerly listened to news, of' the war.They, cheered on learning of the Falkland Island naval victory ■ami .the loss of the'Blucher. _ . They state they _ were fairly well treated .in"' the hospitals, hnt the treatment in the interned camps was inhuman; Tlioy were almost starved, and the food was only fit for nigs. Tliev •were kicked if theyjnade the slightest complaint. The British and German wounded met at Flushing, and chatted concerning life during their imprisonment. LEATHER AND MEAT IN AUSTRALIA IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S ,NEiI)S. . (Rec. -.February.; 18, ; 9.30.p.m.) . . Sydney, February 18. Tho Federal Government has prohibited th'e-.export, of'.leather, ._ , . . ; The Governor has given his assent to the Meat Supply /for . Imperial Uses Act, but until '.the desires of the Imperial. Government in the matter are known! there will bo no interference with 'present methods.. .• ;

MISCELLANEOUS BILLS OF EXCHANGE. . Londohj February 17. The banks have reduced the charge of collecting bills'of .exchange on Australasia ;, to 7s.- 6d, oer cent FOR DISTtNG PISHED SERVICE:' ■: • (Rec. .February IS, 7.45 p.m.) London, February 18. The .'Gazette'.' , to-night. contains. '27 pages of Sir John.. French's recommendations for gallant and distinguished 'service. . .: • . There are: about three thousand names. ' BLUOHER' COIDIANDER DEAD. London, February 17. Captain Erdmand the Commander of the Blucber, has ; died at .Edinburgh from ■'•pneumonia.' He was ono of the greatest- gunnery authorities in Germany. '•, ■ BACK FROM NEW GUINEA. (Rec." Februar-- 18, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, February 18. , -One thousand men. the, balance of the first' Australian Expeditionary Force to German New Guinea., has . returned. The men ivero accprded a ereat wei;cornel..'., . ' ..