PILES OF DEAD

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 377, 26 April 1915, Page 7

PILES OF DEAD

A TREMENDOUS BATTLE

APPALLING SLAUGHTER AT HILL No. 60

RUSSIANS IN HUNGARY ;;, v • • • -/x GERMANS SEIZE AND SINK NEUTRAL SHIPS DARDANELLES' BOMBARDMENT RESUMED; REPORT OF DECISIVE ACTION There has been exceptionally violent lighting on the Western front, the Germans making strenuous but unsuccessful attempts to break through the Allies' line. The whole line of the main Russian advance in the Carpathians is now in Hungary. A strong column of Russian cavalry has invaded Eastern Prussia and is threatening the enemy's flank. The bombardment at the Dardanelles is being continued, and there are unofficial reports that a decisive action has been begun. More German submarine outrages are reported, several ships belonging to neutral countries having been seized or sunk. "Eye-Witness" tells a graphic story of the appalling scenes of slaughter at Hill No. 60.

GERMAN INTRIGUE.

HER BALLIN AND "THE TIMES."

A MESSAGE WHICH WAS ACCIDENTALLY DELIVERED,

*'Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received April 26, 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. "The Times" reveals how Mr John Walter received a cablegram from Herr Ballin from Berlin, dated Sunday, August 2, declaring:— Russia alone forces this war upon Europe. Knowing that Sir Edward Grey was explaining the position •n Monday, ''The Times" held over the cablegram, not being prepared to anticipate his statement with misleading views from an interested German, quarter. This week Herr Ballin wrote to the " Cologne Gazette" declaring that such a letter'as Mr "Walter had printed was the text of a letter which Mr Walter had never received. " The Times" prints the full message which reached Mr Walter through the London manager of the Hamburg-Amerika Company, the message saying "If Mr Walter declines, you must induce another firstclass newspaper to publish the article in a prominent position." While'" The Times " was considering the matter a telegram from Berlin, addressed to the London representative of the Wolff Bureau, informing him that "The Times" was publishing Herr Ballin's statement, was accidentally delivered at "The Times" office, disclosing the fact that Herr Ballin meant to have the statement telegraphed back to Germany with the authority derived from its publication in leading English newspapers. Mr John Walter, who is tho great-great-great-grandson .of Mr John Walter, who founded "The Times" in 1785, entered "The Times" office in 1898, and. having, corresponded from Paris, Madrid, aild Berlin, became •hairman of"The Times" in 1910.

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK SIDELIGHTS ON NAVAL AFFAIRS. BOW GERMAN INVASION OF EAST COAST WAS AVERTED. (Received April 26,. 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. 'Mr F. T. Jane, the well-known naval writer, speaking at Scarborough, explained, in reference to the Navy, that shortly before the war the manoeuvres were progressing, and some members of Cabinet wished the fleet to disperse with a view of "turning the other cheek" to Germany. Mr Churchill then threatened to resign, and a compromise was effected, the fleet going in different directions and then reassembling elsewhere. This fact was only known to the Admiralty. Germany in the early stages of the war had 100,000 troops on transports intending to land on the east coast. They were already at sea when, discovering that the British were awaiting them, they were rushed back to harbour. Leading German newspapers are triumphant over so-called naval cruises. They declare that-the fleet has scoured the North Sea several times trying.to And the British, and add: "If Jellieoe •grants to prove that Britannia rules the waves, now is his chance."

WANTON ATTACKS. OUTRAGES BY SUBMARINES. DENMARK DEMANDS EXPLANATION FROM GERMANY. By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright. (Received April 26, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. The submarine fired a dozen shells at the Norwegian sailing

ships Eva and Oskar. The. crews were allowed 10 minutes in which to make their escape. The submarine attacking the Until discharged a torpedo which missed. The captain and five of the crew went off in a boat, intending to.show their papers, but when they were near the submarine a second torpedo struck the Ruth amidships, blowingup her deck. The remainder of the crew had barely time to get out the boats. The Norwegian steamer Caprivi (2932 tons) has been mined and sunk off Tory Island (north-west coast of Ireland). The crew have landed. The Danish steamer bound for Grimsby, and which was seized by the Germans, was the Nidaros, a vessel of 1024 tons. Denmark has demanded an explanation from Germany. Earlier' messages relating to tJio attacks on tlie above-mentioned vessels will 1)C found in another column.

