In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 44, 23 February 1915, Page 5

In the West

ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES IN ALSACE.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) London, February 22. A communique says; Our advance

guard fell back on the banks of the Fecht, in Alsace. The enemy attacked in mass formations and suffered heavy losses.

“VERY REAL WORK HAS BEEN

ACCOMPLISHED.’’

United Press Association. London, February 22

The Press Bureau has issued the report of a British observer with the French army. He says that although progress is slow along the extensive battle line, very real work has been accomplished. The French troops hold the heads of valleys running between wooded spurs in the Vosges, the Germans holding the lower spurs only, while round Cernav the French hold the lower spurs and the Germans the villages. It is plain that until the needed reserves are available the Allied armies’ duty is to prevent the Germans from gaining a favorable decision, meanwhie forcing them to fight at a disadvantage involving the enemy in heavy losses. This the French army has done.

GREAT POWDER EXPLOSION. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, February 22. Antwerp reports that the powder thrown into the canal when the Bel-* gians left has been fished up. When dried it ignited, and a terrible explosion occurred, ten men being killed.

MISCELLANEOUS. Paris, February 22. Official: We won further ground in the Champagne district, and captured machine-guns and prisoners northward of Mesuil.

i VICTORIA CROSSES.

London, February 19

Victoria Crosses were won by:—

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, of the Hundred and Nineteenth Battery, for the bravery eulogised on the twenty-fourth of August . Against overwhelming odds he saved the guns, Alexander and three men dragging them away by hand, and enabling the Fifth Division to retire without serious loss.

Drummer Kenny, of the Gordon Highlanders, for fearlessly rescuing five wounded on the twenty-third of October at Ypres Previously he twice saved and carried out machine-guns in action

Lieutenant JBrook, of the Gordon Highlanders, killed leading two attacks on the twenty-ninth of October, preventing the Germans breaking the line of Gheluvelt At the time it was impossible to organise a general coun-ter-attack Captain Valentine, of the South Staffordshires, killed leading an attack at Lillebecke on the 7th November.

Lieutenant Depass, for entering a German sap on the 24th November and destroying the traverse, despite German bombs.

Privates Robson, of the Royal Scots, Mackenzie, of the Scots Guardsmen, Lieutenant Neume, of the Engineers, for gallantry in rescuing the wounded. Privates Acton and James Smith, of the Border Regiment, .unffer fire for sixty minutes rescuing the wounded. Lance-Corporal Cleary, of the Irish Guards, for leading a storming party. He killed five Germans holding a barricade at Quinchy, and then rushed on to the second barricade and took five more prisoners attempting to man a machine-gun. He practically captured the position alone. Arthur Martin Leake, a Victoria Cross gained in 1902, was granted a clasp for conspicuous devotion to duty at Zonnebeke in November. This is an unprecedented honour, equivalent to two crosses.

NERVE-SHATTERING WORK. The fierceness of the fighting at the battles of Ypres and Calais is emphasised in letters recently received from Major Heathcote, of the King’s Own Yorkshires, was continuously engaged with his regiment from August 20th to October 31st, when he was invalided home, suffering from wounds. bW« were in the battle of Ypres,” he writes, “fighting five to one, with no reserves. We were told to hold the enemy at all costs, and did so for two days; but at what a cost! We went in 1000 strong, with 25 officers, and came out with no officers and 180 men. 1 was shot in the lung and arm. Tn the dusk 1 saw some men coming towards me. 1 thought they were part of my own regiment, and called out: ‘Do not shoot, 1 am British.’ As they got near me one of the men fired. I then knew they were Germans, and, not relishing the possibility of falling into their hands. 1 made a dash under cover of the darkness for my own lines. I ran a short way, but was too weak, and so came down again. My splint, however, was sufficient to swing the Teutons off the scent, and they gave up the quest. Soon after one of mv own men found me, and I was taken to the lines. It is nerve-shatter-ing. The men, however, bear up bravely and show what stuff they are made of.”