In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 90, 19 April 1915, Page 8

In the West.

UGLY RUMOURS OF NEUVE CHAPELLE. United Puebb Association. London, April I". The Times' military correspondent says malicious and cruel rumours arc I,,,'ing spread about Neuve Chapelle. The "most absurd and fantastic reports are circulated in every class ot society. If the Government is chiefly to I,lame for its stupid socrotiveiiess, the public also have a duty to the army, and the circulation of lying ~„,„■„„,•« about the troops and commanders is most reprehensible. It h not always easy for the artillery to observe movements of the first lino 0 f their own infantry in the event of fo.r or mist, or if the telephones are c „t liv heavy fire. There were the conditions at Neuve Chapelle. We learnt much at Neuve Chapelle. A large expenditure of shells is needed to destroy barbed wire. Telephone wires must be duplicated, or even triplicated, to preserve touch with the batteries. If mistakes were committed, all that need lie said about this severe contest is that mistakes must occur. Incontinent dismissal would make the leaders pay for safety. What we want are commanders who will take risks, and act with the utmost resolution. The constant search for scapegoats is fatal to any army.

FRENCH OFFICIAL PROGRESS. Paris, April 18. Official: Our artillery destroyed several caves used as shelters at Pas|v, in tin' Aisne Valley. We appreciably progressed on the banks of the Kcchf, ami seized a spur on the northern bank. West of Motzeral, the Chasseurs, by a brilliant attack, carried the summit of Schnepfeurnthkopf.

ANTWERP !N GERMAN HANDS.

Amsterdam, April 17. M. Castellin, president of the Antwerp ('handier of Commerce, in a report on the treatment of Antwerp, savs the Germans requisitioned forty thousand tons of cheese, eighteen thousand tons of maize, forty thousand tons of barley, nitrate worth £160,000, oil worth £120,000, rubber worth £400,000, copper worth £BOO,OOO, wool worth £210,000, horse hair worth £100,000; of a total value of £3,400,000, whereof £BOO,OOO has been paid. It is semi-officially estimated that the total requisitions are over twelve millions sterling. When the Germans increased Belgium's monthly tribute to £1,600,000 in December, it was stipulated that the requisitions must cease. The Governor-General promis-

ed prompt payment, but the requisitions wore unaltered, though the tribute was paid regularly. The German military authorities ordered the municipality to reconstruct the Brussels highroad. The municipality appealed to the German civil authority, on the ground that the road was not a municipal work. The appeal was upheld, but the military over-ruled the decision, fined the city £20,000, and ordered it to carry out the work forthwith,

MISCELLANEOUS. Merlin. April 17. Official: The British at Ypros are using shells emitting asphyxiating gases. We stormed a group of French fortifications at Perthes after extensive mining operations. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner, dated London 17th (10.-Kl p.m.) Army casualties were as follows: Officers killed 5, wounded 12; men killed 92, wounded 152, missing 30. Canadians: Killed 13, wounded 15. The Admiralty report that the British transport Minatau, while carrying troops, was attacked by a Turkish torpedo boat in the Aegean Sea this morning. The Turks fired three torpedoes, but all missed. The Turk was chased by the British cruiser Minerva and destroyers and was run ashore and destroyed on the coast of Chios, the crew being made prisoners. It is reported that 100 men on the transport were drowned, but full particulars have not been received. The actions in the vicinity of Shaiba on Tuesday and Wednesday were crowned with complete success. Old, Masrah, Zobeir, Margisikeh. and Shwledil were clear of the enemy, who are retreating beyond Nakhailah. Ln their hurried retreat, the Turks abandoned large quantities of tents, equipment, and ammunition; in the case of the latter all of it was either collected or destroyed. Prisoners statements show that the enemy was comprised of two divisions of regular infantry ami 32 guns, irrespective ol Arab tribes.

London, April IS. Paris reports:—ln the Vosge.s appreciable progress was made on two banks of the Fcoht. We gained possession of the western spur at Sillakerwasen. west of Metzeval. The Chasseurs, after a brilliant attack. ! captured the summit nf Schnepfenwie- ' thkopf, 1253 metres high, which separates the two valleys adjoining Met/.e- ---! val. A British aviator brought down a I (Jerman aviator in Belgium, near Bossinghe. j A French dirigible bombarded the station at Fribourg en Brisgau.