In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 295, 11 December 1914, Page 2

In the West.

KING GEORGE'S VISIT.

TRAMPING THROUCH THE MUD.

Times and Sydney Sun Bebviokb London, December 10

A British officer with the Indian army describes the King's visit as the "most informal show 1 have ever seen. The King strolled through the ranks, chatting with all and sundry. lir mediately before His .Majesty arrive! a German aeroplane appeared, heading straight for us. Our guns opened lire, and the aeroplane scurried noith. During the inspection of the troops the Leicester Regiment, which had just left the trenches, paraded, still ccered with mud, and unshaven. The King simply revelled in them. He cbatteu with almost every man, and wanted to know all about trench-fighting. The Prince of Wales was equally interested. He wandered about, paying no attention to his father, and chatting with everybody. The King was particularly interested in a man wearing German boots. Tlie King wanted the Indian to know that the Queen and he were always with them in thought Altogther it was a wonderful visit, the King tramping through the mud as though he were partridge-shooting.''

JOFFRE'S HEADQUARTERS.

NOT STRONGLY GUARDED.

Times and Sydney Sun Seevioes. (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 10

General .Toffre's headquarters are well concealed in a village schoolhouse seventy miles behind the lines. Each general is linked by telegraph and is also in direct communication with the British and Belgians, Bordeaux and Paris. A single sentinel is on duty, at the schoolhouse, and except for a few forest guards there are no soldiers in the village. SCARCITY OF GUNS. Times and Sydney Sun B«eyioes. (Received 8 a.m.) London, December 10. Berne suggests that the weakening of the German offensive in Flanders is clue to the great scarcity of guns. The German factories are working at the highest pressure but are unable to arm ;he reservists. GERMAN ATROCITIES. Times and Sydney Sun Skbyioes. London, December 9. The Belgian Commission, replying to German denials of atrocities, cites the official proclamation of German commanders, threatening fire and sword, heavy fines, and the shooting of hostages, unless in the town which surrendered the German terms were observed. The Commission declares that the orders reveal the application of a preconceived system. A MIXED CROWD. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 9. The Times' correspondent entered the railway station at Kette. He say:, the scene would have rejoined the heart of an artist. It was a perfect blaze and rio.t of sartorial tints ol trappings. Babel was let loose. Alongside a couple of Sengalese sat an Arab in white flowing robes. Beyond his white and gold tunic was an Invantier Coloniale, then a Belgian trooper. a group of Chasseurs, Alpines, Zouaves, Turcos, Algerian, tirailleurs, marines and sailors, together with pom-poms and artillery of twenty different units. , A jovial sergeant observed: "What must the Bosches think when they come against a collection like this, not to speak of your Ecossaises, with their petticoats, and the Indians and Australians. The\ must think the whole world moving en masse." i THE KAISER'S HEALTH. [United Prkpb Association. 1 Amsterdam, December 10. The Kaiser caught a chill during hi secret visit to the Emperor Fran: Josef. He refused to take precautions, and secretly returned to Berlin.

A TRAIN DERAILED.

Amsterdam, December 10. At midnight on Thursday a train, consisting of forty carriages, conveying 1500 wounded, was derailed between Government and Aachen, fii'tj being killed and many wounded. THE PRINCE OF WALES. London, December 10. The Prince of Wales has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lord Selburne, in a letter to the newspapers, urges the Government to institute an immediate inquiry as to what men can be called to the colours so as to obviate delay if compulsory service proves necessary to end the war as America did in 18G3.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

(Received 9 a.m.) Paris, December 10

A communique states: We progressed in the region of Quesnoy and Kchy. two hundred to six hundred metres. Our artillery again mastered the German on the Aisne and in Champaigne. The Germans near Rheims were forced to evacuate their trenches. We carried others in tbe Argomie, repulsing six counter-attacks. We captured more trenches at Lepretre, on the heights of the Meuse.

AN AERIAL DART. Munich, December 10. The Bavarian General. Von Meyer. ,vas killed when stepping out of In-uotor-car, transfixed by a steel dart lropped by a hostile aeroplane. FRENCH OFFICJAL REPORT. Paris, December 10. Official: The French advanced before rirailleurs. A German attack at Tracy- j leavel was repulsed. ; A FRENCHMAN EXECUTED. I (Received 9.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, December 10. Germans at Bruges shot a Frenchman accused of furnishing the Allies with the location of petrol depots. AMONG THE AIRMEN. SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. (Received 9.50 a.m.) London, December 10. A Belgian aviator bombarded a Ger man transport column at Ostend, destroying three motor lorries and throw, ing the column into confusion. Thence he went to Bruges and bombed a detachment of cavalry, doing much dam age. The Germans fired, severing th< control wires ami the aviator volplaned and landed in the floods at Ram.' capelle. He waded ashore and ee caped. A German aeroplane bombed Ha/.e brouck, killing six civilians and seven soldiers and wounding a dozen. English aeroplanes pursued and brought down a Taube at Ypres. The officer and the pilot were riddled with bullets.

The aviators have recently developed amazing skill in bombing depots The Germans shifted them hither and thither, but they are never safe from aeroplane attack. A SNUB FOR THE KAISER. CONTRAST IN SOUVENIRS. (Received 9.50 a.m.) Paris, December 10. The Kaiser, at the Getz hospital, presented a French private with a red rose, saying: 'Take this souvenir.' The soldier refused, throwing back the bed cover and revealing an amputated leg. "That," he said, "is a w. souvenir enough for me!"

TWO VICTORIA CROSSES.

(Received 9.50 a.m.) London, December 10

Drummer Bent, of the East Lancashire*, received the Victoria Crosrfor gallantry at Legheer on the night of November Ist. When the officer of the platoon, the sergeant and the sc tion commander were killed he took command and with great presence of mind succeeded in holding the position. Bent previously brought up ammunition under heavy shell fire and rifle fire, and later rescued several wounded in an exposed position. Lance-Corporal Dobson, of the Coldstreams, received the Victoria Cross for twice rescuing wounded under heavy fire on the Aisne.