IN THE FIRING LINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 9

IN THE FIRING LINE.

THE GENTLE GERMAN.

HOW HE TREATS HIS VICTIMS.

By telegraph Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 31. The Press Bureau has issued the Belgian Commission’s latest report, which cites numerous cases of the Germans using dum-dums. French soldiers captured at Aorschoot were compelled to answer questions, through having their hands plunged into bailing water. Another, who resisted, was h • j a ° h . is heiM * ' vas twisted till he dmd. A third had his finger chopped A Belgian ambulance column of five bundled persons was attacked near Namur, and only, one hundred escaped. TAKEN AND BETAKEN. FIGHTING IN THE TRENCHES. (Received January 1, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. An eye-witness with the British headquarters says that fifty dead 1 Germans were picked up in one of tho trenches tlm British recently retook. It is estimated that in tho attack on a village by tho Germans on

December 21 their loss in killed alone was 400. An incident on December 24 not mentioned' in tho last report led to a, slight loss of ground by us, but heavy casualties to the enemy. The Germans exploded a mine underneath a trench, and several yards wero blown in. German snipers occupied tho part destroyed, and enfiladed the rest. Meanwhile a larger body of the eenemy advanced. Our guns opened with deadly effect, scattering the enemy and killing many. Tho guns also bombarded part of tho occupied trench, killing the occupants.

GERMAN FAILURE AT THE YSER. “ Times ” and Sydney “ Sun " Services.

(Received ‘January 1, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. A German .officer who was at the Yser, declares that men wore lulling in thousands. Ho is convinced that they never will succeed, but they cannot' yield because the morale of tho troops will, suffer too much.

ACTRESS VISITS THE IVOUNDED. (Received January 1, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. Miss Ellalino Terris, who has been singing to the wounded at Boulogne, says that she departed an actress and has returned a recruiting sergeant. She had spent tho most mcmorablo Christmas of her life. They were wonderful men, with amazing cheerfulness. Even the worst of the wounded would joke and smile. The most moving experience was singing “Tipperary, tho patients joining in tho chorus m a low murmur.

WINTER HARDSHIPS. (Received January 1, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. A French eye-witness describing tho events of December 24, says:—Operations are terribly difficult. Liquid cold mud invades the breeches of the guns, arid tho soldiers, no longer able to fire them, have to fight with tho butt ends and also with their fists. Our soldiers become blocks of mud. Their unalterablo good humour, however, enables them to onduro with tho best possible grace the rough lifo and severe winter cold.