FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 May 1915, Page 5

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Considerable German reserves and also all the guns on the dunes except the anti-aircraft guns have been brought up. towards the Yserjor holding the Allies in check. Just beyond the east bank heavy: fighting has continued; All the■• Laridstunners.'■'. at Bruges have been sent ;to the front equipped with new f|fles,- ~..... -..,-•

. LONDON, May 20. The military correspondent of the Times says that no German offensive in France on a \large, scale is practicable before the end of July, and not then if the Russians hold together-. Our present duty is to exploit the deiay, and take advantage of the German eastern offensive, and send every available man to prosecute our offensive.

QUIET ON THE FRONT

FOG HAMPERING OPERATIONS

JFRENCH AND BELGIAN PROGRESS IN FLANDERS.

SURRENDERING GERMANS ANNIHILATED BY OWN BATTERIES.

MILITARY EXPERT'S OPINION

OUR OFFENSIVE SHOULD BE PUSHED.

WHILE BIG EFFORT AGAINST RUSSIA IS IN PROGRESS.

PARIS, May 20. Official.—There is a dense fog, aad matters are quiet on the whole front.

AMSTERDAM, May 20. A Berlin official report claims tfeat. fighting north of Ypres is in the Germans' "favor. English attacks south of Neifve Chapelle were repulsed, and the Germans secured successes against the Frendi on the Lorette height.

PARIS. May 20. The Germans near the Aisne and Artois ordered a field to be ploughed up destroying the corn which they themselves' had sown and hoped to reap

DUNKIRK, May 20. The Germans carried out a retreat acress the Yser on Sunday night, and swiftly and secretly the French occupied the positions. On Monday the ground was littered with German dead. , , , The enemy initiated a counter-at-tack on Monday night. Their artillery rained shells by the hour. The French defended the * positions with great coolness, and poured a galling fire on the advancing infantry, and drove them back. A Belgian success on the eastern Tjank north of Dixmude jeopardises the Germans' positions, and if the wedge is driven in the enemy's hold on Dixmude will be untenable.

The Germans continue to shell Ypres, but do not show any disposition to attack.

PARIS, May 20. The seven hundred Germans who

recently surrendered had taken refuge + in a big farm. "When surrounded they emerged waving while flags, whereupon the German batteries opened fire, rending gaps in their ranks. Shells were dropned in the British lines, and' the British artillery replied. All the surrenderees were killed except a bare remnant which re-entered tfio farmhouse.