The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 262, 15 April 1915, Page 5

The Western Front.

FRENCH CAPTURE A TRENCH. A PLEASING PROSPECT. Paris, April 13. A communique states that cast of Berry-au-Bac the French took a German trench. Genera] Cherfils, the eminent French military critic, believes that the war will reach a decisive stage on the western front in the summer. He expects a battle between the Mouse and .Moselle (that is in the region between Verdun and Metz), in which a decision will be precipitated by the superiority of the Allies' artillery. This will open a breach in the German line, and a general offensive will then drive the enemy clean back to the Rhine.

Paris, April 13. General Pau declares that the end of the year will see the conclusion of the war - ■■ Ljfe&£

SOLDIERS DRIVEN MAD. A SPECIALIST'S TALE OF HORROR. THE MADNESS INCREASING. Received April 14, 8.40 p.m. Berne, April 14. Professor Goupp, nerve specialist, writing to the Munjchiner Medezin, says there is an alarming increase in madness in the German army, particularly since the French offensive began in the | middle of December. A very large num- ! ber of gaps in the ranks were due to morbid excitement and nervous prostration. The explosion of a shell or the fate of a comrade, he says, is sufficient to produce paralysis, convulsions, loss of speech and delirium, which often disappear in hospital, but reappear when, the men return to the front, and even the suggestion that they return to the front is often sufficient to send men mad.

BETTER TO DIE. THAN TRUST TO GERMAN HUMANITY. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) _ Received April' 14, 5.5 p.m. ''' _ ' London, April 14 Jr-i A - Conim D °y le suggests that the White Book concerning the treatment of British prisoners should be distributed in the army, for no man would fight the worse for having his soul aflame with righteous anger. The report will teach our men, if any still need the lesson that it is far better to die in Vie field than to trust to the humanity of the Germans, GERMAN TROOPS GROW WISER. LESS CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received April 14, ti.o p.m. London, April 14. "Eye-witness" at headquarters says that both German officers and men openly expressed uneasiness at the marked change in the general demeanour of the German troops soon after Christmas. Up till then they were absolutely confident and entirely cheerful, but latterly the soldiers had told French civilians that they recognised thev were overpowered by: the masses the* English were going to put in the field. They had tried to persuade the French civilians that the English were equally bent •n ruining Franco and grabbing"everything- for themselves.

An attempt to obtain a census for the purposes of the evacuation of Belgium caused a riot at Roubaix, where the women, indignant at the shortage of bread, attacked the bakers' shops. The German Governor informed the mayor that he intended to call out the troops, but the latter advised him that a hundred thousand Germans were no match for the women of Roubaix, who Avere skilled in bottle-throwing. "Eye-witness" cites several official and unofficial instances by which the Germans' campaign of hate against Britain is being maintained. KHAKI FOR THE FRENCH. BLUE-GREY UNIFORMS DISCARDED. Received April 14, 8.40 p.m. Paris, April 14. The War Office has adopted khaki, it being found impossible to keep the bluemixture uniforms clean. Moreover, under searchlights they show a pure white. The chief difficulty in the way of si change is the lack of khaki, but it is hoped that the British manufacturers will rise to the occasion.

A STIRRING ADDRESS. Paris, April 13. M. Viviani, the 'French Premier, addressing the Councils-General, 9aid that Germany thought to find France disunited and frivolous. Instead she found a wall of iron and heroic resistance against which she broke her best hattalions. The Allies were now pounding the armies which the German leaders had not prepared for struggles so bitter and prolonged. Millions of armed men were about to he let loose. France did not want war, but would carry l it to the end. Europe must have liberty, Belgium he free, Alsace and Lorraine restored, and Prussian militarism crushed, because the peace of the world was irreconcilable with its bloody caprices.

DEALING WITH MUTINOUS TROOPS. SENT TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS. Paris, April 13. A French lady who escaped from Brussels relates that she saw fifty officers and two companies of men with their hands bound march through the streets. They had mutinied at Neuve Chapelle, and were being sent to fight the Russians.