WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 February 1915, Page 5

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

OFFICIAL NEWS London, Feb. 16, 4.45 p.m. Paris reports that British troops - on Monday recaptured two sections of a. trench lost-lon Sunday between St; Eloi and Ypres Canal. , *'" Particularly important successes of the French artillery are confirmed. BIG BATTLE AT GUINCHY BRITISH POSITION ATTACKED. GERMANS DEFEATED. PARIS, Feb. 16. The Germans on Sunday morning threw a column against the British position before Guinchy in a massed attack. Thev did not reach our<trenches,'and a counter-attack was launched -while * the remnants were retiring in confusioh. A few minutes later the British were in one of the longest German trenches, hacking and hewing and wielding clubbed rifles. . . Six thousand British were engaged in the fight. Our casualties were considerable, hut the Germans' were much heavier. INCENDIARY SHELLS. LONDON, Eeh. 14The Germans recently bombarded Armentieres with projectiles Sacked with candles composed of celluloid:, phosphorus and wax, which ignited when placed in the sun. BRITISH AERIIL RAID • SUCCESSFUL BOMB-DROPPING. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. {Received Feb. 17, 9.10 a.m.) I AMSTERDAM, Feb. 16. A Dutch correspondent states that the raid of 34 British aeroplanes, badly damaged a bridge at Ostend, cutting off the railwav station from the sea. Bombs destroyed -the railway station at Blankenberghe." At Zeebrugge electrical works, a coke factory, arid also workshops -where submarines were fitting up were destroyed, 20 workmen being wounded. Bombs totally destroyed a Zeppelin shed and its conterfts. CAREFULLY PLANNED- AND BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED. LONDON, Feb. 14. The "Times" naval correspondent says that the latest exploit of the naval airmen exceeds in magnitude anything previously attempted, and it is satisfactory that the Admiralty has been able to report a successful" achievement and the return of the pilots. "British airmen's skill and initiative have- again proved superior to the enemy's; they aTe capable of carryingout raids-* and executing larger combined operations, achieving a definite military purpose; they, have rendered futile the German attempts to develop submarine bases'on the Belgian coast. The enter-prise-was carefully planned and brilliantly executed; and is certain to be the forerunner of others." SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT BRITISH PROGRESS IN !LA BASSEE 1 DISTRICT. ENEMY'S RECENT LOSSES^SEVERE. ARTILLERY DUELS. . MARKED BRITISH SUPERIORITY. v -- (Received Feb. 17, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. The Press Bureau publishes Sir John French's first bi-weekly report. It "states that the British progressed in the La Bassee district. Valuable points were secured on" the 13th ; without loss. There is conclusive, evidence that the enemy's losses in recent fighting have been-severe. . The enemy on the 14th gained a few trenches- in the Ypre s district. The* British counter-attacked, recovering the trenches. There has" been some increase, in the intensitv of the artillery duels along the

remainder of the front, wherein we showed marked superiority, and greatly damaged the enemy's defences. - Our aircraft, despite had weather, blew up an enemy ammunition waggon near La Bassee.