FRENCH LINE BEIf SWEPT BACK BY GERMANS, ALLIES' SUCCESSFUL SERIES OF COUNTER-ATTACKS. (Received April 26, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, April 25. A communique states : British) French, and Belgian counter-attacks continue, successfully against two German army corps. The Germans continue to use asphyxiating gases. We have considerably progressed to the northwards on the right bank of the Yser Canal. The British have repulsed the counter-attacks mentioned in the last communique, and have held all their positions. The German division, on a front of less than a kilometre, bent back the French line from Colonne to the Meuse Heights, but in a counter-attack the French swept back the Germans.

SEVERE FIGHTING.

CHURCHES FULL OF WOUNDED.

GERMAN ARTILLERY READY FOR FLIGHT.

'"/ Received April 26, 9..10 .a.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 25. The "TelegraafV' Routers correspondent states that fighting near Poel Capelle and Langemarck has been of the most severe nature. Thousands have been buried in a huge cemetery near Moorslede, while the churches are filled with the wounded. The German artillery is posted to the south of Moorslede. Horses are attached to each gun, ready to, move, owing to the Allies,' frequent and successful air raids. The German plans embrace a strong attempt to cross the Yser and force a way'to Funics and Dunkirk.

DAILY RAIDS.

ALLIED AIRMEN ACTIVE.

BRITISHER S RUSE BADLY OUTWITS GERMANS. (Received April 26, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, April 25. The allied, airmen have made daily raids between the Yser and Bruges, including attacks on the airship sheds at Gits, Lissewege, and Cesthel. Many Germans have been killed. The Germans heavily bombarded the British airman at Goutrode, to the east of Ghent. The airman allowed his machine to fall rapidly, upside down, and the Germans ceased .firing; believing him to have been hit. Suddenly lie righted his machine and dropped bombs, damaging the airship sheds. The..-airman then escaped.

BLAZE OF ARTILLERY.

CARNAGE AT HILL NO. 60.

HILLSIDE PILED HIGH WITH GERMAN CORPSES.

(Received April 26, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, April 25

"Bye-Witness'' says: — Seven mines were fired simultaneously 011 Hill No. 60 on April 17, and trendies, parapets, and sandbags disappeared. The ground was torn into huge craters, which assumed strange shapes,-and nothing was left of the occupants of the enemy's line. There was an extraordinary scene in the neighbouring trenches. Many Germans were surprised in their shirt sleeves and without equipment. Stunned and bewildered by the explosion, they were subjected to a rain of hand grenades. They became panic stricken, cursing and shouting and falling over one another in their fight for exits. Some of the terror-stricken soldiers bayoneted their comrades in front of them. The Britishers \ bayonet, charge burst through the maze of trenches, poured into the craters, and pressed on till it was hauled up by barricades, defended by bomb-throwers. The first line of trenches was captured in a few minutes,'and then tlie real struggle began. The Germans quickly recovered from their surprise, and the whole of our position was soon obscured by the smoke from bursting shells. Meanwhile our batteries supported the infantry attack, and a terrific artillery fire was kept up far into the night. Whilst our men were throwing up parapets and rendering the position defensible the Germans threw hand grenades over the barricades, also the crater sides on which the British were clinging and endeavouring to obtain a foothold. The fighting continued throughout the night and culminated early on April 18 by two German massed attacks, which were beaten off. Though the hillside was piled with German corpses the enemy continued the pressure. There was fierce, fighting during the whole of Sunday) until we had gradually driven them to the northern edge. Reinforcements arrived at 6 o'clock in the evening and swept, the Germans from the edge. " • » 1. - Our position was now more secure, and on Sunday night it was comparatively quiet. There was a severe cannonade 011 both sides on Monday, the Germans heavily shelling all round Ypres. The Germans on Tuesday unmasked a formidable concentration, and their artillery fire grew heavier. All hour later their 42 and 35 centimetre guns bombarded Ypres. Fifteen children playing in the street were killed, but otherwise the casualties were small. • The German infantry advanced on Hill No. 60 at 6.30 in the evening, and our machine guns again did tremendous execution in beating ofF the enemy. Another attack at 8 o'clock was similarly beaten off, but. still the Germans would not admit defeat. Throughout the night parties with hand grenades tried to drive us off the hill, alternated by bombardments by all kinds of artillery and trench mortars. - On Wednesday morning we held the position, except at one point, and by 3 o'clock in the afternoon only a few German bombthrowers were left on the north-eastern edge. The bombardment of the hill was continued, and projectiles containing asphyxiating gases were rained on the defenders till the evening, when the British were .firmly entrenched. Officers who met the Prussian Guard on November 31 declare the fighting at Hill No. 60 was far worse. For four and a half days the enemy hurled tons of metal and explosives on to an area of only 250 yards long and 200 yards deep. At times the hill top was wreathed with poisonous fumes. The infantry stood firm under a fire which swept whole sections and filled the trenches with corpses. The approach to the front line was so,cumbered that reinforcements had to climb over their comrades' bodies.

