A NEW MILITARY STAR ARISES

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 25

A NEW MILITARY STAR ARISES

THE TIMES’ CORRESPONDENT VERY OPTIMISTIC

SIGNIFICANT STEP BY BULGARIA

HERMAN ATTACKS IN THE WEST REPULSED.

ABANDONED TRENCHES RETAKEN. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. PARIS, July 13. Official : The Germans bombarded our trenches on the Lombaertzyde-Nieuport front. Our reply silenced two batteries. Despite an asphyxiating cannonade, we counter-attacked in the Souchez-Carency sector, regaining a portion of the trenches abandoned on Sunday. We exploded a mine chamber on the Aisne, wrecking the German mine-layers. The Germans attempted two attacks at Croix des Carny. The first was repulsed with important losses, and the second was stopped before the Germans could emerge irom their trenches. ASPHYXIATING BOMBSHELLS. THREE ATTACKS FAIL. LONDON, July 12. A Paris communique states : After throwing a great number of asphyxiating projectiles, the enemy attempted to attack southwards of Souchez towards midnight. The attack failed, but a second attack towards 2 o’clock enabled the enemy to occupy the cemetery and portions of the adjacent trenches. A very keen struggle, in which grenades were thrown, occurred in the trenches south-east of Neuville, without any appreciable change. The enemy, using shells of every calibre, violently cannonaded various points in the Woevre. and then attempted several attacks, all of which were repulsed. The enemy’s attack south-west of Ammertzwiller was repulsed with important losses, and we took some prisoners. GERMAN “SLIMNESS.” LONDON, July 12. “ Eye-witness ” gives the following example of the enemy’s “slimness.” When they saw a British aeroplane rising daylight flares the Germans concentrated their gun fire on specific areas of our line. The object was to make us imagine that the aeroplane was the enemy’s, directing the German artillery, and thus induce us to shell it. The underlying idea of the ruse was distinctly ingenious. Another trick is that, knowing the British weakness for collecting souvenirs, they are leaving about their trenches bright helmets containing bombs, which explode when picked up. BERLIN REPORT. BERLIN, July 12. A communique states : We blew up portion of the English position north of Hill 60 (east of Ypres). Hand-to-hand fighting is proceeding at Souchez, where we stormed and recaptured the cemetery after hard fighting. We took prisoner 165 Frenchmen and captured four machine guns. CANADIANS AT LANGEMARCK. LONDON, July 12. The Canadian “ Eye-witness” states that after the battle of Langemarck the Canadians rested until May 14, and then moved into the southern section of the British line. The following is an example of the result of the citizen army not keeping to drill-book rules : A Canadian battalion arranged its artillery to open a heavy fire on a section of the German trench while the infantry made an ostentatious parade, fixing their bayonets, and rigging trench ladders. The Germans promptly retired into their supporting trenches, leaving a storm of shells to rage on their front, but ready to rush back when the fire stopped to meet the Canadian charge. The guns were duly lifted from the front trenches, and shelled the supporting trenches, as the drill book states, to prevent the Germans coming up. The Germans, nevertheless, returned, but the Canadias did not move. Instead, the artillery shortened its range, and a blast of fire fell upon the crowded front trenches. Next day a German wireless message announced that a desperate attack had been repulsed, but the real fact was disclosed by a German who, entering the trenches for the night watch, cried out peevishly : “ Sam Slick, no dirty tricks to-night.” The 2nd Brigade attacked a fortified position called Bexhill on May 21, and captured a section of the trench. Next night a detachment ■ of British troops (including King Edward’s Horse and Strathcona’s Horse) took over the trenches, both serving as infantry. This, their first introduction to warfare, was without incident, though the enemy threatened an attack upon King Edward’s

Horse, but broke in face of heavy artillery fire. The Canadians again attacked at daybreak on the 24th, and, capturing the positions, dug themselves in and hung on, assisted by a ring of shrapnel, while heavy guns distracted the German artillery. Bri-gadier-general Seely now assumed command, and the position was held. The total losses of the brigade in connection with Bexhill were—ss officers and 980 men. CANADIAN BRAVERY. LONDON, July 12. The Canadian “Eye-witness’ narrates numerous instances of bravery, including the following in connection with the Ontario Regiment’s frontal attack upon a trench called Stony Mountain, near La Basseee : Private Vincent, a “ lumber-jack,” mounted a machine gun on his back in default of a base. Private Smith, son of an Ontario Methodist minister, was buried by the explosion of a mine, but dug himself out and crawled to the front lines five times to resupply the bombers with bombs. The German fire was so hot that he had to lie down and toss bombs to the men in the captured trenches. When the supply of bombs was exhausted an unknown Canadian was seen standing on the parapet of a German trench, leaping with rage and hurling bricks and stones upon the enemy until he had killed the remnants of the occupants. The Ontario regiment was finally forced to evacuate the ground won. Out of 23 officers who attacked Stony Mountain 20 were killed or wounded. VON HINDENBERG IN DISGRACE. PARIS, July 12. Le Temps states that a neutral recently in Germany narrates that Fieldmarshal von Hindenburg told the Kaiser that the war had reached a point where Germany could not obtain further advantage, and advised the Kaiser to find means for stopping the needless slaughter. The Kaiser told von Hindenburg to hold his tongue. He dismissed him immediately, and appointed General Mackensen in his - place. THE RUSSIANS SUCCESSFUL. PETROGRAD, July 13. Official : There was a violent cannonade in the outpost engagement in the vicinity of Prasnysz, and isolated actions in the Lublin region. Our troops having finished their counter-offensive, occupied positions on the heights on the right bank of the Urzendovka River. On the Upper Bug, near the town of Rosk, several enemy battalions attacked. We allowed them to approach to within 200 paces, and then dispersed them. Many killed and wounded were left on the ground.