The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

A FRENCH REVIEW.

GERMAN FORCES ESTIMATED.

TERRIBLE DRAIN* ON HER RESOURCES. Received March 30, 12.5 a.m. Paris, March 29,

The official review'points out that the Germans commenced the war with sixty-one army corps, and fighting troops) apart from the Landsturm, were guarding communications. By November they had sixty-eight fighting army corps, of which fifty were pitted against the French. British and Belgians during the battle in Flanders. After this defeat Germany lost her initiative and direction of the war. Lists of the German General Staff and captured archives show that the Ormans admit having lost 1,500,000 on the two fronts by the middle of January, without including the sick. The recruiting resources of Germany total nine millions, whereof half a million are lequircd to keep the railways open ami for essential industries, and four millions were already fighting by the tieginning of January, leaving "3,200,000, chiefly untrained. Deducting 800,000 over thirty-nine rears of age, Germany has only two mi'lion reserves available fc- the 1915 operations, though she is losing at the rate of 260,000 a month.

OUR AIRMEN'S SUCCESS,

THE HOP.OKEN RAID.

Receive! ■March 30, 12.10 a.m

Amsterdam, March 29.

The newspaper Maasbode states that three hundred workmen were wounded in the air raid at Hoboken.

THE ALSACE VICTORY.

GALLANT CHASSEUB3.

Received March 29, 7.20 p.m.

■ Paris, March 20. Hartman's Weillerkopf commands the district of Hann, Cernay, and Stcinbach. The Alpine Clia-sseurs, nicknamed "The Blue Devils," after a tremendous shelling on Tuesday, assaulted and captured the lower ridges, regardless of loss. They scoured the second line_on Wednesday, despite a devastating rifle fire and the enemy's stubborn defence. Sand to hand fig'iting lasted |fafr seveiiil hours, during which time the "Blue Devils" took many prisoners. The climax of the assault of the crest came on Thursday. The crest was 1225 metres above the plain, which the famous fifteenth army corps was defending with a formidable array, of guns. Hand grenades were flung from the heights, and burning liquid fell in streams. Many of the chasseurs were badly burned, but continued to fight in their charred clothes. The 'Blue Devils" on Saturday swarmed forward on the flanks among the hills to the north, east, and southeast, breaking the Germans' last grip on the stronghold.

A BrG PUNISHMENT. (Timei and Sydney Sun Servicer.) Received MarcV29, 5.15" p.m. London, March 29. Amsterdam savs the Germans fined Bruges £20,000 because schoolboys tarred a German.