The Advance on Loos.

Inangahua Times, 30 September 1915, Page 3

The Advance on Loos.

A Graphic Description.

1 The din of the bombardment was, doubly intense at dawn. 'Our guns had never spoken like this, and the attack began in earnest east of Vermilles, south of La Bassee Canal and the plain of Lens, where the men were soon in deadly grips with the enemy and advancing on the impregnable enemy trenches, upon which they had peered through bopholes and sandbags for many months. I The General Staff officers gatiitred, trying to pierce the vei: behind which masses of brown men were struggling forward. Battalions and brigades van* ished into the fog. The Britishers advancing through Loos "fought behind a veil wherefrom came the thunder of battle, and later the first stream of wounded; [ The positions were only known | when the telephone wire was laid. Tiie Allies' Artillery Fire, From a German Viewpoint, i

Amsterdam, Sept 29, The "Cologne Gazette" • declares that the possibility of the enemy breaking through no longer exists. The number of German prisoners is exaggerated. A high officer interviewed, said that it was a tremendous attack supported" by an artillery fire such as we never before experienced followed by a hand-to-hand struggle of extrar r linary fury. They full) appreciated the bravery, obs'inacy and courage of the attackers. Doctor Wagener, the Gazette's western correspondent, de-cribing the bombardment sfates that the whole atmosphere was in a state of dull vibration. The physical sensation of being shaken by the airwaves was like the .underground growling of a distant volcano shaking the earth's crust 'for miles around. -■' It was the most remarkable and , most exqting sensation imagine able. .-'"'-,■•__ \ ' ';■■. • Critics on the Operatipn , PARIS, Sept 28 Critics explain the captures of prisoners in the French advance y at Champagne'was so rapid and ihe bombardment so disorganised the lines that the German reserves ~&were caught |n the 3 aws ■ ofc, .the. lpincers and; dht off. "f r ~-\

"■■■ «■*"■*■ ■ General Marcharid;theft?ashp'da hero, waswoundedseripusly,but probably riot fatally. ;'"'•' ' ACteimmView, . AMSTERDAM Sept 28. German newspapers; which are evidently are unanimous in statine the Allies tried to break the German front and secure a final decision but failed. Joy in Russia PETROGRAD, Sept 28. There is profound satisfaction at the commencement of the offensive in the west, but it is realised that incessant , blows alone will shake the German de- , fence to its foundations. Demonstrators cheered the British and French Embassies. The Tsar telegraphed to Presi- ' dent Pbincaire, congratulating his \ valiant armies on i their, great success. President Poineaire replied: "The magnificent valour ofthe Russians is the admira* tioh of the world."

General French's Report London, Sept 29. S Sir John French reports severe fighting continues around Lens, j and also to the northward. We now hold all the ground I north of Hill 70, which the enemy I re-took on Sunday. t We have made further progress south of Loos, and captured 1 another gun, bringing the total us to 21, and there are many more between us which the enemy have abandoned. Prisoners exceed 3,000, Forty machine-guns were captured and many more destroyed. The lines captured are exceptionally strong, consistine of a double front line, including two large works name* Hohenzollern and Kaiser Wilhelm redoubts, which are a network of trenches and bomb-proof shelters hundreds of yards in extent. The second lines ran just west ofiLoos, and we are now closely engaged on the third line. Aeroplanes bombed the railway near Acheitlegrand. The Germans in the dug-outs were dazed with the intensity of the bombardment and were stupified into surrender.