BATTLE OF YPRES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 17 December 1914, Page 5

BATTLE OF YPRES

FIERCE FIGHTING FOR THREE DAYS. BRITISH HAVE TERRIBLE ODDS. BUT HOLD THE ENEMY. HEAVY LOSSES ON -BOTH SIDES. | ; LONDON. Dec. 16. I 'The "Daily Chronicle's'' Dunkirk correspondent reports that three'days' battle at Ypres began, with a bombardment of S*t Loi. The Allies replied with heavv :artillery •under cover of which. the infantry advanced to Moorslede, where there was a deteiinmed- resistance from Germans concealed iii armoured trucks _on the railway sidings whence they directed a heavy mactine gun and rifle fire, forcing the Allies to retire and reform.

I Simultaneously, the Germans advanced in wooded country near Zonnebeke, i but were checked by the Allied forces posted on the heights at Gheluvelt. Thereupon there was a general Allied advance which regained Moorslede. The artillery locating the armoured trucks, blew up the ammunition. The enemy retreated, leaving, the road •to Roulers open. In the meantime there were other German attacks at Polecapelle, Passshendaele, Lanfiemarck, and Bixschoote, the enemy striving by weight of numbers to break the line. They nowhere succeeded. It is estimated, that there were 24,0(50 casualties'along a line a few. kilometres in length rnorthV arid south of Ypres. Red; Cross officers declare-that the onslaught was the fiercest ever experienced in this region. . Though Roulers was not taken'a solid wedge was. driven, into tie German linia. The newspapers publish Generals Rawlinspn's and Byng's thanks to the 7th Infantry and 3rd Cavalrvdivision for holding tho Germans at bay and stubbornly defending • Ypres. The odds against them 'were eight to oneSubsequently, when the two divisions were withdrawn: Ito the: roll-call of the infantry alone- showed r that of the 400 officers from England only 44 were left, and out of 12,000 men only 2,336 remained. . • ' ; ••';-•