In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 60, 13 March 1915, Page 5

In the West

M feeding the armies.

EXCELLENT WORK OFTHESUP-

PLY COLUMNS.

TOO MUCH PLUM JAM! Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 12. “Eye-witness,” describing the feeling of the armies, says: “The excellent work of the supply columns is shown in tfye fact that there has not been a single day, except daring retirement,when the food has not reached the men. The authorities requisitioned the inhabitants, who are readily placing their cattle, forage, wheat and vegetables at the disposal of the soldier. He has bacon for breakfast, bread and cheese fo" luncheon, hot meat and vegetables for dinner, and bread and jam for tea, soup being extra. Tea and sugar and cigarettes are served to the men in the trenches. Tobacco is provided hi-weekly. It is the first campaign where there has been no grumbling at the quantity and quality of the food. The most serious complaint is that plum jam is served too frequently.”

GERMAN AIRSHIP WRECKED AT GHENT. SOME OF THE CREW PERISH. (Received 9 a.m.) Amsterdam, March 12. A Parseval was wrecked in a wood at Ghent. Part of the crew was saved, two being injured.

GREAT FRENCH VICTORY IN ALSACE. (Received 9 a.m.) Geneva, March I*2. The French secured a great victory, seizing Reichackerkoff hills in Alsace.

FRENCH INFLICT SLAUGHTER ON A DOWN-HILL DRIVE.

(Received 10.0 a.m.) Geneva, March 12

The French repeatedly repulsed violent counter-attacks at Reichxickerkopl driving the enemy down-hill, and inflicting great slaughter.

SIR JOHN FRENCH’S REPORT.

SITUATION MATERIALLY ALTERED. HARD FIGHTING CONTINUES. (Received 10.15 a.m.) London, March 12. Sir John French’s bi-weekly report stages: “The success sit Neuve Chapelle materially altered the situation. The Armentiers-La Bassee losses, in proportion to the results, were not great. We established ourselves 1200 yards behind the enemy’s advanced trenches, and the enemy made repeated attempts on the 11th to recover the loss of ground, but were repulsed with heavy loss. Wo are steadily progressing. Hard fighting continues.' The Fourth Corps and the Indian Corps repelled several counterattacks on the night of the 11th, and on the early morning of the 12th with heavy loss to the enemy. The British Third Corps captured the village of Lepinette with slight loss.

BELGIAN DIVISIONS MAKE PROGRESS NEAR NIEUPORT. . v ■ (Received 10.15 a.m.) Paris, March 12. A communique states: Two divisions of Belgians progressed five hundred metres, notably in the direction of Sohoorbakke, south-east of Nieuport.

PROGRESS REPORTS. Paris, March 12. Official: Fog hampered operations at different points. British air squadrons bombarded Westende. Two attacks on Ypres section were repulsed.

The British repulsed two counterattacks at Neuve Chapelle, inflicting considerable losses. Our positions have been maintained elsewhere, and appreciable progress made west of Perthes. Official: For several weeks the operations in the Champagne district have been completely successful, compelling the Germans to employ four to five and a half army corps, and forced them to consume enormous quantities of ammunition, besides preventing their sending troops to Russia, The French gained a front seven kilometres long by kilometres wide, including valuable heights. They annihilated' two regiments of guards. They found ten thousand German corpses and captured two thousand prisoners and many machine-guns. The prisoners were extremely depressed.

The capture of Beausejour was a brilliant exploit. The colonials held the redoubt. The Germans made a massed counter-attack, but the French fire wiped out a whole battalion. An. other furious attack followed at dawn. Lieutenant Raynol leaped the breastwork and led the charge, but fell. Lieut. Gazeaux repaoed him, but fell riddled with bullets, the survivors retreating, and Private Simsou dragged Gazeaux’s body to the redoubt amid a hail of bullets. Private Guay killed seven Gormans before be was sabred, and then he managed to crawl to the redoubt.

Captain Poirier, when at the head of another charge, was struck by a bomb splinter. Seizing a rifle, lie killed several Germans with the bayonet, hut before he was killed Lieut. Le Long, the last survivor in the redoubt, called out, “I’ll show how a French soldier dies,” dashed into the German ranks, killed several, and fell pierced with bayonets.

Reinforcements on the 27th February recovered the redoubt.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Amsterdam, March 12. The Berlin War Office admits that the German position at Neuve Cliapelle was penetrated. The fighting continues. London, March 12. “Eye-Witness” at headquarters reports:—“The accuracy of our artillery is causing great nervousness among the enemy at cert in points on the left and centre.” He warns the British against the stories that the enemy’s morale is weakening. The enemy’s effectives in the west are much rduced, but they still hole! an enormous front, and whilst carrying out huge operations in the east, show no signs of their morale weakening. We must not, bo says, under-estimate the enemy’s fighting qualities.