GALICIAN PEASANTS' FEAR OF THE GERMANS.

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 38, 13 August 1915, Page 7

GALICIAN PEASANTS' FEAR OF THE GERMANS.

(TIUEB AND SIDNEt SON SERTICBg.) (Received August 13, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 12th August. Mr. Stanley Waehburn, in describing the exodue from Galicia, said he was struck by the fact that the husbands, brothers, and fathers of these refugee were fighting in the Austrian army. The refugees said that the presence of the Germans struck fear into their hearts. It was truly a sad commentary on the German reputation when the people of their allies flee at their approach. The Prussian name carrie* the same terror for the Galician peasant as it does for the Belgians and Poles. (TKSSS ASSOCIATION.) THE FIGHTING AT PRAGA MANY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. BERNE, 12th August. During the Russo-German street fighting at Praga, fifteen civilians were aocidentally killed and two hundred wounded. WHY SERVIA IS NOT ATTACKED AUSTRIA ALONE NOT STRONG ENOUGH. ATHENS, 12th August. Prisoners and deserters state that the reason why the Austrians have not renewed their attack on Servia is that the Austrian commander was not strong enough to undertake it without help, and he was unwilling to avail himself of the Bavarians, whom he regarded as unfit for mountain warfare. FIGHTING IN THE ARGONNE LOCAL GERMAN SUCCESSES. OTHER ATTACKS REPULSED. PARIS, 12th August. Official. — The bombardment in the Ai'gonne has redoubled in intensity. Large use was made of asphyxiating sheik. A violent German attack followed, and at dawn at least three German regiments advanced on our position, via, Binarville-road. Vienne-le- Chateau, and the Houyette ravine. The German centre on this sector penetrated our position, but was driven out by a counterattack. The enemy retains a part of the first line trenches. We captured a number of Wurtemburgers. Further east, towards Fontaine aux Charmes, the enemy launched attacks, which were completely repulsed. BAVARIAN REGIMENTS ALMOST ANNIHILATED. (Received August 13, 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, 12th August. Advices from Basle state that some Bavarian regiments were almost annihilated in attacking Thann. The French batteries compelled the Germans to evacuate Dornach. LIVELY FIGHTING AT BOIS LE PRETRE. (Received August 13, 8.15 a.m.) PARIS, 12th August. A communique states : German attacks at Marie Therese and Fontaine-aux-Charmes were completely repulsed. There was fairly lively fighting from trench to trench at Bois le Pretre, witli grenades and large bombs. A German attack at Linge was repelled after grenade fighting. GREAT STRUGGLE AT HOOGE BRITISH POSITION IMPROVED. "CONTINUAL NAGGING." " LONDON, 12th August. Mr. Philip Gibbs, the war correspondent, writing to the Daily Chronicle, states that the Germans have not yet made a serious counter-attack at Hooge. | Our artillery destroyed ten machine guns | during the preliminary bombardment. In | spite of the destructive effect of our shell , fire, the Germans who survived the or- ' deal fought doggedly. There was some I hand-to-hand fighting literally, for some of our soldiers used their fists to give a knockout. When daylight came many German dead lay among the wreckage of the trenches and dugouts. The German batteries were prodigal in their expenditure of shell, but we managed to straighten our line and consolidate the position without serious loss. Hooge is likely to become prominent for it is a point where there is continual nagging on both sides. Hooge is not what the soldiers call a "health resort." Reuter's account says: — "After our initial charge, some hot bayonet work took place in the trenches. The scene in the growing daylight was a weird one. Dim forms were swaying about, stabbing, shouting, and swearing ; Germans were fleeing and Tommies pursuing amid the incessant din. Our bursting shells were pitched on the enemy's reserve trenches, preventing the bringing up of reinforcements. The cries of the wounded and moans of the dying were heard on all sides. As the sun rose, the fighting died down."