THE WESTERN FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16547, 22 November 1915, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONT

LOOS. THE TROOPS THAT DID THE FIGHTING. A GLORIOUS ACTION. LONDON, November 20. (Received Nov. 21, at 4.30 p.m.) Mr Gibbs, in a despatch from Loos, says that because the people do not know what men fonght one of the most bloody struggles in history it is stil! vague and impersonal. The Guards were seen and given recognition, but the story is now told of the Isth and 47th Divisions, who preceded the Guards. The ISth Division con* tained the flower of Scotland's manhood, such regiments as the Black Watch, the Cameron, Gordon, Argyll and Sutherland, and Seaforth Highlanders, the Royal Scots, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and Highland Light Infantry. These are now all good veterans. The 47th Division consisted ol Territorials drawn" from the civil service, City offices and'ware* houses, and the playhouses of London. As the French troops Watched the Londoners advance they saw one kicking a football. They thought he was mad, but it was a London Irishman who had determined not to lose the football, and kept it for the whole 1400 yards advance. This is the finest football sprint in history. After describing the cemetery fight and the hand=to-hand fighting at Loos, Mr Gibbs says: " The scene on Saturday night and Sunday morning at Loos will make one of the most astounding stories of history. The soldiers were crowded among the shattered houses and eorpse=choked cellars. Wounded men staggered into the streets and doctors rendered first aid in the road' ways while shells were bursting overhead and the roar of the great battle on every side filled the air with an infernal tumult." Subsequently the 15th Division and a. brigade of the 21st attacked' the redoubt on Hill 70, but failed. The Highlanders flung themselves against the stronghold again and again, but owing to the lack of adequate support suffered heavy casualties and made no progress. Both the 15th and 47th Divisions were finally relieved after three days' incessant fighting, in which they proved themselves soldiers worthy of the traditions of Scotland and London. WESTENDE BOMBARDED. PARIS, November 21. (Received Nov. 21, at 11 p.m.) A German comunique states: Enemy monitors bombarded Westende. BOMBS ON ESSEN. DROPPED BY BELGIANS. LONDON', November 21. (Received Nov. 21, at 11 p.m.) Belgian aviators dropped bombs on the German contonments at Essen.