In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 74, 30 March 1915, Page 5

In the West

FRENCH’S WAR REVIEW.

ENEMY FINDS CAMPAIGN DE-

PRESSING.

CUNS AND MUNITIONS WEAKEN.

United Pbehb Association. (Received 9.40 a.m.)

Paris, March 29

Sir John French, in his review of the war, states: “It is beyond all dispute that the cadres of the German army are in bad proportion, the officers being notably professional. The enormously reduced markings on the shells show that the guns are much worn. The artillery notably lacks munitions, and the quality of the projectiles ; during the last three months has been mediocre, those which do not burst ranging from two-fifths to two-thirds. The shrapnel explosives are weak and are loaded with broken glass. Since the failure to capture Warsaw, a marked feature is their pessimism, and the characterless nature of the correspondence found on dead Germans.”

HEAVY LOSS OF BRITISH OFFI-

CERS.

London, 1 March 29. The casualties of British officers since March 10 were 875.

ANEXCUSE FOR A FINE. *■■ /

United Pebss Association.

London, March 29

Amsterdam says the Germans fined Bruges £20,000 because schoolboys tarred a German.

v*~ THE HEADQUARTERS AT TOUR-

NAI.

(Received 8.55 aim.) Amsterdam, March 29. The remainder of the German headquarters have arrived at Tournai.

"THE BLUE DEVILS.”

Paris, March 29

■Hartman’s Weillerkopf commands the district of Hann, Ceruay, and Steinbach.

The Alpine Chasseurs, nicknamed “The Blue Devils,” aftei' shelling on Tuesday,, assaulted and captu&d the lower ridges, regardless j of loss. They scoured the second line # on Wednesday, despite a devastating rifle fire and the enemy’s stubborn defence. Hand to hand fighting lasted for several hours,, during which time the “Blpe Devils” took many prisoners. The climax of the assault of the crest came on' Thursday. The crest was 1225 metres above the plain, which the famous fifteenth array corps was defending with a formidable array of guns. Hand grenades were flung from the heights, and burning liquid fell in streams. Many of the chasseurs were badly burned, but continued to fight in their charred’ clothes. The “Blue Devils” on Saturday swarmed forward on the flanks among the hills to the north, east,and south-east, breaking the Germans’ last grip on the stronghold.

REVIEW OF GERMANY’S FICHT-

INC STRENGTH.

Paris, March 29

The official review points out that the Germans commenced the war with sixty-one army corps, and fighting troops, apart from the Landstrum, were guarding communications. By November they had sixty-eight fighting army corps, of which fifty were pitted against the French, British and Belgians during' the battle in Flanders. After this defeat Germany lost her initiative and direction of the war. - • , j

Lists of the German General Staff and captured archives show that the Germans admit having lost 1,800,000 on the two fronts by the middle of January, without including the sick. The recruiting resources of, Germany total nine millions, whereof half a million are required to keep the railways open and for essential industries, and four millions were already fighting by the beginning of January, leaving 3,200,000 chiefly untrained. Deducting 800,000 ovien thirty-tome years of age, Germany has only two million reserves available for the 1915 operations, though she is losing at the rate of 260,000 a month.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT.

\ Per Press Association. Wellington, March 29

The High Commissioner reports under date London', March 28, 12.35 p.m.:—

Army officers killed 8, wounded 25, men killed 201, wounded 246, missing 53. Canadian officers wounded 1; men killed 38, wounded 71.

Paris reports we lost part of an enemy trench gained on Saturday. At Hartmann’s Weilerkopf, the total prisoners taken in the course of rendering us masters of the summit of Turin were: 'Non-coms. 34, men 353, besides numerous wounded.