In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 58, 8 July 1915, Page 5

In the West

german activity. MORE GUNS AND TROOPS. United Press Association. Amsterdam, July 7. The Germans are forwarding very heavy guns over the Belgian railways, and everything indicates that great movements of troops are proceeding. Paris reports that the Germans are reported to be constructing immense defensive works in Upper Alsace, apparently designed to render their positions practically impregnable, thus liberating troops for an offensive elsewhere. New heavy guns have been brought to Altkirch and Hairybach. An Alsatian declares that the Germans have a second line of fortifications midway between the Vosges and the Rhine, running the entire length of Alsace. This is defended by 250,000 Landsturm.

The Matin believes the German closing of the Swiss frontier'and the rushing up pf fresh German troops through Belgium heralds another try to .capture Calais and bombard Dover with long range guns in order to send troops ih aluminium boats to invade England. A series of attacks have been made recently by the Germans upon the Allied front, apparently without any particular object, and these are interpreted as preparation for a severe offensive.

“EYE-WITNESS” REPORTS. MINING AND COUNTER-MINING. (Received 9.5 a.in.) London, July 7. “Eye-Witness” says that the operations of the five days to July 2nd were mainly confined to mining ami counter-mining, in which we destroyed portions of the enemy’s trenches at Cuinchy, Neuve Chapelle, and La Basse. There were numerous patrol skirmishes, and sniping was continued steadily. Our shells exploded a poisonous gas cylinder near Hill 60, asphyxiating sixty Germans. In some sections of the enemy front a number of men carry reservoirs of oxygen for reviving gassed soldiers. The Germans are adopting severe measures, and have forced the inhabitants in the occupied territory to manufacture war material. The proprietors are fined and the managers and workers imprisoned. Some of the strikers are kept in the factories foodless until they submit. Whenever a strike occurs the inhabitants are ordered indoors at seven o’clock, and “lights out” at 7.30. The casualties announced to-day are twenty-two officers and 1406 men. THE STOP-THE-WAR MOVEMENT. (Received 9.5 a.in.) Amsterdam, July 7. The Vonvaerts disavows the stop-the-war movement among the Socialist minority, and states that Italy’s aggression makes it the duty of Socialists to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Nation.