WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH LINE. FRENCH EXPERT'S VIEWS. I GERMAN ATTACKS VIRTUAL FAILURE. By Telegranh—Press Association—CopyrijhtPARIS, February IS. Marcel Hutin, writing in the "Echo de Paris," says:—"We have already regained several sections of the six hundred yards captured trenches on Ypres-Comines canal. Tho British seem to have been expecting for some time an attempt to break through to Calais, as the Germans had been bringing up large reinforcements and thousands of tons of munitions. , "Seeing that only a few sheds and rrcrches were captured, .while, heavy foTos were incurred, the offensive has v tually been equivalent to a failure. CiMnce' ft«W^tA p J E e a.o?l«;r L attempt to capture Verdun." '

LONDON. February 19. the enemy position north of the canai

THE YPRES SALIENT. IMPORTANCE" OT GERMAN GAIN. LOSS OF MORE GROUND WILL BE DANGEROUS. LONDON. February 19. Tito attack. on Ypres occurred between tho railway and' the.canal to Coinines. Some military expeits pot out that if the British position at U point contracts much iurthot,, if tho British lose as much ground there th year as they did last year, it villl mean tho abandonment of Ypres. The,, ucr man success, therefore, shou d not bo taken, with indifference, and couiiUi attacks, though expensive, arc tioitli making. The intrinsic gain would bo vary small, but tho peril of M >,cs Kent is important. Tho Gorman .aim is to damage, our springboard for tne nest offensive. n . , . _. Long trains of artillery and in**""? continue to pass westward and soutnward through Belgium. -Many German war councils are being held m ixmvain.

GERMAN REPORT. BRITISH ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. February 19. A Gorman communique states: —Tho British again attempted to recapture positions south-east of Ypres, but were repulsod with bloody losses.

IN ARTOIS.

MINE FIGHTING NORTH OF YIMY RIDGE. (Recqived February 20, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 19. A communique states: —In Artois, northward of Hill 110, we exploded a mine and seriously damaged a German trench. Another mine caused a huge crater between two trenches, and we occupied tho southern edge. A German attempt to dislodge us was stopped dead by our fire.

SOUTH OF THE SOMME. GERMAN ATTACK STOPPED. (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 19. A communique statos: —Our artillery, co-operating with the British, south of Frise. with curtain fire rendered abortive an enemy attack which was in preparation.

UPPER ALSACE. TEMPORARY GERMAN GAIN. (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, February 19? A communique states:—Tho enemy, after an intense bombardment in Upper Alsace, launched an attack north of Largitzen. north of Seppois, and temporarily gained a footing in our trenches. Our counter-attack immediately expelled them. THE CROWN PRINCE. AMSTERDAM. February 19. Tt is reported that the Crown Prince is commanding the best troops available, and that Germany has accumulated vast quantities of poison gas and munitions GERMAN STATEMENT. WILLING TO EVACUATE FRANCE AND BELGIUM. " Times " md Sydney " Sun " Serricaa. LONDON, February 13. The New York "Sun" interviewed a high German officer, who said that Germany did not contemplate ' more offensives. Germany had the utmost confidence fhat she was uncrushablc, but was willing to evacuate France and Belgium. A BELGIAN JOKE. GERMANS ENRAGED BY PLACARD LONDON, February 18. A message from Brussels says that General von Bissing, enraged, is offering large rewards for information lending to the capture of the culprits who placarded the pig market as "the German market."