WESTERN FRONT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 83, 6 October 1915, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

PREPARATIONS FOR A NEW ASSAULT BRITISH HAVE PLENTY OF TROOPS. PARIS, sth October. The bombardment of the German second line positions continues, in preparation for another assault. The Germans are not allowed to know whether the same points are threatened, or entirely different points. Critics point 'out that only tlu'ee British army corps (about 120,000 men) were deeply engagfed on the 25th. Sir John French, therefdre. possesses j ample troops for the future advance. Meanwhile, time is being allowed I for the "German reserves to exhaust i themselves m counter-attacks, wherein.

they are losing heavily, while the French and British are clearing up the ground after the recent advance The new method of attack In overwhelming force in a large area necessitates the capture of the first line of trenches, then a rush beyond the system o£ block-houses and isolated machinegun pits, which^form the advance works of the second line. SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT ENEMY GAINS A LOCAL SUCCESS. LONDON, sth October. Sir John French reports : The enemy on Sunday afternoon carried out a heavy bombardment, followed by l'epeated attacks over the open against the trenches between the quarries and the Vermelles-Hulluch-road. The attacks were prefesed with determination. All were re.i,nnl«Hi TEJih-tavftra. loMK.-ths_enfimx.iaii-

ing to reach our trenches. The enemy further to the north-west succeeded in recapturing the greater portion of the Hohenzollern redoubt. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The High Commissioner reports : — LONDON, October 5, 1.40 a.m. The cannonade continues at many points. In the Artois region the enemy again set foot in the trenches south of Givenchy Wood. Everywhere else a violent counter-attack was repulsed. An enemy aeroplane was brought down and the officers made prisoners. In the eastern Argonne, the Allies' heavy artillery caught a moving enemy column. A TRAIN BOMBARDED. (Received October 6, 10 a.m.) PARIS', sth October. A communique states i Our artillery northward of Verdun hit a train, causing a violent explosion. A French aeroplane squadron dropped fifty bombs on the Biaches railway station, near Peronne. AERIAL ATTACK ON ZEEBRUGGE. AMSTERDAM, sth October. Five English aeroplanes bombed points of importance at Zeebrugge. They were heavily shelled, and one was brought down and another hit at a height of fourteen thousand feet. The latter volplaned, and landed in Zeeland, where it was interned. METHOD OF ATTACK HOW THE FRENCH ADVANCED.. PARIS, stb October/ During their recent charges /the French did not stop to. take each w,ork, but sped on until further advance 'was impossible without further artillery preparation. Then they dug in, usually linking up a line of shell craters. The attack on the isolated fortifications followed. The commanding height of Butte de Mesnil, six hundred feet high, resisted until yesterday. The machine-guns on the summit continually enfiladed the French lines. The capture greatly consolidated the French position. Many machine-gun positions were cemented and armoured, and so covered that the attackers were unable to distinguish the source of the deadly stream of bullets. After a siege lasting a week the position was carried with the bayonet. "A REAL LIVE BATTLE" A FOOTBALLER'S DESCRIPTION, LONDON, sth October. A i well-known Rugby footballer, who participated" in the recent fighting/ writes :—": — " It was a real live battle. We advanced in short rushes practically the whole day, the Germans meanwhile playing skittles with ue. Their losses were heavy. They had the surprise of their lives. When they expected the climax, the. Germans, who were rounded up like rabbits, left the trenches, displaying the white flag. "It was a wonderful' sight, worth all the months of waiting. When the Germans surrendered it was like the end of an international Rugger match." • A SNIPER'S FATE BAYONETED IN THE DARK. (Received October 6, 10 a.m.) LONDON, sth October. A correspondent at the front describes how a notorious, stalwart German sniper met his fate: "One of our volunteer listeners in the vicinity of the enemy's trenches was concealed at night in a large shell crater. The German entered j and approached within two yards. He peered through the darkness, but was immediately bayoneted, and died without uttering a sound. The listener crept J back to his own lines, bringing the sniper's rifle." GENERAL MARCHAND DECORATED. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES) LONDON, sth October. General Marchand, of Fashoda fame, who was recently wounded, has been awarded the War Cros6. An order of the day states that he inspired the men with unconquerable determination, and that they would follow him anywhere. 'GERMAN FERRIES STGP. LONDON, sth October. Copenhagen reports that the cessation of German ferries indicates the use of ferry boats for the transport of troops through the Kiel Canal. (PRESS ASSOCIATION,) KILLED IN FRANCE. LONDON, sth October. Capt. Clark, of the Seaforth Highlanders, who was aide-de-camp to 'the Governor of New Zealand in 1910, and Lieut. Leslie Sweet-Escott, son of the Governor of Fiji, have been killed in France. EASTERN CAMPAIGN RUSSIA CAN STAND FIRM. MORE GUNS AND HUGE REINFORCEMENTS. (TIUES AND STDVFY SUN SERYICBS.) LONDON, sth October. The Petrograd correspondent of The Times says: — "The continuous improvement ofjthe Russian artillery and the advent "of huge reinforcements have enabled Russia to take a firm stand. " General RuszkyJs hammering of General yon Buelow's left flank in the direction of Mitau may cause a, diversion favouring Dvinsk. The Russians have recaptured Postavk, finally broken up the enemy's front at Soly Molo-detchno-Glubokoe-Vidzy and dispersed the Germans at Sventziany "These successes have eased the situation at Dvinsk, Eut the Russians are not yet free from the peril of envelopment." (PRRRS ASSCfuVIOK.) OFFICIAL REPORT. PETROGRAD, sth Octobei. A commun'que states : Near Dvinsk the Germans yesterday occupied part of our trenches. We counter-attacked and reoccupied them, inflicting heavy losses. We also reoccupied trenches near the River Madziolki, and carried some villages in the Kozcuny region. We crossed the Spisglitzy River to the western bank, and took hundreds pf prisoners and many quickfirers. GIFT FIELD HOSPITAL OFFICERS AND NURSES LEAVE LONDON. , LONDON, sth October. Captain MaTk Gardner, ten other officers, tivfintt-nve nurses, and fifty.

