In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 29, 10 January 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE SUFFERING BELGIANS. TRUMPED UP CHARCES. HEAVY SENTENCES. United Preps Association. (Received 10.0 a.m.) Amsterdam. January 9. Many heavy sentences . have been imposed on journalists, businessmen, and labourers in Belgium on charges of alleged treason, espionage, and the distribution of .so-called seditious pamphlets. Lying i* freely indulged in to secure these ends. A former servant of a Belgian War Minister was sentenced to death for assisting a youth to join the Belgian Army. Miss Raura Agar, a needlewoman, was sentenced to imprisonment for life. .

MISCELLANEOUS. Paris, January 8. The Germans occasionally bombard Nancy with naval 10-inch gnus. A communique says that artillery destroyed the Chatillon Mills, eastward; of Fontenoy, which the enemy has organised defensively. j Another communique says: Our artillery destructively bombarded the enemy positions on the plateau at Xouvrons, north-west of Soissons. Two German posts were destroyed. Our long-range Are threw an enemy column into confusion north of. Etain, and caused a fire in the neighbouring village. Our batteries exploded three of the enemy's works north of Saint Miciel and Lausame. Amsterdam, January 8. A Zeppelin, when over Xamur, was compelled to descend. It fouled ;mme telegraph wires and was badly damaged, two of the crew being London, January 8. General Haig reports: We repelled an enemy bombing attack about the Armentieres-Lille railway, .and our artillery has considerably damaged the enemy trenches at various points. | Mr. Philip Gibb s reports that the British artillery are engaged daily in battle along its entire line, sometimes reaching the violence o fa bombardment preceding an attack. our losses lately have been (small. our gunners are confident. The enemy are suffering tenfold, and their morale, is shaken by the continual strife. The enemy replies are chiefly mining operations. They lately fired five mines simultaneously near Hulluch. The explosion was terrific, but nevertheless the casualties were few. The enemy's attempts to occupy the craters were frustrated, chiefly by the action of two bluejackets who were on a.>visit to the trench. They seized' a couple of machine-guns and swept the ground over which the Germans tried to advance.