IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16292, 27 January 1915, Page 5

IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

OFFICIAL REPORT. PAEIS, January 25. A communique .states : We made slight progress east of St. Georges, and Tepulsed a counter-attack at Berry-au-Bac (on the Aisne). Our artillery completed the destruction of bridges over the Meuse at St. Mihiel. SUPERIOR FRENCH ARTILLERY. GERMAN "JACK JOHNSONS" DAMAGED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, January 25. Amsterdam reports that 16 German heavy guns in the Arras region were seriously damaged by the French artillery, and have been removed by trains. KING ALBERTS POPULARITY. A CANADIAN RUMOUR VANCOUVER, January 25. The newspaper Daily Province, in an editorial paying a tribute to King Albert's bravery and chivalry, adds : " Maybe he will be called to rule a far larger country than Belgium. It is whispered that France is so enthused by his gallantry and so anxious to honour him that she may offer him a crown." DESTITUTE BELGIANS. RELIEF UNDER AMERICAN FLAG. YOUNG .PEOPLE SEEK OTHER LANDS (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, January 25. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) Fifty thousand destitute persons throng the Brussels relief kitchens, and soup is distributed daily at 21 canteens under the protection of the American flag. Outside the townships villagers are searching the fields in the hope of finding stray potatoes and picking fruit that is rotting in the orchards. Old people return home to die rather than face new lands, while the young are going forth to other lands, poor, and with bundles of rags on their shoulders. BRITISH AVIATORS. A DOUBLE DISASTER. LONDON, January 26. (Received Jan. 26, at 10.40 p.m.) The Chronicle's Dunkirk correspondent states that Major Raleigh and Captain Roche, who participated in the aircraft raid on Zeebrugge, encountered a fog on their homeward trip. Captain Roche lost his way and was wrecked and drowned. Major Raleigh, when at Dunkirk later was biplaning, when the machine was wrecked, and ho was caught in a quicksand. Both his legs were broken, and he died. A BLANK. PARIS, January 26. (Received Jan. 26, at 9.30 p.m.) Official : There is nothing to report.