In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 8, 11 January 1915, Page 5

In the West.

TWO “OFFICIAL” REPORTS NOTE THE CONTRADICTIONS. [United Pubes Association.] Paris, January 9. Official: The enemy was again repulsed to the northwards of Soissons, and driven back in the vicinity of Perthes, with heavy losses, | Amsterdam, January 9. A German communique says; We repulsed several attacks north-east 'of Soissons, with heavy French losses. We repulsed an attack near Perthes, with severe French losses. We stormed a position in eastern Argonne, capturing prisoners. Mine-throw-ers blew up an undefended trench at Flirey at the moment the French occupied it, destroying an entire French force. We recaptured Burnahaupt le Haut, and also the French advanced trenches, taking many prisoners.

NEW GERMAN OFFENSIVE. MILITARY TRAINS BLOCK THE RAILWAYS. Copenhagen, January 9. There is strong evidence that the Germans are preparing a new offensive in the west. Railways are blocked with military trains, hurrying troops to the westward, including many young soldiers, evidently part of the new army.

THE MERCIER SENSATION. POPE’S UNRESERVED APPROVAL OF THE PASTORAL. London, January 9. The Daily Chronicle’s Milan correspondent says that the Pope was personally acquainted with Cardinal Mercier’s pastoral prior to its publication, and has since expressed his unreserved approval of it. “A CLUMSY AND BRUTAL ACT.” London, January 9. Mr T. P. O’Connor describes the arrest of Cardinal Mercier as one of those clumsy and brutal acts of German policy which will recoil on her own head. DENIAL BY THE KAISER. i Rome, January 9. The Kaiser telegraphed to the Pope denying Cardinal Mercier’s arrest, and explaining that the Germans merely warned him to discontinue his anti-German propaganda, which the Kaiser was sure the Rope would disapprove. THE CARDINAL IN MALINES. i . rmv ■ I rv.TTr.rTT.v • Amsterdam, January 9. The newspaper Tyd says the contradiction of Cardinal Mercier’s arrest is untrue. The Cardinal is not allowed to leave Malines. Several priests who were imprisoned for a day or two are prepared to contradict the denial. pastoral Read in England. (Received 8.50 a.m.) * London, January 10.

Cardinal Mercier’s pastoral has been read in several Catholic Churches in England. PASSAGE OF THE HUNS. MARKED BY CRUELTY AND ’ / Timm and Sydney Sun Bieviom. (Received 8.0 a.m.) yLondon, January 10. The .summary;, of the report of the commission on , German atrocities shows that rape, with every imaginable refinement of cruelty and bestiality, marked the passage of the Huns with ghastly frequency. Irrefutable evidence was collected of stories of rape so horrible in detail that publication was almost impossible, except for the necessity of showing to the fullest extent the nature of the wild beasts fighting under the German flag for German ideals of civilisation. The Commission established beyond doubt that incendiarism, murder, and pilago was part of the German military equipment just as definitely as were their big guns. For these crimes, the highest officers of the German army must be held responsible before history.

The Times, in a leader commenting on the atrocities, says that in all the countries where a sense of common humanity exists the report of ’the Commission will be read with emotion and horror. . t GERMANS RETIRING SULLENLY ' ’ tb OSTEND. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, January 10. Rotterdam reports that the Ger-

mans are sullenly retiring in the direction of Ostend. COMBATANTS “IMPROMPTU” TRUCE. Timh and Sydney Sun Bieviom. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, January 10. A correspondent in Northern .France describes a curious development of the Christmas truce, the British and

Germans sitting on the edges of their trenches under a mutual agreement not to lire. The impromptu truce is likely to become more frequent in places where the mud made progress impracticable. There is also a strong inclination on both sides to remove their feet from the water in the Trenches so as to avoid cramp and improve the ciruculatiou.

A SOCIALIST’S VIEW. United Press Association. (Received 8.25 a.m.) London, January Kb M. Vandervelde (a prominent Belgian Socialist), addressing British Socialists, blamed the German Socialists for their almost entire indifference to the cruel crushing of Belgium and to the horrible offences perpetrated on the Belgians, who were fighting for freedom and honor. FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Paris, January 10. Notwithstanding numerous attacks, the enemy was unable to cecapimre the trenches in the Soissons region, and the enemy again bombarded Soissons. Our artillery had a great effect on the German trenches from Rheirns to the Argonne, dispersing parties of marksmen. We repelled a counter attack west of Perthes, progressed west of Beausejour, and seize] a re* doubt north of Beausejour The enemy bombarded us in Tour do Paris region, and we replied by destroying the blockhouse. We repulsed attacks in the Aprement forest and also in the Thann region.

MOTOR CAR MYSTERIES. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 10. The German officers at Antwerp have been forbidden to drive motor cars alone owing to sixty officers having disappeared with their motor cars during a few weeks. POVERTY IN THE ARDENNES. Timbb and Sydney Sun Bbevjom. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, January 10. There is the greatest poverty in the villages, especially in the Ardennes, where American relief cannot penetrate. Eighty per cent, of the population are unemployed. The Germans are lacking supplies, and there are many suicides among the older troops, Imt the new levies fresh from the atmosphere of victory promoted in Germany are full of enthusiasm.

LIFE IN FLOODED TRENCHES. SICKNESS AMONG THE GERMAN MOTLEY CREWS. Tutu and Sydney Sun Sievioii. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, January 10. “Eye-witness,” describing life in the flooded trenches,- says the wet clay causes the stoutest boots to give way. In order to keep dry many go barefoot down the long communication trenches, and only resume their boots and socks when they reach the' drained part where there is a fire in the trenches. • There is a good deal of sickness in the German ranks. Some of the units have been temporarily withdrawn and the German companies now con. Jsist of a mixture of active soldiers, Landwehr, Landstrum, Ersatz reservists, and volunteers.

GERMANS FIGHTING FLOODS AND DISEASE. (Received 11.15 a.m.) London, January 10. A British eye-witness states that the Germans are apparently using pumps which are electrically worked in the Lille district, to drain the trenches. They attempted to flood our trenches but failed. The Schelde at Lys has overflowed, flooding whole districts in southern Belgium. Saxon and Bavarian prisoners frequently abuse their Prussian comrades. A Saxon expressed the hope that the British would shell the Saxon trenches taken over by the Prussians. Typhoid continues to rage in the enemy’s ranks, and there are many gases in the Belgian hospitals. The German losses have been very heavy during the last few weeks, and the average strength of a company was reduced from 120 to seventy.