In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 10, 15 December 1915, Page 5

In the West

THE HAVRE EXPLOSION. 110 KILLED 5! 1000 INJURED. United Pbebs Association, London, December 13. By the Belgian powder factory explosion, 110 persons were killed <?nd 1000 wounded. Havre, December 13. The factory was two miles outside the town, and the explosion occurred at ten o’clock on Saturday morning. The factory was in full swing at the time the explosion took place. In an excavation one hundred feet

deep 150 workmen, mostly Belgians, were blown to atoms, and the building and hutments adjoining are now a heap of ruins. The cause of the catastrophe Is unknown. Paris, December 14., The effects of the Havre explosion were felt thirty miles away. Scholars in the schools became panic-stricken and children were crushed to death. The Belgian State powder works were partly destroyed, and ; other works severely damaged.

RESULT OF INVESTIGATION. United Pbkbb Association. Paris, December 14. Le Temps states that investigation of the Havre explosion disclosed the fact that oiie of th e buildings contained boxes °f ammunition from America, and that one of the boxes fitted an apparatus to cause the destruction. A German prisoners camp is located near the factories. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. United Press Association. London, December 14. Sir John French reports: We bombarded the enemy positions • east of Ypres and shelled the enemy north of La Bassee Canal with heavy howitzers. A German communique says: Small Eritislj ■ detachments made U (surprise attempt to penetrate our position eastward of Neuie but collapsed the wire entanglements. , ■ ' ’ ! Paris, December 14.

S A communique- states: There are, lively , artillery engagements at many points. Oiir batteries partially 1 destroyed the only German bridge at St. Mihiel which the Meuse floods had left standing. Qur bombardment of Bouchet Wood, in th© Meuse district, wrecked the German trenches and destroyed their machinery, i .Amsterdam, December 14,.

The Teiegruaf states that many German troops have arrived at Courtrai from Serbia? r u it i : >' ;