IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

BATTLE OF LOOS. SHATTERING OP THE ENEMY'S FORCES. A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. Received Oct. 21, 6.35 p.m. London, Oct. 20. Mr. Philip Gibbs reports: "I witnessed the repulse and counter-attack at Loos on October 8. The Germans for days had been bringing up reserves of men and guns. Our troops, crouching in the old German trenches, stood the ordeal of a concentrated bombardment. The trenches were strewn with shrapnel and black 'eoalbox' shells, which flung up the earth in all directions, yet our casualties were comparatively slight, "Finally, the Germans, in the middle of the afternoon, opened a violent rifle and machine-gun fire. The fifty yards between the opposing' trenches were filled with poison gases and smoke-balls, and then through the dense curtain loomed a line of grey figures, advancing. ''The Germans came on swiftly, four deep, and shoulder to shoulder. The British rifles and machine-guns, which were ready, plunked streams of lead into the shadowy figures. Numbers fell, and others tried to crawl back to the trenches. We concentrated our fire upon groups, and few escaped. Meanwhile an enemy aeroplane directed the curtain fire to prevent our supports coming up. The task of the British infantry was, however, finished, and they had only to watch the heaps of German dead in the smoke, from which a few survivors now and then wriggled back to their own line. "The German attack was not only repulsed; it was shattered." THE BRUSSELS MURDERS. THE POPE INTERVENES. GOVERNOR OF TOWN SUSPENDED Received Oct. 21, 7.20 p.m. Rome, Oct. 20. As a result of the British and Belgian Legations' appeal to the Pope, the latter has induced the Kaiser to suspend the 'Governor of Brussels, pending further investigations into the executions of Countess de Belleville, Madame 'Chillier, and seven other Belgians and French residents. MURDER OF NURSE CAVELL. A MARTYR TO GERMAN FEROOCITY. Received Oct. 22, 12,35 a.m. Sydney, Oct. 21. Asked why she did tills, Nurse Cavell said that she believed the Germans shot soldiers and therefore her duty was to save lives. After the trial, the American Legation continually inquired into the progress of the case, and was definitely informed the day before the execution that no sentence had been given. The Legation, however, heard privately at ten o'clock in the eveu'uig, that Miss Cavell had been sentenced to be shot at two o'clock in the morning. Mr. Gibson. Secretary to the Legation, accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador, hurried to see Generals Learon and von der Lanokeh, representing the German civil administration, to ask for the postponement of the execution. Von der Lanoken for some time protested that there was no truth in the rumour, but finally said that the military authorities considered the infliction of the death sentence was imperative. Mr. Gibson pointed out that Miss Cavell had spent her life in assisting others, and had tended German soldiers in her hospital. He emphasised the horror of executing a woman like her. There was no charge of espionage, and he pointed out the fearful effect a summary execution of this sort would have on public opinion in Belgium and abroad, Baying it might even lead to reprisals. The Spanish Minister forcibly supported Mr. Gibson, but all their efforts were fruitless. An English clergyman was allowed to see Miss Cavell in her cell at ten o'clock. He gave Holy Communion and found' her admirably strong and calm. ' She said that she was happy io die for her country. The despatch discloses that the failure to prevent the execution is a very severe blow to the American Legation, which particularly resents the Germans failing notify the Ambassador of the sentence. Sir Edward Grey .in thanking Mr. Brand Whitlnck, says that lie is publishing the despatch without delay, in older to forestall any unjust criticism. It was due to the German administration's discreditable and successful efforts to conceal the fact that the death sentence had been passed, and was being carried out immediately. Sir Edward Grey adds that these efforts were -doubtless prompted by a determination to carry nut the sentence before an appeal to a higher authority was possible. (The foregoing is parts two and three of a cable relating to the Brussels horror, and evidently refers to""a report made by the American Legation to Sir Edward Grey. The introductory portion of the message has not come to hand.)

REPORT FROM SIR JOHN FRENCH. THE ATTACK ON THE QUARRIES. Received Oct. 21, 8.55 p.m. London, Oct. 21. Sir John French reports that the enemy yesterday afternoon attacked the trenches from the Quarries to Hulluch. Our fire completely stopped an infantry attack across the open, and a number of bombing attacks in the neighborhood of Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse Eight were repulsed with very i severe- losses. From the church the line bends southeast to north-west to the slope of Hill 70, and runs along the western slopes to 1200 yards south of Loos church, whence it runs due west back to our old line. The chord of the salient we created in the enemy's line is 7000 yards (four miles) in length and the depth of the salient at the chalk pit is 3200 yards. Since the 28th the enemy has been reinforced and attacked the' front with 48 battalions, including a Division of i Guards. The enemy attacked this after- ; noon between the Quarries and Hullueh, but were everywhere repulsed. "MARMALADE DAY." Received Oct. 21, 9 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 20. The Kaiserin desires her birthday (October 22) to be celebrated as "Marmalade Day," with a collection of gifts and jams for the troops.

MUNITIONS AT LOOS. QUANTITY AMH.& BUT A GREATER 80EPLY MiEOIiSSARY. Received Oet. 22, 1.45 a.in. London, Oct. 21. The Times says that despite the great amount of high explosive shells expended on the Loys advance the supply was inexhausted, and the gunners had more ammunition in hand that was expected at the end of the fight. In some cases the supplies were greater at the end of the struggle than at the beginning, owing to the excellent transport; but an unlimited supply for completely beating down the German entrenchments is still unattained. Albout a million Britishers are now employed making munitions, and about five thousand skilled engineers have been brought back from the trenches. EAST OF RHEIMS. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED. Paris, Oct. SO. A communique says: —A large enemy force east of Rheiins took the offensive on a ten kilometre front between La Pompelle and Prosnes, but was completely defeated. The attack was most carefully prepared by a prolonged artillery bombardment, accompanied by chlorine gas. The enemy at the outset penetrated some parts of our front line, tat coun-ter-attacks were immediately launchell and the enemy driven out from almost every point. A 'vigorous counter-offen-sive in the afternoon ejected the last of the enemy, who was thus thrown back completely, suffering heary losses in a fruitless attoek.