THE LOOS BATTLEFIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 19

THE LOOS BATTLEFIELD.

ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SUCCESS, AMSTERDAM, October 23. The Berliner Tageblatt, describing the Loos battle, says that the British bombardment was terrific. “ Our ex= cellent trenches were blown to holes and our entanglements were shredded, (ias banks crept towards us in successive waves. Suddenly, behind the fourth cloud, the British emerged in

thick lines. Storming columns seemed to arise from the earth. The men wore masks and resembled devils, not soldiers. For a long time after the battle no news reached the divisional headquarters, the wires being destroyed. An adjoining division reported a gas attack. Their first line was stormed. Finally came the news that the British had succeeded in storming our divisions’ first trenches. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. PARIS, October 22. A communique states : The German bombardment continues very violently westward of Tahure and eastward of the Butte de Tahure, Mesnil, and Ville-sur-Tourbe district. We everywhere repulsed the enemy by our repressive fire, which was clearly very effective against their batteries and trenches. The explosion of a French mine, in the Argonne destroyed an enemy post. RECENT FRENCH BOMBARDMENT. PARIS, October 22. A correspondent who visited the Champagne three days ago states that the ground recently won by the French as the result of their lire over a large area was absolutely swept of vegetation. Over 3.000. shells were dropped in one small district in three days, excavating pits from sft to 70ft deep and some 150 ft wide. The whole countryside was covered with white powder, the result of the explosions. Many German prisoners went insane. The French were engaged for days clearing up the battlefield. Excavations revealed dead Germans by the hundreds all huddled together as if a new Pompeii had been unearthed. The Germans had woven the whole place with barbed wire. The French spent two months preparing for the attack. Some of the trenches were wide enough for two horses. The advance was made with comparatively small loss. SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE ATTACKS. PETROGRAD, October 22. A communique states ; Our surprise attacks carried part of the enemy’s positions in the Novo Alexinetz district, northward of Tarnopol, also eastward of Lopuschno, and northward of Novo Alexinetz. We captured during the day 148 officers and 7500 men, two howitzers, and a number of machine guns. October 23. A communique states : The Russians crossed the Upper San south-east of Baranavitchi, making pri- £ oners of 1600 men. GENEVA, October 22. The Germans near Eckau (south of Riga) lost 30 kilometres’ length of trenches. Their casualties were 18,000. The Russians in Eastern Galicia are advancing rapidly. GERMAN “FRIGHTFULNESS.” PETROGRAD, October 22. The Germans have informed the people of Mit.au that unless Riga is captured they will raze all towns and villages on. their line of retreat. AMSTERDAM, October 23. A German communique states : We counter-attacked east of. Bananovitchi, capturing 1150 Russians. General von Linsingen outflanked the'’ Russians - west of Czartorysk, making prisoners of 3600 men. The Russians broke the lines of the adjoining troops the previous day and got behind our artillery lines, capturing six guns. RUSSIAN FINANCE. PETROGRAD, October 23. The bankers favour an internal loan of 1.000. roubles.