In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 5 June 1915, Page 5

In the West.

FiGHTING ON THE YSER. ALLIES' IMPRECNABLE LINE. Unhid Pbsji AwomATTo*. Amsterdam, June 4. Heavy lighting continues along the Yscr. The Germans are strenuously attempting to advance near Ypres and Dixmude, but the Allies' line apparently is impregnable. Many were killed and wounded on both sides, and it was impossible to remove the dead for burial. The Allies' airmen are daily bombing German positions on the Belgian coasts and doing considerable damage to the enemy's immediate rear. THE USE OF GAS. GERMAN PEOPLE IN THE DARK. "Eye-Witness" writes: "Curiously, the German official description of the Ypres battles does not mention gas, and it is possible tluat public opinion is insufficiently educated to approve of it. It is probable that the Government, with an eye to the future, does not desire to publicly confess it was ;the first to adopt the measures. GERMAN MILITARISM. EXCLUSIVENESS OF CASTE. Times and Bydney Sun Sbevioh. (Received 8 a.m.) London, June 4. "Eye-witness" says: The German Government has taken special steps to remedy the enormous wastage of officers and not to interfere with the jealously-guarded rule to retain the exclusive caste. The principle of promotion from the ranks nominally operates, and non-coms, with" brilliant services can be raised to the rank of acting officer, but in practice such promotions are extremely rare. The regulation is merely intended to give the impression that this democraticprinciple is recognised. The new practice is the appointing of reserve officers not remaining in the Army after the war, so that the inferior status will not affect the exclusiveness of the officer caste. Two additional ranks will be created, being not equal to the commissioned rank, but involving the permanent officers' duties. It is evident that not even the rightful wastage has seriously impaired the dominance of the officer caste, and that in the strain of the campaign losses have been suffered without adequate result. The failure to achieve victories has not. shaken the popular faith in the | military hierarchy controlling the destiny of Germany. r