THE FIGHTING AT YPRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16433, 12 July 1915, Page 5

THE FIGHTING AT YPRES.

FIRST INTRODUCTION OF GASES. A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE. THE LOSS OF HILL 60. LONDON, July 10. (Received July 11, at midnight). Sir John French's despatch of June 15 states:— "Since April 5 the, army has been heavily engaged on both banks of the Ypres, which have again been successfully defended against vigorous, sustained attacks by large forces .supported by masses of heavy field artillery, which in number, weight ,and calibre are superior to any concentration which has previously assailed that part of cur line. " In the south the First Army had taken a vigorous offensive, during which a large area of entrenched and fortified ground was captured, whilst valuable support was afforded to the French attack on Aa-ras and Lens. Much to my regret, the fighting on the enemy's side was characterised by cynical and barbarous disregard for the well-known usages of civilised war, and a flagrant DEFIANCE OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION. " AJI the scientific resources of Germany were apparently brought i-nto play to produce gas so vii-ulent and poisonous that any human being into contact with it would first be paralysed and then meet a lingering and agonising death. The enemy invariably preceded, prepared and supported his attacks by the discharge of a stupendous volume of these gas fumes whenever the wind was favourab'e. Such weather conditions only prevailed to any extent in the neigh br.'urhood of Ypres. The fumes materially influenced the operations at Ypres until experience suggested Watson's No. 10 is n little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— Advt.

EFFECTIVE COUNTER .MEASURES which have sino-e been perfected, Tendering the fumes innocuous. Their efficiency in practice shows that, the Germans must have harboured their designs for a long time. As a soldier I cannot help expressing the deepest regret and some surprise tha'{ an- army which has hitherto claimed to be the chief exponent of chivalry of war should stoop to employ sue!) devices against gallant foes." In describing the CAPTURE OF HILL 60 Sir John French states that it afforded the enemy an excellent artillery observation post. Brigadier-general liulfin planned the preliminary operation and mining, and then Lieutenant-general Sir Charles Fergusson carried out the attack on April 17, in which the French and Belgian batteries assisted. The attempt to recapture Hill 60 on May 1 was supported by asphyxiating gases, which caused nearly all the men in the front, 400 yards long, to be immediately struck down by the fumes. The splendid courage by which the leaders r■■■:! their men and subdued their n.. i.al tendency to panic, combined with the prompt intervention of their supports, drove back the enemy. A

SEVERER GAS ATTACK on May 5, under much more favourable conditions, enabled the enemy to recapture Hill 60. A few days later the means of counteracting the gas, which have since proved so effective, were introduced, otherwise the attack on May 5 would have been resultless.

General French goes on to describe the first use of the gas on April 22. Aircraft at 5 o'clock reported thick,. yellow smoke issuing from the German trenches between Langemarck and Bixsclioote. " What followed almost defies description. The effect of the gases was so virulent that they rendered the whole line held by the French division between Steenstraate and the Poelchapelle road practically INCAPABLE OF ACTION. At first it was impossible for anyone to Tealise what had actually happened. The smoke fumes hid everything. Hundreds of men were thrown into a comatose, dying condition, and thq whole position within an hour was abandoned, with 50 guns. I wish particularly to repudiate the idea that the least blame attached to the French division. After all the examples our gallant allies have shown, of a dogged tenacity and courage it is superfluous to insist upon this point. If any troops in the world could have held the trenches the' French division would have held them. The retreat made the left. flank of the Canadians dangerously exposed. There was a prospect of the Canadians being overwhelmed, enabling the Germans to cut off the British occupying the salient to the east. The Canadians, however, held their ground with a MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY OF TENACITY and courage. The conduct of these splendid troops avoided a disaster. "In the confusion of the gas smoke the Germans captured the bridge at Steenstraate and the works south of Lizerne. I sent some reinforcements to support and assist General Pulz, and ordered reinforcements from the 2nd Army Corps. I held a conference with General Foch on the morning of the 23rd, and he asked me to maintain the British line while he endeavoured to regain the trenches belonging to the French Division. I concurred, but stipulated that if the "position was not reestablished within a limited time the British troops would not be allowed to remain in their existing exposed situation. "Many circumstances combined to render the situation east of Ypres very critical for two or three days. Fresh units had pushed the firing line into the area swept by artillery fire, which, owing to the capture of the French guns, we were Enable to keep down. This led to very heavy casualties.

I wish to record my deep admiration of the resource and presence of mind of the' commanders on the spot, particularly Maior-general Snow and Brigadier-general Hull. The Lahore Division made gallant attempts to push the enemy north, but were partially frustrated bv gas. The French, meanwhile, had retaken Lizerne, but as no further progress was made towards the recapture of the original line I ordered General Plumer, who was now in charge of the operations, to prepare for a retirement. These orders were postponed ■until May 1 at General Foch's request, and weTe then carried out with SCARCELY ANY LOSS, reflecting the greatest possible credit on General Plumer.

Our artillery, assisted by aeroplanes caused the Germans considerable loss when they were entrenching opposite our new line and advancing their guns to new ■positions.

"During the whole of the 4th the enemy heavily shelled our evacuated trenches, quite unaware that they were unoccupied."