IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

NEAR THE YSER. . A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT. Received August 10, S.i4o p.m. Amsterdam, August 10. The Telegraaf states that heavy artillery fire, equal in intensity to that of the big Yser 'battles,, was heard in the direction of.Dimude, and continued all day without a second's silence. DEVASTATED FRANCE. ASSISTANCE TO. AGRICULTURISTS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August 9. Some British members of the Allies' committee for Agricultural Relief have returned from a visit to the mined districts in France. They state that it is impossible to exaggerate the extent of the destruction in the Marne and Meuee districts. The Germans shelled and set fire to places wholesale. Many villages are without a sign of life, the people who remain living underground. Cultivation is, however, still carried on by French women, who arc loading carts, driving reapers and cultivating land within a few kilometres of the trenches. They are working uncomplainingly amidst desolation and ruin. The whole valley of the Marne is under cultivation. The people of England are generously responding to the committee's appeal Tor stud cattle, The King headed the list with five rams from the famous Sandringham flock. SUCCESS AT HOOGE. London, August 9. Sir John French reports:—Since August 1 the artillery on both sides has been active northward and eastward of Ypres. In these exchanges the advantage was with us. After a successful artillery bombardment this morning, wherein the French on our left co-operat-ed effectively, we attacked the trenches at Hooge which were captured by the enemy on July 13. All were retaken, and we thereafter further progressed northward and westward of Hooge, extending the front of captured trenches ,to twelve hundred yards. During tlie fighting we shelled a German train at Lniigemarck, derailing it and burning five trucks. Our captures amounted to three officers, 124 men, and two machineguns. BELGIAN MINERS REFUSE WORK. Paris, August 9. The disorders at Mons and Charleroi are increasing. The miners refuse to work and many have been shot. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris, August 9. A communique states: —A German attack northwest of Soueliez station was repulsed. The enemy, 4 after exploding a mine, violently bombarded our positions eastward of the Lille Road, in the Neuvile district, and attempted to leave the trenches. Thev were immediately stopped by our infantry and artillerv.

The enemy attacked advanced posts and trenches at the Vienne le ChateauBinarville Read, in the Argonne. 'flier used gTenades and bomb 9, but were driven back. A fresh night attack on our position at Linge completely failed, a curtain of fire iuflictintf considerable losses. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. Paris, August 0. Le Petit Journal states that Germany has discontinued her reprisals on five thousand French prisoners. USEFUL HELMETS. Paris, August A. The troops nare already been furnished with 300,000 steel helmets, painted grey, and hardly risible at a.distance. Already specimen casques received from the front, after undergoing the enemy's fusillade, bear marks of bullets which would have killed men wearing the ordinary kopis. PRESIDENT'S VILLA WRECKED. Received August 10, 5.40 p.m. Paris, August 10. A bom'bardment completely wrecked President Poincare's conntrr villa at Gamipifmy.