IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

DRIVEN TO DEATH* THE ARGONN^FIGHTIXG. CROWN PRINCE'S MEN MOWN DOWN. Received August 17, 10.40 p.m. Paris, August 1". German prisoners from the Argonne admit that the Crown Prince's sacrifices are among the heaviest of the war, and the troops are far from optimistic. A letter found on a non-commissioned officer of the Forty-Becond Prussian Infantry Regiment, who was killed on August 7, relates that they had previously escaped a. perfect massacre, and the letter concludes as follows: "All our false hopes have vanished, and the movement has again failed. It is a cruel thing to see so many sacrificed for nothing." Private information shows that the battle on August 7 was terrific. After an extremely violent bombardment three German regiments fiercely assailed the French position between Vierncle Chateau and La Harazee. Twenty thousand shells of all sizes were fired in a few hours, but the French troops, notwithstanding the murderous hail, did not yield an inch, receiving th'e shock of the enemy's onrush with intense stoicism The struggle was sharp, and the immediate result was doubtful. The Germans at certain points manifestly wavered. but after a moment's confusion suddenly resumed the assault, although it meant certain death.

Prisoners explained that the hopeless rush was due to the German commanders' order to cut down waverers with grapeshot from their own machine-guns. Forty soldiers in one company were kill cd in this way by their comrades. The final attack was the most disastrous. It was executed by troops who were driven forward I>y ferocious discipline, and who were mad with terror, hardly any returning to (heir own line, whither they were pursued by showers of shells and solid shot from the French batteries, which had been brought to bear.

The most effective moment of the com plete rout was a brilliant charge of two companies of infantry near La Hara/e, where the enemy still held certain trendies. The Germans in this part of the battle lost four thousand killed and upwards of half their force wounded there. f GAIN IN THE VGSGES. Paris, August 10. A communique states: In the Vosges the explosion of a mine, in an enemy trench between Burnhaupt-le-Bas and Amurtzwiller enabled us to capture a number of prisoners, two bomb-th rowers, and machine-guns. INTRIGUE I.N FRANCE. London, August 10. German agents are endeavoring, through neutral newspapers, to stir up the feeling in France that England is not doing enough. Many leading men in France are organising a campaign to contradict the statement.

A SOCIALIST MEETING. Paris, August 10. Socialist deputies banqueted the British trade union delegates who visited the British front. Mr. O Grady, M.P., declared that the British would continue the struggle to the end. He would not oppose conscription if necessary.

FRENCH REPORT. Received August 17, 10.30 p.m. Paris, August 17. A communique states that our batteries cau=ed considerable losses to the enemy in the Guiemievieres district, and seriously damaged German works northward of Godat, near Berry Aubae. The enemy is again shelling S;.' Die. We •exploded the gasometers at St. Marie Aux Mines and fired a German factory eastward of Munster.