AFTER THE BATTLE AT NEUVE CHAPELLE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2414, 20 March 1915, Page 7

AFTER THE BATTLE AT NEUVE CHAPELLE

ENEMY'S EFFORTS TO RETAKE THE POSITION 9 ATTACKERS SHOW SIGNS OF GREAT EXHAUSTION By Telegraph—Frees Association—Oopyrlgw ..i? Wt I. i 1 , „ „, . London, March 18. Lye-Witness states that cn the 11th instant he found at Neuve Chapells the enemy making an incessant effort to regain what had been lost. .. "llie Germans, on the 12th, began to show signs of great exhaustion: tho attackers frequently held up their hands when we fired. Our infantry did not give them a moment's rest.. Whole companies surrendered, and the dead lay thick along the whole front. There were two thousand doad south of the village, and another five Hundred stretched out in front of one of our battalions east of the village. These did not include large numbers killed in Neuve Chapello itself. "A patrol found a, dummy figure in front of a German trench, which expioaed on removal, injuring a man, "A German officer taken prisoner stated that three Princes, including Prince Leopold of Hohenzo ern, were serving at Neuve Cliapelle, and he bc° lieved all had been killed." , SUSTAINED PRESSURE OF THE FRENCH IN THE ' CHAMPAGNE DISTRICT. The High Commissioner's message:— u • . , „ - t ., , ~, , London, March 18, 8.50 p.m. 1 aris leports. A British observer with the French forces sends an inter- ■ csting account of the operations in the Champagne district dtiriiv the last three weeks. He points out the sustained nature of the effort, with the obiect of keeping a constant pressure on the enemy's first line of defence, affcctin<* the use of the railway between Razaucourt and Challcraugc, and wearing down ' the reserves of men ami ammunition. < February 15, it is contended, marks the opening of the 1915 campaign, the first phase of which is found worthy of note for" tho future history of (lie 1 war. The account concludes: "Hitherto the French have progressed steadily < not being forced back on any day behind the line held in the inorniii". despite innumerable counter-attacks, which is not merely a question of "aiuiiV T ground, but also of increasing moral superiority." " » = , i GERMAN TRENCHES FILLED. WITH DEAD. The High Commissioner's message:— ■n . , T , „ . . London, March 19, 12.50 a.m. .. ians reports: In the Lhampagno'district tho French realised appreciable gains north-east of Mesnil. The enemy's counter-attack was repulsed. North ot \ enlun, the l'rencn captured two trenches, making prisoners. At liartsmannweilerkopf the Allies gained ground. The enemy's losses were verv heavy the trenches being filled with dead. " '' [A Press Association message gives the same particulars.] BELGIANS SHELL A CONVOY. , . , Paris, March 18. A communique Hates: The Belgians are progressing. 'IVv bombarded a convoy near Dixmude. • . ' GERMAN CASUALTIES TEN TIMES GREATER THAN BRITISH. (Rec. March 19, 5.55 p.m.) London, March IS. I lie I lines military correspoudo lit Mays: ''The popiilalien oi {> I'niiniiy is a Ihird larger tiian ours, bill the German casualties are ton times more numerous. A\o read our casualty list, daily with set laces, hut what would we think 1 1- our casualties were proportionately i(s lan?e as the enemv's. whose inmost thoughts, though bravely concealed, must dwell on the nnpalaiablo truth l.bat alter unparalleled sacrifices of life, money, and material, (•ornianv lias failed tr establish a predominance enabling her tu aspire to a fuvourablo peace,--"Times" and Sydney "oun" services.