The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 252, 3 April 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

TERRIBLE GERMAN WASTAGE

50,000 CASUALTIES IN 20 DAYS:

London, April 1

The New York correspondent of tin Associated Press, after a visit to the battlefields, stated that eleven thousand Germans died or were taken in the captured trenches in twenty days" fi'"<in in Champagne, making the casualties at least 50,000. The German wastage was. at least double the French, owing to repeated and obstinate counter-attacks, which were supported by inadequate artillery. The Germans had 200,000 men in this sector, but the superiority of the French artillery, by preventing the German reserves coming up enabled dailv successful assaults.

TROOPS DRAWN FROM FLANDERS.

TO REPEL THE RUSSIANS. Received April 2, 1.15 a.m. Rotterdam, Opril 2. The Russian pressure demaids lavjre German reinforcements, necessitating the weakening of the line in Flanders. The Germans are now attempting to extend the fortifications on the Yser by destroying the sluices, indicating a purely defensive problem until success against Russia enables her to resume the offensive in tiie west-.

GERMAN EYES OPENED. AFTER MANY DARK DAYS. Received April 2, 5Jy p.m. Paris, April ]. A lieutenant on tile headquarters staff told a lady refugee that Germany! had been deceived. They now believed themselves that all that remained to do was to try to defend their line. Many of the soldiers are mere boys, three thousand of whom passed through Buzsuey, and three-fourths of whom are now dead.

GERMANS IN STRENGTH. London, April 1. Genoa reports that fifty thousand Germans occupied the valleys of Kayseriberg, Munster, and Gehpiler. The French guarding this part of the lim are with difficulty resisting-.

THE GERMAN COMMISSARIAT Received April 2, 5.3 p.m. Paris, April 2. The Germans are expelling the inhabitants of flic Argonne, Meiise, ilarne, and 'Alsace. The German officers admit that the feeling of the inhabitants is detrimental to the German soldiers. All tin. houses are- searched and the food .seized. Ilefugees arc flocking to French towns in a pitiable condition.

A SHOWER OF LEAD.

London, A t -i.! !

"Eyewitness" states that Germany started the war with fifty thousand machine guns. She had fifteen along a front of 250 yards, at Xeuve Uhapelle, whence 7500 bullets poured every minute.

GERMANS' TEMPORARY ADVANTAGE.

IParis, April 1.

Official: The Germans counter-attack-ed at Bois le I'retre, and recovered portion of the position, but were dislodged, and our gain was entirely maintained.

POSITION IN LORRAINE.

London, March 31.

A Times' correspondent in Lorraine says that nothing is changed along 'tlie line from St. -Miliiel to the Vosges. For a couple of months the French Tiave been marking time and. only fighting to repel German spasmodic and aimless attacks. The net result is that the Germans have completely failed in their main objective and the French have made little real advance, but have kept the German warengine working at full pressure. The Postmaster-General states that he dailji sends 400,000 letters and 50,000 parcels to the front. -Lonely soldiers at the front advertised inviting correspondence. Three days later they received three thousand letters, six bags of small parcels aiul ninety large parcels.