France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 188, 18 January 1915, Page 5

France & Flanders

A BRILLIANT BRITISH SUCCESS. IN IjA BASSEE REGION. GERMANS DRIVEN FROM ENTRENCHMENTS. London, January 15. Renter states tliat the British on Thursday captured an important strategic point at La Bassee. There were heavy German losses, and many prisoners were taken, hut the British casualties were slight. I'aris, January 15. The British success was brilliant. Over a kilometre of ground was gained, and the Germans were driven from strong entrenchments. Le Petit Parisicn says that the attack was necessary to protect La Bassee, which was dominated by a lull The British charged up the hillside and fought for two hours with the bayonet. A communique states that we progressed near Lombatzydc and Bccelairc. Tiie Zouavis, by a brilliant bayonet attack, took positions near the Arras and Lille road. In the same region our artillery silenced the enemy's batteries, wrecked two guns, and blew up an ammunition depot. Germans entered the village of Saint Paul, north-east of j Soissons, but we recaptured it immediately. We also destroyed German bridges at Saint Mihicl. The Germans were thrown back south of Senoncs. "FOR CANADA AND OLD ENGLAND!" THE CANADIAN'S CAPTURE TRENCHES. GERMANS BttEAK BEFORE THE ONSLAUGHT. OVER (A MILE GAINED. Received 17, a p.m. Paris, January ]t). i A German force in a mass moved against the North Staffnrdshires near Yprcs, hut became bogged in the mud. and made an easy mark for the British rillemen. The enemy retired with heavy losses, and essayed to attack further northwards. They met a withering lire from the Britisli trenches, and then a Canadian regiment, shouting, "For Canada and Old England!" charged with the bayonet The Germans broke and lied. Trench after trench was captures, until German artillery checked the pursuit. The ground gained extended over a mile, j THE SOISSONS RFA'ERSE. FRENCH OUTNUMBERED AND OUTFLANKED. FLOODS FAVOR THE ENEMY. GERMANS OCCUPY THE RIGHT BANK. Received 17, 5 p.m. Paris. January ltj. Details of the Soissons engagement show that the French made a resolute advance along the Bethune road, and reached a farm, where they encountered a German division. The French repulsed sliarp attacks, and Hung themselves with desperate courage on the lower slopes of spu<- 132, until counterattacks forced the.ii to fall back on Crony. Meanwhile the French attempted to scale the eastern ridge of the Perriere plateau, but were thrown back under a withering German fire. Fighting on spur 132 was resumed on Wednesday, when two hundred Germans were killed, and many \akcn prisoners. The Germans re-grouped their forces, and debouched in the Chivres valley, outnumbering and outflanking the French. The flooding of the Aisne destroyed a bridge at Missy, preventing French reinforcemei.ts arriving. A bridge was hastily reconstructed, enabling the French to retreat. The Germans occupied tile villages on the right bank, but were unable to cross, French artillery sweeping the plain of Ycnizel. INUNDATIONS EXTENDING. BELGIAN TROOPS MOVED TO THE .SOUTH. Received 17, 5 p.m. Amsterdam, January 10. Five hundred more metres west of kpres have been inundated. The Belgians have accordingly been able to evacuate these positions enabling many to he sent southwards. A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. CLAIMS «UCCESS AT ARRAS. Received 17, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, January 10 A German communique states: We repulsed attacks north-west of Arras, and counter-attacked aand captured two trenhes, making prisoners of the defenders. The Frenh evacuated La Boi-ille farm. A SECOND GRAVEL* »TTE. ACCORDING TO THE GERMAN'S. BUT DENIED BY THE FRENCH. Received 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, January 1(5. Replying to the German official wireless, declaring that the French reverse at Soissons eau only be compared tv tli( French defeat at Gravdotte in 1870, aw that a thousand French were killed, am . 5200 captured, it is semi-omeially an ( , uounced that the French forces consist- j ed of three brigades, aud their retire- I ment was carried out unmolested.

