GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 91, 18 August 1915, Page 5

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

IN Hhf. th| CROWn prince.

United Press Association. \ Paris. August 17

German prisoners froth tibei A’rjittniie admit that the Crown I Payee's sacrifices are among the the ■ivnir, and the troops i are’ ! ?. from optimistic. A letter found' on- a noncommissioned officer of'the Forty-sec-ond Frhssian J nfiiiitiy 'Jlejxipipnt, who was killed on August 7. relates that they had previously escaped a perfect massacre, and the letter concludes as follows: “All our false hopes have vanished, and the movement has again failed. It is a cruel thing to see so many sacrificed for nothing.” Private information shows that the battle on August 7 was terrific. After an extremely violent bombardment three German regiments fiercely assailed the French / position between Vierncle Chateau and La Ha razee. Twenty thousand shells of all sizes were fired in a few hours, but the French troops, notwithstanding the murderous hail, did not yield an inch, receiving the shock of the enemy’s onrush with intense stoicism. The struggle wa s sharp, and the immediate result was doubtful. The Germans at pertain points manifestly wavered, but after a moment’s confusion suddenly resumed the assault, although it meant certain death.

Prisoners explained that the hopeless rush was due to the German commanders’ order to cut down waverers with grape-shot from their own mach-ine-guns. Forty soldiers in one company were killed in this way by their comrades. The final attack was the most disastrous. It was executed by troops who were driven forward by ferocious discipline, and who were mad with terror, hardly any returning to their own line, whither they were pursued by showers of shells and solid shot from the French batteries, which had been brought to bear. The most effective moment of the complete rout was a brilliant charge of two companies of jnfantry near La .Haraze, where the enemy still held certain trenches. The German's in This part of the battle lost four thousand kiljed and upwards of half their force wounded there.

1 THE COST OF LIVING. London, August 17. Food prices in Britain have increased during the past twelve months thirty-six per cent, in large towns and thirty-three in small towns. 'The Board of 'Trade reports little unemployment', except in a few of the “luxury” trades. The demand for labor in coal-mining, engineering, ship-building, and agriculture greatly exceeds the supply. Two and a half million, workers have received, since tin l war. increases aggregating four hundred thousand pounds sterling Weeklw