WESTERN BATTLEFIELD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 310, 2 October 1915, Page 5

WESTERN BATTLEFIELD.

GERMAN TRENCHES WRECKED. BRITISH FLEET ASSIST FRENCH ARTILLERY. PARIS, Oct. 1. A communique states: Our heavy artillery in Belgium, supported by the British Fleet in action against the coast batteries, exploded several mines outside Beauvraigns,also wrecking the German trenches. They gained ground northward of Mesnil and further cast between Hill 199, northward of Massignes, and Ville-sur-Tourbe, cn the Cernay road. We took prisoners a number at the latter point. The enemy counter-attacked and regained a footing on the work named Ladetait. A second and more violent counterattack in the same sector was repulsed with heavy enemy losses. HEROIC FRENCH. IMPETUOUS FIGHTERS. PARIS, Oct. 1. Accounts dwell cn the impetuosity of the French dash in the Champagne. Never can the acts of devotion and self-sacrifice in the Inferno of shells and machne gun fire be narrated. Despite the great stretches of the wire ) remained. In negotiating these and in bombing the trenches, everything that rt-as heoric was displayed. The fire ’rom sunken German machine guns explains the enormous proportion of le<givounds among the French.

FRENCH LOSSES LESS THAN EXPECTED.

(Times and Sydney Sun Cables). LONDON. Oct. 1. The “Times” Paris correspondent says the French losses were less than was expected. There is a particularly small proportion of killed to wounded, md a high proportion of slight wounds,

121 FIELD GUNS CAPTURED.

FRENCH HAUL IN THE CHAM PAGNF. PARIS, Oct. 1. The total field heavy guns captured since the 25th on the Champagne front is 121.

TRENCH AERIAL RAID.

RAILWAY STATION BOMBED. PARIS, Sept. 1. A squadron of aeroplanes dropped 72 bombs on Guignicourt railway station, which were apparently effective. The squadron returned safety.

KAISER VERY ANXITJS,

NEW YORK, Sept. 30. The World’s Paris correspondent states that tlie Kaiser continues in consultation with his Generals, seeking means to stop the French advance in the Champagne, where the Germans fear overwhelming disasters.

KITCHENER’S MESSAGE.

SIR JOHN FRENCH CONGRATULATED. LONDON, Oct. 1. Lord Kitchener sent the following message to Sir John French: “My warmest congratulations to you and your troops on the substantial successes achieved. Best wahes for progress in your important operations.”

POWERFUL SHELLS.

PARIS, Oct. 1. The shells included tens of thousands more powerful than any previously | used by the Allies. —(Times and Syd- < ney Sun Cables.) J M.P. KILLED IN ACTION Mr Harold Cawley, Liberal Member for the Heywood Division of Lancashire, has been killed at the Dardanelles. Colonel Sir Thompson Cooper has been killed in France.

SERBIANS READY FOR AUSTROGERMANS.

LONDON. Oct. 1. Athens asserts that three hundred thousand Austrc-Germans are advancing towards Orsova. The Servians are ready and confident. —(Times and Sydney Sun Cables.)

A CHEERING MESSAGE.

LONDON, Sept. 30. An aviator flow over Liege and dropped French papers, flags, and proclamations announcing that the Allied armies were advancing. The people were deeply moved. This is the first air visit since the German occupation of the p],ace.

MARCHAND WOUNDED,

THRILLING FRENCH ATTACK. (Heed 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, Oct. 1. Calmly puffing his pipe, like a company commander, Marchand placed himself at the head of this column, in the advance between Perthes and Sonain. Thi s picture is given by a wounded private in the Colonial Infantry, who was alongside Marchand when he was wounded. The general’s bravejry is admitted by the whole division. When th e order to advance ,was given, on Saturday, Marchand arrived amid a hail of bullets. His short speech was inaudible owing to the roar of the gun 3

Our Colonial Division with the Moroccan Division Brigade of Zouaves, and a brigade of Foreign Legion formed the first to be launched against the trenches.

They covered 150 'yards through a perfect hell of shot and shell, and just (reached the first hoche trench as Marchand dropped, hit by a slhell splinter in the abdomen. Stretcher-bearers picked him up and took him to the hospital at Suippes where he is doing well. It is believed his cure is only a question of time.

Reuter’s correspondent says the bodhe s bolted like hares into a wood. He said French soldiers describing th e charges at Souohez, state that simultaneously with the order for advance we exploded seven mines, competing’ the destruction jo.f thec/r trenches. We dashed hot on their heels, but some of our comrades stayed behind lo explore ravaged trenches and subterranean shafts some twenty feet deep to prevent their occupants attacking us in the {rear.

Past as the Germans ran we soon caught them up. and occupied their second line of trenches in the mddle of the wiood. Some crossed Souchez Ere ok and some went up the road towards Angre.

The enemy brought up strong 'reserves,* and our officers recalled us to the first German trench. Quit- artillery bombarded the enemy in the wood, and its aspect is changed as by enchantment} Soon there will only be tree stumps.