In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 39, 15 October 1915, Page 5

In the West

SOMETHING IN THE WIND. > . * ■ ■ ■ ■ • ■ ■ INDICATIONS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. i . i . i.i GERMAN LIES REFUTED. ,• <) j). _ _ 1 . M ’ ENEMY ACKNOWLEDGE POSITION CRITICAL. United Presss Association. London, October 15. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent reports that there are indications in the events now happening on. the issue of which will hang the future of the Germans in Belgium, and perhaps in Northern France. He learns frbrn reliable sources that at Ghent, Courtrai, Bruges, and Charleroi trains are standing ready dii case of a retreat of the Germans. Extra bridges have been thrown across the Scheldt, ami the headquarters of, the army on the extreme right have been moved back. The Duke of Wurtemburg lias established himself at Ghent, and troops that have just arrived are all flung v into the none northward of Arras.

Sir John French, in a later report, denies Germany’s statement that the British are attacking from Ypres and Loos. No attempts have been made beyond those mentioned in his previous report. Sir John French reports: “On Wednesday afternoon, after a bombardment, we attacked the enemy’s trenches under cover of a cloud of smoke and gas from a point about six hundred yards south-west of Hulluch to the Hohenzollern redoubt. We gained about a thousand yards of trench just > sbuth and west of Hulluch, but were unable to hold the position owing to the ene'my’s shellfire. We captured and hold the enemy’s trenches southwest of St.- Eliee, behind the Vennel-les-Hiulluch road and on the southwestern edge of ‘The Quarries.’ We also captured a trench on the north- 1 western face of the forest, and captured the main trench at Hohenzollern redoubt. The enemy still occupy two communicating trenches between the redoubt and ‘The Quarries.’ ” The Frankfurter Zeitung says that the salient points of the German positions at Tahure and Sommery are suffering severely, but a flanking fire prevents the French keeping up their concentration of troops. The Lokal Anzeiger says that four offensives yin the last few days have been intense, and the French have great quantities of ammunition. The battles in the Champagne district are the centre of gravity, and the position at the front is critimal. London, October 14. An Amsterdam wire says the Germans have called up men of fifty and divided them according to their physique. The armed Landsturm is fighting and the unarmed Landsturm is doing manual labor. Three Baden regiments have been sent to the East front.

i GENERAL VIOLENT BOMEARD- ; M E NT. The High Commissioner reports: — London, October 15 .(4.50 p.m.) There is ii general violent bombardment .along the whole Western front. THE THUNDER OF GUNS. HURRICANE OF FIRE UPON GERMAN WORKS. VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITH TRENCH ENGINES. ■; 'lr iI , -L -i j ' (Received noon.) Paris, October 15. A communique states: Violent reciprocal bombardment took place last night at Loos, north-eastward of Souchez, with lively grenade 'fighting southward of Boisenhache( and intense cannonade at Lihoiis. Our batteries energetically replied to the enemy’s concentrated artillery against our positions eastward of Atiberieve. We checked violent artillery and machine gun fire before Letricourt. We directed a hurricane of fire upon the German works northward of Reillon. There was a violent struggle with treiich engines at Chapelotte, Lingekopf, and Barrenkopf. MORE GERMANISM. 5000 BELGIANS MURDERED.

(Received 9.50 a.m.) Paris, October 15. Since the occupation of Belgium, the Prussians under orders of their officers have shot oyer five thousand civilians. IN THE COMMONS. London, Octoer 15. The House of Commons was crowded, anticipating an epoch-making pronouncement. Members listened to Sir E. Grey’s colorless statement in silence, which was only broken by loud cheers when he paid a tribute to the Serbians’ courage against the menace of Prussian militarism. MISCELLANEOUS. London, October 15. The War Office announces that crossbred tops and English tops may ho exported, under license, to allies and neutrals. The Daily News says that there is little doubt that Lord Kitchener’s sympathies are now definitely on the side of conscription, and adds: Probably there will be a renewed attempt at next Cabinet meeting by the section led by Lord Curzon and Mr Churchill to secure a decision on the question.