THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16842, 28 April 1915, Page 9

THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN

THE FLANDERS BATTLE. BRITISH STOP TWO ATTACKS. GERMANS REPULSED ON MEUSE HEIGHTS By Telegraph—Press A»ocia.tion— Copyrieh*. LONDON, April 2G. The French Embassy states tha.t the British stopped two attacks debouching from Paschendaelo and Brodsunder. The Germans violently bombarded Ypres. At the battle of the Mouse Heights the enveloping Germans, after their repulse at Calonne, attacked towards St Remy, with the object of re-takinp Les Eparges, but were repulsed after a vigorous bombardment and a violent combat. i^mm^^^m

SEVERE FIGHTING IN YPRES REGION.

HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED

GERMAN'S CAPTURE VILLAGE. LONDON, April 27. The Press Bureau states that FieldMarshal Sir John French reports that severe fighting and heaw casualties continue at Ypres. The Germans have captured the village of St Julien. An Allied ' aviator dopf revert tha Courtrai railway junction.

PROGRESS IN FLANDERS. PROTECTION AGAINST POISONOUS GASES DEVISED. GERMAN SUCCESS IN A-LSACE-(Received April 27, 7.40 pm.) PARIS, April 27. The following official report has been issued: Flanders.—The Allies have made marked progress north of Ypres oo iho left of the fighting front, where they have driven bank the enemy, inflicting heavy losses. The Germans again employed asphyxiating gases, but the Belgians and French devised means of protection, with the best results..

Alsace.—The Germans, after an extremely fierce bombardment, succeeded in setting foot on the summit of Hartmannsweilerkopf. Wo occupy fcho position a hundred metres from the summit, whence »e attacked on March 23.

HEAVY ATTACKS ON BRITISH.

GALLANTRY .AND FORTITUDE 01' MEN. OFFICERS- QUICK RESOURCE. CANADIANS' RESISTANCE AGAINST SUPERIOR NUMBERS. HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. (Received April 27. 7.40 t>.m.) LONDON. April 27. Sir John French reports:— The general situation north-east of Ypres is unchanged. Our left flank is readjusting line. Owing to the French enforced retirement, we had to face north and extend west beyond St Julieu. Tho extension weakened the line temporarily. After ji very gallant resistance by tho Canadians against superior numbers, the enemy captured St Julion, The troops east of Ypres bore th* brunt of repeated heavy attacks, whioL weTe stubbornly opposed. Throughout the battle the mer. have shown gallantry and fortitude in an outirely unexpected situation and tho officers quick resource. We repulsed German attacks east of the Ypres salient, despite asphyxiating &mct-.. Numbers of enemy officers and nion were captured. We inflicted very heavy, casualtios on the Germans during the last three days. Our losses also hav« boou heavy. It is untrue that four heavy British Cans were captured. The British aviator at CourbraL- al-e-hough wounded, brought his machiiis* back safely.

GERMAN VERSION!

OVER A THOUSAND OANADLA.NB CAPTURED. AMSTERDAM, April 27. A Berlin official report states: — We still hold Lizorne. Wo have captured forty-four guns. Wo continued to attack north-west of Zounooeke, capturing over a thousand Canadians. liio total number of prLsouuis is ov«r five thousand.

BATTLE RAGING FIERCELY.

GERMANS' REPEATED EFFORTS TO BREAK THROUGH.

ENEMY'S GREAT ARTILLERY CONCENTRATION. (Received April 27, 10.00 p.m.) DUNKIRK. April 26.

The battle for Calais continues to rage fiercely. The Germans have -brought up large reinforcements, and at least one hundred thousand a.rc in the fighting line. Repeated efforts hare been made to break through between Boesinghe and Zuydschoote-

It is untrue that the Germans havo captured many £ims. Thirty, abandoned by the French in the marshes, remain behind the lines, the French artillery frustrating efforts at capture. It is. believed that the Germans have the largest concentration of artillery in the present war, including 16-inch and 17-inch howitzers. The Allies recrossed the Yser Canal, inarching on Bixschbote. Despite the terrible fighting, tho enthusiasm of the reinforcing troops is irresistible. The French push forward chanting the ''Marseillaise." The Zouaves greatly distinguished themselves at the capturing of Lizcrne. The narrow river channel adjoining the village had been lost and retaken several times. The bodies of Germans were piled a yard high. The accumulation of corpses has not been equalled 6fnee the bloody battle of Dixmndo in November. . The Germans already have had ten thousand casualties. ITra French and Belgians began a combined counter-attack between Pi!!cem and 8t ..Tulien on Sunday night, and are still fight ins-

OFFICIAL NEWS.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGES.

The Prime Minister has received tho following messages from tho Hi_h Commissioner :

LONDON.. April 27. . The War Office reports tin following casualties; Officers killed 3, wounded 21. Me:: -!;ilkd 88, wounded 109. missing 46.

LONDON, April 27. Canadian Contingent.—One officer killed, four officers wounded. North of Ypres the Aliies inado very isensible progress on tin* left of the fighting line, repulsing the enemy and inflicting great loss. The Germans again used gas, but means of protection taken show good results among'.the-French and Belgians. There was a lively infantry combat north of Chaulnes for rhe possession of a hollow caused by tho explosion of a Qonnnn mine. The enemy was dislodged and the position maintained by the Allies in spite of two counter-attacks.

In the Champagne region an a.l/tempfced German attack near Beau Se-, jour was immediately stopped. On tho heights of the Mouse German Ott;u-ks on the trout- of Les EpargesSt Remy and the trenches at Calonne were completely checked. Notwithstanding the extreme violence of the enemy's effort, the Allies remain masters of the whole situation at Eparges; whose slopes are covered with Gorman dead.

In the Vosges the enemy, after a. violent bombardmfnt, succeeded in gaining a footing on the summit of Hartmanhsweilovkopf. The Allies occupy those positions a hundred metres from the summit, which they occupied when they set out to carry tho summit bv assault in seven minute*.