THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15487, 14 January 1916, Page 8

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

IN THE ARGONNE. _ 0 A LIVELY FIGHT. . GERMAN GAS ATTACK FAILS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, January 13 (12.25 a.m.) In the Argonne the Germans * exploded a mine at Hill 285, producing a vast crater. A lively fight continues, we having strongly organised the southern edge of tho crater. Between the Argon no and the Meuse a German gas attack failed. THE GERMAN REPORT. FRENCH ATTACK COLLAPSES. EXPLOSION IN LILLE. AMSTERDAM, January 12. A German communique says': — •'A French attack collapsed northwest of Le Mesnil. "The explosion of a magazine at Lille, believed to be tho result of an English plot, seriously damaged the adjacent street. Seventy inhabitants were killed and forty wounded." THE BELGIAN COAST. BRITISH NAVAL OPERATIONS. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. DESPATCH FROM VICE-ADMIRAL BACON. LONDON, January 12. Vice-Admiral Reginald H. S. Bacon, in a despatch upon the operations on the Belgian coast from August to December, says:—

"A British armed yacht was sunk by gunfiro and a drifter and minesweeper by mines. The total casualties were thirty-four killed and twentyfour wounded during the operations, which comprised six concerted operations of considerable magnitude and 'eight smaller ones. The enemy lost one torpedo-boat and two submarines. We destroyed three military factories and thirteen heavy guns, whilst many depots \frere extensively damaged, the Zeebrugge locks, and also wharves and moles at various places. Our killed included Lieutenant-Com-mander Gartside-Tipping, who was the oldest naval .officer afloat." Apart from the importance of the despatch itself, this message is interesting because it discloses the nature of the service on which Vice-Admiral Bacon has .been engaged. It was announced on May 4th, 1915, that this.distinguished officer had been appointed to an "important naval post on the South Coast of England, involving the hoisting of his flag." Yice-Admiral R. H. S. Bacon, who was promoted to that Tank on the retired list last June, ®I?£ered the service on January loth, 187.&. reached Hag rank on July 12th, 1909, ancL retired on November 25th, 1909. -While serving as'a lieutenant in the . Cfunpefdowiij ho was .awarded & silver medal (Al Valore de Marine) by the Italian Government for bravery displayed in rescuing the crew of the ! Italian -vessel Utopia, wrecked in Gibraltar, Bay in March, 1891. While commander of the Theseus he served Jn the punitive expedition commanded -by Rear-Admiral Rawson to punish the King_ of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition in 1897; was chief of the Intelligence Department, menfroncd ih despatches, and received the JXS.O. and general African medal with Benin clasp. He was naval assistant to the x'irst Sea Lord from October, 1906; first - captain of the Dreadnought, 1906-7; flag-captain of the Home Fleet, 1907; received the C. v .0. oil August 3rd, 1907, on the occasion of the review of jthe Home Fleet in the Solent by King Edward VII.; aide-de-camD to the King, September 2nd, 1908," to July 12th 1909; director of naval ordnance and torpedoes, August, 1907, to December, 1909. —He has been described as the "father" of the British Submarine Service, the "important research and experimental work with our earliest submarines, and the development of this important .section of the Navy being carried on under his personal supervision. On his retirement in 1909 he was appointed managing director of the Coventry Ordnance Works, Ltd. At the start of the war he offered his services to the Admirsity.

Lieutenant-Commander Henry Thomas Gartside-Tipping, who has given his life in the service of his country, had been on the retired list of -the •Ro.val Navy for about 35 years. His seniority in the rank of LieutenantCommander dated from August 18th, 1878.

IN GERMANY.

THE FOOD SUPPLY. SUFFICIENT UNTIL NEXT HARVEST. AMSTERDAM, January 12. Dr. K. Delbruck. Minister of the Interior. in the Reichstag said that Germany's food products would last till the next harvest. The Food Supplies Committee's report stated that Germany would not, permit herself to be starved, nor end the war before a complete victory. Dr. Liebknccht, Leader of the Socialist Party, having failed to ascertain information as to the treatment of inhabitants in the territories occupied by Germany, finally left the Chamber as a protest. • ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) (Received January 13th, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, January 12. The "Matin" says the food agitation in Germany is- becoming a great conspiracy. The Socialists have'acknowledged ,that the quantity of provisions is sufficient, but the distribution is unequal.

THE KAISER'S ILLNESS.

A DETESTABLE HUMOUR. PARIS, January 12. Tho Geneva correspondent of the "Petit Journal" says it is rumoured in official circle* in Berlin that the

Kaiser was in a detestable humour before his illness. He was angry because General von Lyncher and Admiral von Tirpite had blundered in affirm ins that -Russia would accept the German ultimatum and that Britain would not fight.