BRITISH CAPTURE GERMAN TRENCHES NEAR YPRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 7

BRITISH CAPTURE GERMAN TRENCHES NEAR YPRES.

SAP BLOWN UP AND CARRIED WITH BAYONETFRENCH DEFEND SOUCHEZ AGAINST REPEATED ATTACKS. Wellington*, July 7. The following reports have been received from the High Commissioner in London, under date July 6: "Sir John French reports that on the 4th inst., on the Ypres front, a German sap was blown in and captured by a bayonet charge. The British casualties were insignificant. The German version was that they repulsed an attack with sanguinary loss on the Pilken road- '•' This morning, north of Ypres, we captured 200 yds of enemy trenches, taking 80 prisoners." An earlier report from the High Commissioner stated: "In Belgium the British troops, supported by French artillery, captured several fresh trenches south-west of Pilken, east of the Yser Canal. "A hot engagement was fought around Souchez, which remained in the hands of the French, despite the repeated efforts of the Germans. ■' Two German attacks at a saddle south of the ravine at Xouvaux were completely repulsed, as were two attacks at Bois le Pretre, in the region of Fey en Haye and Croix des Cannes, heavy losses being suffered by the enemy. " The French deny the German success claimed in the last five days. On the contrary, all attacks in July have been defeated with heavy losses." CONFUSED ARTILLERY DUELS ON BRITISH FRONT. GERMANS' PRODIGAL USE OF GAS SHELLS. London', July 6 Sir John French states that since his last report the situation is unchanged. Fighting mainly consists of confused artillery duels, a feature of which is the enemy's employment of a large quantity of gas shells, particularly near Ypres. Our howitzer fire on Sunday evening wrecked a German sap north of Ypres- A platoon of infantry, with a machine-gun, advanced and drove out the few Germans who survived the bombardment. We captured on Tuesday, on the extreme left, north of Ypres, 200 yds of the enemy's trenches, taking SO prisoners.