The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 11 February 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

CAPTURING THE GREAT DUNE. SUCCESSFUL ALGERIAN RUSE. BRITISH AVIATORS' SUCCESS. TWO CRITICAL POINTS. Paris, February 9. After the fruitless efforts of the French to capture the strongly-held gi'eiit dune, twenty-four Algerians, concealed behind the bellies of their horses, appeared close to the German trenches nt nightfall, and when the Germans were about to capture the horses, in response to a tharp cry they galloped back t;' the French lines, whereupon twenty-four grey forms rose from the ground and threw themselves in the trenches. The German!; in the second lint; wavered and did not fire, fearing to hit their own mer;. Reinforcements arrived and the French captured the great dune with sliglit losses.

A communique slates: We occupied a farm o n the Bctheune-La Bassce road w here the enemy was installed. The struggle at Bagatelle is now centred in the forest, where the figh<: is confused. Both sides maintain positions. There have been artillery •..•n----gagements at many points. The enemy bombarded Ypres, Fumes and Soissons.

A French Territorial, while digging a trench, dug up a jar containing a hundred thousand francs' securities. He handed the find over to the commander. The fact is mentioned in regimental orders.

British aviators with a quick fir<'r chased a Taube, with two occupants, near Bethune. The observer was killed. Hid the machine, ba damaged, fell in the German lines. Artillery brought down a Taube, in (lames, between the Aisne and the Oise. London, February 8. The military critics arc watching two points. The first is Bagatelle, as there ns a suggestion of the possibility of a ■lew German offensive in the Argonne. The second is East Prussia, where there are extensive preparations for General Hindenburg's next big move. The cakening of the forces on the Br.itni is j attributed to this. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, February 9. An eye-witness at headquarters gives illustrations of the force of explosives. A piece of a rail, weighing 251b., was hurled a mile. The detonating of a lyddite shell in the enemy's trenches threw a German across the railway and canal into the midst of the British.

FRENCH FORCE WIPED OUT. UNEXPECTED STRENGTH OF GERMAN RIGHT. Received 10, 0 p.m. London, February 10. An earlier attack on the Great Dune, which was intended as a reconnaisar.c?, revealed the strength of the German extreme right. Three or four companies advanced in the morning of the - 28 th Mid bayonetteil many Germans crouching in cover. An enfilading fire drove us back. Wo threw up rudimentary earthworks which the German artillery demolished. Nevertheless the mitrailleurs hung on till nightfall. Two sections then rushed to the top of the Grand Dune and one began to descend on the opposite side when the enemy's artillery on the second crest wiped them out, except six", who held a hill redoubt until all were killed.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Yesterday. The High Commissioner reports under date February 9 (5.40 p.m.):— Paris reports that the Belgian artillery destroyed a farm and the defenders fled. In the Champagne district the French artillery was efficacious again:! the Germans.

HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. THROUGH USELESS ATTACKS. FOUR FRENCH DIVISION'S WIPED OUT.

Received 10, 9 p.m. London, February 10. A French eye-witness says that for some days prior to February C few actions by small bodies on strictly narrow fronts had no effect on the main tfporations. The enemy's dead found at La Bassee, La, Creutepethes, Bagatetu , and Wocvre as the outcome of actions on the 20th, 27th and 2Stli, indicate | that the Hermans lost -1000 killed and 10,000 wounded. It is dillicult to understand these useless attacks.