In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 286, 1 December 1914, Page 5

In the West

TRANSPORTATION OF CORPSES.

Timm and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) London, November 30. of Germans, dead and completely stripped, piled on wagons, passed St. Quentin en route to Belgium. MINOR OPERATIONS. United Press Association. London, November 30. The Dqily Chronicle correspondent at Calais states that although the week has been comparatively uneventful, hundreds have been killed in skirmishes and minor 'operations, which the official reports ignore. Amongst these was the action of the British in razing the largest forest at Ypres, which had afforded excellent cover to the Germans attacking our trenches. The task demanded unflinching valor, the volunteers exceeding requirements. After hard fighting, cleverly confined to the forest itself, the Germans were expelled from their carefully-constructed entrenchments, losing 1000 killed daily throughout the week. The German guns have largely assisted in demolishing the forest.

GERMANS’ SECOND LINE.

TO RETIRE IN A MONTH.

London, November 29

A colonel captured in Belgium declared that if the Germans fail to break through to the coast before the 29th December, they will retreat to the second line of defence in Belgium.,

INDIANS’ GOOD WORK.

DISTRESSING LOSSES.

London, November 30. The Press Bureau furnishes a narrative of an observer with the Indians. He describes the re-capture of some trenches, possession of which was involved in the general scheme of defence. Two attacks were made in the

daytime of the 23rd, but were foiled. When an army corps reserve arrived, r the British and Indian regiments, at 10.30 at night, began a final assault, and recovered the trenches by 6 o’clock next morning, after nearly 21 hours’ bloody struggle. We captured three officers and 97 men, but our . losess were distressing.

THE BATTLE OF YPRES.

London, November 30

Continuing after describing the opening of the Ypres-Armentieres battle, and the retirement of the first division at Hogue, Field-Marshal Sir John French’s despatch continues:

The division, however, rallied, and recaptured Gheluvelt. This rally at such a time was fraught with momentous consequences. “If one unit can be singled out for especial praise, it is the Worcesters.” Meantime the enemy in the centre was heavily pressing the third and cavalry corps. As the position of the cavalry at Saint Ivese was endangered, a counter-attack was planned by Majors Hunter, Weston, and Anley, and successfully beat the Germans, with great loss. The staunchness of the Royal Lancasters and Lancashire Fusiliers was commendable. They were well handled by Lieutenant-Colonel Butler.

Sir John French brings to special notice the excellent work of General Poultoney and his staft, and the divisional and regimental leaders, and men, for holding the front for a very 'undue length with invariable success, courage, tenacity, and cheerfulness. Referring to the attack of the Prussian Guard, which came fr.om Arras with great speed and secrecy, documents found proved that the Guards relieved the Emperor’s special command to break through where their comrades had failed. They were repulsed with enormous loss. Sir Douglas Haig, assisted by the divisional brigade commanders, held the line with marvellous courage. “Words fail me to express my admiration of the incalculable services they rendered.” The first corps was brilliantly supported by General Byng’s cavalry. The names of General Bulfin and Briga-dier-General Kavanagh were particularly mentioned, also Brigadiers FitzClarence and Cavan. The despatch concluded: “We are now possibly in the last stages of the battle of Ygres and Armentieres. 1 regret the heavy casualties, but at least thrice as many of the enemy are hors, de combat.” On October 31st Sir Douglas Haig considered the position serious, the Germans having been suddenly reinforced by an army corps. Sir Douglas Haig’s corps' was facing three army corps, under General Von der Limling, whoso army orders, found on a prisoner, declared that the Kaiser considered breaking through at Ypres was of vital importance for the success of the war. All day the attack against Sir Douglas Haig was of the most important and most decisive character of the war, except that of the Prussian Guards on 15th November,

The French supports failed to arrive. The heavy attack broke the line of General Haig’s first division, and the Scots’ Fusiliers were cut off and surrounded.

The Germans shelled the headquarters of the first and second divisions, killing six staff officers, and wounding both commanders.

