In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 39, 17 February 1915, Page 6

In the West.

GENERAL FRENCH’S FIRST 81. WEEKLY REPORT.

(Received 1.40 p.m.) London, February 16. "The Press Bureau publishes Sir John French’s first biweekly report, which states: The British progressed

in the La Bassee district, and a valuable point was secured on the 13th ' without loss. There is conclusive evidence that the enemy’s losses in the recent fighting were severe. The enemy on the 14th gained a few trenches in the Ypres district. We counterattacked, recovering them. There has been some increase in the intensity of the artillery duels along the remainder of the marked superiority, and greatly damaged the enemy defences. Our aircraft, despite bad weather, blew up the enemy’s ammunition waggon near La Bassee.

THE RECENT AIR RAID.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE REPORTED.

(Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, February 16

A Dutch correspondent states that the raid of thirty-four aeroplanes badly damaged the bridge at Ostend, cutting off the railway station from the sea. The bombs destroyed the station at Flankenburg, the electrical works and coke factory at Zeebrugge; also the workshop where the submarines were being fitted up, twenty workmen being wounded, and totally destroyed the Zeppelin shed and contents.

THE ROCKFELLER COMMISSION.

(Received 9.10 a.m.) London, February 16.

The report of the Rockfeller commission which inquired into the state of Belgium, states that there are 320,000 Belgian refugees in Holland, and 100,000 in England,, but many who were driven out of their homes were still in Belgium. The commission found people living in cellars, lofts, and cowbails, and saw children that had been born in fowlhouses and pigsties. No estimates could be obtained of the total Germany' military requisition, but they must be enormous, and covered all classes of goods and livestock. The people were denied the use of the telegraph and mails, and had no means of communicating with the outside world except through German channels. The alleviating circum. stances noted were that all classes took a share in the national trouble, and the burden was automatically distributed. Poor tenants di dnot pay rent, though the landlords were almost as impoverished as the tenants. The sale of intoxicating liquor had stopped.