FRENCH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 5

FRENCH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

UNDERFED AND BRUTALLY TREATED. SICKNESS AND DEATH RIFE. Received 31, 4.15 p.m. Paris, January 30. A Swiss, who visited the camp zi French prisoners in Germany, reports that the men are badly fed, being restricted to 250 grammes of bread daily, the vegetables being uncooked, and the supply of soui) inadequate. They are compelled to undertake hard work, and when they stagger under burdens tliev arc thrashed and set upon by guards and dogs. Their quarters are unheated, and a thin layer of straw serves for .a bed There is much sickness and the death rate is high. GERMANS DRAIN LARGE AREAS. VAIN ATTEMPTS TO BUILD BRIDGES. LARGE REINFORCEMENTS. Received 31, 4.15 p.lll. Dunkirk, January 30. The Germans have drained off a large area from the Yser seawards, and have vainly striven to build bridges. Thirty thousand reinforcements have arrived in the German rear. UNREPATRIATIMG BELGIANS. TO BE HEAVILY TAXED. Received 31, 3.30 p.m. Havre, ,January 30. General Von Bissing has announced that a heavy tax will be imposed 'iu Belgians who do not repatriate before March 1, when their property will be sold. The Belgian Government notifies tii >1 the absentee laws provide for the recovery from the new possessor. !

BRITAIN'S SERVICES. FRENCH APPRECIATION. Received I, 12.-.") a.m. Paris, January 31. Following ou M. Millerand's and it. Angagncur's visits to England, widespread articles have appeared in the French Press, paying tributes to the British military sacrifices, and to the high quality and efficiency of the now army. Soim. oi the newspapers point out tiie world-wide character of the Drilish army's activities, and emphasise the services of the Navy. ALLEGED AIR RAID. ON GERMAN TOWNS. Copenhagen, January 29. Newspapers in JScrlin are circulating a report that aeroplanes dropped bombs i't Dortmund and did considerable damage. Twenty-one inch walls were cracked and the inhabitants became panicstricken. The Oermania monument vas smashed. Tlio aeroplanes proceeded towards Essen. GERMAN DEAD. LEFT AT LAMtoAERTZYOK Received 1, 12.25 a.m. Paris, January 31. Official: The Germans left a large number of dead in iront of the great dune at T.ambaertzyde. Tiie French reconstituted their lines at Argonnc 200 metres behind their previous trenches. The ground was stubbornly contested, the enemy's losses being very high. Our losses were serious. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris, January 29. A communique states:—"We hare gained a footing on the great dune near T.ombartzyde and have consolidated our position in the W r oevre."