France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 5

France & Flanders

VERY MASKED PROGRESS. GERMAN OFFENSIVE BROKEN. HEB RESOURCES OF OFFICERS EXHAUSTED. Received 23, 12.30 a.m. Paris, January 22. An official summary of the present situation says that since the battle of Yprcs resulted in the complete stop of the great German offensive, operations have assumed the character of a siege war, with the balance in our favor, since the Allies have made very marked progress at several points, while the enemy's retreat is general, except at Soissons. The German offensive in Poland has been checked, while the Russian offnsive in Galicia and the Carpathians continues. Lastly, Germany has exhausted her resources of officers, and cannot develop her effectives except to the detriment of existing units. In order to gain definite and final success, the Allies have only to prepare in tireless patience. The German offensive has been broken, and the defensive will be broken in its turn.

A DESPERATE OFFENSIVE. TO DISLODGE A FRENCH FORCE. Received 23, -12.10 a.m. Paris, January 22. The Germans arc taking a violent offensive in the Albert region, with the object of thrusting the French from the plateau above the valley of the Ancre, where they have been established since November, being a constant menace to the German line. The points of attack are La Boiselle, which is across the main road from Amiens to Cambrai, and Thiepval, which is lying on the hiluido above the Ancrc, and commands part of the German line in the valley.

ON THE BELGIAN COAST,

A PARTIAL SUCCESS. Rotterdam, January 22. The Germans are recommending the offensive in Belgium. British warships forced the Germans to evacuate coastal positions at Mariatekerke, but the Allies were unable to occupy them, owing to the German guns further inland. SUCCESSES IN FRANCE. SERIOUS GERMAN ASSAULTS. SUCCESSFULLY REPULSED. Received 22, 8.55 p.m. Paris, January 22. Official. —The enemy violently bombarded our positions at Notre Dame de Lorette, and then attacked at five o'clock in the morning. The attack was instantly checked. We occupied two woods north-east of Bensejour. The German counter-attacks were unsuccessful.

The Germans delivered a serious 'ittack upon the salient of our line at Saint Hubert and wrecked the trenches, but the infantry and artillery repulsed them. A SURPRISE THAT FAILED HOT ENGAGEMENT NEAR CASSIGNY Paris, January 21. Tho Germans attempted to surprise the French defending Lassigny. They posted 7000 infantry behind a railway embankment, while the cavalry, hiddi-n in the river, endeavoured to turn t'e flank. A withering fire stopped t'ncavalry, then the infantry surged ov.t the railway and advanced en masse. The French withheld their fire until the Germans began to ascend the slopes within short range. Then every rifle, machine and field gun worked at its utmost speed. The Germans fell in hundreds until they fled. Meanwhile the cavalry was similarly cut up. GERMAN BATTERIES SILENCED. Pffis, January 21. A communique states that: "We silenced the batteries belonging to the enemy southward of the Somuie and on the Aisne. We blew \jp German works and an ammunition depot in the Prosnes, Les Marquises and Moronvillers districts, eastward of Rheims.

BELGIUM'S BAD PLIGHT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 22, :>.40 p.m. London, January 22. A Swiss pastor, who has just returned to Paris from Belgium, says that short of a miracle, the old men, women, and children will die of hunger this winter in fertile Belgium. THE TERRIBLE SHRAPNEL. A CHASSEUR'S RECORD. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 22, 5.40 p.m. London, January 22. Rene Vidal, a chasseur, holds th? record for wounds, having received 13!) distinct wounds principally in the legs and the lower part of the body caused by shrapnel. He is recovering and will not be crippled.