In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 32, 6 October 1915, Page 5

In the West

FRENCH ARTILLERY HIT A TRAIN, ( AEROPLANE SQUADRON BOMBS RAILWAY STATION. United Press Association. (Received 10.15 a.m.) Paris, October 5. A communique states; Our artillery northward of Verdun bit a train, causing a violent explosion. A I* reuch aeroplane squadron dropped fitly bombs on Biaches railway station, near Pennine. GERMAN SNIPER’S END. (Received 10.15 a.m.) London, October 5. A correspondent at the front describes how a notorious stalwart German sniper met his fate. One of our volunteer listeners in the vicinity ol the enemy’s trenches was concealed at night in a large shell crater, when a German entered and approached within two yards ami peered through the darkness. He was immediately baylonetted without uttering a sound. The listener crept back to his own lines, bringing the sniper’s lilies. t : ’* i \ 1 » KILLED IN FRANCE. London, October 5. Captain Clark, ol the Seaforth Highlanders, who was aide-de-camp to the Governor of New Zealand (Lord Plunket) in 1910, and Lieutenant Leslie Sweet-Escott, son of the Governor of Fiji, have been killed in France. GERMAN STAFF REPORTS. Amsterdam, October I. German Headquarters explain that the retirement from the first lines during the recent Allied offensive was not due to the English commanders’ abilities, but in consequence of a successful surprise! attack; >yitlr intoxicat-. ing gases.' The German Staff .calendars the French casualties at 130,005, f.nd t,ho|e of fjho jiritifch; fa.tj 00.001 A bd*. tlie’Oermans did not lose one-fifth ol that number.’" > C"i •(' 1-j ' nr- ,rj A Berlin' corimiuhiquet state. 4. thqt five* nuiHitjors uusucceqs'l ulfy! Jiomhai d* < ed Zeebrugge yesterday, tolling Belgians. I Onrf fefffttiSiVS iagainstp Qie Bntfisll Tijont is progressing. The French siicce.ssiuHjdlhbld-ia. 3 ShiaU l )rt, ;1 tioii J ol a Jtrenoh north-west ol Givenchy. We repulsed their attacks elsewhere, and also repelled attacks at Massiges and Villc-sur-Toucbe. We caught their troop concentrations by. inflicting heavy losses. Our airships successfully ‘ Hoiiibed Chalons station.

THE NEW ADVANCE. i. Paris, October o. The bombardment of the German second* line positions continues-, >aml there is prhpyEitiduVo'i' ’anot|er assault. The Lefomius .liayif* *i«|a pillowed to ,5 tkmov whether ■'"the same points will' ho threatened, dr others entirely different. Critics point out that only three British army corps were deeply engaged on September 2d. and Sir John French therefore possesses ample troops for a future* advance. Meanwhile time is being allowed for the German reserves to exhaust themselves in counter-attacks, wherein they are losing heavily, while the French and British are clearing.up the ground of the recent advance. 'The new method of attack in overwhelming force on a large area necessitates the? capture of the first line bl trenches, and then a rush beyond the system of blockhouses and isolated machine-gun pits, which form the advance works to the second line. During the recent charges the French did not stay to take each work, hut sped on until further advance was impossible without further artillery preparation. Then they dug in, usually planking up a line of shell craters. An attack on isolated fortifications followed, commanding the height of Butte de Mesnil, six hundred feet, which resisted until yesterday. Machine-guns on the summit continually enfiladed the I* reach lines. The capture has greatly consolidated the French position. Many ol the machine-gnu positions were cemented and armoured, and so covered that the attackers were unable to distinguish the source of the deathly stream of bullets.

air raid on zeebrucce. Amsterdam. October 5. Five Knglish aeroplanes bombarded points of importance a.t Zeebrugge. They were heavily shelled. One was downed, and another was hit at a height of fourteen thousand feet. It volplaned into Zeeland territory and was interned. OFFICIAL PROGRESS REPORT. Loudon, October I. Sir John French reports: The enemy. on Sunday afternoon, made a heavy bombardment, followed by repealed attacks over the open against onr trenches between the quarries and the Vermelles-Hnlluck road. I he attacks were pressed with determination but all were repulsed with severe loss, the enemv failing to reach onr trenches. The enemy further north-west succeeded in re-capturing the greater portion ol the, Ilohenzollern redoubt.

OFFICIAL NEWS. The High Commissioner reports: London, October 5 (4.35 p.m.) There lias been a violent bombardment on the whole Western front. North of Verdun and, in the environs of OrneSj the French artillery attacked a German train provoking a violent explosion. A French aerial squadron dropped lifty bombs on the station at Biacli.es near Peronne. A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. (Received .1 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 5. A German communique states: IN e repulsed the English in grenade attacks north of Loos, there being heavy enemv losses. Wo recaptured portion of a trench held by the French northeast of Givenchy, pur artillery in Champagne prevented the French advance. General von Hindenburg easily repulsed the' Russian attacks.