IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. THE CONFLICT AT LOOS. Received Nov. 1, 11.55 p.m. London, Nov. 1. General Sir John French's last despatch is dated Oct. 15th., and reviews operations since .Tune. Tt deals principally with the British advance at Loos, but says that, nevertheless, we were constantly engaged in other important enterprises. ''As a sample of the difficulties, we took a gun from the canal embankment, rafted it over the canal under fire, and dragged it over three trenches to a position seventy yards away from the German line, enabling us to demolish a saphead.

"The enemy's use of burning liquid caused temporary confusion at Hooge. hut our losess were brilliantly regained."

THE SOOTS ADVANCE. Describing the attacks on Sept. 26-27. Sir John French says that the enemy's infantry fire was wild but that of the artillery was accurate. The Scottish Fifteenth Division of the new army delivered an admirable attack and in an hour had occupied Loos and the northern outskirts, while some units even pushed a mile eastward of Hill 70. The Division carried out the advance with the greatest vigor, and although the enemy brought up reinforcements one brigade advanced to Hulluoh, capturing a gun and several positions, and causing the surrender of five hundred Germans.

BRITISH RIGHT PLANK IN DANGER. The assault of the Seventh Division resulted in the occupation of the Western Quarries, Cite St. Elie and Haisnes. The enemy's strong offensive near Hulluch drove in the advanced troops of the Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth divisions, which were preparing to attack. As a result of our advance, the . line south of the Canal is much extended by a salient. The French Tenth Army were heavily opposed. I considered that their advance did not afford protection to my right flank and represented this to General Joffre. who asked the French commander of the northern group to render assistance. This was done.

HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. By the end of September the French troops had taken over the ground we occupied, extending from the French left and including portion of Hill 70, also Loos. The Germans on October 8 coun-ter-attacked, and at all parts except two were repulsed with tremendous loss. The enemy left nine thousand dead. The big advance was due to the brilliancy and dash of the First and Fourth Corps. The German positions extend for 6500 yards and the works are of great strength, being a network of trenches and deep dug-outs. We captured three thousand of the enemy.

THE BRITISH LOSSES. Sir John French deeply regrets the heavy casualties, but in view of the great strength of the position and the stubborn defence of the enemy he does not think them excessive, and the- proportion of slightly wounded was very large. He pays tribute to the work of the British artillery, and points out that the Germans hoped we would be unable to build up efficient artillery lor a very large expansion of the army. Its efficiency exceeded our expectations, and the artillerymen behaved wonderfully. The observers were compelled, under fire, to use delicate instruments and make nice calculations.

GAS REPRISALS. Owing to the repeated enemy use of poison gases we were compelled to resort to similar methods. A detachment, organised for the purpose, took part for the first time in these operations on the twenty-fifth of September. Although the enemy were prepared for these reprisals the gas attack had a marked success and a demoralising effect oil some of the opposing units, of which there was ample evidence in the captured trenches. Our gassers carried out their work with conspicuous gallantry and coolness, and I am confident that they will more than hold their own should the enemy again resort to gas.

AT TAHURE HILL. VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED.

Paris, Oct. 31. A communique says: The enemy's bombardment in Champagne developed the greatest violence on a front of eight kilometres from Hill 1!«, Tahure Hill, and Tahure village to La Courtine. It was followed by an attack carried out with important' masses of infantry, the majority of whom had arrived recently from tlie Russian front.

Despite the vigor of the attack and the assailants' extreme desperation, the enemy suffered a serious defeat. Our fire decimated the waves of attack on the whole front, the assailants oniv reaching the summit of Tahure I-lill. Everywhere else, especially in front of the village, where the fighting was particularly obstinate, the Germans were completely repulsed and driven hack to their trenches, leaving very large numbers of dead.

GERMAN REPORT. ADMITS FRENCH SUCCESS. Received Nov. 1, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 31. A German communique states: The Bavarians captured eleven hundred yards of French positions north-east of Neuville. The enemy attacked in superior numbers and captured the projecting portion of our trenches north \of Desnil. We stormed Taliure HfU at night; there was lone fighting, and we captured twelve hundred.

ALLEGED SPIES. EXECUTED IN BELGIUM. Amsterdam, Oct. 31. Advices from Berlin show that nine have been executed for espionage in Belgium and ten have boon sentenced to penal servitude, including three women. Twenty-five people have been arrested for espionage and dynamite i>lots, including four womeo

LIKE CRUSADERS OF OLD. NEW HELMETS A SUCCESS. Received Nov. 1, 11.50 p.m. London, Nov. 1. The iii-w British steel helmet is proving a success. It prevents wounds from hand grenades, shell splinters, and shrapnel. In one section of the trendies the helmets saved thirty men. The;, are worn over the Balaclavas, and the men resemble Crusaders. FRENCH SUCCESS. ADMITTED BY THE GERMANS. New York, Oct. 31. A Berlin official message states that the French captured a Llemaii salient trench north of Le Mesnil.

FRENCH REPORT. ENEMY MEET WITH HEAVY LOSSES. Received Nov. 1, 10.50 p.m. Paris, Nov. I. A communique states: We recaptured the trenches at Neuville. The enemy launched four heavy attacks at Courtine and Tahur. but they all broke down with heavv enemv losses.