THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15478, 4 January 1916, Page 8

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

GREAT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. SLIGHT FRENCH RETIREMENT AT HARTMANNSWEILERKOPF BELGIAN SAND-DUNES BOMBARDED. • (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received January 3rd, 8.35 p.m.) PARIS, January 3. . An official communique says:— "Our artillery heavily damaged the enemy's works in the region of the sand-dunes of Belgium, where ws« blew up two ammunition depots. "Owing to a violent enemy bombardment in the Hartmannsweilerkopf re-

gion, our troops on a front of metres fell back to the western edge of the ravine southward of Repfelsen."

The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, January 2 (7.10 p.m.). In the Champagne district the French heavy artillery effectively bombarded the enemy's barracks last, night, north of Bouconville wood and Malmaison. THE BRITISH FRONT. RECIPROCAL BOMBARDMENTS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received January 3rd, 8.35 pim.) LONDON, January 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— sprang a mine on Sunday in front of our trenches eastward of Cuinchy, but made no attempt to occupy the crater.

"Our artillery bombarded the enemy's trenches northward of Fromelles and eastward of Ypres. The Germans vigorously replied, but "without serious effect." Cuinchy is about two miles -west by south of La Bassee. Fromellcs is about six miles west by south of Lille. THE GERMAN REPOKT. AMSTERDAM, January 2. A German communique says: — "Strong English detachments failed to penetrate our position north-east of Armenticres." This doubtless refers to the successful bombing attack reported by 6ir Douglas Haig yesterday. NEW YEAR'S DAY, "WINTRY WEATHER IN THE trenches. (Received January 3rd, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 3. Mr Phillip Gibbs says half a gale of wind, with drenching rain, ushered in the New the British front, but the howling wind was outdone by wie roar of the great British guns, which "strafed" the Germans. The air was swept by an incessant rush of shells, to which the enemy made a feeble reply.

THE SEPTEMBER FIGHTING. FRENCH GENERAL STAFF ACCOUNT. ENORMOUS GERMAN LOSSES. "Times'* and "Sydney Sun" Service*.) (Received January 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 3The "National Review" publishes an account by the French General Staff of the battle in the Champagne district. The Germans, at the beginning of September, had 70 battalions on the Champagne front. Anticipating an attack, tliev added 29 more. After the battle, they were compelled to send for 93 fresh battalions. "We regard 150,000 as an underestimate of the German losses. Germany has used her resources in men prodigally, but they are now extremely limited."

IN GERMANY. ECONOMIC SITUATION SERIOUS. NATION ALREADY BEATEN. AMERICAN FINANCIERS' VIEWS. ("Timoft" and "Sydney Sun" Seme##.) (Received January 3rd, 5.5 jj.m.) LONDON, January 2. The New York correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says tho New York Pi'ess is unanimous in predicting that Germany is nearer defeat than Britain imagines. News from American sources of information iu the Central Empires proves that the reserves of food and men in Germany are almost ended. When fhese are exhausted Germany must collapse.

Wall Street i s confident that the war will bo ended in 1916. Bankers in constant touch with the European capitals are most optimistic. They declare emphatically that the Germans are already beaten despite their military successes. All the prominent American financiers say that commercially and economically Germany is tottering to her fall.

This view is reflected in the extraordinary depreciation of her currency. The prices of the necessities of life in Austria and Germany have advanced seventy per cent, and are still rising in an alarming fashion. Financial authorities in America are firmly convinced that when the taxpayers of Germany and Austria become really hungry the war must collapse. The Amsterdam correspondent of "The Times" says that the value of the mark has again declined, and is now down about 30 per cent. Austrian money has depreciated 40 per cent. THE KAISER'S ILLNESS. DANGER OF BLOOD POISONING. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Sen-ices.) (Received January 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 2. The Kaiser . contracted during his visit to the Russian front a number of virulent carbuncles. . The danger of blood-poisoning has not been removed, and the Kaiser is bedridden. His throat is inflamed. In view of his general physical and mental depression, New Year demonstrations at the palace were forbidden.