France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 53, 19 October 1914, Page 6

France

A DEAD MAN’S STORY.

GERMAN’S LAMENTABLE ACCOUNT OF THEIR POSITION.

(Received 9.15 a.m.)

London, October 17

An extract from a pocket-book found on a dead German soldier early in October says: “At Dommery the French opened a hellish fire and created a panic. Everybody gave orders, but nobody thought to tell us to lie down. It was a shocking mess. We were shot at by friend and foe. The burning of Bethel was a bit of dreadful vandalism, and a disgrace to the German army, the damage being millions of marks. Our'losses at Lauteurre were enormous. The 178th Regiment alone lost 1700 wounded, besides the killed, and was practically without officers. Kverybody thinks the situation critical. We advanced too quickly. The French heat ns in using cover. This country will be our grave.”

GERMANS HAVE THE COAST-LINE AS THEIR OBJECTIVE.

(Received 10.20 a.m.) . Paris, October 18

Large bodies of reinforcements rushed the German right flank during the week. A force recently in depots at Dresden is now in the north-west of France, the objective being the coastline from Ostend to Boulogne. HOLOCAUST AT SOIS&ONS. (Received 11.50 a.m.) Paris, October 18. The French for several days were unsuccessful in an attempt to dislodge 800 Germans who were hidden in a ■cave at Seasons. Eventually 1200 Algerian sharpshooters with their bayonets between their teeth, crawled up to the trenches at night and hurled themselves upon the Germans. Only eight Germans escaped alive.