In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 77, 3 April 1915, Page 5

In the West

AT NEUVE CHAPELLE. “BIGGEST THING IN THE WAR.” Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, April 2. An artillery officer, describing the fight at Neuve Cliapolle, says: It was the biggest tiling in the war. We again proved that barbed wire is useless against an artillery bombardment such as ours. The infantry simply walked in to -Neuve Chapelle. The French style of warfare suits the Germans better than us. When sitting still they are at their best, while chance, slap-dash, running aio our forte. Mud is their element and chaos is ours. Deep holes made by shells from the “Jack Johnsons'’ are everywhere, and they are dangerous at night because, being filled ' with water, they are deep enough to drown anyone. There is consolation in hearing the siren singing, because the bullets that whistle pass by, while the bullet that comes straight is the dog which bites before his bark, is heard.” OUTPUT OF MUNITIONS OF WAR IN FRANCE. (Received 8.20 a.ra.) Paiis, April 2. In the Chamber of Deputies, M. Millerand declared that the output of munitions had risen six hundred per cent, compared to the supply at the outbreak of war, and that it will soon be nine hundred per cent. The number of batteries had increased six' fold. PIECES OF MACHINERY. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.nr.) London, April 2. “Eye-witness” writes: It is necessary to warp the public against attaching undue importance to the capture of machine guns, which are merely a piece of machinery. Provided they have earned their keep by the number of enemies slaughtered, their loss or destruction docs not count, as they can be replaced instantly, while the slain cannot be cleplaced for a generation. The guns we are making are of a type which can be mounted on a small inconspicuous sledge or stretch-

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. United Peess Association. The High Commissioner cabled from London on April 1, at 11 a.m.: — Army men killed, 96; wounded, 132; officers, killed 2, wounded 4. Paris, reports constant activity m Argonne, particularly between Four de Paris and Bagatelle. On Tuesday night the Allies took 150 metres of trenches, making prisoners. The same night the enemy bombarded the trenches he lost on Tuesday at Bois le Pretre.The. enepiy counter-attacked at daybreak tyith several battalions, and ..'jbl. Regaining' some of the ground* lost, lie was dislodged at 8 o’clock. At Parroy lighting between outposts resulted to our advantage. Our airmen on Tuesday night dropped 34 bombs on the railway station and the enemy’s bivouac at Woevre, in the Champagne region, Soissons, and in Belgium, On Wednesday the maritime station at Bruges and the aviation camp at Gits were bombarded successfully. Paris reports that mine warfare on the front from Dompierre to Pennine continues. We exploded a German observation post north of Berry au Bac. Prisoners taken at Bois le Pretre numbered 140. All the German coun-ter-atetacks were repulsed. A battalion of Landwehr, attacking in the region of De Paieroy was repulsed with heavy losses. A Belgian aviator bombed the aviation camp at Hasdzaeme and the railway at Cortemarcy.