In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1915, Page 5

In the West.

"MOULDED SCULPTURE." THE WOUNDED IN HOSPITAL. TIMIB AND BYDNHT SuW SIBVIOII. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Loudon, January 23. A casino at Boulogne has been converted into a. splondiclly-litted military hospital. Sir Frederick Treves, the famous surgeon, declares that never have the British wounded been so well treated, and never has the army medical service been so efficient.

Describing the wounded as they reach hospital, he says that many are caked with mud, and in some cases it is so solid that they might be taken for figures of moulded sculpture. They left England fine alert soldiers, and are now so bent that they limp and shuffle as if they had just left the torture rack, and seem like old men. **

WOUNDED SOLDIERS' NICHTMARE. London, January 23. The Lancet states that in their most frequent' dreams the wounded soldiers are wandering in endless trenches, or picking their way through a lonesome forest, whence all others have fled. The slightest noise during sleep provokes visions of exproding shells, causing them to shout, to the indignation of the other patients. The most exasperating nightmare is the discovery of shells in the bed ready to burst, accompanied by incapacity to get rid of them.

LINE OF THE TRENCHES. Paris, January 23. A correspondent, describing the position, says that when the line of trenches leaves Argonne, it passes Ville Sur Tourbe, which is in the German possession, thence through Massiges, along an important ridge whereon stands a farm. Becausejour overlooks a plateau stretching north to Vousiers, and the French occupied the side of the plateau, while tha. Germans held the crest, until the French, by a night attack, gained a footing on the crest. The German counter-at-tacks sinco have failed to dislodge them. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Paris, January 24. A communique states: The enemy violently bombarded our new at Nieuport and Lombaertzyde. Our artillery dispersed the infantry at the moment when they were beginning the attack. The artillery expelled the enemy from a trench near Vermelles and silenced or demolished several guns in Aisne Valley and destroyed works at Berry au Bac. The infantry carried a trench at St. Hubert and Fontaine Maidame continues, the advanced trenches being several times lost and re-taken. Our right progressed at Hartmanns Weilerkopf. We lost and then recaptured a (ranch at Steinbach.

GENERAL. Paris, January 24. An official communique states that fighting lasted all day at Fontaine Madame and Haartmanns-Weilerkopf. The results have not been reported. Le Matin says the Allies' line sensibly advanced on Wednesday between Festubert and La Bassee. Official: We progressed a hundred metres at Lombaertzyde. Renter reports that from St, Omer on Monday night a large German force in massed formation made stupendous efforts to pierce the British line at Festubert, but the enemy was repulsed with heavy loss. Germans on the 19th attempted, by taking advantage of a snowstorm, to rush the French lines at Albert. The French artillery did terrible execution. The German columns staggered under the hail of shells, and broke down. The French followed up with a brilliant bayonet charge, and the Germans were driven hack all along the line leaving large numbers of dead, and losing some trenches. Official: The enemy-is showing more activity south-east of Ypres. Very sharp attacks wore made in Argpnne, at Fontaine Madame, near St. Hubert. The enemy was repulsed, after two- vigorous Frenca counterattacks.

A struggle at Marie Therese works lasted all day long, wish extreme strenuousness on both aides. We maintained our position till nightfall, and a German heavy night attack c ailed.