In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 41, 19 February 1915, Page 5

In the West

AFTER MONS.

“TOMMIES” THOUGHT THE WAR

WAS OVER.

NERVE-RACKING NOISE DRIVES SOME TO INSTANT DEATH.

(Received 10.15 a.m.)

Fremantle, February 19

A wounded private, who is returning from, the front, says that when the 1 British were retreating from Mons, the privates in the British Army thought the war was over, and that they were beaten and hound for Havre, en route for England. I The private says it is difficult to describe the atmosphere surrounding the hand-to-hand conflicts. Often men become demented through the nerveracking noise in the trenches, and they rush out, singing, towards the enemy, only to meet with a hail of bullets, meaning instant death.

THE BRICKFIELDS FIGHT,

ENEMY BAYONETTED AS THEY EMERGED FROM DUG-OUTS.

EVIDENCE OF USE OF DUM-DUMS

(Received 9.40 a.m.) London, February 18

“Eye-Witness” states; During the bombardment of the brickfields, the Germans took refuge in their dug-outs. Our assault was so well timed and sudden that when the enemy emerged from their burrows our infantry was on top of them. Those showing fight were immediately bayonetted, but many, recognising the hopelessness of resistence, discai’ded their arms, and cried for mercy, offering watches, money, cigarettes, and fruit to buy their lives. One German officer was bayon&tted while telephoning, presumably for reinforcements. One of our men who was armed only with a shovel, killed four Germans who were trying to escape. A large amount of dum-dum ammunition was captured. Many of the cartridges had the bullets reversed, with the bases outwards

METZ CATHEDRAL.

GERMANS’ INTENTION TO BLOW

UP THE EDIFICE.

Times and Sydney Sun Service (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, February 18

The Eclair de Best, Paris, states tha.t the Germans are carrying on subteranean work at Metz. The Cathedral authorities are explaining the matter with the pretext that they are installing a heating apparatus. In reality, in provision for an early abandonment of Metz, the Germans are preparing mine-chambers to blow up the magnificent edifice.

(The Cathedral is a fine Gothic structure, begun early in the eleventh century, with a spire 873 feet high. The city itself became a free city of the German Empire after the death of Charlemagne. In 1552 the French obtained possession, and it was formally ceded to them in IG4B. As the capital of the department of the Moselle, it was considered the strongest defence of France against the Germans, and in the war of 1870 was held by Marshal Bazaine, with a force of 180,. 000 men and immense military stores, which were surrendered to the Germans, and the town was afterwards annexed to the German Empire.) THE ALLIES' PROGRESS. United Press Association. Paris, February 18.

Official: Our artillery destroyed many bivouacs, ammunition, and convoys between the sea and the Oise. We captured two lines of trenches, north of Arras, inflicting heavy losses, and carried more positions near Perthes, We progressed at Lagrurie, inflicting very severe losses, and also progressed at several points btweeu Argonne and the Meuse, also in Alsace.

THE MASSACRES IN BELGIUM.

London, February 18

The eleventh report of the Belgian Commission details the outrages in the province of Namur, where nearly 2000 men, women, and children were massacred. In some parts half the male adult population had disappeared. The supposed Franco-tireur war against the Germans was mere invention.