ENEMY PREPARING FOR A PARTIAL RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2443, 23 April 1915, Page 5

ENEMY PREPARING FOR A PARTIAL RETREAT

AN AMSTERDAM REPORT

PROJECTED ATTACKS ON LILLE

Amsterdam, April 21. It is alleged that aeroplanes considerably damaged Lille.which has been formidably reinforced. The space between Lille and the Belgian frontier lias been transformed• into a gigantic fortross, and can be easily defended. The British and Belgians are therefore endeavouring to attack it in the rear. The Allies' artillery compelled the enemy to evacuate several hamlets in the La Bassce region. ■ Jt is reported that the enemy is preparing for a partial retreat.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT

FURTHER ATTACKS OX THE BRITISH AT HILL HO.

London, April 21, 4.5 p.m

"A violent cannonade tool; place in thi» region of Arras. "In the wood of Mont.mnre Freno.li attacks resulted in slight progress, T«-ti Ctfsrmnh on # Una «f ir»iiehet whh on 'l'iifot)H,v srew fij™ pulsed iu tb,e evening."

; London, April 21, 10.15 p.m. "Violent continual counter-attaoks are still being made oil Hill 60. Yesterday two heavy attacks of infantry were repulsed with great loss to the enemy. The hill was heavily shelled all night, and several further attacks repulsed. "Successful attacks were made oil the enemy's air shed at Ghent, ci,using considerable damage." London, April 22, 1.15 a.m. "The Germans' loss in the attacks on Hill 60 since Saturday—three days— wore between three and four thousand men. , "111 the Argonne, near Bagatelle, a very energetic local attack was stopped dead by the French fire. "North of Flirey (in the Woevre), the Allies captured another trench connecting those already taken, and established themselves there. "French airmen in the Woevre bombarded the headquarters of General von Strantz, and some convoys.". DAILY LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES. London, April 21, 0.35 p.m. Army Casualties:— Killed. Wounded. Missing. Officers 12 12 — Moti 126 158, 9 In connection with the sinking of the transport Manitou (Dardanelles operations), the casualty lists show that 24 men of tho "Royal Field Artillery were drowned, and 25 are missing (feared to be diowncd). ESTIMATED TOTAL OP GERMAN LOSSES. London, April 21. Copenhagen reports, basing the estimates on tho latest German casualty lists, put tho total of German losses at 2,750,000.—("Time5" and. Sydney "Sun" Services.) ,

IN THE ST. MIHIEL POCKET *

SQUEEZING THE ENEMY'S STRONGHOLD,

(Rec. April 22, 5.45 p.m.) London, Aiinl 21. A "Times" correspondent who has been tourihs _ the front in Eastern France, writes: "The net result of the autumn &nd winter campaigns . has been that the Germans have lost their initial advantage, or ( attack, and instead of acting on the offensive, tlieir lines are being besieged. Frontal attacks by the Allies on St. Mihiel would have meant a huge loss of life, because the Germans have installed a number of Austrian big guns, commanding a radius of ten mile>. The Allies consequently chose the alternative of squeezing the enemy out bv pressure oh eacli side of the angle between Fresnes, St. Mihiel, and Pont-a-Mousson simultaneously, and are now gradually approiiching two vital positions within the angle cf Bignculles and Froue-de-Spada. ~ "It was rumoured on Saturday that the Germans had altogether evacuated St. Mihiel, but until tliey have abandoned Camp dps Domains, it will be impossible for the French to occupy the town, which is dominated by forts. It seems to be certain that they have begun to withdraw their Tieavy guns from Camp des Romains. .• "Further north the French have gamed ground along both the roads which run between Verdun and Metz, and their nrosnects on tho Vercjun-Muse-Moseilo front hnvo taken a decided turn in favour of the Allies."— ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) '

THE KEY TO FLANDERS

STORY OF THE FIGHT AT HILL 60.

(Rec. April 22, 11.40 p.m.) London, April 22. The importance of Hill 60 is due to its forming a screen for Zandpoudre, five kilometres (3 miles), to the east where the German artillery was posted. Zandpoudre is the highest hill in the district, and the key to the enemy's position in Flanders, which is thus deorived of its main protection. Both sides .sapped, and it was a close race, for half an hour later the enemy would have exploded a mine under the British trenches. The attack was carefully concealed, and the enemy was surprised. The hill was exploded on Saturday evening, and the' British massed guns raked the shattered trenches. The infantry took the first line with small oj,-petition, but the second line was held in great strength by the enemy, who fought stubbornly, and were tnlv overcome by the irresistible dash and bravery of the British, who, with reinforcements, set about to repair the. captured trenches for defensive work. This was continued throughout the night, under a terrible rain of the enemy's shrapnel. .

At dawn the Germans counter-attacked, and the fight lasted all day. The massed enemy swarmed across' the plain, and were decimated by our shrapnel, while our machine-guns swept them down. Yet they repeatedly, and more than once reached the British trenches, where baronet, rifle, and machine-guns made hot work of it, and kept them out. Finally the enemy was broken, and retired. The British losses were less heavy than were at first feared.

, _ Dunkirk, April 22. . The mine which exploded Hill 60 made the biggest crater on record. The British displayed unwavering tenacity, and the prisoners captured seemed to be wholly broken in spirit. They wero of poor physique, and badly nourished.