A SUCCESSFUL SAP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 30

A SUCCESSFUL SAP.

PARIS, June 3.

Official: After many months of sapping in the Carency sector, 17 furnaces, each containing 300 kilogrammes of explosives, were pushed liorward under the German lines on May 9. During a heavy bombardment we exploded the 17 furnaces simultaneously. Almost all the barbed wire entangle* ments and chevaux de frise were destroyed, and the trenches were filled. Many flanking works, armed with mitrailleuses and bomb-throwers, wrecked the enemy’s works, and their communications are broken. Many Germans were obliged to surrender. All the enemy’s subterranean works and furnaces were rendered useless. Seventy Germans were captured in one gallery, and the others died of suffocation. This operation contributed to our success on the Lorette-Carency-Neuville sector.

A communique states ; Jh® French have taken a group of houses at Neuville St. Vaast, which they held despite many coun-ter-attacks. Over 450 prisoners have been taken since Monday. The Germans twice bombarded RheimS, particularly the cathedral.

EASTWARD OF YPRES

LONDON, June 3.

An officer of the Medical Corps eastward of Ypres, writing on May 24, says : “The Guards charged through the gas and took the German trenches. Their casualties were very severe. The men were compelled to bolt. In most cases the wounded lay in the trenches, and their comrades

were unable to pull them out. The Germans shot or bayoneted the wounded. The battle was terrific, the British being slaughtered wholesale through the gases. As soon as the gas reaches a trench the Germans rush in and bayonet or shoot the men.”

AN EFFECTIVE COMBINATION. LONDON, June 3,

“Eye-witness” writes: “The British hold their own well in hand-grenade warfare. German prisoners testify that they suffered heavy losses recently in this'way. t£ Some pretty combined work east of Ypres was carried out by our howitzers and machine guns in co-operation. A party of 50 Germans clad in khaki entered the stables at the Chateau of Homage, near the Menin high road. The machine guns were trained on the doorway. The howitzers shelled the buildings and drove Out the enemy, who met a storm of lead from the machine guns, and 27 fell.”

FIGHTING AROUND YPRES. LONDON, June 3. An official resume of German operations round Ypres from April 22 to May 4, published in German papers, discloses the enemy’s motive in attacking. The Germans intended to exploit the unfavourable tactical situation in which the Allies were placed by holding so pronounced a salient. The mission of the enemy forces east and south-east of Ypres was to hold us to that quarter while a decisive effort was made ffrom the north to throw the Allies beyond the Yser in order to restrict the German front, straighten their line, and reduce part of Belgium still held by the Allies. The Germans pay a tribute to the British, and notably for their defence about Grafenstael on May 3. The account does not mention the use of gas; probably it is not desired publicly to confess recourse to such methods.

THE DUTCH EXCITED. LONDON, June 2,

Amsterdam reports state that a wave of anxiety is agitating the Dutch, the press declaring that the Netherlands will commit suicide in a cowardly manner unless ©very effort is made to strengthen the defensive forces. This indicates a realisation of the dangers of unpreparedness. There is popular clamour for an army of 600,000 men, with many cannon and several aircraft.

The War Minister is introducing a Bill as a step towards general military service.

CENSORSHIP IN ANTWERP

AMSTERDAM, June 3,

All the Antwerp newspapers have decided to discontinue publication owing to the severity of German censorship.

LONDON, June 3

Belgian aviators have flown over the greater part of Belgium, dropping leaflets addressed to the people of Belgium and ihe German soldiers, stating that Italy has gone against Austria-Germany, and that more than a million Italians -were fighting for the cause of liberty.