The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 237, 16 March 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

FRENCH SUCCESSES. A ZEPPELIN BROUGHT 'DOWN. AIR RAIT) ON STKARSBUEfi. London, March 14. The Press Bureau and War Office statf that the enemy's heavy counter-attack on Saturday afternoon was repulsed. Obserrations on flie battlefield and the statements of 1500 prisoners sliow that the Herman losses cannot be far short of 10,000 in three dajs. A FRENCH SUCCESS. Paris, March 14. Official.—After desperate fighting the French caplured the plateau and half the village f Yauqnouis. London, March 14. The Daily 'Exchange reports that two French and two British aeroplanes brought down a Zeppelin in Belgium. Twenty-one of the, crew were killed and twenty seriously injured. Paris, March 14. The Germans are furious at the destruction of the Zeppelin which was wrecked in a wood at Ghent. Tliey arrested all the Belgians who were photographing the debris. London, March 14. The Chronicle's Geneva correspondent states that French aviators bombed a coal depot a fortnight ago, at Strassburg, anil 24,000 tons were destroyed or are still burning. If tlio wind rises, the riverside quarter will be endangered. Paris, March 14. A communique states that the Belgians madcf nrthcr progress at the bend of the Yser, the artillery destroying a vantage point in the Diximide graveyard. We repulsed several counter-attacks and captured several trenches in the Champagne district. Wo found a hundred corpses anil a quantity of material in one trench. Our patrol's have occupied Embermenil, in Lorraine.

Times and Sydney Sim Services . London. 'March 14,

"Eye-witness" at h<-«<lqii:iricrs «ij> tljilt. putting ourselves in tin- Germans' places. we cannot fail to see that there is yet no reason for ail intensely brave, determined, and well organised army to feel discouraged. Tin* Kaiser can eliose at will, a Russian, Belgian or French town ill which to make a triumphant appearance. The Germans are light in:; in the enemy's devastated country, an.l tales of victories have produced an atmosphere of complete illusion. Their en<my appears exhausted and enframed in the last despairing ell'orts to delay the inevitable deccision. Ue must not lose sight of the national sense of discipline v>hicli forms tinearliest education of every Merman and enables them to gain results with raw troops which with ii~- are only to be gained after months of training and to iiiiii -i{:.in an extremely high level of eilieiviiey after suffering great losses. Their confidence will he overthrown and morale broken oniv bv the crushing defeat in the field. ' This will only be attainable by the ever-increasing pressure of vast numbers of men aiul guns.

INDIAN PRINCE'S GENEROSITY. D'lhi, March 14. The Rao of Cutcli gives three thousand sterling monthly for thes upport of an Indian regiment for twelve months at the front. THE VICTORY IN ALSACE. . AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET. Received March 15, 11.25 p.m. Geneva, March 15. General IVimling conducted the operations at Reichackerskopf, employing four regiments. The fighting was the most sanguinary in Alsace during the war. ■lhe hasseurs Alpine defended the newly won position with bayonets only. No quarter was asked. Nine hundred Germans were killed and probablv 2500 wounded. Few prisoners were taken.

BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY. BOMBS OX GERMAN" POSITION'S. Received March 15, f),55 p.in. Paris, March ]5. The British airmen bombarded Westende. OUR AIRSHIPS EFFECTIVE. London. March 15. The War Office, states that British aircraft blew up a train at Don station. SPLENDID SPIRIT OF OUR TROOPS. PRAISE FROM THE OOMMANDEPM\CHIEF. Received March 15, 0 p.m. London. March 15. General French pays a tribute to the local initiative of the troops, which says much for the spirit animating the arm v. The successes recently achieved are striking examples of this spirit. FRENCH SUCCESSES. Received March 15, 10.15 p.m. Paris, March 15. Official.—We have (established ourselves firmly on crests in the Cllamnagne district which were recently captured. e carried trenches between Four de Paris and Bolante. GROUND WORTH TAKING. ELABORATE GERMAN TRENCHES. Received March HI, 12.15 a.m Paris, March 15. Official.—Tiie ground won in the Champagne district had been subjected to defensive organisation laboriously perfected for months. For example,' hill Iflfi, jiorth-east of Mesnil, was a dense network of barbed wire. Then came two "'lines of_ trenches, inpluding flanking works with <|uick-fircrs, revolver guns, and parapets strengthened with sacks and wicker baskets filled with earth. Only a few look-outs stayed in the trendies during the bombardment. The rest were in underground shelters, which were proof against big projectiles.

REFUSED TO BE SLAUGHTERED. GERMANS COURT-MAHTIALLED. Received March If!. 12.15 a.m. London, March 1 The T)ailv E\pre-s st.site s that a number of parties of German-: are arriving at Ghent and Tirti-svls for court-martial for failing fo respond to orders to make counter-attacks.