In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 7, 9 January 1915, Page 5

In the West.

UNHEARD-OF GERMAN OUTRAGES. V REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. [United Pbbm Association.] Paris, January 8. The French Commissioner’s report on the German violation of international law states: “Never has a war among civilised people borne such savage fei ocity of character as that waged by Germany, Pillage, robbery, incendiarism, and murder are the enemy’s current practice, denoting astonishing retrogression in the German nationality since 1870. Outrages on women and girls are unprecedented. Soldiers and officers finish off the wounded mercilessly, and kill inoffensive inhabitants, irrespective of age or sex.”The Commission reports that the most terrible massacre in France wa that at Berbevillers, in the'\osges, on August 24th, The Bavarians burst into houses, shooting and stabbing, regardless of age or sex. Over 400 houses were destroyed, fifty people massacred in their homes, and many nameless offences committed. Another horrible butchery was at Nomeny, in the Department of Meurthe and Moselle. The Germans fired a building where many were hidden in the cellars, and shot them like rats as they emerged. Whole families were exterminated.

THE MERCIER SENSATION, NEWSPAPER DENIAL. Rotterdam, January 8. The Nicuwe Courant emphatically deiiies that Cardinal Mercier and other priests were arrested or watched at Antwerp, and states that the story arose through a who brought the information that Cardinal Mercier would not officiate at Antwerp, adding that two- sentries wer posted at the Archepiscopal Palace. J READING OF THE PASTORAL. Amsterdam, January 8. i Cardinal Mercier’s pastoral is still read in the pulpits at Malines, although prohibited elsewhere. Pen thousand copies were circulated in the diocese. PROTEST BY THE POPE . Timm and Sydniy Sun Sbhviom. London, January 8. The Pope has protested to the Kaiser, to the Emperor of Austria, and also to the German and Austrian Cardinals against the arrest ol Cardinal Mercier. POINCARE’S DECREE. Palis, January 8. M. Poincare, has signed a decree, prohibiting the sale of absinthe and similar drinks. STRUGGLE IN THE ARCONNE. Paris, January 3. The struggle in Argonne wages over the control of the roadway connecting the German positions round Vienne le Chateau, on the western outskirts of Argonne forest, with Varennes on the eastern fringe. The abandonment of this road was one of the worst mistakes committed by the Crown Prince. Most of the fighting proceeds in the depth of the forest, where artillery is practically ineffective.

“EYE-WITNESS” REPORTS. Paris, January 8. “Eye-witness” states: — “Three hundred corpses , were found among the ruins of St. George’s. We held the position, though on the 30th the Germans fired 4000 shells, smashing up St. George’s. We blew up the forts occupied by 140 Germans in the Ypres region, and seventy were buried. The others fled, but our artillery wiped them out. Our patrols found many of the flooded trenches full of German corpses.” FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT. * (Received 9.15 a.m.) Paris, January 8. A communique states: French infantry captured a .hillock at Lombaertzyde. We progressed at La Boisielle and Avelny, near Arras, and also at Rheiras, and - in the Thann and Alskirch district. Artillery destroyed the enemies’ trenches and breastworks between Jonchery and Souhain. The enemy mined and blew up French trenches westward of Haute Chevanchee in the Argonne, followed by a violent attack, which was* repulsed by the bayonet.

MALTREATMENT AND MURDER OF CATHOLIC CLERGY. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, January 8. The Belgian Legation lias issued a record of raal.treatment of Catholic clergy in Belgium, including an invalid octogenarian at Beuehen, who was accused of firing upon the Germans. He was thrown into a ditch, dragged along the streets by the legs, and shot. A priest at Gelbrode was beaten by a rifle butt until the blood dripped, and then be was shot and thrown into the river. Twenty-six innocent priests were killed in the Malines diocese, ten at Liege, twenty at Namur, and three at Tournai. FRENCH AVIATORS ACTIVE WITH BOMBS AND DARTS. (Received' 8.45 a.m.) Paris, January 8. “Eye-witness” relates that French aviators between 25th and 31st December dropped thirty-four bombs and 8000 darts on the Germans at Gercourt, Dondrien, Narnpoel and St Hilaire. Many bombs were dropped on several railway stations in Alsace and Lorraine. The Zeppelins did not venture to attack since the French airmen’s aggressive began.

GENERAL. London, January 8. As a result of the Pope’s intervention, it is expected that 150,000 civilians and invalids will he exchanged. STATUE OF THE “MAID.” TROPHY TO MARK TURN OF THE GERMAN TIDE. Paris, November 6. A statue to Joan of Arc is to ho set up after the war at Laguy, the extreme point touched by the scouts of General von Kluck’s army during its march on Paris. The Tsar has just contributed 1000 francs (£4O to tliis monument, an act.of spontaneous generosity which is highly appreciated here as showing how closely the Tsar watches for any opportunity of proving his sympathy with his Ally. It is expected that the monument will embody also medallions, of Generals Joffro and Gallieni,