IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

PLOTS ACA,\m BELGIUM, IN EXLSTJSXCE uEFORB WAS, Havre, A'jgilat 3. A Belgian Grey Book publishta a letter from Baron Beyers, then Belgian Minister in Berlin, proving that four months before the war Herr von Jagow, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, proposed the partition of the Belgian Congo and the suppression of Belgium from the list of independent nations. FURTHER DETAILS. AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. Received August 4, 8.40 p.m. Paris, August 4. Baron Beyers' despatcli shows that von Jagow invited M. Cambon to a private conference, and suggested that Germany, France, and Britain ought to come to an understanding regarding the projected railways in Africa. M. Cambon suggested that Belgium should also be invited, but von Jagow replied: "By no means; our agreement will be at Belgium's expense." M. Cambon said: 'T don't understand," and von Jagow rplied: "King Leopold put a greater burden on Belgium's shoulders than She can carry. Belgium will not reach enough to carry out the Congo enterprise, and she Will have to give it up." Von Jagow continued: "The great Powers alone are in a position to colonise, with a view to the economic transformation of Europe. Small nations could no longer enjoy an independent existence." M. Cambon retorted: ''Those are not the views of England or France." Von Jagow then said: "I am speaking as a private person, and not as Secretary of State." M. Cambon, however, informed Baron Beyers. ON YPRES FRONT. HEAVY FIGHTING. Amsterdam, August 3. Tho_ Telegraaf states that news from Courtrai report? heavy fighting on the Ypre? front. The thunder of heavy guns and the detonation of mines was audible for hours, and a long stream of Wounded was passing from Hooge to Courtrai.

BURNING LIQUID. ITS USE AT HOOQE. Paris, August 3. British wounded give details of the light at Hooge, The enemy attacked ft little before dawn and were thrown back three times, but advanced again, and after an intense fight managed to secure a somewhat insecure footing in two of our first line trenches. Ere long a number of territorial regiments chased the Germans out of tho position at the bayonet point. Then the Germans used flame projectors. About 40 per cent, of the wounded are suffering from burns, but the percentage of deaths io exceedingly email.

HERR M. HARDEN. AN INVITATION TO FRANCE. Received August 4, 8.40 p.m. Paris, August 3. M. Clemenceau, writing in I'llomme en Chaine, invites the exiled Herr Harden to visit France. He will then bo able to inform the Kaiser that each hour gives a new strength to the Allies, and that time is fighting on our side. Italy has joined in, Japan ia rattling her arms, and the whole world is trembling with anger. The end is not yet, not until we have struck the last blow.

ENEMY'S HEAVY LOSSES. Received August 4, 9 p.ul. Amsterdam, August 4. Prussian casualty lists 281 to 289 contain 24,009 names. The total to the end of July was 1,C41/)C9, apart from Bavarian, Wurtemberg, Saxon and naval casualties. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Piu is, August 3. A communique states: There was lively night fighting with grenade? and petards near Souchcz, and violent artillery engagements in the Aisnc valley, during which Soissons was bombarded. There were several Herman night attacks on Hill 213 and in the Marie Tlierese-St. Hubert sector. The enemy was unable to debouch. l\Ve repulsed yesterday several attacks against Lingo and Barrenkopf. GERMAN REPORT.

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, August 3. A German communique claims that the Germans still retain the English positions at Hooge. We captured some trenches at Four de Paris, and lost a small portion of a trench at Schratz Mennclle. 'We caught, north-west of Etain, a French captive balloon, torn from its anchorage by a gale. KING ALBERT DECORATED. Received August 4, 8.40 p.m. Paris, August 4. M. Poincare, during a «veek-end tour to the front, presented King Albert with tho War Cross. BELGIAN VILLAGE RAZED. Amsterdam, August 3. A German deserter states that the Belgian village oE Battice has been razed because it was alleged that franctireurs bad killed a captain. The facts were that a German private shot a captaia from a window out of revenge.