HOOGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 269, 13 August 1915, Page 5

HOOGE.

SCENE OF DESPERATE FIGHTING. HOT BAYONET WORK. LONDON, August 12. Mr. Phillip Gibbs, the Chronicle's correspondent, says the Germans have not yet made a serious counter-attack on Hooge. Our artillery destroyed ten machine-guns during the preliminary bombardment. In spite of the destructive effect of our shell fire, the Germans who survived the ordeal fought doggedly. There was some hand-to-hand fighting literally, for some of our soldiers used their fists to give a knock-out. When daylight came, many German dead lay among the wreckage of the trenches and dag-outs. German batteries were prodigal in the expend! ture of shells, but we managed tc straighten our line and consolidate it without serious loss. Hooge is likely to become prominent in despatches. H it is a point where there is continual nagging by both sides. ■ Hooge is not what the soMiers call a health resort.

Reuter's account says:—After our initial charge there was some hot bayonet work in the trenches. The seer.' at daylight was weird, dim forms swaying about, stabbing, shouting, swearing, fleeing Germans and pursuing Tommies, an incessant din, our bursting shells pitched into the enemy's reserve trenches preventing the bringing up of reinforcements, the cries of the wounded, and the moans of the dying. As the sun rose the fighting died down

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES BERNE, August 12. During the Russo-German street fighting in Pragma, ; fifteen civilians were accidentally killed and two hundred wounded. BULGARIA'S POINT OF VIEW WAITING AND WILLINGTO FIGHT WITH ALLIES WANT MACEDONIA BACK. (Reed 8.59 a.m.) SOFIA, August 12. Radoslovoff, interviewed, said Bulgaria was willing and waiting to join the AMies if she was guaranteed thf realisation of her national ideals, especially in Macedonia. We are openly negotiating with both groups. The Entente requests full mili tary co-operation, while the Central Powers only ask for neutrality. Bulgaria does not want Constantinople, as some states fear. The Bulgarian army and the nation are now better equipped than ever. All we ask is to give us back Serbian Macedonia, and we fight any way that will se,rve you best. TURKEY PREPARING FOR LAST STAND. BEST GERMAN GENIUS PERFECTS THE DEFENCES. (Rec. 8.30 a.m.) NEW YORK,' August 12. -A United Press correspondent who has visited Turkey says the Turks continue their feverish preparations fc a last stand at Constantinople. The best German genius has perfected the defences to the west and north, and Russians landing from the Blaek Sea will be met with determined re-

sisance. t A hundred thousand Christians constructed the defences, but only Mussulmans are employed in the fighting-line. Strategic railways are constructed in many directions, assisting the defence Of Gallipoli, and thereafter of, Constantinople. THE DARDANELLES. ATTACK ON KRITHIA. IMPORTANT TRENCHES TAKEN. DUEL WITH ACHI BABA. ATHENS, August 12 . The Allies' offensive is concentrated along the whole front of the Krithia sector. On tih e 11th they captured two trenches of great importance An artillery duel with Achi Baba continues with great activity. .. PEACE TALK. TERMS GERMANY WOULD LIKE.'] (Rec. 12.35 a.m.) . LONDON, August 12. The Times' Milan correspondent says Germany is making preliminary overtures to obtain the Pope's mediation in the discussion of peace on the basis of the restitution of Belgium. PETROGRAD, August 12. The Novoe Vremya declares that the peace terms suggested by Gcrmany included the restoration of all territory occupied and the opening of the Dardanelles, white all Germany asked was a free hand in Egypt a-ml against Ra3sia : *a allies* ' •