THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15394, 27 September 1915, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

ALLIES ATTACK. FRENCH IND BRITISH GAIN GROUND. OFFENSIVE ON THE LEFT AND IN THE CENTRE. IMPORTANT POSSIBILITIES. (By Cable.—Preoa Association. —C opyrixlitO (Received September 27th. J2.15 a.m.) PARIS. September 26. An official communique states: — "On. the Belgian coast our batteries co-operated with the British Fleet in a bombardment of the German positions at Westende and Middelkerke. "British troops successfully attacked the enemy -westward of Loos and Hullueh (between La Bass£e and Arras). A vigorous Anglo-French attack northVara of Arras gave us a footing at several points in the enemy lines, while in the Champagne, after a new and very violent bombardment of the German trenches,- shelters, blockhouses, and batteries, our infantry began an assault on the German lines between the Suippo and the Aisnc. The first of the enemy's positions were occupied alone almost tho whole front of the attack. Progress continues."

[The High Commissioner sends the above message, adding that there were combats with aerial torpoddea and shells between the Sommo and tho Oise."J THE GERMAN VERSION. ATTACKS AFTER VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. BRITISH REPULSED AT YPRES. (Received September 27th, 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 26. A German official communique states: —"Along the entire front from the sea to tho Vcfeges the enemy's fire has increased. ' It is especially violent eastward of Ypres, between the La Basse© Canal and Arras, and from the Champagne to the Argonne. "After a severe artillery preparation, lasting at some points somo fifty hours, tho expected attack began, the British attacking between Ypres and the Rou-lers-Comines railway. Their attack on the northern wing was repulsed after ] hand-to-hand fighting in front of, and j in our positions. They are further at- I tacking north-east and south-east of j Armentieros. and northward of Lai Bassce Canal. I

"Wo only now know on the evening of the 23rd tho French penetrated our ' battered trenches near Sonches. We j ejected them on Friday, and are again repulsing thom near Souchez, and on . both sidre of Neuville. I "On the front from Prosneg, in tho j Champagne, to the Argonne, the j French attacked, but at most points vrcre repulsed, partly by strong artillery and partly by infantry and i machine-gun fire.. The retreating enemy | columns suffered considerably from our i heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Hand-to-hand fighting continues at some points on this front." AMSTERDAM, September 24. A German communique says: — "White and coloured British troops .sooth of the La Bassec. Ganaf attempt-! Ed to attack, but broke down before ' our artillery. "We shot down a British aeroplane, eppturing the pilot.'" , GERMAN PREPARATIONS FOR WOUNDED. (R<»ccived September 27th. 12.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. September 526. Tho "Telegraaf" states that the Ger- . leans are preparing for th© reception of ' a great number of wounded in Bel- 1 gium, especially in thp sooth, whero 1 numerous buildings have been convert- ] into hospitals. • .

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. NEW TYPE OP SHELL. Proaa Association.—Copyright) PARIS, September A communique states: — "The enemy attempted two attacks in Lorraine, one westward of Manioc, and the other northward of Bures. Both were accompanied by a violent cannonade, and supported by .lachrymatory shells, but were completely repulsed. PARIS, September 25. A communique says: — "Oar heavy guns blew up an important munitions depot at Thclas, :in Artois." The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, September 25 (4.45 p.m.). On the Western front a heavy bombardment continues. WITH THE BRITISH BEPOBT FROM SIR JOHN FRENCH. artillery activity. LONDON, September 23. Sir John French reports: — During tho past three days hostile artillery was oontinually active on our front. We effectively replied to the bombardment. There was eome mining activity, with unimportant results. "Our aircraft yesterday carried out a successful raid on the German com* munications at Valencicnnes, hitting a tram, and cutting the line in several places.

IN THE AIR. | ANOTHER FRENCH RAID. I PARIS, September 26. A communique says: — ' An air flotilla dropped forty bombs on the station at Sab lon, near Metz." THE ATTACK ON STUTTGART. j barracks hit. S BERNE. September 24. I . j l "®. bom "S of the Allied aviators considerably damaged two barracks at Stuttgart. Many soldiers were killed j or wounded. ! thi: devillndignant. ! ZURICH. September '25. j The Stuttgart Council protested • a|sunst the raid on an undefended city. I Councillors deriarcd that an enemy j attacked harmless citizens was fighting a lost cause.

I ZEPPELIN SEEN GOING j AYESTWARD. i (Received September 2?th, 12.10 a.m.) I AMSTERDAM. September 2C. A Zeppelin was seen northward of Ameland on Saturday evening, proIceeding westward. It is believed that several others accompanied it. FRENCH WAR FINANCE. ANOTHER HUGE VOTE. PARIS, September 20. The Chamber voted war credits amounting to £266,000.000. 31. Ribot announced that a new loan would be launched before fresh taxation, which would bo modelled on tho lines of the new British taxes, was im- j

ENEMIES' LOSSES. A FRENCH ESTIMATE. SIX AND'A HALF MILLIONS. PARIS. September 25. The estimates tho total Austrian, and Turkish losses at S.fiOOjOOO, of which 4,000,000 are killed, missing, or incapacitated. It is estimated that the Austrians to August had lost 551,000 killed, 1,915.000 winded, and SCU,OOO taken prisoner. Tho Prussian lists show 1,868,000 casualties. exclusive of the recent losses in Russia. THE GERMAN LOAN. GREAT SUCCESS CLAIMED. AMSTERDAM, September 23. • 'v" Minister of Finance, in a boastful interview, declared that the new* German war loan surpassed tho second English loan, and was tho greatest iinaucial operation in the world's history. Tho financing of tho winter campaijrn was assured. The Ivaisor telegraphed his congratulations to Dr. Heifferich on tho "splendid success.of tho loan, which snows that Germany will continue to n victorious ond this war which was forced on us by a criminal surprise. The results of the loan are equal to Germany's splendid victories on the battlefield." SWISS SHOT AS A SPY. PARIS, September 24. Tho Germans court-martial led tho Swiss cycling champion on a charge of espionage, find shot him, despite the Swiss Government s protests. AMERICA'S DUTY. COLONEL ROOSEVELT'S VIEWS NEW YORK, September 24. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, in an article in tuo "Metropolitan Mazazine," contends that it was America's duty under tho Haguo Convention to fight for Belgium. Had no duty been expressly imposed, she ought to have acted in accordance with tho generous instincts of humanity. Tho professional pacifists and "hyphenated Americans') represent American greed, and in seeking to prevent tho shipment of munitions to the Allies, are playing the game of brutal militarism against Belgium and their own country. AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR'S POSITION. LEAVE OF ABSENCE OR RECALL. WASHINGTON. September-20. The State Department has been notified that Austria cannot allow Dr. Dnmba to return home on leave of absence. Tho United States wishes his immediate recall to Austria. Representations have hitherto been based on the belief that tho Ufiited States would bo satisfied if Dr. Dumba was recalled on leave of absence.