FIGHT ON THREE-FRONTIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 253, 5 April 1915, Page 6

FIGHT ON THREE-FRONTIERS.

SHELLS FALL IX SWITZERLAND. The Germans for a second time have shelled the territory in Alsace I'nctwcei, Point 510 on the Ordinance map and the three-Power frontier post (says a conyjwiulcnt in Switzerland in an Engli ; paper), They thus swept with the..' shell lire about three, square, miles of territory which J have visited. Several shells fell in a hold of clover, making holes six feet deep, but the greater number fell in a forest of fir trees, where great damage was done. The shells smashed trees eight inches ill diameter, tore up fir trees by their roots, and split enerry trees from the root upwards for 12ft. The German batteries were placed before Mons and were searching for the French batteries hidden near the Swiss frontier.

The firing began on Friday at 5 o'clock, and the shells passed over Pfetterhouse a hig forest of beech trees, and the Customhouse, and crashed down a few hundred yards further along. One French artillery driver had a miraculous escape. He was bringing up his horses to the guns when a shell burst. It tore away part, of his overcoat, knocked his horse down, buried him I with the earth it. threw up, and yet he escaped unhurt. The Ficncli artillery replied to the Germans with a few shots and was able to destroy a German battery.

On the same day the Germans tried, to cut the wire entanglements, the German soldiers wore white overalls. 'They were armed with stout wire-cutters, and crept cautiously up to the French positions. They were seen by the French and fired upon by machine guns, leaving more than 100 dead on French soil. During the day the French allowed the Germans to pick up their dead and wounded. On Saturday at noon the Germans again began to search the territory around Point 510 with their shells. This time shells fell across Swiss territory. They did not discover the. French guns because they had been moved the previous day.

The Swiss military authorities and Colonel Wilboitz arc making a searching inquiry into the firing of German shells into Switzerland. The official report is expected in Berne.