In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 298, 15 December 1914, Page 5

In the West.

VIOLENT EFFORTS OF THE ENEMY REPULSED. [United Press Association.] (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, December 14, A communique states that the enemy violently bombarded tho trenches in the north west of Soupir and in the region of the Aisne. We replied by throwing their trenches into disorder, and our artillery destroyed important earthworks. On the outskirts the Allies carried five hundred metres of trenches. We repulsed two violent attacks in Montmarie wood and appreciably progressed at Aispach and other points.

FIERCE GERMAN ATTACKS.

BLOODY ENCOUNTERS AND SICK-

ENINC LOSSES.

London, December 14

Tho Daily Chronicle’s Calais correspondent passed three days between Ypres and La Bassee. He reports that the Anglo-French have borne the brunt of repeated assaults on the trenches. Fighting began simultaneously from Morin to Warneton on one wing, and from Armentieres to La Basse on tbe other, preluding the capture of La Basse itself. The Germans on the northern wing, suddenly abandoning defence tactics, made wild onslaughts with the bayonet. They suffered heavily, but came on in loose order at a steady, brisk walk, every man firing at random and often advancing regardless of casualties. They succeeded in driving back the first line of the Allies’ trenches. Their triumph was short-lived, for the Allies’ supporting trenches a hundred yards in the rear poured in deadly volleys and confused the ranks. Eventually they pursued the Germans with the bayor net into their own trenches. A bloodier encounter followed to the northward, in the forest, where the British position was made almost impregnable by means of felled trees and barbed wire entanglements. The Ger. mans shelled the obstructions with smashing effect, our guns responding. Waves upon waves of the enemy pushed upon the entanglements, courting speedy destruction as the Allies’ positions bristled with artillery. The Germans, by sheer weight of numbers removed the obstructions, although they were mowed down from the trenches. The attacks ended abruptly, the enemy being flung back with sickening losses. A regiment of Uhlans charging a battalion of British who were pursuing a broken infantry detachment, became entangled in the underwood. Their horses were shot. Some of the Uhlans fought afoot, while others fled with the infantry. Several battalions of British Territorials participated in the fighting. The sixth battalion of Welsh held a trench as unflinchingly as any line regiment. The regulars do not conceal their admiration for the Territorials. THE FRENCH IN THE THICK OF IT. Paris, December 14. The Germans determinedly attacked Dickebicsch and the French defences at Sainte Eloi, but were checked by heavy rifle fire. They repeatedly re-formed and resumed the aggressive, suffering heavy losses. Having been reinforced, they made further rushes. They took cover behind heaps of their own dead. Mitrailleuses and rifles continued to decimate them, but the advance was continued until they were fighting at close quarters and the first of the French line of trenches was captured. The French were then reinforced, their 3-inch guns quickly shelling the ground preparatory to recapturing the lines. Several brilliant rushes were made, harassing the enemy, who, already depleted and exhausted, yielded to four rapidly delivered attacks. Many prisoners were taken, and the losses on both sides were severe.

OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS.

London, December 14

The Daily Telegraph correspondent at Calais writes: “The Allies are vigorously and successfully pushing their offensive in Flanders. The superiority of their artillery is incontestable, giving them marked advantages during strategy, and are one of the initial cause of success. The line of battle forms a zigzag from Ostend to Lys, along which the Allies are gradually advancing. They also hold a. strong position north-east of Armentieres. Inundations stretch for sevr era! miles south of Nieuport to the south of Dixmude. As the Germans are clearly incapable of taking a serious offensive, their renewed bombard, ment is relatively unimportant in localities like Ypres, Nieuport, Poreoyse, and are interpreted as a ruse to mislead the Allies.”

OFFICIAL NEWS.

The High Commissioner reports, under date London, December 14 :

Paris reports that the German attack has been checked at both extremes of the front. One was of a pronounced description, to tiie mv theast of Ypres. The other was on the railway station at Aspach.

LIFE IN THE RIVIERA.

London, December 13,

A correspondent travelling in France says that contrary to the general impression, the absence of winter tourists has resulted in a spirit of sweet reasonableness among hotels and tradesmen in the Riviera. The whole of the south country is full of wounded and convalescent soldiers, revelling in restful sunshine and luxurious hospital fare. Hotel tariffs have been greatly reduced.

THE LANDWEHR SENT TO THE FRONT AS REINFORCEMENTS.

Time* and Sydney Sun Services. (Received S a u* ) Amsterdam, J/ecembar 1-1. The Teiegraf states that the German Landwehr on the Dutch frontier have been sent to the front and have replaced older soldiers and also those slightly wounded.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY METHODS.

Times and Sydney Sun Sedykhs. , (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 14

An officer of the Royal Engineers writes that his company is turning out hand-grenades to the number of 300 daily. Empty jam tins are being filled with small pieces of iron and a few ounces of guncotton similar to the methods employed in fighting in the eighteenth century.

NO NEED FOR ALARM CONCERNING THE KAISER.

Times and Sydney Sun Seevioh. (Receivtd 8 a.m.) London, December 14. Tht Kaiser’s physician assured an American correspondent that there was no ground for the alarming reports. His Royal patient would be able to return to the field in ten days.

THREATENED BY FAMINE IN WEST FLANDERS.

Times and Sydney Sun Services (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 14

The Belgian Belief Committee in England has received a telegram from Blankenberghe (watering place in West Flanders), staling that the situation is grave, and that unless food is found immediately the whole region will be plunged into the blackest famine.

THE BLACK WATCH AGAIN.

CONGRATULATED ON FRESH LAURELS AT MARNE.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) ' London, December 14.

General French, in congratulating the Black Watch on winning fresh laurels at the Marne, said; “The jaeger of the German Guard after that battle, ceased to exist. You stuck to the line against treble your numbers, and the country is proud of you. The Russians have won great victories, and you by holding back the Germans have won great victories, too. Had you not done this, the Russians could not have achieved their successes.”

THE GREAT NEED OF COPPER AND GOOD ROADS.

[United Paßea Association.] (Received 9.0 a.m.) Amsterdam, December 14

Domestic utensils such as cooking pots and coal-skuttles made of copper are being appropriated for the war for the manufacturing departments in Boulogne. One of the Allies greatest obstacles is the wretched condition of the main roads, and it has been decided to make corduroy roads, thousands of tons of implements having been ordered from England.

GENERAL.

Paris, December 14,

Official: A German attack northeast of Ypres, and another against the railway station at Aspach, were repulsed. Cardinal Lucon, in response to Cardinal Bourne’s request, has appointed the 3rd January a day of prayer and intercession for the Allies’ armies.

Before quitting Comines, the Germans took as prisoners six hundred men, of ages from eighteen to fifty, and sent them to Germany.

The Germans shelled Harbotirdm, and took 150 prisoners.

At Malines the latest atrocity is the shooting of a farmer’s sen for protesting against the ill-treatment of an octogenarian. » Amsterdam, December 13.

The newspaper Hundelsbbnd reports that the Germans pillaged and burned ten houses at Ledeghtm, and shot thirty inhabitants, also ten at Cortwarch.

London, December 13

It is estimated that the devastation in 'Belgium in the first twelve we ess of the war cost over two hundred mil-

lions sterling. At Liege the damage caused was estimated at seven millions, Louvain seven and a half millions, Namur five millions, Charleroi two and a half millions, and Antwerp twenty millions. Amsterdam. December 13.

An official message from Berlin states that the Germans, midway between Saint Mihiel and Pont-a-Mious-son, repulsed a frontal attack made by the French, whose casualties were heavy, 600 prisoners being taken.