THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9052, 24 July 1917, Page 5

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

BRITISH FRONT IN FLANDERS.

FEROCIOUS ENEMY BOMBARD- ■■ . MENT.

RECIPROCAL GAS ATTACKS

.TREMENDOUS Gj<JRMAN LOSSES

(Received,July 9 24, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, July 23,

■Mr Philip Gibbs ..writes:—Since the German thrust at Lornbaertzyde on July 10, there have been no important actions on the British front, but there have been many raids and minor activities, whilst shelling has sometimes been marked by great violence about Lens and Ypr.es and close to the coast.

The enemy are suffering a great wastage of men. A single division which went to Lens lias boon burying 80 (Hermans .daily i'or several' weeks. Blood flows in'a-steady stream from the ' Germans at Lens.

The Germans retaliate by shelling Wytschaete, Messines, Armentieres, and Loos, but their bombardment does not reveal any definite purpose.

The enemy pour out gas shells, and we retaliate with gas clouds, which creep into the German craters and trenches, and kill any man taking a breath.

The "enemy began a particularly ferocious bombardment to-day between Lombaertzyde and Nieuport, using many gas shells. Apparently they are doubtfnJ when the next blow will fall, and are trying to do as much damage as. possible before it happens, when the heavy guns must hurry back, as at Wytschaete and Messines: