In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 10, 12 May 1915, Page 5

In the West

COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. SATISFACTORY REPORT. United Pbess Association. (Received 9.25 a.m.) Pari-., May 11. A communique state-: We repulsed an attempt at night to, retake the captured earth works at St. Ceorges. Our progress northward of Arras continues. We invested Careucy on three sides, where we captured 230 more prisoners and several machine-guns. The Germans now have precarious communications at Carency. The enemy’s reinforcements brought motor ears from Lens and Donoi, but these did not enable them to regain the upper hand. Our fire smashed four stronger counterattacks yesterday afternoon at Loos Notre; Dame Lorette. louchez, Neuveille. St. Vast, with very heavy German losses. We also gained ground, taking 100 prisoners, and to last evening upwards of fifty officers were captured. GERMAN INHUMANITY. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, May 11. The Pall Mall Gazette says: “After half a year’s enquiry, Mr. Bryce’s committee has prepared a report on German inhumanity and the outrages in Belgium. The country must he prepared for a narrative of of officially-sanctioned murder. Brutal acts on unarmed men, women, and children were committed, being only surpassed in brutal excesses by the Kurds and their massacres.”

CANADIAN OFFICER CRUCIFIED. Timks and Sydney Sun Sebvioe. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, May 11. Some of the Canadians who were wounded at Ypres report that the Germans crucified an officer. They pinned him to- the wall with their bayonets, bayoneted him in the throat, and finally riddled his body with bullets. SHOCKING TREATMENT OF BRITISH PRISONERS. The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner, under date London, May 10, 3.50 p.m. : The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs issues a despatch from the British Minister at the Hague, containing a sworn declaration from press correspondents regarding the shooting of British prisoners of war by Germans. “I, Johannes Martin, editor Rotterdansche Nieursblad, declare that on 16th March, a German deserter named Richard Lurenz, of the 208th Regiment, appeared at my office, and stated that the Bavarian regiments, under Prince lluprrecht, had received formal orders to make no Brit.sh prisoners and that soldiers who made them were severely punished.” On 18th March another German deserter called Frierdiche Kuller, of the 22nd Regiment, 2nd Bavarian Army corps, stated that the Bavarian Regiments received formal orders to kill every British prisoner of war. On the 19th March another deserter called Kahlmann, of the 35th Regiment Infantry, stated that British prisoners were brought to quarters witii bands bound behind their backs and bandaged eyes, and they were not toid they were to be shot. They were executed under the supervision of tiie commanding officer. Martin’s statement ends “Ditm.-.r, press correspondent, Rotterdam, makes oath that Friedrich Kuller, of 22nd Regiment (Von Kluck’s srmy), informed me that about December 28th, twenty-four British prisoners of war were shot by his company.” One of the reasons given to him at the time was that they belonged to the Regiment that had blown up a bridge over the Scheldt, near Antwerp, when many German troops were marching over it in pursuit of the then retreating British army. Amongst the men shot were many officers. All these men were placed against a wall, one after another, new German soldiers being called from the ranks to shoot in turn. This murder took place at Warvich by order of Major Hoffman. On a subsequent occasion, one British officer and four soldiers who had surrendered were shot in a castle at Hollebeke after a hand-to-hand fight. Paris reports: North of Arras, respite several German counter-attacks, our gains were maintained. The number of prisoners is over three thousand. including forty officers. In two days we took ten guns and fifty mitrailleuses.

ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE. Paris, May 11. The Anglo-French offensive covers twenty-five miles. The advance of the I French sector is more than at Nenve ('lmpede. The German line protects a valuable railway system and il it was pierced the Allies would threaten the (Herman communications. The ‘ position is exceptionally strong, consisting of slag and connected with a maze of barbed wire communication trenches. Official. —Despite (Herman counterattacks, we maintained yesterday’s gains and enlarged them, notably hetween Carency and Sonchesc. Our (Her- 1 man prisoners exceed 3000. We also captured six guns and fifty machine-guns. ] HEAVY ARTILLERY DUELS. | London, May 11. j A Daily News message from Dunkirk says that a great British attack on La Bassee, commenced at dawn on Saturday. Heavy artillery duels were fought at Bailleul, fifteen miles away, j and lasted seven hours. Fighting was resumed at three o’clock on Sunday morning and is still raging. Under big 1 guns our infantry is pressing onward . for a great thrust at La Bassee stronghold. The French are supporting ns with great vigor. Sir John French reports that despite the enemy’s repeated attacks last week our line east of Ypres is practically unchanged. The enemy made five unsuccessful attacks on Sunday and there were very heavy losses. Fighting on the First Army’s front to-day was confined to the artillery, \ GERMANS REINFORCED. Dunkirk, May 11. The Germans are preparing another offensive in the Ypres region and are concentrating at Conrtrai, Lille, and Holders. Also heavy infantry reinforcements and a hundred new Krupp guns have been massed at Ingellounster, from where they can be quickly moved by railroad in almost any direction. ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES. ARTILLERY DUELS CONTINUE. TIT FOR TAT IN THE AIR. (Received 12.5 p.m.) London, May 11. A communique states : Ibe enemy sustained during the night a fresh set-back, his counter-attacks being completely repulsed with heavy losses. The German guns, after shelling Dunkirk, harmlessly threw eleven shells into Bergues, killing twelve and wounding eleven persons. Our batteries stopped their bombardment. A French aeroplane fired the dirigible »hod( at Mauherge. The Germans brought down a British aeroplane, and the British brought down two Germans. WAR’S TOLL. ANTHONY WILDING FALLS. Christchurch, May 12. A private cablegram received in Christchurch to-day states that Anthony Wilding, the well-known tennis champion, was killed in the north ol ' France.