WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16793, 22 February 1915, Page 7

WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

FIGHTING NEAR YPRES. BRITISH COUNTER ATTACKS. COMBAT IN MID-AIR. By Telegraph—P«»» Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 20. Sir John French reports that the enemy has displayed considerable activity during the past few days southeast of Ypres. Fighting at this part of tho line has at times been severe. At one or two points, where tho enemy succeeded in occupying some trenches, he was driven out by coun-ter-attacks. In one place sixty German dead were left on tho ground. One German trench was blown up and a number of prisoners taken Our troops counter-attacked with creat gallantry, despite difficulties entailed by water-logged ground and bad weather. On the night ot January 15-16 an attack was made on our line north of the Ypres. Canal. On the following night a similar attack was made near Neuve Chapelle. Both were easily driven off with loss to the eD Ali y grouiid recently gained by the Allies has been strengthened and held without difficulty. South of the Lys our guns dealt effectively with the. enemy s artillery, whose fire has mcreasod somewhat Our aircraft has made valuable reconnaissances, and also successfully engaged the enemy's aeroplanes One of our aviators recently attacked two

Gorman machines in succession. He drove off the first and left the second to be dealt with by our artillery, which brought it to the ground in the hostile lines. GERMANY CALLING UP ELDERLY MEN. PARIS, February 20. It is officially reported that (*orraany has called up men of from fifty to fifty-two years. . ' GERMAN ATTACK NEAR YPRES. REPULSED "WITH HEAVY LOSSES. (Received February 22. 12.5 a.m.) PARIS, February 20. The following official report has been issued:— Important forces of Germans, attacking the Allied trenches east of Ypres, after an intense bombardment charged with the bayonet, but were repulsed. Our artillery shelling the enemy's reservos, prevented them supporting the attack. There were very high German losses. Prisoners state that an entire battalion was annihilated in the Champagne district tins week.

OFFICIAL NEWS. HIGH COMMISSIONERS MESSAGES. The Prime Minister has received the following message from the High Commissioner : LONDON, February 20. Paris reports that an attack on the Allies' treuchas east of Ypres wus repulsed. Rhoims again has been bombarded. In the Champagne region, at Souain, Perthes and Beau Sejonr, the enemy on the night of February IS and 19 made lire, unsuccessful attempts to regain trenches lost on'the previous day. The struggle continued on Fri-

day. Tho Allies made fresh progress. In tho Argonne some sudden German mores fnilcd. The Allies destroyed a hostile block-house and occupied tho site. Jn the Vosges the Allies are established on the heights, notwithstanding the violent efforts of tho enemy. LONDON, February 20.

Paris report* that tho enemy bombarded Niouport, Bains and Dunes, our batteries effectively countering. The Germans had important forces engaged in yesterday's attack on trenches east of Ypros. A bayonet attack after bombardment was repulsed, the Allies' artillery preventing reserves supporting. Tho German losses were high. It has been confirmed that German losses in tho • Champagne district during recent days were considerable. According to prisoners, a battalion was annihilated. On the heights of the Meuse on Friday night, tho enemy delivered a fourth counter attack against tho trenches captured at Los Etarges, but it was thwarted like the previous attacks by artillery. At Battel, south of Lastcht, tho enemy succeeded in getting a footing on tho eastern spur of Reichackerkoff. Tho struggle is continuing.