In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 297, 14 December 1914, Page 8

In the West.

VIOLENT INFANTRY ATTACKS REPULSED BY ALLIES, United Press Association. (Received 9.5 a.m.) Baris, December 13. A communique states: We repulsed three violent infantry attacks to the south-east of Ypres, also attacks to the north-west of Senones, and we substantially progressed at Lepretfie.

CRUISERS’ BOMBARDMENT OF THE COAST AT NIEUPORT.

Copenhagen, December 12

A message from Berlin states that j British cruisers on Thursday violently bombarded the coast for the purpose of stopping the advance in the region of Xieuport. THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE FAVORED BY GERMANY. DECLINED BY RUSSIA. London, December 12. A Berlin wireless states that Germany immediately assented to the Pope’s suggestion of a Christmas truce. The decision of other belligerents is unknown. ( Russia declined the Christmas truce.

SEIZURE OF GERMAN BOOTY.

Amsterdam, December 12

The Telegraf states that the authorities seized at Hansweerm fifteen boats carrying grain and various goods, apparently booty, which the Germans were trying to transport across the Scheldt. The Germans declare that they are private property. >

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.

Amsterdam, December 12

Official mesages from Berlin claim that a French attack eastward of Langernarck was repulsed, 340 being taken prisoners and two hundred killed. The message adds: “The Germans captured a point du support on the outskirts of the 'Argonne 1 forest. The enemy suffered severe casualties, and two hundred prisoners were taken.

PRUSSIANS AND BAVARIANS IN VIOLENT CONFLICT.

London, December 12. ■The Daily Telegraph’s Amsterdam correspondent reports that violent riots between Prussians and Bavarians and the Landwehr occurred /in Antwerp barracks. Several were killed, and many wounded. The Bavarians have been sent to the south-east of Belgium.

THREE WOMEN SPIES CAPTURED AND SHOT.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Paris, December 13

Three women spies for a month betrayed the French gunners in the centre of the battle line. They also robbed the dead on the battlefield, and signalled the Germans in the dark \Vith lanterns. All were captured and shot. . ,

HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING.

FRENCH SUCCESSES IN UPPER ALSACE. i.

(Received 8.55 a.m.) Paris, December 13

After eight hours’ desperate hand-to-hand lighting, the French occupied Moos and Biesel, in Upper Alsace, 215 French and 720 Germans being killed. French bayonets captured all the strategical German positions at Belfort and Roez, despite heavy shelling, inflicting serious casualties.

GERMAN POSITIONS NEAR THE COAST IMPERILLED.

(Received 8.55 a.m.)

Amsterdam, December 13

j The British reported gaining ground > northwards of Passchendaele, imperil- ! ing the German positions nearer the j coast. The German general staff has J retreated inland from Entvelde. Many German troops, numerous cannon, machine guns, and motor cars from the ; Bruges district traversed Selzaete to- | wards Antwerp. ‘ | GERMANS FIRE ON THE WHITE FLAG. j DUTCH VOLUNTEER’S REPORT. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, December 13. A an Horsen, a Dutch volunteer in i the Belgian army, who escaped from ' fl'o Wesel Camp, reports that his battalion was surrounded while at the i v ser. They hoisted the white flag, | reversing their rifles, but neverthe- | less the Germans continued to shoot ■ until only 18 were left, all being j wounded. j GENERAL. Paris, December 12. fierce skirmish occurred on the p’ight of the 10th amid the ruins of Dixmude. The Germans advanced, shouting loudly for the purpose of cou- : centratiug attention on themselves while an enfilading movement in another direction developed. Both attacks were repulsed with heavy slaughter. The Germans, bewildered by the I darkness, fired on their own troops in ;the belief that they were French in!fantry.

British howitzers recently out-rang-ed the Germans, and silenced the batteries west of Lille. ' The Germans have withdrawn to a i position south-east of La Basse, as | the result of the capture of Vermelles.

Stubborn resistance continues, at Arras, but the French are progressing towards Douai and Cambrai.

Every advance is difficult. The Germans constantly leave men concealed in pits, haystacks, and trees, working machine guns, or snipers willing to go to any risk for the sake ot killing a lew of the enemy.

Paris, December 12.

Official: A very violent German attack in the region of Ypres was re-

pulsed

We retook a trench in the'same region previously reached by the Germans.

The enemy has completely evacuated the right hank of the Yser Canal,

north of the ferryman’s house. We occupied the hank.

Our batteries silenced the enemy’s in the region of Nampoel.

Our heavy artillery silenced the field batteries and destroyed a howitzer in the region of the Aisne.

Artillery duels and infantry engagements qte Bois de la Gourie, northeast of Vailly, resulted to our advantage. Our artillery destroyed a blockhouse and several trenches of a heavy antiaeroplane battery at Deuxnoudi, west of Vigneullelsesh and Conchatel.