In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 62, 13 July 1915, Page 5

In the West

ACTIVITY ON WESTERN FRONT.

The High Commissioner reports: — London. Julv 11 (1.20 a.m.)

Belgian troops repulsed an attack on the right bank of the Yser. In an artillery action against enemy works at Fricqurt, in the region of Albert, good results were obtained with the mastery of a look-out post at Champagne. The capture of a cannon, four mitrailleuses, and a great quantity of other material at La Fonteuelle on the Bth is confirmed. London, July 12 (5.10 p.m.) There was great activity during the night in several parts of the front. In the sector at Arras, the enemy, having thrown a large number of asphyxiating bom|)s, attacked south of Souchez, but failed, and a second attack enabled him to occupy the cemetery and parts of the adjoining trenches. In the Vosges, south-west of Amertzwiller, the enemy exploded a mine near the Allies’ position and then attacked in force, but he was repulsed with important losses and several prisoners. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. ASPHYXIATING PROJECTILES

United Press Association. (Received 9.20 a.m.) London, July 12

A communique states: After throwing a great number of' asphyxiating projectiles, the enemy attempted to attack southwards of Souchez towards midnight, hut failed. A second attack towards two o’clock in the morning enabled the enemy to occupy the cemetery audfpbrtions of the adjacent trenches. A very keen struggle, in which grenades were thrown, occurred in the trenches south-east of Neuville without appreciable change. The enemy using shells of every calibre violently cannonaded various points at Woevre and attempted several attacks but were repulsed. The enemys attack south-west of Ammertzwiller was repulsed with important losses, and we took prisoners. THE ENEMY’S SLIMNESS. 'Received 9.1* a.m ) Luuloj, July IS “Eye-Witness” says; As an example of the enemy’s slimness, it may lie mentioned that when they saw a British aeroplane using daylight Hares, the Germans concentrated their gunfire in specific areas in our line to make us imagine that t’>e aeroplane was the enemy’s, and was directing the German artillery, and thus induce ns to shell it. The underlying idea r, of the ruse was distinctly ingenious, j Another trick was that of knowing the British weakness for collecting souvenirs they have leaving about the trenches bright helmets containing bombs which explode when picked up.

GERMAN CASUALTY LIST.

United Press Associ-vrro.v. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Paris, July 11. The German casualty lists show that since the outset four thousand officers were killed, wounded or made prisoners monthly. 1 i: ARRAS AND RHEIMS SUFFER. United Press Association Paris, July 12. , The Germans on Thursday fired sixteen 105-millimetre shells into Saint Die, and killed a civilian and slightly wounded five others. Official: There is violent bombardment of our positions at La Fontertbelle, Metzeral and west of Ammerzwiller. The enemy again shelled Arras and Kheims. General Gonraud has been awarded the military medal. Rotterdam, July 12. Unusual activity among the Germans in Flanders continues. Bridges have been strengthened to enable the passage of guns. A German offensive with tremendous artillery is anticipated.

A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE

United Press Association. (Received 11.40 a.m.) Berlin, July 12

A communique states: Wo blew up portion of the English position north of Hill 60. Hand-to-hand fighting is proceeding at Souchez, where we stormed and re-captured the cemetery, after hard fighting, making prisoners of 165 Frenchmen. We captured four machine guns.