The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 229, 6 March 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

FRENCH SUCCESSES. GERMAN* LOSS ICS COXFiIiMKD. Received 5, J 0.20 p.m. Paris, March 5. Official: After particularly effective shooting by our artillery on t,lie dunes, our infantry captured another trench. Progress in (lie Champagne district continues. We repulsed counter-attacks north-east of Mesnil, and a hundred prisoners were captured. The prisoners confirm the gravity of the German losses in yesterday's light. German attacks on Four de Paris and Vanguois were impulsed. A German aeroplanew as brought down at Fort de Vau.v, near Verdun, and the two aviators were captured. INDISPUTABLE ASCENDENCY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 5, 5.25 p.m. London, March 5. The Press Bureau at Paris, describing the lighting in the Argonnes for the last j throe weeks, savs the French has obtainI ed an indisputable ascendency over tlie enemy. A DEMONIACAL INVENTION. BURNING PETROL AS AMMUNITION. Received 5, 11.15 p.m. Paris, March 5. The Army Medical Corps report shoeiing injuries from a German contrivance for spraying petrol in the trendies. Tho features of the wounded arc horribly disfigured, limbs swollen, and uniforms burnt off. The French suddenly found .lets of petrol falling in the trenches. The officers ordered all pipes to be put out, but this was fruitless, for the Cernians tlirew hand grenades and the trenches, were soon ablaze. The Germans, profiting by the confusion, flung lighted torches, and the French retreated to the second line.

GERMAN VICTORY CLAIMED. EMITTED BY THE FRENCH. Amsterdam, March 4. A German communique claims that they captured eight French officers, .i.iH men, and seven machine-guns at NotreDame de Lorette. Paris, March 4. A communique states:—"Ouv artillery demolished the enemy's trenches in the sand dunes. The bombardment of Rheims lasted all day. a shell falling every throe minutes. The enemy captured our advance trench near Notre Dame de Lorette (close to Lens). A .French airman yesterday bombarded a powder magazine northward of Donanshining. Two regiments of the German Guard fought with great ferocity northwest of Mesnil, but were completely defeated." 1 Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 4. Indian wounded occupy a bijou seaside resort at Hardelot. A Ghurka unfamiliar with the coddling the Indians are receiving remarked, "No doubt the Government would warm the sea for us if possible." ,

FIGHTING ON THE YSER. t Amsterdam. March 4. The Telegrapf states that fighting has been renewed on the Yser, and trains of wounded are continually arrivin® at Bruges. °