orderlies of the new field hospital which is the nation's gift to Russia are proceeding to Petrograd. AMERICA AND THE SUBMARINES ARABIC AND HESPERIAN CASES. LONDON, 4th October. A report from Washington states that, following upon a conference between President Wilson and Mr. Lansing (Secretary of State) to consider Count Bernstorff's last Note on the Arabic incident, it has been announced that Germany has failed to satisfy the United States Government's requests that Germany should disavow the sinking of the liner and assume the liability therefor, and stated her final refusal to meet it. The American view is that this might lead to a rupture of diplomatic relations. The naval officers who were assigned the duty of examining the metal which was found on board the Hesperian are virtually convinced that the steamer was wrecked by a mine. A SUBMARINE DAMAGED AND SUNK REWARD FOR STEAMER'S CREW. LONDON, sth October. The Admiralty has awarded £200 sterling to the officers and crew of the steamer Gottingham, which fouled and damaged a German submarine,' enabling the patrol boats to destroy her. NEUTRALS' PRECAUTIONS •NORWAY'S . NEW NAVAL PROGRAMME. (TIKIS IMB BTDNET SUN SEKYICIS.) LONDON, sth October. The Norwegian Defence Minister announces that twenty-one million kroner (£1,135,000) will be spent on the new naval programme, including a considerable number of* submarines. One hundred and six million kroner (about £5,600,000) has been spent on defences since the war started. A Spanish Gazette has called up 64,000 recruits of the 1916 class, also the supernumeraries of the 1912 class. FRENCH STEAMER SUNK BY AUSTRIAN SUBMARINE. (Received October 6, 8.35 a.m.) MARSEILLES, sth October. An Austrian submarine sank the French steamer. Provincia, 3523 tons, off Cerigo. The crew were landed. STATE-MADE MUNITIONS NEW SOUTH WALES ACTIVITIES. (Received October 6, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. Holman, Premier of New South Wales, states that the Cabinet reports having received three types of machine guns made at Watch Island. One was invented at the State works, another by somebody outside. The third isiof British design, and of this., ten replicas were being constructed. Aeroplane building was proceeding satisfactorily. A slight hitch had occurred in shell making, but he did no* doubt that the State tender would eventually be- accepted. RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA 'SECOND CAMPAIGN TO OPEN. (Received October 6, 8.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. It has been definitely decided to open the second recruiting campaigD on Monday. It will occupy six weeks. Another campaign is to be inaugurated to inculcate economy .aijd efficiency and to suggest how those unable to enlist can best serve their country. WOUNDED SQLDIERS FACILITIES TO ENTER AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. (Received October 6, 8.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. In 1 the Assembly the Government promised to consider a suggestion to give wounded soldiers an opportunity of entering agricultural colleges. The administration of patriotic funds was also discussed, and the establishment of a bureau was suggested where applications would receive prompt attention. SOUTH-WEST AFRICA NOT TO BE RESTORED. CAPETOWN, 4th October. A heckler at a meeting asked General Hertzog whether, if Britain won the war, he would favour restoring SouthWest Africa to the Germans. General Hertzog : " No. Since we have it, it would be insanity to hand it back again." , THE SPELTER PROBLEM BONUS SCHEME RECOMMENDED. (Received October 6, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, sth October. The London Chambers of Commerce have convened a conference of producers, manufacturers, and consumers of spelter. It was resolved to urge the Government to grant a bonus, for not less than twenty years, on spelter produced in works in Great Britain from ores mined within the Empire, to increase the price to £23 a ton when the monthly average falls below £23 ; or as an alternative to guarantee the capital invested. | CANADIAN RED CROSS MADAME MELBA'S HELP. (Received October 6, 12.30 p.m.) TORONTO, sth October. Madame Melba appeared at a concert in aid of the Red Cross Funds. It was a huge success, and nearly two thousand sterling was raised. Afterwards the Canadian Red Cross Society presented Madame Melba with a life membership in recognition of her generous efforts. THE KIDMAN CASE EVIDENCE ABOUT TENDERS. SYDNEY, sth October. At the hearing of the Kidman case, the managing clerk in Kidman's office gave evidence that some tenders for military supplies had been made out in other people's names. I\idma7i told him that he intended submitting tenders other people's nainet>, as he had an idea that his tenders would not be accepted, from the fact that one lodged previously 'had not been accepted, though the prices .were low.