IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

THE BATTLE AT LOOS. '"A wiiEK OF HKTiTI." . GERMAN OFFICER'S STORY. Received Oct. 13, 9.45 p.m. Loildon, Oct. 13. A correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, who visited German prisoners in the French military hospital at Val de Grace, writes that after hearing the story of the French bombardment he j can' understand the awful expression of terror and delirium in the men's eyes. A young'officer said the bombardment was a week of hell. "Shells literally , hurst everywhere, and one could hardly hear his neighbor shouting. Many went mad. Say and night we lay in bombproof shelters. The trench was levelled and the ground waß then dug up and , refilled by exploding shells. Oaly a miracle kept the entrance to our room Open. Suddenly someone shouted, "The French are over us.' We rushed out of the remnants of the parapet, and I fell, ■hot in the shoulder. Others fell over me, wounded and dying. For three hours I was hidden under their todies, and then I worked free and gave myself up to the French. Of all the men in the trench 1 was the sole survivor." BELGIAN SLAVERY. POPULATION CIVIL PRISONERS. Paris, Oct. 12. An official wireless message states that Germany is Tesolving on slavery in Belgium. It regards the Entire population as civil prisoners, and is compelling them to work on the railways, though unaccustomed to manual labor. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. / ' Berlin, Oct. 12. A communique says: The' French continue attacks north of Arras, north-east of Souchez, and east of Neuville. The French only succeeded in penetrating the advanced' line at two pofnts. We repulsed the French on both' sides of Tahure. They nowhere gained ground. FRENCH REPORT. Received Oct. 13, 10.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 13. A communique states: The Germans sustained great losses in Monday's fighting north-west of Souchez. Our progress towards La Goutte continues. A violent infantry attack on our positions at Linge and Schratz Maenuele were repulsed. Some of the assailants gained a footing in one of the trenches, were immediately driven out.