OFFICIAL NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 52, 17 October 1914, Page 6

OFFICIAL NEWS.

Official .war news received by the Prime Minister under date London, 16th inst. (10.55 p.m.) :—The General at headquarters continues and supplements his narrative of the movements of the British and French armies. He says they were in immediate touch from the 9th October until the 12th. Little occurred. The usual sporadic shelling of our trenches resulted in little harm, so well dug-in are our men. On the night of the 10th the Germans made a fresh assault, supported by artillery, against a point which has all along attracted most of their attention. The attempt was again a costly failure, towards which our guns were able to contribute, with great effect. One of our aviators sighted a hostile machine and gave chase, but lost sight of his opponent amongst the clouds. Another machine appeared—a German <Otto biplane. Our officer started in pursuit, and at sixty yards range he turned round and emptied his magazine at the German. The latter descended. Our officer continued firing while descending on his opponent, who disappeared into a bank of. cloud. French airmen were veiy successful during the last three days. They dropped bombs against the German cavalry and caused considerable loss and disorder. They silenced a battery of field howitzers. The German anti-aircraft guns recently were unusually active, and from their rate of fire they seem nearly automatic. So far they have not had much effect in reducing our air reconnaisances. A striking feature of our line is that it consists of trenches not all placed alongside each other, but some more advanced than others, and many facing in different directions. At one place they run east and west oir one side of the valley, and at another north and south. At different points, both German and British trenches jut out like promontories into their opponent’s territory. In spite of lavish expenditure of life, the enemy has not succeeded in driving us back. Experience has shown that a short fire field of fire is sufficient to beat back the enemy’s infantry assaults. The extetit to which cross fire of all kinds is ployed is remarkable. Many localities have been made untenable by rifle fire from neighbouring features or from guns which are kept out of sight. It is difficult for troops to find out where they are being shot at, as there is a perpetual triangular duel. The first contingent of Canadians has arrived at Plymouth. ' i -——.— I I ■ i„,„i|| M |