In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1915, Page 5

In the West.

DUNKIRK BOMBARDED. CIVILIANS KILLED IN THE MARKET PLACE. [Unitsd Frku Amooiation.l Paris, December 31. \ 7 Four German aeroplanes dropped seventeen bombs at Dunkirk. Fifteen civilians were killed, and twentytwo wounded.

Four aeroplanes, at intervals of ten minutes, flew over Dunkirk, and circled over the market, which was in full swing. A fifth hovered in the distance, watching for any of the Allies’ machines The airmen’s objective was to damage the military buildings, but it failed.

The bombs fell mostly in pairs, killing and wounding pedestrians in the streets and the suburbs. Buildings and windows were smashed in many directions, and the tramway track blown up. Bombs fell on the fortifications, and also near the railway station and the arsenal. fell on a jute factory. An old woman was mutilated and killed, and a child’s arm was blown off. Two bombs fell close near the Town Hall, striking down several persons, and within twenty yards another slightly damaged the kitchen of the military hospital.

The anti-aeroplane lire failed to damage the machines, while the Allied aeroplanes were apparently busy elsewhere. RE-CAPTURE OF ST. GEORGES. Paris, December 31. The Germans recently captured St. Georges, which was nearly surrounded by woods. During the re-capture a Belgian battalion was stranded on a strip of land, and in a critical position. Six marines volunteered to take a 75-rnillirnetre gun in a wherry, via the capal, which was alongside the village. The enemy opened a vigorous fire, and wounded the steersman. Another replaced him, and was also wounded. This continued until five were hors de combat. The sixth had almost reached the island when he was shot, but the Belgians .succeeded in landing the guns, and their fire destroyed the houses sheltering the Germans, who fled. Many were killed, or drowned.

THE FIGHTING AT FESTUBERT. London, December 31. An eye-witness at British headquarters lias inferentially disposed of the Hamburger Friendenblatt’s claim of a victory at Festubert. Ho says that fifty dead 'Germans were picked up in one of the trenches that we recently retook. It is estimated that in the attack on the village which was captured by the Germans on the 21 st, their loss in killed alone was 400.

An incident which occurred on the 24th. lint which was not mentioned in the last report led to a slight loss of ground to us, but caused heavy casualties to the enemy. The Germans exploded a mine underneath a trench, and several voids were blown

in. The German snipers occupied the ] part destroyed, and enfiladed the rest. ■ Meanwhile a larger body of the enemy i advanced. Our guns opened on them 1 with dendlv effort, scattering the 1 1 enemy, and killing many. They also,' bombarded the part of the occupied i trench, killing the occupants. J 1

GENERAL.

Paris, December 31

Newspapers publish General Fooh’.s telegram to General .Toffre on the 9th' September, when the battle of the Marne seemed to be turning in favor of the Germans. The telegram reads': “My right wing is being smashed, and the left crushed in. Nevertheless, I am hammering at the centre.” General Foch’s manoeuvring, which was probably unprecedent, ed in military history, was so successful that the Crown Prince’s centre was compelled to retire, obliging both wings similarly to retire.

Princess Patrica’s Canadian Light Infantry have arrived at the front..

Several squadrons of Moorish tribesmen , and Algerian tiralleurs are at Nieuport. The former are experts at creeping by night into the German trenches, and gagging and making prisoners of the sentries.

London, December 31

Forty thousand Germans arrived at Ghent between the 21st and 26th. A portion proceed to the Ypres front via Courtrai and Roulers, and the remainder to the coast at Dixmude, via Bruges.

A French soldier, captured at Aerschoot, was compelled to answer questions by having his hands plunged into boiling water. Another, win resisted, was held while his head was twisted till he died. A third had a Anger chopped off. A Belgian ambulance column of 500 was attacked near Namur, and only a hundred escaped. London, January 1.

The Daily Chronicle’s Dunkirk correspondent says the capture of St. Georges affords the Allies valuable, artillery positions. The Germans at Westende are between two fires. Many German companies at St. Georges surrendered, after losing all their officers. The Allies are now able to build bridges over the Yser ea-1-ward of Nieuport. The Tyd states that especially severe fighting has occurred near Lombaertzyde since Christmas, the Allies making every effort to break through, the British naval guns participating. The sluices at Zeebrugge have been repaired, and submarines are constantly leaving the port.