THE WAR ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2444, 24 April 1915, Page 7

THE WAR ON THE WESTERN FRONT

FURTHER PROGRESS BY THE ALLIES

HOW THE FRENCH CAPTURED BOIS D-AILLY

London, April 23, 2 a.m. The High Commissioner reports:— "Near Langemarck, north of Ypres, the British repulsed two attacks, "At Hill 60 the- German counter-attacks are explained by a desire to retrieve their defeat. The enemy's loss exceeds the number mentioned yesterday. _ ' "In the Forest of Dapremont the Allies have taken by assault two lines of trenches iu places forming a salient to the Allies' position, which had seriously inconvenienced them. A large number of Gormans wore killed, and fifty prisoners were taken. "In Alsace the Allies have continued to progress on both flanks of the La. Fecht River. On the north the Allies hold the confluence of the La Fetfht and the Wurmsa, and in the south they have reached Schlessloeh, consegaining ground, to the east in 'the direction of Metzoral." THE DAILY LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES, London, April 22, 9.55 p.m. The High Commissioner reports;— Killed. Wounded. Missing. Officers 5 — Men 53 100 61 Total *. .GO 105 61 BRILLIANT ATTACK BY THE FRENCH

HOW THE BOIS D'AILLY WAS CAPTURED.

(Rec. April 23, 7.25 p.m.) ' London, April. 23. The Tress Bureau lias issued the story of the capture of the Bois d'Ailly (in the Woevrc), which was strongly fortified, the enemy having employed largo forces, of artillery from Metz.. "The French oil the morning of April 5 concentrated their artillery oil the Gorman position, and aided by aerial torpedoes, fired from short distances, 'i'liey soon shattered the parapets, and corpses could be seen, still gripping the rifles which they held over the edge of the trcnches. The intensity of the artillery fire was redoubled—some of the prisoners afterwards stated that the bombardment left an impression of anguish and stupefying fear—and by noon wo had exploded a chain of mines close to the fort, annihilating the garrison and spreading panic in the neighbouring trenohes. "This was the Mgnal for the attaok, and our infantry was poured into the trenches in three successive waves, with fixed bayonets,_ no shots being fired. Detachments of ' bo'mb-throwers accompanied them in the advance. Some of these carried small boxes, fitted'with wooden handles, and filled with explosives, which were thrown. Sappers also accompanied the infantry, dragging a gangway to enable the troops to cross the wide trenches, so as to get behind and attack the enemy, crush them with grenades, or pin them to the earth with their bayonets. "The prpgramme was carried out detail by derail. The trenches were rapidly cleared, many of the enemy taking refuge in subterranean shelters, which collapsed, asphyxiating them. "On April 8 the Germans sought the recapture of the position, and brought up tho whole of the St. Mihiel artillery. We liad to repel eight attacks, and there was not an inch of ground that was not churned up by explosives. In this hell, -under a hurricane of steel and iron, we held our own, with no shelter whatever, our artillery having previously destroyed all cover. . •. . ' . "In the afternoon the final attack was made. _ Six companies of Germans were annihilated. They had no more fresh' infantry, but still had ammunition, and their artillery hurled 26.000 shells on the spur of Bois d'Ailly'and our trenches. It was a continuous crash of thunder. "Our losses' were heavy, but the enemy's fire finally dwindled, ceased, and ■left us in possession." ,

MOTOR MACHINE-GUNS AT HILL 60.

• London, April 22. "Eye-Witness" says that motor machine-guns were of invaluable service at Hill 60, where they, were rushed to' the-front during the German counterattack. '

WAR LORD VISITS ALSACE.

Cenevai April 22.

The Kaiser is visiting the front in Alsace.

SPITEFUL BOMBARDMENT OP YPRES,

/Rec. 'April 23, 9.15 p.m.) ' } Amsterdam, April 23. Enraged by the British successes southwards of Ypres, the Germans bombarded the town on Wednesday night, doing considerable damage, a number of persons being killed or wounded. — ,

THE ATTACK ON HILL 60

HOW THE AIRMEN SCREENED OUR PREPARATIONS,

(Rec. April 23, 1] .10 p.m.) ' , London, April 23. The airmen -of the Allied troops did invaluable service in the fight at Hill 60 By their skill and daring they drove off "or captured every enemy airman who ventured near the Allies' lines. Five of these -were brought down, enabling the preparations for the attack to be secretly carried out.