THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2645, 16 December 1915, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE

'NAVAL BOMBARDMENT OF OSTEND AND ZEEBRUGGE By Telesr«Dli-Pre!« Association-Copyright . The ''Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Boulogne state"'thatS BHtish fleet bombarded the German defences in the vicinity of Ostend 1 and Zeebnieze on Saturday, and destroyed entanglements designed t 0 prevent a landino- of troops. , ° . jt-is stated that the enemy prepared to evacuate tlio district, apprehending that a landing would follow the bombardment. The enemy took refuse in dug-outs on,the cliffs near Raversyde. A German aviator attempted to fly over the ships, but was forced to return to its hangar, which our shell-fire subsequently destroyed. A number of antiaircraft guns were also demolished and three largo guns pnt out of action The enemy did not return the snips' fire. __ f KING FROST AND THE ALLIES PENDING BIG FIGHT REPORTED, i ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ' ~ , , London, Docember 14. I The "Daily Mail's". RoUenlam correspondent says; "I um firmlv convinced i tluit a blu light is fiiJiiiutßi muJ will Ijo fought t<> n finish mi the tyrst front, i .yvhe« -fcta *wfls wa mwiktt* M xm aua munuum It 11

will be a battle of artillery. 'More and more guns' is tlie constant cry of modern generals. Something must give in the coming big battle, but it will not bo the British and French. We will probably strike immediately a hard Frost makes the ground passable for artillery and infantry; probably early in the Iseir \ear. Mcnmvhile reinforcements are increasingly pouring into I'ranee and Belgium." HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The High Commissioner reports: llnM , , . London, December 14, 10 a.m. ihere- have been very lively artillery actions in Artois, soutli-east of lieauran, where a German work was destroyed, and also north of the Aisne and in Champagne. "At Hill Sninte Mario, onr fire destroyed one of the enemy's blockhouses, and at Bois de Bouchot, the enemy' 6 trenches and machine-suns ivero destroyed." A BIG FRENCH AIR RAID. (Rec. December 15, 9.20 p.m.) •a t?-„„ i Paris, Decomb'er 14. w communique states: "A fleet of forty-five aeroplanes raided Mulheim, Hauriacourt, and Hamanont, with successful results, damaging the enemy's lines and works." "SPLENDID DAYS ARE COMING" OUTLOOK ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT ("Times" and Sydney "Sun'-' Services.) > n , Petrograd, December 14." General Russky, in an interview, declared that the offensive would be easier for both sides when the waters were frozen over, but he did not believe that the bermans had the nccessary reinforcements available. They had fortified the whole of the Dvmsk line, and we also wore well fortified. Offensives are costly, and we sustain heavy losses when attacking. A consolation is that the German losses are even heavier. All will eventually resolve into a question ot men. Wo have the superiority in.numbers now, and are able to arm all. Splendid days are coming, when the Russian armies will advance daily. ENEMY WILL WINTER NEAR DVINSK. nn, A n , , , , . . Petrograd, Dccembcr 14. Hie Germans nave decided to n-inter near Dvinsk with a certain degree of comfort, inasmuch as they have sacrificed without fighting some advanced positions for more convenient trenches. A great number of blockhouses, fitted with winter comforts, are being erected near the German armies. IMPORTANT GERMAN COUNCIL OF WAR ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' (Rec. December 15, 5.5 p.m.) _ , . London, Decembor 14. A report from Copenhagen states th at- an important German War Council was held at the Eastern front, the Kaiser presiding, and Generals von Falkenhayn (Chief of the General Staff), von Mackensen, and von Hindenburg, and the Turco-Bulgarian Staffs being also pi esent. . ' The German Press thinks that the Allies have been trapped, and that their defeat is a matter of a few days. The Kaiser, in a letter, tlianks General von Mackensen for havinwsucceeded in crushing a brave enemy, and overcoming enormous difficulties with great speed, defeating the enemy on all fronts. "I shall never forget the debt I owe you." 1