THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2426, 3 April 1915, Page 7

THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

ENEMY CONCENTRATING IN ALSACE STIFF FIGHTING NEAR PONT-A-MOUSSON " (Rec. 'April 1, 9.10 p.m.) Paris, April 1. Official. —"Tho Germnns counter-attacked at Bois le Pretre, and recovered portion of their lost position, but were again dislodged. Our gain lias been entirely maintained." HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICIAL REPORTS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 1, 1.10 a.m. Paris reports: "There is constant activity in the Argonne, particularly between Four dc Paris and Bagatelle. At Bois le Pretre (near Pont-a-Mousson) the onemv counter-attacked at daybreak on Tuesday with several battalions, and succeeded in regaining sonio of the ground, but was dislodged at eight o'clock. "In tho forest of Parroy fighting between outposts resulted to our advantage." London, April 1, 10.30 p.m. Paris reports; "Mine warfare on the Dompierre-Perone frontier (in the Somme region) continues. Wo exploded a German observation post north of Berry-an-Bac (on the Aisne). "Prisoners taken at Bois le Pretre total 140. All the German counterattacks were repulsed. "A battalion of Landwohr attacking in the region of the Forest of Parroy were repulsed with heavy loss." London, April 2, 1.5 a.m. Paris reports: "In the Woeuvre, west of the Bois le Pretre, the Allies Lave occupied the village of Defeyeliaye, holding the position despite,several counterattacks." FRENCH MARKING TIME ON THE ST. MIHIEL FRONT. London, March 31. The correspondent of "The Times" in Lorraine says: "Nothing has changed along the line from St., Mihiel to the Vosges for the last couple of months. The French are marking time, and only fighting to repel the Germans' spasmodic and aimless attacks. The net result has been that the Germans have completely failed in their main objective, and the French have made little real advance, but have kept the German war engine working all full pressure.— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. GERMANS SWARMING INTO ALSACE. (Re'o. April 2, 3.35 p.m.) London, April 1. Reports from Genoa state that fifty thousand Germans havo occupied the valleys of Kayserberg, Minister, and Gulbwiller (in Alsace). The French troops who are guarding this part of the line have difficulty in resisting the advances. [Kaysehberg, Minister, and Gulbwiller are respectively north-west, west, and souih-west of Colmar, to which they are of tactical value.] SIGNIFICANT EXPULSION OF INHABITANTS, (Rec. April 2, 5,5 p.m.) . Paris, April 2. The Germans are _ expelling the from the Argonne, Meuse, Marne, and Alsace regions. German officers admit that the feeling of the inhabitants is detrimental to the German soldiers. All the houses have been searched, and tho food seized, 'and the refugees are flocking into' the French towns in a pitiable condition. A lieutenant of the Headquartera Staff told, a lady refugee that Germany had been deceived, and they now believed themselves that all that remained to do was to try and defend their line. Many of the soldiers are mero boys. Of three tho\isand who passed through Buzancy, three-fourths aro now dead.