IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1915, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

COLD AND WET. BUT - CHEERFUL. QHBISTMAS nr THE TRENCHES. Received Dec. 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 26. JO. Phillip Gibbs, in the Daily Chronicle, writes that the only carols ieard in the trenches was the loud deep chut of the guns of both sides, the ■hrill soprano whistling of shells, and the rattle of machine-guns. If Father Christmas ventured into the trenches he would be compelled to lift up his cloak waist high, and staggering in the slithering sludge he might at any women* fall into deep icy pools. The boys, jestingly, are hanging up trenchwaders for Christmas boxes, but whenever home was mentioned they became #adly thoughtful, contrasting their present life to the former festivities in their own homes. Most of them treated Christmas with humorous irony, as Christmas sentiments were rather out of : place Where men were lying with rifles waiting to kill, only thinking of the presents they have been hoping to give.

NO TRUCE , , '•) '• ■. ' '.' DONKEY TRICKS NOT ALLOWED. t , Received Dec. 27, 8.5 p.m. j. London, Dec. 26. j:„,., T|ere could not.be a truce this Christ«s»«.. I%k Tommies have suffered too much to forget and forgive, and could p<it-hold friendly conversations while the dead were lying between the trenches. Everywhere it was remarked: "We do not intend'to allow any monkey tricks, Christina* or no Christmas; we have got . ]to get on with the war."

" TOMMIES AT PRAYER. . _ Irish Boldien assembled in a dimly United' abed, the wind howling, with guito of rain, and amidst the ramble W gum they responded to the priest's woroa for peace. The appearance of humility and meekness upon the faces of the kneeling Tommies was like that of ri»W*nt boys in a school chapeL Sawn on Christmas was not greeted by Angelic ■ongs, bat by the continuous splatter ihd boom of death machines on both ties. Still, everywhere wag heard the isery toast: "May we beat the Germs before another Christmas."

MDCPTION DEPOT BLOWN DP.

Received Dec. 27, 8.40 p.m.

' Paris, Dec. 27. A communique says: There is great artillery activity south of Bailleul, south of Arras. We blew up a munitions depot at the Woevre, and also an anInunition train that was standing at the railway station at Eachimette, southeast of Bonhomme.

v THE WAR IN ALSACE. ENEMY HEAVO.Y REINFORCED. Received Dec. 27: 10.30 pan. Paris, Dec. 26. It \i reported that General Macken•eh is in command in Alsace. Swiss reports indicate that the Germans are heavily reinforced there. There is growing artillery activity at Ypres and La Bassee canal, and it is beleved that this/heralds a big German offensive. ' Les Debate, describing Britain's industrial mobilisation, says: "If you pile Creusot on Essen, and multiply it ten, twenty, or fifty times, you will have an idea of the output of munitions and SUM.