In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 71, 26 March 1915, Page 5

In the West

TALES FROM TRENCHES. EVIDENCE FROM GERMAN PRISONERS. ! CREDULOUS PEOPLE. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, .March '2o. "Eye-witness" quotes letters found on German prisoners to show the astonishing credulity of the people. One, writing at Magdeburg on 26tli February, says: "Several battalions of suffragettes have been landed at Havre, [with live hundred in each battalion. Don't let them scratch out your eyes, land, above all, don't let them capture you. That would shame you before {the whole world. England can only last a month without imports, so the blockade will soon end the war." A great many describe the lack of necessaries, and express an earnestdesire for peace. The general impression gained is that undoubted, distress exists among the poorer classes, but there are great expectations still of an |early victory. But the situation has ■created some anxiety, and there is even a little doubt in some quarters. It is significant, however, that those most earnestly desiring peace do not appear to contemplate the possibility of purchasing it by an admission of defeat, which to the vast majority appears as remote and unthinkable as ever. A letter from Saxony says: "It is terrible to see the old men and the untrained Landsturm being commandeered." An officer writes: " . . though most of us agree that one Britisher is worth three Germans, and what their staff doesn't know about war devices is Ihot worth knowing. Their trench equipment is magnificent, and their methodh beyond praise. Their trench mortars arc a wonderful piece of scientific work. They make no reports, the bombs being propelled by compressed air. Ours make a row like a thunder-clap." Prisoners taken are well dressed, and have plenty of rations and boots to prevent frostbite. The prisoners are fine big men, and quite young, mostly under twenty.

INCREASED ACTIVITY OF THE ENEMY ON THE YSER. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 25. Dutch newspapers report that the roar of guns on the Yser has increased, and that the action is uncommonly fierce. The Germans are evidently preparing for a great effort, as large bodies of troops are on the move.

« R A FEMALE SPY SHOT; I (Received 8.55 a.m.) i Paris, March 25. Marguerite Schmitt, a native or Thiancourt was shot there as a spy. In the presence of troops, she confessed she was paid 200 francs for penetrating the French lines. . _ j HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE London, March 25, 5.15 p.m. The High. Commissioner reports:— Army officers: Killed 127, wounded 7, .Men: Killed 127, wounded 271; missing 8, prisoners 93. Australians died, 9. Paris reports that in the Champagne district there has been a fairly lively artillery duel. Three German attacks in the neighbourhood of hill 196 were repulsed. In the Avgonne, the German attack on Fontaine Madame was unsuccessful, and at Eparges three coun-ter-attacks were repulsed. (11.20 a.m.) Petrograd reports that in the Carpathian's advance, several fortified heights were seized on Wednesday between the roads leading to Baitfeld and Uszok. Everywhere the enemy counter-at-tacks were unsuccessful. In the course of the day the Russians captured over 4000 prisoners, one gun, and several dozen machine guns. The Germans on Monday unsuccessfully re-attacked the height near Coziouvka.