In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 288, 3 December 1914, Page 5

In the West

THE PRUSSIAN GUARDS. BRAVE BUT UNAVAILING. • United Peers Association. London, December 1. Ail eye-witness, describing the icpulse of the Prussian Gua.us, sajs tlie German discipline was won h fa), but I was occasionally forced beyond human endurance. The Germans were ordered to attack our trenches across an open space of 200 yards. After the cries of “Vorwarts,” the first assault | was delivered and repealed. The second and third attempts were prej hided by louder exhortations, but they also failed. Again the scouts of “Vorwarts,” were heard, but were I greeted by the exclamations of “Nein” and “No,” yet the advance was made. I j KING GEORGE’S VISIT. Paris ; December 2. King- George’s visit has been received with the liveliest satisfaction. The neivspapers contrast its unobstrnsiveness with the Kaiser’s theatricals. President Poincaire has gone to the north west. MOTORED TO THE FRONT. BRITISH KING AND FRENCH PRESIDENT IN BRITISH LINES. Paris, December 2. President Poincare, M. Viviani, and General Joffre, visited the British headquarters yesterday. King George and President Poincare motored to the front and passed the day in the British linds. HIS MAJESTY AMONG THE SEPOY SOXDIERS.

(Received 8.15 a.m.) London, December 2. The King spent another day among the wounded Sepoys, who were delighted with His Majesty’s knowledge of the details of their fights. NEW CLOTHING FOR THE I TROOPS. (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, December 2. Three hundred thousand body belts and the same number of pairs of socks, for which the Queen appealed to the women of the Empire, have now reached France for the troops. V GERMAN SUFFERING. LONG LIST OF MISERIES. London, December 2 Mr Donohoe, the Daily Chronicle’s correspondent, says the Germans m Belgium are suffering acutely from the winter weather. As a triumphant march to Calais was anticipated, no winter quarters were provded, many being shelterless and dying like fl’es. Desertions are daily increasing, ihe Dutch treat military fugitives with every consideration, supplying clothing and warm food. The Hooding of Flanders has had a disastrous effect on the Germans, pneumonia, rheumatism, and typhoid having attacked many of the unwounded, with the lesult that the deathroll is heavy but, perhaps, the Germans worst and most feared enemy remains, for it has been found impossible to adequately feed the armies facing the Alims. Every available train is being utilised for hurrying food to tne front. The fresh troops arriving are largely intended to replace the K.lled, wounded, and victims of disease.

The German staff is between two conflicting resolves, being unaole to decide whether to fling away *iie fresh army in an attempt to reach Calais, or cut the terrible task short by quitting the country which has entombed so many of the Kaiser’s i»avest.

WORLD’S GREATEST BATTLE.

London, December 2

The Times disbelieves in t! e probability of a fresh attack being made on Ypres or elsewhere, and considers that the battle of Flanders has ended, because of the opposing armies having dug themselves in. I‘ rom the standpoint of casualties, it was the greatest battle in history. It is estimated that the Germans 'lost 200,000. It fell to the lot of '.he British and Indians’to withstand the most furious attacks especially in the earlier stages. YSER BATTLE RENEWED. London, December 2.

A heavy censored Rotter lam n ossago states that the Ysor battle was renewed with intense violaaoe, the artillery fire on land being terrhc, while the British ships were flinging shells into the German batteries. The Germans, on the eve of the battle, sent an additional *3OOO men to garrison Heyst, fearing t!m possihil. ity of troops landing in their rear. Owing to the death of horses on the Yser front, the Germans have seized all the available horses. Advices from Sluys states that a larger German force, with bigger gnus than before, has been concentrated, with a view to a fresh onslaught on the Allies’ Yser positions. Numerous motor cars have carried the chief German officers thither from various points. THE GERMAN FORCES. . Paris, December 2. Commenting on the German claim that they have 100 active reserve a; my corps in the field, a semi-official Franch note states that Germany real-

ly has 25-i active army corps, whereof 21 1 are operating in the west, ami the remainder in the east; also fcnirty. three reserve corps, whereof 22i are for the west. The Note points out that neither the German nor the French calculations include the Land.

wehr, whereof eight army corps are in the west, and seven in the east

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

Paris, December 2. ! Official: Tuesday, midnight: German infantry unsuccessfully endeavored to come out of the trenches southward of Bixschoote. We carries by assault, after a hot encounter, Chateau Park, Vermilles between Bethune and Lens.

GENERAL JOFFRE IN ALSACE.

; London, December 2. I General Joffre visited Thann (a town in Alsace), and interviewed the notabilities who, since the occupation of the town, have loyally assisted in iprovisionng the troops. General I Joffre said: “Our return is definite. You will be French for ever. France brings you the spirit of liberty, and respects your traditions, beliefs, and customs.”

One of the Alsatians replied that for nearly fifty years they had suffered every humiliation, and had been crushed, wounded, and tortured in the name of a civilisation boasting itself to be superior to theirs, but this, they well knew, was untrue. He concluded by assuring General Joffre of their absolute devotion, THE RUINS OF RHEIMS. Paris, December 1. The bombardment of llhemis continues. All the factories have been destroyed, the stocks of wool burned, and the textile industry is ruined. The damage is estimated at four millions sterling. ACTIVITY ON THE COAST. Amsterdam, December 2. More German troops from the Yser and Ostend have been sent to Heyst and Zeebrugge. Additional artillery has been * sent to the coast, and a practice of the new coast batteries has begun, TYPHOID AMONG THE BELGIANS (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, December 2. There has been an outbreak of typhoid among the Belgian soldiers. The British Red Cross voted £IO,OOO for special accommodation and treatment.

FAMINE IN BELGIUM.

(Received 8.40 am.) London, December 2

The Manchester Guardian says the Belgian Relief Commission denies misstatements respecting the attitude of Germans, who afforded every assistance and the prompt delivery of relief supplies for Belgium. The American Minister at Brussels states that without assistance there must be famine. % DIED IN A WINE CELLAR. SEVENTY-FIVE PRUSSIANS TRAPPED IN FLANDERS. Paris, December 2. Seventy-five Prussians, harrassed by French artillery, took refuge in a wine cellar at Flanders and spent the night carousing. They did not hear the coming inundation due to the opening of the sluices, and the French patrol found the seventy-five bodies floating amid the empty bottles, THE SITUATION IN FLANDERS. (Received 8.40 am.) London, December 2. Though official reports do not confirm the Amsterdam statements that the Germans are making a new onslaught in Flanders, there are many indications of increased activity, and the situation remains obscure.