COUNTER-ATTACK AT LOOS

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 18

COUNTER-ATTACK AT LOOS

HOW 5T ¥/AS MET. LONDON, October 20. Mr Phillip Gibbs (correspondent of the Daily Chronicle), who was an eyewitness, thus describes the rcpn’se of a counter-attack upon Loos on the Ftb inst. He says: “ The Germans nrul for days brought up reserves of men and guns. Our troops, crouching in the old German trenches, stood 'he ordeal of a concentrated bombardment of the trenches, which were strewn with shrapnel, and they were black as a coal-box. The shells flung up earth in all directions, yet the c.vanities were comparatively slight. Finally the Germans in the middle of the afternoon, opened a violent rifle and machine-gun fire. There were 50 yards between the opposing trenches, and this zone was filled with poison gases and smoke-balls. Then, through the dense curtain, in the gloom a line of jgrey figures advanced. The Germans came on swiftly, four deep, and shoulder to shoulder. The British rifles and machine guns were ready, and poured streams of lead into the shadow figures. Numbers fell, and others tried to crawl back to the trenches. We concentrated our fire upon the groups, and but few escaped. “ Meanwhile enemy aeroplanes directed a curtain of fire to prevent our supports coming up. The task of the British infantry, however, was finished. They had only to watch the heaps of German dead in the smoke, from which a few survivors emerged now and then and wriggled back to their own line. The German attack was not only repulsed, but shattered.” HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. PARIS, October 20. A communique states : Large enemy forces east of Rheims took the offensive on B 10-kilometre front, between La Pompelle jind Prosnes, and were completely defeated. Their attack was most carefully

prepared by a prolonged artillery bombardment, accompanied by chlorine gas. The enemy at the outset penetrated some parts of our front line, but our coun-ter-attacks were immediately launched, and the enemy were driven out at almost every point. Another vigorous counteroffensive by us in the afternoon ejected the last enemy, who were thus thrown back completely, suffering heavy losses in fruitless attack. BRITISH GAINS. EXPLAINED BY" SIR J. FRENCH. LONDON, October 20. Sir John French, describing the extent of the gains south of La Bassee made during the British advance in the neighbourhood of Loos and Hulluch, says : “ From Loos church the line bends southeast to the north-west slope of Hill 70, and runs along its western slopes to a point 1200 yards south of Loos church, whence it runs due west, but to our old line. The chord of the salient which we created in the enemy’s line is 7000 yards in length, and the depth of the salient at the chalk pit is 3200 yards'. “ Since September 28 the enemy have been reinforced, and they attacked our front with 48 battalions, including a divi-' sion of Guards. The enemy attacked this afternoon between the quarries and Hulluch, but were everywhere repulsed.” Sir John French reports: The enemy yesterday afternoon attacked our trenches from the quarries to Hulluch. Our fire completely stopped their infantry attack across the open. A number of bombing attacks in the neighbourhood of Hohenzollern redoubt and Fosseight were repulsed with very severe losses. EXPLOSION AT FRENCH MUNITION FACTORY. PARIS, October 21. An explosion occurred at a munitions factory at Rintablvt, at which 200 women were employed. Forty were killed and many wounded. A number of workmen’s dwellings near by collapsed, and it is feared that there are many bodies underneath. Windows for a radius of two miles were shattered. Many limbs were found 500 yards distant. There is no reason to suspect foul play. GERMAN 1 EXECUTIONS. SUSPENDED AT POPE’S REQUEST. ROME, October 20. As a result of the British and Belgian Legations’ appeal to the Pope, the latter has induced the Rarer to suspend, pending further investigations, executions of the Countess de Belleville and Madame Timber and seven other Belgians and French.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS. BRILLIANT SUCCESSES IN PRIPET DISTRICT. LONDON, October 20 (5.25 a.m.). The High Commissioner reports : In the region of Riga the Germans seized the village of Kisch, and are advancing to the region of Mitau. Russian aviators bombed Mitau and Grossekau. In the Pripet district our successes brilliantly developed, and many prisoners were taken by a swift blow at Novoselkay, where the enemy were driven to flight. LONDON,'October 21 (3.25 a.m.). The High Commissioner reports : Russian aviators bombed the station at Friedrichshof. In the region of Dvinsk a German attack was repulsed. In the region of the left bank of the Styr the enemy are still retreating in a disorderly manner. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. AMSTERDAM, October 20. A German communique states: General von Hindenburg has made further progress north-east and north-west of Mitau, capturing positions. General von Linsingen continues fighting in the Stry district. ENEMY FORTIFICATIONS. PARIS, October 20. Colonel Naudeau, who is with the Russian Headquarters, states that the AustroGermans are constructing immense fortifications along their rear, between the approaches to Riga and the Dniester. A thousand navvies are working day and night around Lemberg with a view to stopping the Slav wave now re-forming for a westward advance.