Sir Douglas Haig again ordered the army corps to. resist at all costs. The first division rallied, but other divisions and brigades were forced to tyield time after time, until the first and second divisions, by flank and combined counter-attacks, which were completely successful, retook Gheluvelt by a bayonet charge, wherein the 2nd Worcesters shone out. Finally the Gth Cavalry Brigade cleared the woods in a great dash, killing large numbers. The British line was restored at 10 at night. , '

TERRITORIALS PRAISED,

ENEMY WELL HELD.

United Press Association. (Received 8.1 5 a.m.) London, November 30

Sir John French’s despatch states that the hearing of’ the Territorials, of whom there are six battalions and five • cavalry regiments in England, realised the highest expectations. He again pays tributes to the resource and initiative of the Indians in repulsing superior forces, their behaviour in new surroundings being' highly satisfactory. Sir John French adds: “The value and significance of the Allies’ role in tho West lies in the fact that at tho moment when Germany’s eastern provinces are in imminent danger of invasion nearly the whole of her active army are tied up in 260 miles of trenches from Verdun to Nieuport, where they are now held much reduced in numbers and morale by tbe success of onr troops.” The rest of (be despatch i-j dated 20th November.

FRENCH TAKES A RISK. HIS ACTION, HOWEVER, SAVES THE CHANNEL PORTS. (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, November 30. Newspapers point out that Sir John French took an enormous risk is ordering the First Army Corps to Thorout via Ypres, hut undoubtedly it saved Calais and the Channel ports. They emphasise the facts that General Haig’s original instructions to capture Bruges and if possible Ghent showed that Germany’s enormous reinforcements were imperfectly realised at that stage, as General Haig never reached those cities, hut nevertheless hold the line before Ypres against terrific odds until General Joffre was able to strongly reinforce.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

(Received 9.55 a.m.) Paris, November 30,

A communique states: The enemy remains on the defensive in Belgium. The cannonades are feeble. We progressed in some points and strongly hold points around Fay. The Germans intermittently cannonade the region of Soissons and the town without result. They bombarded the forest of Apremont during thick fog on the heights of the Meuse.

IMMENSE PREPARATIONS.

(Received 8.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, November 30,

The Telegraf says that the inhabitants of northern Flanders aged 18 to 45 were forced to sign a declaration that they will not fight against the Germans. There are immense preparations to safeguard Zeebrugge and the coast from naval attack. A telegram from Brussels states that Belgium’s war levy is now fixed at £15,000,000. FOUR ENGLISHMEN SHOT. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, November 30. The Daily Mail says that four Englishmen disguised as German officers were shot in Flanders last week. KAISER VISITS ANTWERP. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, November 30. Le Temps says that the Kaiser visited Antwerp on November 23. DIED OF WOUNDS. , (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, November 30. Captain Stewart Richardson lias died of wounds. OFFICIAL PRUSSIAN LIST OF CASUALTIES. $ i ' ■* r i' ft * I OVER SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, November 30. Exclusive of Saxons, Wurtemburgers and Bavarians, the official lists give the Prussian losses at 627,073. FIGHTING MERELY SNIPING. BRITISHERS COMFORTABLE. (Received 11.10 a.m.) London, November 30.

An eye-witness states that the fighting has now resolved itself into a competition of sniping and outpost affairs all along the line, with rifle, hand grenades, bombs, mortars and mines. Every effort is being made to mitigate the hardships in the trenches, which are heated with braziers. Ingenious shelters and dug-outs give facilities for cooking. The men are provided with skin coats. There is remarkably little sickness, due to the excellent food.

GENERAL. London, November 30. The latest telegrams indicate that the Allied line is now believed to be impregnable. Captain MacDougall, aide-de-camp in New Zealand in 1913, was killed at the front. French newspapers state that the accident to the Kaiser’s son in August was due to a French shell shattering his car in the vicinity of Craonne. The Germans, eager for vengeance, opened a general attack on the French line, with the result that they lost several German trenches. Five Allied aeroplanes bombarded the military stores at Ghent, with much advantage. Observers declare that latterly the Allies’ airmen have dominated the air in Belgium. Reuter’s Paris' correspondent says it is estimated that the Germans have withdrawn four army corps from Belgium, and sent them to Poland, replacing them by old and young volunteers and Landstunners.