FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 7

FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

By Telegraph-Press Association-Oopyrighi

' ■ Paris, October 3. 'A communique states:—"Between Souche/. and the Givenchy Wood the enemy made four attempts to retake, by means of bombs, portions of their lost tiencbcs. ' They were everywhere repulsed. _ "The enemy bombarded a portion of the reservo trenches in the Suippes Valley. Ho is still using asphyxiating shells. ■■ "We have silenced several of the enemy's batteries."- . FACING THE GERMAN SECOND LINE; London, October 3. A French' official message states:—ln the last battles in the Champagne the French established themselves in close' proximity to the second Gorman line on' » 71-milo front. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. , (Rec. October 5, 0.40 a.m.) .'A communique from Berlin states:—"The enemy's monitors bombarded Westende. ' , . , , • ~ „ , "Tho British have abandoned their attempts to recapture the ground north oE Loos, after bitter fighting, with heavy losses. "There is hand-grenade fighting at Soucliez, Neuville, St. Vaast, Le Mesliil, and Villosur-Lourte. » . , , "We forced a French airship m Alsace to descend. Her crew were taken prisoner." . A REVIEW OF THE GENERAL SITUATION. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun"' Sorvicos.) ■ ' (Rec. October 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 4. The "Times" - says:—The Germans' plaii on the Western front trusted to a Vigorous defensive while turning all their available weight upon Russia. Tho obvious plan was to take advantage of the: thoroughly bad Russian situa-tion,-endeavour to round up her armies, and compel her to sue peace. Wise Russian strategy prevented this. The Tsars assumption or tne command negatives the- hope of a premature jieace, and promises a step-byrstep defence of the Russian territory, to the Volga, if necessary, until the enemy lias been worn out. . . ' The German Headquarters Staff did not expect the Allies to recommence in tho West so soon after the summer. The offensive arrived before they altered t'heir plain, and they are now facing it with profound anxiety. Knowing that they are deeply committed to the invasion-of Russia; they will be unable to abandon it without admitting that the cause is lost, and will probably continue, to attack at any cost until destruction of the Russian armies has b6en achieved, because of tho danger of giving Russia time to recupeiate. That would be too deadly a risk to face. . _ . .. . The Germans constructed line after lino of defended positions in the West, believing that tho strength of the lines and the number of troops would prevent a general rooting up. It has been shown that the Allies are now so well armed-that'they are able to wreck the strongest defences. The changed situation this will make will virtually affect the whole course of. the war. We must create fresh armies to prosecute.the 1916 campaign to a successful issue, in order to balance the disaster of the practical elimination of Russia."