In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 278, 21 November 1914, Page 5

In the West

A WISE MONARCH. 1 1 ■' ’ " United Press Association.* Amsterdam, November 19. A Dutch newspaper states that Dictate King of Roumania wrote to King Albert in July, advising Belgium to devote herself to defence, as the miracle of ‘IB7U would not be repeated. A GHASTLY GRAVEYARD. London, November 19. A huge German cemetery was made near Namur. Thousands were hurriedly buried, many being only partially covered. There is now a ghastly spectacel caused by protruding limbs, and many Belgians, horrified, are quitting the district. GERMAN ATTACKS BEGIN TO LOSE DASH. GUNS THE WORSE FOR WEAR. London, November 20. The Times’ correspondent in West Flanders gathers the impression from the officers and men fi'om the trenches that the fury of the German attack has spent itself. He says: “It is important to remember that when the enemy made their supreme effort, the British artillery was not so good, but heavy guns are now doing great execution. The German guns are considerably the worse for wear, owing to the reckless and unsafe use, and the bad quality of the ammunition which is being fever, ishly manufactured. During the recent bombardment of Fumes only three out of twenty-five shells exploded.” FRESH GERMAN ARTILLERY.

Amsterdam, November 20. Eighty large guns passed through Liege, en route to Northern France. Seven thousand engineering troops also passed, en route to Dixrfiude to construct bridges in the flooded area. The newspaper Yossiche Zeitung states Krupp’s capital has been increased by seventy million marks, the family taking up the whole of the new issue. FIVE THOUSAND GERMANS DOWN WITH TYPHOID. Paris, November 20. A serious outbreak of typhoid has occurred among the Germans in the Lille district. The town has been evacuated, and 5000 are in hospital. The epidemic is spreading to the troops in Roubaix and Tourcoing. The factories in the latter towns were undamaged, the owners having paid an indemnity of two millions sterling, but the factories are used as hospitals. SHOT DOWN TO A MAN. DISASTROUS GERMAN NIGHT AT- ’ « ■ :■ '"'TACK. . : ■',*;* I Paris, November 20. During the storm on Tuesday night Germans between Ypres and La Bassee crept towards the English trenches in open order. The enemy’s artillery fired wide of our trenches. They were allowed to approach unopposed, except from the shell-fire. When they reached the English trenches, which had been purposely evacuated, they were shot down to a man. by a terrific enfilading fire. The four lines were completely shattered, while the English suffered not a single casualty. STARVED OUT. Paris, November 20. A hundred and forty Germans in the Ypres district stealthily, and during the night-time, occupied deserted French trenches. The French, resolving to starve them out, watched them for five days, and then sent a German prisoner to demand their surrender. The enemy, now dying of hiinger, willingly surrendered. GALLANT SERGEANT-MAJOR. London, November 20. The Press Bureau reports: “An eye-witness narrates that eastward of Ypres a third attempt to storm some German trenches succeeded. The subaltern commanding the attack wafc killed, but the attack was continued under the sergeant-major, who received the Distinguished Conduct medal, but succumbed to his wounds.

Spies and snipers, often wearing khaki caps similar to the British, sometimes get behind our lines and cut the telephone wires. This eye-witness concludes by describing the heroism of a French doctor. He attended 54 German wounded afc the Ypres civil hospital for several days after the building had been struck by German shells, including an incendiary shell. He was finally killed at his post.

“NOTHING TO , REPORT.” Paris, November 20. An official statement issued on Thursday, at midnight, says: “This lias been a particularly quiet day. Nothing to report.” APPALLING ATROCITIES. PEASANTS MOWED DOWN BY MACHINE GUNS. SYSTEMATIC SACKING. (Received 9.25 a.m.) London, November 20. The Press Bureau states that a Belgian official report says that German outrages have claimed 650 victims. At Taraines German ■ machine guns mowed down a group of peasants in j front of the churches. The Germans , silenced the groans of the wounded with bayonet thrusts. They burnt and sacked 261 houses. Many women i ' ' I

and children were burnt and suffocated in their own houses. Of 1400 houses at Dinant only two hundred remain. Manufactories were systematically destroyed. Over seven hundred inhabitants of Dinant were killed.

Outrages, pillage and incendiarism are also reported from Belgian Luxembourg, where a thousand men were diot.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. BAD WEATHER IN THE NORTH. • (Received 9.25 a.m.) Paris, November 20. A communique states; The weather in the north is very bad. Snow has fallen. There' were practically no infantry attacks on Thursday. The artillery is much less violent tut is intense south of Ypres. The Allies have taken from the water at ttamscapelle two German 17.5 howitzers, abandoned in the floods. We repulsed three violent infantry attacks in the Argonne. The Germans re-occupied the destroyed portion of Chauvoncourt,

IRISH MAKE SHORT WORK OF GERMANS.

Paris, November 20. After repelling a German attack on the trenches at Ypres and La Bassee. the English infantry attacked the supports, who retired. Later the Germans stumbled on an Irish regiment. A wholesale rough-and-tumble ensued, in which rifle-butts and fists played he chief part. After an hour’s tusdc the Irish were victorious. Over 100 Germans were battered to death, md 23 German Maxims and 160 Uhlans were captured. GERMAN BOMBS IN AMIENS. Paris, November 20. German airmen dropped bombs in Amiens, killing 18 horses.