In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 61, 15 March 1915, Page 5

In the West

STEADY PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES. United Prksb Association. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Paris, .March 14. A communique states: The Belgians further progressed at a bend of the Yser, the artillery destroying a point d'appru at Dixmude graveyard. We repulsed counter-attacks and captured several trendies in the Champagne district. We found 100 corpses and a quantity of material in one trench which our patrols occupied at Embermenil, Lorraine.

THE FIGHT AT NEUVE CHAPELLE Paris, March 13. The British success at Neuve Chapelle has aroused enthusiasm. After several attempts to dislodge the enemy from a village, they resorted to turning movements. The French artillery on Tuesday night prepared the enemy to evacuate the first line of trenches. The German artillrey was helpless. The Germans, fearing a division, dared not diminish the immediate defence of a village. This lost them the battle. The British on Wednesday morning impatiently awaited the word "Advance!" Then came a spontaneous yell from thousands of throats as the command was given. They overwhelmingly surprised the Germans. The British passed rapidly from trench to trench, sometimes rolling over each other in the mud. Tlie Germans detected the manoeuvre too late. They hurled every available man forward in a futile attempt to force a passage, but the British firing paralysed the rush, and most of them surrendered without a struggle. The British completely surrounded the village, and, profiting by the enemy's disarray, advanced in the afternoon to the Pietre cross roads, sixteen hundred yards from the village. The Germans, having been reinforced, vigorously counter-attacked, but could not gain an inch, and sustained heavy losses. They rapidly entrenched in a strong position in front of Aubers, from which many machine guns opened a terrible fire, inflicting severe losses. Nevertheless, the Britishers have a firm grip on the new position. An artillery combat is now raging. Amsterdam, March 14.

A German official message says: "We began. ' attacks to recapture Neuve Chapelle, but discontinued owing to superior English forces. We shot down three British aviators in two days."

PAYINC OFF AN OLD SCORE.

MOST TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT. (Received 8.55 a.m.) i , ( , London, March 14. ; ''Eye-Witness," writing from the British headquarters, reports: "oinoffensive at Neuve Chapelle was attended by signal success. The fire of many guns and howitzers at the opening of the bombardment is described as the most tremendous both as regards noise and effect the army has ever seen or heard. Within half an hour after the signal for attack had been given, almost the whole of the elaborate series of German trenches were in our hands with hardly (except at one point) any resistance. Many trenches blotted out. were filled with dead and dying, being partially buried in earth and debris. The majority of the survivors were not in the mood for further fighting. Meanwhile, on the right from llichebourg we made a similar advance, progressing towards a rectangular piece of wood IUUO yards south-east of Is'euve Chapelle, the resistance being slight, and we reached a point four hundred yards eastward. Others to the northward were fighting long after darkness. The enemy was theil considerably shaken and surrendering in some parts in groups. The Germans throughout the day held a strong nosithm nicknamed Port Arthur at an angle of the cross-roads to the southward of the village, with a perfect network i>£ trenches and barbed wire. The struggle raged until 5.30 p.m., when wa stormed and carried the position with bayonets. The Britishers showed the utmost dash throughout the operations, and there was a consciousness that an old score had been oaid off. the enemy this time being beaten and on the run. The field hospital amoulauces were filled with the cheeviest crowd of wounded men."

Airmen destroyed a pier of the railway bridge at Menin, and another completely wrecked Courtrai station, both of vital importance to the enemy's communication.

HANDSOME DONATION TO SUPPORT THE INDIANS.

(Received 8.20 a.m.) Delhi, March 13

The Rao of Cutch gives £3OOO monthly to support the Indian regiment for twelve months at the front.

Cutch is a peninsula and native state on the north-west coast of India, its area being (5500 square miles, and the population -IHTj-000. It suffered greatly in the'famine of 1890-1900. The capital is Bhuj.

PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES.

Paris, March 13

Official: At the bend at the Yser the Belgian Army has been strengthened, and extended the results obtained on Thursday. The British continued their progress and crossed the riverlet Leyes parallel with the road from Neuve Chapelle to Fleurbuix, capturing several groups of housesNirganised for defence. During thfl day a thousand

prisoners wore taken, and the Germans lost several machine guns. We continued our progress in Champagne. We took 150 prisoners, including six officers, north-east of Mesnil. The Press Bureau publishes Sir John French's report : "Slight further progress was made on Saturday by the seventh division towards Aubers. The fighting was very severe, the enemy having been reinforced opposite my right by at least to divisions. We captured 612 prisoners and more are coming in.

"Our aircraft has been active, destroying junctions at Dod and Douai."

GERMAN ACTIVITY IN FLANDERS

Amsterdam, March 13

The German concentration towards Ypres and La Bassee continues. All the troops in Northern Flanders are being sent thither. The Germans have mounted heavy guns at Middlekerke and are endeavouring to destroy the sluices. A strong German attack has opened south of Dixmude.

BOMB-THROWERS AT WORK.

London, March 13

A correspondent, describing the British bomb-throwers, says "they are strange-looking men Round their waist they carry twenty or thirty bombs, little cylinders fastened to a long stick, round Inch fall streamers. Crouching among the barbed-wire, the bombers, with supporting infantrymen, raiso themselves a little and hurl their bombs high above the parapet. Gaining their equilibrium from the streamers, the bombs plunge straight 'as a plumbline into the trench. _ Then follows a rush. As each trench is takjen the bombers get to work again and 'throw bomb after bomb, jam-pot after ;jam-pot, grenade after grenade."

GERMAN PERSECUTION AT LILLE

Copenhagen, March 15. Public meetings at Lille protested against increasing German persecutions. Many were court-martialled and sentenced to death, on the allegation that they were organising a massacre of German troops. The city was further fined half a million francs and five thousand for cheering French prisoners.

NEWS FROM ALSACE.

Paris, March 13

Official: After repulsing two strong counter-attacks, the British captured part of the German lines in the Pietre region, taking four hundred prisoners. We captured several trenches in the Mesnil region, and advanced to hundred metres at Reichackerekope.

TWO GENERALS WOUNDED. General Mamoury and De Villaret were wounded while inspecting trenches thirty metres from the. enemy.