FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144856, 7 December 1915, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

THE WINTER CAMPAIGN. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. LONDON, Dec. S. Mr. Philip Gibbs said that it is difficult to imagine raoro dreadful weather, than that In which our men havo settled down for th© winter campaign. They are often knee-deep in water, and there are howling winds which com© in gusts. When tho wind drons a whitish fog creeps out of tho ground ancf makes a horrible coverlet of moisture upon everything, and tho rifles aro clammy to the touch. Tho enemy is invisible through tho veil of vapour, and is unlikely to attack while the battlefields are such a quagmire. It is a sheer impossibility to bring up artillery, and therefore it will be for some time in tho mud. This is warfare, but it is not restful, because thero are shrapnel and bullets mixed with tho drops of moisture ; but the troops are grinning and heaimg the discomfort wonderfully. Tho Germans are in the panm miserable conditions, which aro demoralising them and resulting in an increasing number crawling to our lines and surrendering, tolling ■ pitiful stories of hideous miseries. There is much talk of elaborate dug-outs, electric fittings, pianos, etc., but those are for the officers only. Mr. Gibbs continues: “Our constant shell-fire to-day resembles the daily Trightfalness’ which we formerly suffered almost silently. Having a few ‘whizz-bangs’ at our disposal, the posiI tion is now partly reversed. Heavy guns and highest explosives aro still arriving. NEW GERMAN OFFENSIVE. PROBABLETiTrEE WEST. LONDON, Doc. 6. Tho Times Lausanne correspondent pays that the Germans got a tremendous fright during the British and French offensive in September. Tho papers of tho headquarters stall wore packed in a fleet of motor-oars at Brussels for three days, ready for instant bight, the staff believing that the offensive would succeed. Tho remainder of the staff are, still in a state of aouto alarm, and boliove that their .strength trill decline hi January. _ Therefore tno Germans are preparing for a desperate offensive in tho West., assisted by extra heavy artillery which Krupps aro working day and night to provide. If this attack fails tho Germans will invito President Wilson and tho Popo to initiate poaco. PRINCE OSCAR. DOES A LITTLE ADVERTISING. OP “OUR GLORIOUS ARMY.” iiiizs and svdnev sun services. (Received Dec. 7, 8.0 a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 6. Prince Oscar, tho fifth son of the Knistr, has written a little book called “The Winter Battle,” It describes tho fighting of the 3rd German Army in Champagne from February to March. Prince Oscar is an officer on tho staff of tho commanding general. Describing tho defence of Hill 195, ho was constrained to acknowledge the marvellous valour and tho reckless courage and norvo of tho French. It was not the French infantry attacks which made this battle so hideous, but tho artillery which converted tho place into a living hell. The enormous strength produced by huge supplies of ammunition was spent lavishly and life in the trenches was a perpetual nightmare. One day on a small part of a trench they threw a hundred thousand shells with a rapidity that equalled that of a machine-gun of tho Drumford typo. Tho effects of this sort of artillery work were simply dreadful and unspeakable. No known sort of earthworks was able to withstand such fire, oven for a short time. It was impossible that any living creature could havo survived the HollisL turmbil. When tho firing ceased to allow tho French attack, our men crawled out of the tunnels with their pockets full of grenades, groped their way out of tho block of foundations, crumbling cement and trickling sandbags, and grabbing their guns repulsed tho French scores of times. Suddenly, on the afternoon of March 18, tho enemy attacked, densely massed. Tho Guards reserve received the main shock, but was not shaken. The Turcos attacked in five lines. Our hand grenades tore hundreds lunb from limb and blew tho first two lines to atoms. Tho succeeding linos fared no better. Those who escaped the grenades were felled with pickaxes or were hayonotted. We forced back the writhing maelstrom of densely packed humanity, rolling the enemy back in disorderly retreat. They were swept by our heavy artillery, and tho losses to tho French wore inhuman and sickening. Thus ended the battle of Champagne. After months of frantic fighting and a frightful toll of blood the French were forced to abandon the effort to penetrate our lines. The value of iron discipline was overwhelmingly demonstrated. Youthful enthusiasm may bo undermined and patriotism forced into temporary abeyance by tin hour’s cruel shelling. The very power to think' becomes inhibited, and then discipline asorts itself with a bound as tho Rotormining factor. Tho rock on which Germany may rest more securely than upon the shoulders of Atlas is our glorious army. GENERAL WAR COUNCIL. THE FIRST MEETING, (Received Doc. 7, 11.40 a.m.) PARIS, Deo. 6, The first meeting of the General War Council for co-ordinate military operations among tho Allies was hold here, General Joffro presiding. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received Deo. 7, 10.15 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Deo. 6. A Gorman communique states thero is artillery, mine and grouado fighting in the west. Two English aeroplanes wore shot down at Bapeaurao and tho occupants killed.