In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 280, 24 November 1914, Page 5

In the West

TWO HUNDRED BRITISH WIPED OUT.

United Phess Association. London, November 23

Gorman infantry were obliged to evacuate their trenches north of Dixnuule owing to the severe privations. During their absence two hundred British, with Maxims, crossed on flood rafts in the night, surprising the relieving force when entering the trenches. Two hundred Germans were cut down before they rallied. Two thousand German cavalry charged to the rescue, but floundered in the heavy ground. The Maxims, operating at short range, decimated the cavalry. The German infantry then swarmed over the British in the trenches and wiped out the whole two hundred. FIVE HUNDRED GERMANS WIPED OUT. London, November 23. The Gormans on the 19th bombarded the Gurkha outpost trenches at Hollheko for five hours. A thousand infantry then advanced in leisurely fashion, believing the Gurkhas wore dead. They crossed the canal in pontoons, and brought thirty waggons of ammunition across. The British batteries destroyed the pontoons, and wiped out 500 Germans. The remainder surrendered. FIERCE FIGHTING AT MESSINES. London, November 23.

The Times’ Calais correspondent reports fierce fighting at Messines. The British by a night attack captured a series of trenches, hut were forced to retire with the loss of ten officers and 200 men. The Germans lost 2000. Later the British took part in a general assault, wherein three crack Prussian regiments were annihilated. The British loss was slight.

OPERATIONS NEAR YPRES

Paris, November 23. Official: A violent bombardment of Ypres on Sunday destroyed the Hotel do Ville and the Cloth Hall. Heavy cannonading occurred at Soissons and Yailly. Elsewhere there is nothing to report. London, November 23. An eye-witness with the British force, writing on the 20th, says the Germans intended to attack the British left on the 15th, but the artillery inflicted ' such damage that the assault was postponed until the arrival of reinforcements on the 19th. The Germans made the mistake of massing preparatory to attack, enabling the British guns and Maxims to be used with devastating effect on the battalions massed in the rear. The Germans on the 17th attacked east and south-east of Ypres. Three charges of regular troops, who were not the Guards, were repulsed. Twelve hundred dead were counted along a front of 600 yards. CANNONADING CONTINUES. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, November 23. A communique states that yesterday _was marked by violent cannonades, especially at Ypres, where the cathor dra| markets, and many houses ignited, also at Soissons and Rheims. We repulsed several very hot attacks in the Argonne.

WINTER CONDITIONS HAMPER OPERATIONS. (Received 9 a.m.) " Paris, November 23. Northern France and Belgium is an expanse of Arctic whiteness, ice forming on the canals and frozen ground, making entrenchment fighting no longer possible, as the troops are unable quickly to cut new trenches. It also makes operations much more dangerous since the snow would clearly betrary the lines of the trenches. The commanders also hesitate to deploy infantry on the white background. Germans are accumulating at Ostend, with many motorboats armed with machine guns, which it is believed are intended for use in flooded areas or on canals if the banks are low enough. Paris, November 22. The Government is authorising the re-opening of theatres and music halls. London, November 22. Lionel, son of Baron Tennyson, was wounded in the leg in Franco, London, November 23.

An eye-witness continues: “Evidence of the Gorman lossek accumulates. Forty-nine dead were found in one house. All the farms and cottages before the British front are char, nel-houses. The weather is bad, usually frosty early, with heavy rain later, rendering the condition of the trenches wretched. The men stand in a. mixture of straw and mud and half-frozen slush. “The proprietor of a neighbouring factory has convert, od the establishment into a bathhouse, with vats large enough *to contain several men. While bathing their underclothes are washed or ncnewed, and their uniforms cleaned by a gang of women. Fifteen hundred are treated daily.” ( Time* and Sydney Run Service*. London, November 22. German artillery is interrupting communications between Ypres and the coast. Prisoners from Lorraine assert that the L’andstnrmers who recently arrived | were more difficult to persuade to go i into action than the first contingents. I They have orders to hold their ground j without attacking, and to await the ! result of the decisive operations at , Ypres. This order discloses the importance of the check administered to the Germans in the north .

CALAIS OR DEATHI KAISER’S SPECIAL WISH AND COMMAND. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Copenhagen, November 28. Advices from Berlin military circles state that the Germans renewed their efforts to reach Calais owing to the Kaiser’s special wish and command, regardless of life. THE BRILLIANT WEST SURREYS.

(Received 11.40 a.m.) London, November 23

The first battalion of the West Surreys at the end of October held a position in Belgium for two days against great odds. They were practically surrounded and were being shot heavily. The battalion made a brilliant bayonet charge at Ypres. FLOODING THE COUNTRY. 1500 GERMANS DROWNED LIKE RATS.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) Paris, November 23

The inundations east of Dixmude cut off 1500 Germans on the night of the 18th. Some attemnted to escape by swimming about till daybreak, but the Allies picked off one after another. By noon the water had risen until there was only a narrow strip of land. The French commander ordered a pontoon bride to be built to succour the survivors, but it was too late, and the islet disappeared, and when the French approached only forty were alive. Prisoners state that the Germans are exasperated at the success of the British armoured trains, tne Kaiser having offered £IOOO for the head of the commander of the trains. CONCENTRATION OF GERMAN FORCES ON THE COAST. (Received 10.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, November 23, German transports are everywhere in motion, and large forces of cavalry and artillery are leaving Thielt for Ypres and Dixmude. Many troops from the east have reached Ghent and Bruges, as ■ also have Brunswick cavalry.