IN THE WEST

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST

GREAT FRENCH OFFENSIVE, j EXCITEMENT IN GERMANY. Received Oct, 7, 9.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 7. There is excitement in Germany at the commencement of another big French offensive in tile Champagne district, which was announced in last night's German communique. THE ALLIES' TAILS UP. TROOPS GREATLY HEARTENED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received Oct. 7, 5.40 p.m. London, Oct. 0. Le Petit Parisien statea that German machine-guns were turned on captured Germans who were being removed from the trendies at Souchez. A correspondent at the front, after describing the terrible devastation in the trenches after the recent offensive, says that the English and French soldiers are greatly heartened and quickened by the new liope of successes. A famous French general remarked that if the French once got their tails up they will carry the battlements of heaven.

UNINTERRUPTED CANNONADE. Amsterdam, Oct. C. Maastricht reports that uninterrupted cannonading is audible, resembling that preceding the last Allied offensive. A German communique says: After a violent bombardment in Champagne 'he French attempted to renew the offensive, but our artillery checked the movement, inflicting gevere losse*.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ATTACK. Received Oct. 8, 12.55 a.m. Paris, Oct. 7. Tahure hill ia the centre of the section of the German line that is now being attacked, and of which it is the key to the town of Tahure, only 1% miles from the German supply railway running parallel to the Champagne front. IMPORTANT POSITION TAKEN. GOOD FRENCH PROGRESS. Received Oct. 7, 10.45 p.m. Paris, Oct. 7._ A communique states: Our action in the, Champagne has secured fresh results. The infantry, after a thorough artillery preparation, assaulted and carried the village of Tahure, aud the summit of Height Tahure, halfway between Souain and Certnay. We also progressed in the, vicinity of Navari Farm, between Souain and Soumepy. We have already captured over a thousand prisoners. There are only severe artillery duels elsewhere.

A GRUESOME STORY. HORRORS OF THE CHAMPAGNE BATTLEFIELD. Received Oct. 8, 12.55 a.m. Paris, Oct. 7. A French soldier gives a harrowing description of the Champagne battlefield, as seen while lie was searching for fallen comrades. German barbed wire fortifications 'were fifty yards from the French first line of trendies, and the etfeets of the terrible bombardment were visible everywhere. The soil was burst open by shells and amid the twisted wire it was impossible to go thirty yards in the German trenches without seeing bodies shattered by explosions. Sometimes several corpses were twisted together. Some had their arms raised and were unsupported, and one was found leaning against a trench in the act of taking aim with his rifle, though his anus and lingers were sticking stiffly into the air. 'The narrator passed the bodies of more Zouaves and Algerians on the front and second line of trendies, whom machineguns had mowed down and also several abandoned German machine-guns, on tlie. border of the wood \vhich had cost the French dearly. The wood itself is thickly strewn with German dead. The French advance at this point was five and a half miles in a straight line. He met wounded men who said with enthusiasm: ''At last we are going ahead; this time it is warfare."

GERMAN CHAGRIN. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Oct. (i. A German communique sneers at the Anglo-French description of the successes gained by a sevenfold superior army, with American and other munitions, as brilliant victories. It quotes General Joll're's army order of September H, stating: 'The present, moment is very favorable for a. general attack, because, the new contingents of Kitchener's army have landed. Germany will be unable to concentrate adequate infantry, artillery, and reserves, thus guaranteeing our success."

AN ORDER THAT FAILED. (Timos and Sydney Sun Servicer.) London, Oct. ti. A French wireless says that on September 22 General von Fleck, commanding a portion of the Champagne army, issued (lie following order:— ''Comrades, let us swear each to die rather than surrender. Let us throw back the enemy at the point of the bayonet and pelt him with- hand grenades. Thus the first line Will be a wall of steel." The reply of the German army was i">,OIJO surrenders.