In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 292, 8 December 1914, Page 5

In the West.

RECRUITS CALLED UP. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December G. The French Government has ordered an immediate census of J9IG recruits, to begin training in 1915. LITTLE ACTIVITY. United Press Association. Boulogne, December 7. There is little activity at the front, and a noteworthy, decrease in the number of wounded coming in, though there are many soldiers in the hospitals, particularly Indians, suffering from frost-bitten bauds and feet. The weather enabled aviators to make reconnaissances, resulting in the Allies, progressing between Dixmude and Ypres. The Germans at Tnrnhout are cutting down the forest of Casterie, with the object of building bridges and rafts to cross the Yser floods. The German attempt at Pervise resulted in the loss of eight machineguns mounted on rafts. The Belgians had only forty killed and seventeen wounded. A CHURCH BOMBARDED. London, December 7. Details of the bombardment of Lampermiisse, show that five hundred French soldiers were sleeping in a church. A spy hidden in the belfry signalled to the Germans by means of a lamp. The Germans opened a violent bombardment. The first volley killed a dozen of the sleeping Frenchmen, The church was soon in ruins. Few escaped. Without wounds.

A MINIATURE FORT.

FEROCIOUS FIGHTING. London, December 7. Four hundred French vounteers, including a hundred Zouaves, made a night attack on the ferryman’s house at Poosele commanding an important bridge on the Yser canal, which had been turned into a miniature fort. The French crossed the bridge under a hail from the machine-guns, and drove the Germans from the outer walls, after a ferocious fight with bayonets and knives. The French then dashed in the doors with axes. Hand to hand fighting occurred on each floor, and the Germans were driven to the loft, where they surrendered.

UP IN THE AIR.

London, December 7

A German airship, loaded with explosives, crossed the British lines near Lille. Three British aeroplanes appeared, won a superior altitude, and a single shell destroyed the airship. A SUCCESSFUL BAND OF FRENCHMEN. GERMANS HARRIED. (Received 9.50 a.m.) ’ . Paris, December 7. The Figaro prints a story of the successful exploits of a band of Frenchmen late in August. About 150 French soldiers and officers were cut off and got behind the German lines and succeeded in reaching the forests of Lux. emburg. The little army secured seventeen thousand cartridges on a battlefield and have since defied all the efforts of the Germans to capture them. Working in small partis, directed in an energetic and systematic manner, they are harassing the Germans. In the evening’s gloom they wreck bridges and railways, intercept staff officers, destroy provisions, and otherwise worry the Germans.

KING GEORGE’S VISIT. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, December 7. Official: The King saw practically all the troops. He visited the headquarters of . all army corps and divisional commanders and inspected the different departments of the headquarters and many hospitals. COMBATING AIRCRAFT. (Received 9.10 a.m.) > London, December 7. Owing to the activity of the Allies’ airmen in Belgium the Germans are employing a fleet of armoured motor cars equipped with anti-aircraft guns. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received 9.25 a.m.) Paris, December 7. A communique states: We attacked the few trenches on the left bank of the Yser, which are still in the enemy’s hands. The superiority of our offensive at Armentieres, Arras, the Oise, the Aisno and the Argonne was maintained. Our heavy artillery showed marked advantage in Champagne. DISTRESS OF THE BELGIANS. (Received 9.50 a.m.) London, December 7. The Belgian Relief Commission says that practically all Belgium is dependent on the Commission for bread.

PARIS BOURSE RE'OPENS. (Received 11. SO a.in.) Paris, December 7. The Bourse has re-opened.