WESTERN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6505, 5 October 1915, Page 3

WESTERN.

HEAVY FIGHTING AT LA BASSEE.

All German Counter-attacks Foiled. llec Get 4, 1 45 p m London, Oct 3 Reuters correspondent with the British headquarters vividly portrays the conditions on the front in a .despatch dated September 30. He says durine; the last two days but little further advance has been miide on the British front. Fighting lias been proceeding, at some places heavily, along our new Hues south of La Bassee, but none of thy counterattacks succeeded. The enemy lost heavily iv killed and wounded. Our new positions are being consolidated. I The weather has been unfavourable. After a dull grey day heavy mm fell on Tuesday evening, with a chilly wind. The flat Flanders coun- I fcryside, especially the black country, | is depressing to the last degree. Everything is covered with mud. | Long files of marching men, with waterproof sheets right over their i heads, are seen plodding steadily through the slusb, chanting a chorus to keep up their spirits. Theic are endless columns of huge motor lorries and staff cars, while dashing through the ruts on the roadside past the coiumus are motor despatch riders, machines aud men being alike a mass of mud. The only subject amongst the men is how to advance. On going into one town the correspondent observed eight Geimau field guvs which were captured. These were loosely drawn up aud guarded by soldiers with fixed bayonets. The French and English inspected aud deciphered Germau inscriptions on the barrels, which were engraved with the Imperial eagle and the name of the Emperor. Chalked figures showed the ranges of ihe guvs when last firc:l.