IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

IN THE TRENCHES. .PREPARING FOR THE WINTER. A ROUGH TIME IN STORE. Received Dec. 0, 8.15 p.m. London, Dec. 5. Mr. Philip Gibbs say e that it is difficult to imagine more dreadful weather than that in which our men have settled down for the winter campaign. They are often knee-deep in water, and there are howling winds which come in gusts. When the wind drops a whitish fog creeps out of the ground, and makes a horrible coverlet of moisture upon everything, and the rifles arc clammy to the touch. The enemy is invisible* througn the veil of vapor, and is unlikely to attack while the battlefields are such a quagmire. It is a 9heer impossibility to bring up artillery, and, therefore it will be for some time in the mud. This is warfare but it is not restful, because tliere are shrapnel and bullets, mixed with the drops of moisture, but the troops are grinning and bearing the discomfort in the same miserable conditions, which are demoralising them and resulting in an increasing number crawling to our lines and surrendering, telling pitiful stories of hideous miseries. There is iiuch talk of elaborate dug-outs, electric fittings, pianos, etc., but these are for the officers only. Mr. Gibbs continues: Our constant shellfire to-day resembles the daily '/rightfulness' which we formerly suffered almost silently. Having a few 'whizzbangs'.at our disposal the position is now partly reversed. Heavy guns and highest explosives are still arriving. 810 OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. EXEMY SCARED. Received Dec. 6, 11.43 p.m. London, Dec. 6. The Times Lausanne correspondent says that the Cermans got a tremendous fright during the British and French offenlive in September. The papers of the headquarters staff were packed in a licet of motor-cars at Brussels for three days, ready for instant flight, the staff believing that the offensive would succeed. The remainder of the staff are still in a state of acute alarm, and believe that their strength will decline in January. Therefore the Germans are preparing for a desperate offensive in the West, assisted by extra heavy artillery which Krupps are working day and niglit to provide. If this attack fails the Germans will invite President Wilson and the Pope to initiate peace. STRONG FRENCH DEFENSIVE. IiKSKIIAI. GERMAN ATACK ' IMPENDING. Paris, Dec. 5. A correspondent, writing from Champagne, says that a large number of Germans from Russia are concentrating at .St. Quentin, Laon, Mezieres, and elsewhere. This has led to the general belief that a renewal of the German offensive is impending, but apparently General von Einem's attack between La I'omelle and Prosnes persuaded the enemy that the French line 3 were too strong. General von Einem is holding a position of extraordinary strength, the trenches having been cut in chalky rock. He is always threatening a sudden descent on the camp at Chalons. In the last big light General von Einem launched two divisions, the centre of the attack being at La Marquise farm, upon the Rheims-Suippes road. It was preceded by gas waves of exceptional volume, attacking the eye< even through masks! After the gas came flaming liquid. This was ineffective, as the French sharpshooters picked off the sprayers and tiie machines often sprayed the oncoming Germans. The enemy charged at an ambling trot, in curious contrast to the elan of the French bayonet charges. The French machine-guns soon reduced the massed formation to disorderly groups, which wore finally wiped out. The recent fighting has proved that the superiority in machine-guns lias parsed to the French, whose gunners have developed all the German expert Rcience. THE COMMAND OF FORCES. SUCCESSOR TO GENERAL JGFFRE. Paris, Dee. a. Though the Paris Journal states that the Government does not intend to appoint ft successor to General .loffro to take direct command at the front, several newspapers assert that a successor has already been chosen, and will act in close collaboration with General Joftre in some quarters. Qtaeral Castelnau is aentionsd.