STRUGGLE IN THE WEST.

ALLIES' PROGRESS CONTINUES. GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY, , (Received April 26, 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 25. Official: The Allies continue to progress in Belgium. The British have held all their positions. (Received April 26, 9 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 25. There are great rejoicings in Berlin over the "victory" in Flanders. PRISONERS IN FRANCE. REMARKABLY GOOD TREATMENT. (Received April 20, 9 a.m.) PARIS, April 25. | Details of the treatment of German' prisoners in France show that they have remarkable comforts and food .in "plenty GALLANT CANADIANS. j 'A SITUATION SAVED. | The High Commissioner'reports:— LONDON, April 21. The War Office states that the. light, iu the foreground, in which the Germans penetrated between Stcenstraate and Laugemarck, still continues. The loss of this, part, bared the Canadian Division, which was forced to fall back in order to keep in touch on the.right' with neighbouring troops. In the rear of the latter, where four, Canadian 4.7 in guns passed into the hands of the enemy, some hours later the Canadians made a brilliant and successful advance, and recaptured the

guns, taking numerous German prisoners, including a colonel. The Canadians suffered many casualties, but their gallantry and determination undoubtedly saved the situation. Their conduct was magnificent throughout. (Received April 26, 9 a.m.) PARIS, April 25. The uewspapers pay .glowing tribute to the Canadians' marvellous.dasli.

FIERCE ATTACKS.

GERMAN EFFORTS FAIL. The High Commissi oner reports: — LONDON, April 25. _ North of Ypres the Germans on Friday night and Saturday made fierce attempts to take advantage of the confusion provoked "on' Thursday by their asphyxiating gases, but failed. At dawn on Saturday they veaptured Lizerne, on the left bank of tlie, 'Yser, but it was re-taken, our forces making appreciable progress. The British "were violently attacked, but immediately counter-attacked. ... AMSTERDAM, April'^4. A German official statement; claims that the Germans beat off the Allies' attack from Ypres to Bixchoote, an<l that they captured 2470 prisoners, and many rifles and machine guns.

WITH DESPERATE COURAGE.

GERMANS ENORMOUS EFFORT.

LONDON, April 24. The "Daily Mail's" Rotterdam correspondent states that Germany is making an enormous effort to break the Allies' line on the Yser, and is throwing every available man against the Allies' line north qf. Ypres. Masses of German troops are pouring -through Brussels. AIL troops guarding, the Dutch frontier have gone to the ¥ser.

The battle there is described- as the bloodiest of the- Western 'campaign. The enemy's losses during the last few days have been tremendous. The Germans advanced against the Allies* trenches with desperate courage, new troops dashing- forward over mass'es of their dead and wounded comrades. The German artillery is very effective, and their'expenditure of shells is prodigious. Correspondents agree that 'the present fighting in Flanders has b'ecom© the biggest in which the British Army has been engaged. The area west of the Bruges-Cour-trai road is full of German troops, and trains are still arriving from Eastern Belgium. Other troops have marched through AiX-la-Chapelle in a westerly direction continuously for the last three days.

Other reports state that 100,000. Germans have been concentrated between Antwerp and Ghent in. the past days. .. h . , ->.!

AT HILL NO. 60.

GERMANS BUSH REINFORCEMENTS. > LONDON, April' 24. Hill No. 60 is a little over , a hundred yards long and a perfect target for artillery, wliich accounts- for a 'fereat part of the British losses. Some of the German ti'enches are still virtually on the hill, 20 yards frojm ours. Thus the front trenches are the shell fire. It isealeulated that the Germans rushed reinforcements equal to an army corps to Hill-60. ■ •* Tlio British massed a large force of artillery behind the position. Their latest surprise was a formidable array of machine guns. The German losses Avere appalling.

UNSPEAKABLE TUMULT.

