In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 56, 9 March 1915, Page 5

In the West

ANOTHER ATTEMPT ON CALAIS.

[Unhid Phebh Association.] Amsterdam, March 8. A large force from the Eastern front has arrived at Tournai. Germans at Bruges boast that this time they will reach Calais.

FRENCH POSITION IN ALSACE.

London, March 8.

The Times’ correspondent in Alsace, says that the French arc masters of the situation in the Valley Largne and Valley St. Martin. The Germans are making Altkirch the pivot of their movement. The town is extensively fortified, entrenchments haying been constructed by civilian labor under compnlsion. The Germans have received large reinforcements in Muster Valley, including some Austrians and heavy guns, causing the French to slightly retire, bringing the Germans uncomfortably near the top of the pass.

EYE-WITNESS’ REPORTS.

THE EFFECT OF ARTILLERY FIRE AND INFANTRY. GERMANS IN ABJECT SERVITUDE Times and Sydney Sun Seuvioe. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 8. “Eye-witness” says that a great many attacks at the present stage aim at capturing rising ground, as it is of the utmost importance to gain a position whence the enemy’s trenches, batteries, and communications are observable. The effect of the artillery fire fs now so great that it is almost true to say that infantry is tised more to screen the guns than for anything else. All offensive action is dependent on a sustained and intensely accurate artillery fire. He adds: A captured German states that the population behind the German lines live in abject servitude, being compelled to mend the roads, , dig trenches, and thrash corn. They are paid army rations, without which they would starve, as all foodstulls have been commandeered.

fiL' A HAPPY, HEALTHY ARMY.

LESSON FOR CLYDE STRIKERS,

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.in.) London, March 8. The Times’ correspondent at headquarters says the campaign is being run on the principle of generosity, il the men want antyhing for lighting or comfort they get it. The result is a happy, healthy army. The must striking instance is at the convalescent home headquarters, where men with trilling ailments who otherwise would be sent to the base are turned out at- ¥ ter a fortnight physically repaired. Trench diggers are working with a keenness which would make the Cljde

strikers toil forty-eight hours a day if only out of professional admiration, lb was an almost perfect machine. THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS FRENCH PRIVILEGES WITHDRAWN. (Received 8.45 a.in.) Paris, March 8. German prisoners in France will henceforth be treated similarly to French prisoners in Germany. \ arious privileges will be withdrawn owing to Germany’s refusal to give better treatment.

RECAPTURE OF TRENCHES,

FRENCH DRIVEN OUT BY WEIGHT OF NUMBERS. FEARFUL STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. MEN FALL IN THOUSANDS. (Received 8.55 a.in.) Pgris, March 8. Details of the loss and recapture ot trenches at Notre Dame de Lorette show that the Germans blew up the foremost trenches with mines and expelled the French second and third lines by weight of numbers. The French artillery bombarded the Gormans for severa lliours next day, enabling the infantry to retake the second and third lines. Then there was a lull till evening, when rain poured down. The French charged irresistibly, and there was a fearful struggle in the darkness, and an indescribable uproar as the French bayonetted the Germans, who bolted to their own lines. Daylight revealed nearly three thousand German dead on the field. The French losses amounted to 1000.

FRENCH PROGRESS REPORT. GERMANS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Paris, March 8. A communique states: We captured trenches in the north-west of Bouain. The Germans who regained a footing on the hilltop west of Munster wore driven back after a hand-to-hand light with extremely heavy losses. HEAVY GUNFIRE AT YPRES. TRAINS OF WOUNDED ARRIVE AT ROULERS. (Received 9.15 a.m.) Amsterdam, .March 8. Heavy gunfire was hoard at Holders from the direction of Ypres, Many trains of wounded have arrived at Holders. There has been much watertraffic from Ghent to Bruges, including nmnv boats containing machine guns. (