AWAITING THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2509, 9 July 1915, Page 5

AWAITING THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

. ALLIES'LINE STRONGLY HELD IMPORTANT NEW WEAPON FOR THE FRENCH By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyiisrit ! , .„. , ' London, July 7. . A correspondent in Northern France says there , are indications that the Allies are awaiting-the full fury of a German offensive. The enemy's plan seems, to be to multiply the number of points of attack and to prevent the Allies knowing where tho biggest effort is to be made, ' . : A French Staff officer states that the Allied line is so strongly held and supported by formidable artillery that is would be a barrier to any serious German offensive, which would cost the enemy terrible losses. _ "Eye-Witness" states that the operations, for the five days to July 2 were mainly confined to mining and counter-mining, in which we destroyed portions of the enemy's trenches. At.Guinchy, Neuvo Chapelle, and La Bassee there were numerous patrol skirmishes, and sniping continued steadily. Our shells exploded a jjoisonous gas cylinder near Hill -60, asphyxiating sixty Germans. In some sections of,.the enemy's front a number of men carry reservoirs of oxygen, for. reviving soldiers who nave suffered from the gas fumes. There, are rumours that the French possess an important now weapon, both for offence and. attack. ' 1 GERMAN ATTACK SOUTH-EAST OF ST. MIHIEL REPULSED WITH HEAV.Y LOSSES. "' . Paris, July 7. , 'A' communique states: "There was a night-long bombardment north of Arras. "We repulsed two feeble German attacks at Souchez. "Our fire stopped fresh evening attaoks at Soiivaux. ; "The Germans, after a most violent bombardment, south-east of St. Mi- * hiel, took the offensive on-a vido front. Only ono point was penetrated along our first-line trenches for .a distance or 750 yards; elsewhere the enemy, was repulsed with heavy'losses. "At Bois lo Pretre we checked an attack which was preceded by a deluge of burning liquid." ' . . • (Rec. July 8, 9.20 p.m.) ' .■ ' Paris, July 8. OfßciaL—"After a: fitfht with grenades we recovered two hundred metres of trenches^at,Bois lo Pretre." • GERMAN'OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, July 7. 'A 1 Gorman official report states: "We inflicted fearful losses on the 'An-glo-French forces at Arras and La Bassee. There were only eight hundred survivors out of a regiment numbering 4200."North of Tprcs the British penetrated, a portion of our trenches oil Tuesday last, but were thrown out in the evening. "During our bombardment of . concentrations of the enemy at Arras the town caught fire,, and the .Cathedral was burned, - A ■ "Tho French attempted to recapture position south-west of Los Eparges. They entered our trenches but were ejected, except for a space of one hundred yards. ; ( "We captured a position between' Ailly and Apremorit, making prisoner three hundred. ' \ . '"Our airmen.successfully bombed a camp cout'h-west of the Suippe (a; tributary of the Aisne). » WEIRD ENCOUNTERS IN THE GALLERIES OF THE LABYRINTH FIGHTING IN UNDERGROUND DARKNESS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ' London, July 7. The war in the treuohos is described as nothing compared with the &trugjjlo in the subterranean passages of, tfcqjiahxrktihi Jlio jwrcn: wllories arei

feebly lighted by oil lamps, where the adversaries are separated by bags of sand, which they keep pushing towards one: another. The moment there is an opening a terrific fight ensues. Tho only weapons possible are hand grenades and bayonets, although tho Germans employ revolvers and long knives, and occasionally vitriol. The galleries ar® not longer than ten yards, tho walls ooze with water, and tlie_ odour is insufferable. The French liavo never had a chance to Temovo their dead, and have practically lived amongst the bodies. It took thirteen days to win sixty yards of gallery. Tho Germans erected barricades at every stop, and built many ingenious traps. The French always risked falling upon the points of bayonets placed in excavations covered with a thin layer of sand. During the whole period they never saw daylight, and never, stopped fighting! Despite their sufferings, many of the wounded refused to leave the ranks. GERMAN OFFENSIVE EXEMPLIFIED V-. - .. IN BURNING LIQUIDS AND 'POISONOUS GASES. Paris) July 7. Th§ Germans'offensive is. exemplified in the renewed nse of burning liquids, a fresh supply of gases, and increased shelling. They are even stimulating the men to attack by means of drugs. The immediate object is to hold as much land as possible for harvesting, t« maks ih» wai as far as possible self-supporting. For the same reason Germany is multiplying the fines on conquered towns and districts.Experts anticipate the maintenance of such an offensive (as in the vicinity of the Souchez sugar refinery) as long as the beetroot, com, and potato crops are not gathered.Tho French crop prospect's are better than' expected, though' some h'ava been' damaged by storms. , The Government has given the Territorials a night's leave. Gangs of sbldiers are also assisting the farmers, ljut the women of France are mainly responsible for keeping agriculture going.