In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 3, 5 January 1915, Page 5

In the West.

MACHINATIONS OF GERMAN SECRET SERVICE. [Bt Eeboteio ’JmiiBQEAPfI— Cop vbxoht} United Press 'Association. Paris, January 4. There are reports that the Germans have secured the Belgium military identification papers in Brussels, and German officers and men are using them, to enable them to masquerade in France, and possibly in England, as Belgians.

THE BELGIAN COMMISSION. THOUSANDS MASSACRED. i Havre, January 4. 1 The Belgian Commission’s report on Namur province states that 3000 were massacred out of a population of 300,000. There were 700 victims at Dinant alone, including 79 women and 31 children under 15 years. THE AEROPLANERS AT METZ. Dunkirk, January 4. Four French and two British participated in the aeroplane night attack on Metz, Considerable damage was done to various military positions.

GERMAN AIRMEN ACTIVE AT BRUCES. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 4. Zeppelin sheds and aviation hangars are increasing in number at Bruges. STORIES FROM “EYE-WITNESS.” GHASTLY RELICS OF FORMER BATTLES. A RESOURCEFUL SOLDIER. INCIDENT IN THE RE-BOMBARD-MENT OF FURNES. INDIAN’S NAIVE CHAT. Tmil *wn Qvr.vnv Sun Rnrvtoib. ' (Received 8 a.m.) London, January 4.

“Eye-witness” says; “Sometimes when new ground is being broken, the entrenching strade turns up the longbnried dead, the ghastly relics of former battles. The surface everywhere is ploughed, and furrowed by shells, bombs, and mines. There is something grotesnuely incongruous in the appearanee of the Algerians with their flowing Oriental robes amidst the driving sleet and sens of mud. The Indians are using newspapers as turbans. The French cuirassiers, with red rust upon their cuirasses, give the scene an old world touch.

“One of our men who was unarmed and was searching in the straw in a farm building was surprised by, two Germans, when he pulled out his wirecutters, which presented like a revolver. and the Germans surrendered.

During the re-bombardment of Furnes, a shell hit a shed where some soldiers were being innoeulated against typhoid, and ten were killed, while two doctors were wounded, “The Indian sick and wounded at Brighton are cheerful patients. One officer in the cavalry said: “The Germans are not good soldiers. They are not men of faith. Surely God won’t give them the victory. They have big guns, hut when we get' near they kneel and fold , their hands.” The officer added thoughfully, hut with manifest regret; “The sahibs told us to spare a few.”

EXECUTED FOR SEDITION. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 4. Joseph Roiel, editor of a newspaper, was executed at Prossnitz for uttering seditious speech. A MINED ROAD. FROM MOSTERZELLE TO GHENT. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 4. Reports state that the road from Mosterzello to Ghent has been mined every fifty metres, which is intended to hamper the advance of the Allies' artillery. ARREST OF GERMAN SPIES.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Paris, January 4. Four German spies, including a bogus priest, wore arrested at Belfort. FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Paris, January 4. A communique states: We seized several points of support at Perthes and Mesuil les Burins, and made further progress at St. Petre wood and also at Steinbach. We carried important heights in West Germany. There have been artillery duels at many points. A UNITED BELGIUM. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING SES RECENT WAR LEVY. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 4. Advices state that a meeting of burgomasters at Ghent discussed the raising of the war levy of 480,000,000 francs made by Germany. The Belgian Governor of East Flanders presided, and there was a scene of extraordinary enthusiasm, as it was declared that the meeting was being held under the sovereignity of their King and Queen, and that the Belgians were more than over united. It was resolved to demand that the levy he met by a general levy on individuals.