WESTERN FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9174, 14 October 1915, Page 6

WESTERN FRONT

HEAVY BOMBARDMENT ENEMY BATTERIES REPRESSED. The High Commissioner reports; , LONDON, October 13, 1.15 a.m. Paris reports: There was a heavy enemy bombardment at Souchez. The ' prisoners made in the action yesterday total one hundred and sixtyeight. At Soissons enemy batteries were repressed. In the Champagne region progress continued towards La Ooutte ravine, where we dominate along an extended front. • The enemy attack on the Lorraine advance post completely failed. In the Vosges, an cnomy attack, after a thorough bombardment, was completely repulsed. The sections attaining, a footing in our trenches were ejected immediately. PARIS, October 12. .i A communique states: Righting continued in the trenches wo captured north-east of Souchez and on the heights of La. Folic. GERMAHJEPORT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. October 12. A .Berlin communique states: Ihe French continue their attacks north or Arras, north-east of Souchez,, and east of Neuvillo. The French only succeeded in penetrating our advanced line at two points. We repulsed the Trench on both sides of 'failure. They nowhere gained ground., A WEEKJF HELL By Telegraph—Proas Association— Copyright (Received .October 13, 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. A correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle" visited German prisoners in the French military hospital at val do Grace, and lie.writes: “After hearing the story of the French bombard- . iront, 1 understand the awful expression- of terror and delirium in tic men’s eyes. A young officer tajd i ‘The bombardment was' a. week or hell. ■ The sheila literally burst everywhere, and one could hardly hearone’s neighbour shouting. Many wont mad. Day and night we lay in our bomb-proof shelters. A trench was levelled to the ground and then dug up and refilled by exploding shells. Only by a miracle we kept the entrance to our room open. Suddenly someone shouted: “3lie Trench aie over Us.” We rushed out of the remnants of the parapet. I fell, shot in the shoulder, and others Sell over me, wounded and dying. For three hours I was hidden under the bodies. Then I worked myself free, and gave nivself up to' the French. Of all the men in the trench, I am the sole survivor,’^ ALLIED AIR-RAID By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October ‘ 13,. 11 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October, 13. The “Echo de Beige" reports an Allied air raid on Ghent on Friday. The airmen rained bombs on the German hangars, and none were left standing. All the sheds and their contents were Burned, and ten houses were set on fire. . . , Allied aviators flew over Ghent 1 on Sunday morning. , PARIS, October 13. A communique states: “The Gerliious suffered great losses in Monday’s- fighting north-west of Souchez. • Our progress towards La Goutte con- • tinues. A violent infantry attack on our positions at Lingo and Schratzmaennete was repulsed, Some of the assailants gained a footing in one of our trenches, hut were immediately dflvehbht.” IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS SIR E. GREY’S STATEMENT ON THURSDAY. • By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, October 12. The House of Commons was crowded after a fortnight’s adjournment. The members in the Lobby warmly discussed the grave situation in the Balkans. . They are disappointed that they must wait till Thursday for Sir lid ward Grey’s statement, especially as M. Viviani has made a full announcement to the French Chamber. Mr Herbert Samuel, PostmasterGeneral, ..was cheered on announcing that the Government had decided not to abolish the halfpenny postage, on the ground that it would disturb business. ... ■ Mr "Asquith, in a voice broken with emotion, paid a tribute to the four members of the House of Commons who were recently killed. All were, he said, young men of high promise, and a splendid example to their countrymen. Mr Asquith promised Sir E. A. Cornwall that ho would consider the question of issuing a weekly or biweekly statement on the progress of the war. He added that the War Committee of the Cabinet consisted of twelve members, who were giving careful and continuous consideration to tlie conduct of the war, subject to the responsibility of the whole Cabi- ■ set. SAILORS’ AND SOLDIERS' DEPENDENTS ENORMOUS PAYMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighx (Received October 13, 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Mr Forster, in the House of Commons, said that payments to the dependents of soldiers exceeded one million pounds per week, and separation allowances paid to the dependents ot sailors two hundred thousand pounds weekly.