The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 3 February 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. GERMANiS UNSUCCESSFULLY STORM THE TRENCHES. GREAT ACTIVITY REPORTED. Received 2, U. 20 p.m. Paris, February 2. Official: There Las been a very heavy fall of snow. The Germans, on the morning of the Ist February, assaulted our trenches north of the Bcthunc-L.a iiassce road, but were repulsed, leaving numerous dead. German infantry at Beaumonthamel, north of Albert, attempted a surprise, but were forced to fly, abandoning explosives. Great activity prevails at Fontaine Madame and liois de la Grurie. A German attack was repulsed towards Bagatelle.

GERMANS REPULSED IN ALSACE. Received 3, 12.5 a.m. Paris, January 2_ The French report gradual progress <n Alsace. The Germans quietly evacuated Cernay, which the French guns hade made untenable. The Germans are now bombarding Cernay to prevent the French occupying it. Meanwhile the French are shelling the forest of Nonnenbruch, where the Germans are entrenched, barring the advance tq Mulhausen.

GERMAN AIRSHIPS OVER DUNKIRK. BOMB-DROPPING AGAIN. Received 2, 10.20 p.m. Paris, February 2. Six German airmen dropped sixty bombs on Dunkirk, causing insignificant damage. [ NEW POWERFUL EXPLOSIVE. FOR GERMAN USE AT SHORT RANGE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 2, 6 p.m. London, February 2. The Germans are employing an extremely powerful explosive, which the French have christened "bottles of champagne," the word bottle being used because the missile is cylindrical, and of the size of a champagne bottle. The shell is supposed to be filled with liquid air or liquid carbonic acid. The missiles are thrown some 300 ytfrds by mortars, and, without great initial velocity, the explosive makes a hole 40 feet in diameter and 30 feet deep.

FRANCE DETERMINED. WILL GO TO THE BITTER END. London, February 1. If. Ribot, Minister of Finance, speaking in the Chamber on the proposal t raise the limit of Treasury bonds to 140 millions sterling, reviewing the financial situation said: "Our task is difficult but not impossible. We are determined to go to the bitter end in matters financial as well as military. After bix months' war we have not asked the Bank of France for more than 156 millions sterling." LIVELY ARTILLERY DUELS. Paris, February 1. A communique states that lively arI tillery duels are being fought on most of the front.