The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 255, 7 April 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

A THREE WEEKS' BATTLE. INDESCRIBABLE MELEE. ti::-: French vigorous offensive Received April 0, 9.45 p.m. London, April 0. The Daily Chronicle states that an almost continuous battle, lias raged in the Champagne district for three weeks, the French taking the offensive. Ihe fighting was the most violent north ef Mesnil and Ilorlus. Nothing of Mesnil remains hut a heap of ruins. A perfect tempest of fire swept the ground for nearly a month, and not a yard escaped being ploughed up by shells. Thorn were terrible struggles in the enemy's trenches. The melee was indescribable. Without room to fire, the riflemen fought with unfixed bayonets, pickaxes, iron bars, and their fists. The French tenaciously hold the ground taken.

SOME FRENCH SUCCESSES,

OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED.

Received April C, 0.45 p.m.

Paris, April 6. Official: We captured three successive lines of trenches south-east of St. Mihirl, and gained a footing in the enemy's works north-east of Regnieville.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP,

■MORE ABOUT NEUVE CHAPELLE.

Received April 7, 12.15 a.m. London, April G. A combatant at Nome Chapelle relates that the final ipiccess was largely duo to the Lincolnshires and Berkshires' dash in the primary assault. Hand grenades thrown into the enemy's trenches caused many to surrender, The Germans were caught in a trap. The Lincolnshires drove them across a strip of water five feet deep stretching along the front. The Lincolns lost seven officers, including Colonel Macandrew (killed), and 20S men killed and wounded.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN THE TRENCHES.

INTERESTING LETTER FROM AN

OFFICER

Received April G, 8 p.m. London, April 6. An officer writes:— '

"St. Patrick's Day saw a number oi men sporting sprigs of shamrock in their caps. Irish flags materialised from somewhere, and were stuck on top of the parapet amidst a burst of cheenng Shortly after, the Union Jack was hoist,ed by the side of the green f ensign, Everyone was wildly enthusiastic, and the whole trench burst spontaneously into the National Anthem, quite unrehearsed. It sounded splendid. "Thank goodness, it's spring. .Warm sunlight means movement, drying up the abominable marshes, and a" great advance which will terminate this wicked war, with its great prospect line of two hundred miles on the west and doable that on the east, sAveeping irresistibly onwards until finally we crush the German armies between, I hope I may be there to see the end.

"It's an enormous privilege to take part in this war. Apart from the question of right and wrong, the whole thing is absolutely an epic on everything colossal. Millions of men are. struggling over the map of Europe, giganfte guns arc hurling tons of metal at every shot, and hundreds of factories are feverishly pourin out supplies of munitions. Yet, when we are hauled out of bed in the morning those high falutin views vanish, am! all our feelings are summed up in damn.'" LACK OF CO OPERATION.

DISCORDANT ELEMENTS IN ENEMY

RANKS.

. London, April 5. Ihe eye-witness at headquarters reports that prisoners' statements indicntu lack of co-operation between the Prussians, Bavarians, and Saxons at Ncuve Chapelle. The Bavarians and Saxons were indignant because they were ostensibly sent to reinforce the firing line during the counter-attack at the Bsis dc Biez, and discovered themselves alone and unsupported. Many who surrendered declared that the Prussian officers were responsible. The Germans left the Saxon and Bavarian wounded in front of the trenches. The British tried to succour them, but the Prussians in the trenches continued to shoot and some of the British were wounded.

GERMAN TROOPS MOVED EAST. Berne, April 5. A German army corps has left Flanders to assist the Austrians in the Carpathians. A large number of troops have been withdrawn from the Tyrol to stop the Russian advance.