BOMBARDMENT RESEMBLE&

VOLCANO. LONDON, April 24. The Dunkirk correspondent the " "Daily News" says there was an unspeakable tuimilt throughout Thursday at Hill No. 60. The Germans brought up the whole of their heavy artillery, but the British hung on grimly against the most terrific bombardment cy<jr experienced. It resembled a volcano, and the noise was deafening. Eyeryjthing was obscured by dust and .The major of a battery shouted his ; orders! v. through a megajjlione to a gunner at his side. British infantry, consisting the best shots of many regiments, lay prone for hours, firing until their rifles ,'were too hot to hold. Their courage,, and staying power amid this helL? was sublime. Shrapnel was continually bursting over them, and hundreds 1 were wouuded in the back. Whenever'.'there was a chance of a charge theytook it j with magnificent verve. ' ' The enemy 's aeroplanes dropped'hundreds of iriceridi'ai-y bombs into' the entrenchments. By nightfall, HilJ No;' 60 presented an indescribable spectacle. ;. ' AMSTERDAM, April.; 24. On Thursday and Friday - train loads of German dead arrived at Hassel. Civilians were compelled to bury them. ' Twenty-five thousand German 1 Wounded Reached Liege.: Most of ness places have been transforriife>\ into hospitals. FRENCH CAPTURE TRENCHES. HOT FIGHTING NEAR APREMONT* PARIS, April 24. An official statement says: * "We captured trenches in the Forest

of Apremont, aud found 200 Germans dead. Our artillery blew up two ammunition depots in the vicinity, annihilating a whole company." PARIS, April 25. "The Germans exploded five heavy mines in the neighbourhood of our trenches, on the northern spur of a small fort at Beausejour. Despite the * violent explosions we out-distanced the enemy and occupied the craters, which were 25 metres in diameter. .' 1 There has been hot fighting at the Bois d'Ailly. The Germans made repeated and desperate efforts to recapture the trenches taken on Thursday-. After evacuation of a portion of the trenches wo retook it, and retain it."

THE EASTERN FRONT.

A CAVALRY INVASION.

RUSSIANS ENTER EAST PRUSSIA,

V PETROGRAD, April 24. A strong column of Russian cavalry entered East Prussia, near Meinel, ancl •"is threatening the enemy's flank.

WHOLE LINE IN HUNGARY.

RUSSIA'S FORTY-MILE FRONT.

PETROGRAD, April 25.

' ; The whole line of the main Russian advance in the Carpathians is now in Hungarian territory, the capture of trenches on the height dominating "Hill No. 1001 having brought the left '■wing across the frontier. • The front extends 40 miles between "the two railways which cross the Carpathians at Mezolaborcz in the west and the Uszok Pass in the east. The -Russians, while awaiting favourable for the advance, are fighting actions daily. They occupy the upper of the majority of the rivers ■ running into Hungary. The success 'near Hill No. 1001 facilitates the con•quest of the Uszok region by reducing 'the importance of Hill No. 9.02, which is still in the enemy's hands.

: THE NEAR EAST. SMASHING THE FORTS. TURKISH AIRCRAFT BROUGHT DOWN. (Received April 26, 10.15 a.m.) ATHENS, April 25. , Allied ships have brought down tWo Turkish aeroplanes which were flying over.the island of Teiiedos. The bombardment in the Straits continues. Germany promises, an apology and compensation if it is proved that a German submarine sank the Greek ship Ellispentos.

WAR BY SUBMARINE.

- GERMAN REVENGE. REPRISALS ON BRITISH OFFICERS LONDON, April 24. j , It is officially stated that the 39 -British officers arrested under the Ger- j roan reprisals include Lord Garlics, the of Saltoun, the Hon. John Spen-' cer-Coke, and Lieut., D. W. Hunter- ' . (Received April 26, 10.20 a.m.) Sir Edward Goschen's son Gerard,

Sir Edward Grey's cousin Bobin Grey (the aviator), Lord Albemarle's son Bupert, and Lieutenant Paxton, a former at Vienna, are among the 39 /Officers on whom reprisals are being taken. NORWEGIAN SHIPS SUNK. TIMBER CARGOES FOR SCOTLAND. LONDON, April 24. ' A German submarine sank the Norwegian sailing vessels Eva and Oscar. The crews were landed at Shields. The steamer Helmer passed the vessels abandoned in the North Sea. The Eva was burning, and the Oscar was * awash aud under full sail. Both ships were bound to Scotland with cargoes of timbor. The Eva was a small wooden barque of 312 tons gross register, built at Dundee in 1878. The Oscar was a small wooden barque of 700 tous gross register, built 54 years ago at Fairhaven, Conn.. U.S.A. DANISH VESSEL SEIZED. SINKING OF SWEDISH SHIP. COPENHAGEN, April 24. The Germans have captured a Danish steamer laden with agricultural produce, and bound to Grimsby. She was taken to Sylt, one of the North Frisian Islands, off the coast of Sclilcswig-llol-etein. LONDON, April 24. Tiio Swedish steamer liuth, bound from Leith to Gothenburg with a cargo of coal, was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea. The crew was saved.