ANOTHER GERMAN GAIN. FRENCH ARTILLERY EFFECTIVE AT RHEIMS. ALLIES' SUCCESS AT PONT-A-MOUSSON. Received 17, 5 p.m. Paris, January 10. Official: The enemy re-occupied a portion of the trenches at Notre Dame de Lorette, which they lost on the lltli. We progressed at Mangy, and repulsed an attack west of La Boisselle. Our artillery was effective in the region of Soissons and Rheims in dispersing the enemy and demolishing his works. A stubborn German attack at Flircy.' failed, and the enemy were! forced to evacuate the crest, east of Pont-a-Mous-Mlll. THE RATE OF CRONY. THREE .MONTHS IN CELLARS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received J7, 5.5 p.m. London, January 1(!. l'ugilives from Crony arriving from Paris state that they lived in cellars during three months' iightin,/. Only one house was left standing in the town. They were fed during the night-time by the soldiers. They witnessed a terrific combat in the last few days, and had the-mortification of seeing their countrymen forced to retire, though only a few hundred metres, before greatly augmented force,. GEIIMAN BOMBS IN OSTEND. DROPPED BY AVIATORS. SPIES AT DUNKIRK. POLICE EFFECT A CLEARANCE. Received 18, 12.5 a.m. London, January 17. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Calais reports that nine aviators bombed the railway barracks at Ostcnd, doing considerable damage. The police at Dunkirk arrested a hundred, and forced 25D0 strangers to leave the town, owing to spies donning French and British uniforms. A DESERVED TRIBUTE. BELGIUM IN THE PLACE OF HONOR. Received 18, 12.5 a.m. Paris, January 17. The French Government lias offered Belgium the place of honor in the French hall of the San Francisco Exhibition. GERMAN BOMBARDMENT OF SOISSONS. HEAVY DAMAGE. BY FIRE. Received 18, 12.5 ajn. Paris, January 17. The Germans violently bombarded Soisi-ons on Thursday. Fires broke out in all parts of the town, and the tower and portico of the Cathedral were completely destroyed. Shells killed mnay children. 'The Germans are keeping men, women, and children in the quarries as ho-tagos, forcing the women to go to Soi-sons for provisions. TRENCH RE-CROSS THE RIVER. BUT COMPELLED TO RETREAT. A MEMORABLE ROLL-CALL. Received 18, 1.25 a.m. Paris, January 17. A gallant struggle continues at Soissons. One regiment re-crossed the river and dashed at the German lines. Fierce fighting occurred for hours, but tne. French were compelled to retreat. Only ten of each company answered the rollcall. Other regiments supporting renewed the attack', and lost heavily. The French artillery drove' back the Germans attempting to cross the Missy. THE MERCIICR INCIDENT. F.Y NO MEANS CLOSED. London. January 15. The Daih Mail, correcting the Daily Telegraph, *ays the Pope does not consider this grave incident by any means closed. MINES WASHED ASHORE. «.iN THE BET/HAN COAST. Received 17, 5 pjn. Amsterdam. January 10. over "Ue, hundred mines have drifted a«hore on the Belgian coast. Soldiers at Kn.i"ke, Leyst, and Zeebruggc are busy .'Ni.lo.ling them. TTTGII COM'MJSSTONER'S REPORT. Wellington, January 16, Tiie High Commissioner reports, under date London, January 15 (7.45 p.m.): Paris reports progress near Lombaertzyde. North of Arras a brilliant bayonet attack by Zouaves carried the enemy's po.-ition near the Arras-Lille road. In the same region the enemy's batteries were wrecked, and an ammunition depot exploded and works destroyed. Northeast of Soissons the Germans entered St. Paul, but it was re-taken immediately, In the Vosges. south of Senones, tin Oermans) were repulsed in a lively infantry fight, their barbed entanglements and trenches being filled.