WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 12 May 1915, Page 5

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

ALLIES 1 GAINS ENLARGE OVER 3000 GERMAN PRISONERS TAKEN,

PARIS, Mav 11. (Official). Despite German counter-attacks we maintained yesterday's gains and enlarged them, notably between Carency and Souchez. The German prisoners exceed 3000; We also captured six guns arid fifty machine guns. INVESTMENT OF CARENCT. GERMANS' PRECARIOUS COMMUNICATION; (Rec. Mav 12, 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, May 11. A communique states that we repulsed an attempt at night to retake, captured earthworks at Saint Georges. Our progress northward of Arras continues. We invested Carency on three sides, capturing 230 more prisoners and several machine guns. The Germans now have precarious communication with Carency. The' enemy's reinforcements w*efe brought in "motor cars from Lens and Doiiai, but this did not enable them to regain the upper hand. Our fire smashed strong counter-at-tacks yesterday afternoon at Loos, Notre Dame Lorette, louchez, Neuveille, and SairrV; Vast. ' There were very heavy German losses. We also gained, ground, taking a hundred prisoners. ' To last ."evening upwards of fifty officers had been captured. The.enemy sustained during the night a, -fresh set-back, his counter-attacks being; completely'repulsed with very los;ses. German guns, after shelling DunkirkhaVhilessly, threw 11 shells into Bergues, killing 12 people and wounding 11. Our batteries stopped their bombardment. A. French aeroplane fired a dirigible shed at Maubeuige. " Germans brought down a British aeroplane, and. the British brought down two German machines. GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. (Official). BERLIN, May 11. .An Anglo-French attack was delivered south-west of Lille afe a reply to our success in Galicia. It was directed against German positions, east of : Eleurbaix and east of Richebourg, at Vermelles,; Ablain, N'eufville, and St. Laurent, near Arras. At least four fresh army corps; besides old troops, made repeated attacks, but were everywhere repulsed with heavy losses, especially the British. We took 500, prisoners. The enemy occupied our advanced trenches between Carency and Neufville. Counter-attacks are proceeding.

GERMAN POSITION VERY STRONG.

PARIS, May 11. . The Anglo-French offensive covers a 25 miles advance. The. German line protects a valuable railway system. Tf it is pierced, the Allies, would threaten the German communications. The position is exceptionally strong, consisting of slag heaps connected by a, maze of barbed wire and communication trenches.

„The High Commissioner reports: — London, May 11, 6.5 p.m. "'. The Allies captured on Monday a cemetery in the eastern portion of the village of. Carency, which was invested oh three sides. We took 230 prisoners and several machine- guns. ~, Four German counter-attacks were broken doiyri,' and the enemy lost heavily at Loos,* Notre Daine"'-de Lorette-,;:Spu-cnez'Nouville., arid'St; Vaast. We gained .' ground "at. Npuvilie and captured a hundred prisoners and more than 50 officers. ? The Germans shelled Serguee and killed •'■ twelve and wounded- 1 eleven. The Allies' batteries ; silenced, the enemy. An aviator bombed and fired a hangar at Maubeuge. ' Near St. George's an enemy night attack to retakei the position was unsuccessful. North of Arras the Allies are progresing.' ' -" AT LA BASSEE GREAT BRITISH ATTACK INFANTRY PRESSING FORWARD. LONDON, May 11. The "Daily News' '" Dunkirk correspondent reports that a great British attack at La Bassee commenced at dawn oh Saturday. A heavy artillery duel was fought at Bailleul, and lasted for seven t hours on Saturday. It was resumed' at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, and is stil raging. i Under the cover of big guns our infantry "are' 'riresing onward, for. a great thrust at the La Bassee stronghold. The French arc supporting us with great vigour. ST DENIS BOMBED MANY PEOPLE INJURED. (Ree. Mav 12,. 8.5' Sa.m,): ' ■ ' " PARIS May .11/ A taube dropped several' bonibs at St. Denis, much damage being done arid many people being injured. An aeroplane drove off the taube. FIVE ENEMY ATTACKS ON SUNDAY ALL REPULSED WITH HEAVY iLOSS. LONDON, May 11. : Sir John French reports that despite ihe enemy's repeated attacks last week our line east of Ypres is practically unchanged. • The enemy made five unsuccessful attacks on Sunday, suffering very heavy losses The fighting on the first army corps' front to-day was confined to the artillery. ANOTHER GERMAN OFFENSIVE AT YPRES GREAT PREPARATIONS. DUNKIRK, May 11. The Germans are preparing for another offensive in the, Ypres'.. regid.ri. They are concentrating at Couitrai, Lille 1 and Roulers, and heavy infantry reinforcements and a hundred new Krupp guns are massed at Ingelounstor, whence they can bo quickly moved in almost any direction. THE CANADIANS MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. ■"■■ "PAUL'S. • j LONDON, May. 11: | '" A memorial service for the = Canadians ■vVas held'ab ; St. Paul's "Cathedral,- which ■was crowded. 1 ;Mi" Rudyard 'Kipling;"•Mr' Boriar Liw/'' Mr - Harcourt;" 1 -arid'■ Lord Lansdowne were present, besides many soldiers in khaki, a considerable, proportion of Hheiri" : b^mg'wounded; March in "Saul" wais played, sounded the f 'Last.'Post, ? *■' and] 'thle Caria> diSti' Natibrtal Anthem was playeoJ' "~. ; | j "'; The-Bishop of '^London- 1 quoted pas-j I sages from the record of an officer's ac-j count of the battle afc Ypres.

| DEATH OF ANTHONY WILDING

In NORTH of FiUNCE.

CHRISTCPiURUH, this Day. A private cablegram received in Christchurch to-dav states that Anthony Wilding, the" well-known' tennis champion, was killed in the North of France.