FIGHTING IN THE WEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 414, 8 June 1915, Page 7

FIGHTING IN THE WEST.

IMPORTANT POINTS ASSAILED. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, June 7 (6.10 p.ni.)T~ North of Arras two German, coun-ter-attacks failed. One attack, on the sugar refinery at Souchez, was stopped by the French artillery. The ! other, on the Labyrinth, was repulsed by the* infantry. The French have progressed, gaining ground one kilometre east of La Chapelle-'de Lorette, and taking 100 metres of the centreworks of the Labyrinth. Near Hebuterne the French at-. J tacked the enemy's position in the neighbourhood of a farm at Toutbont, taking two successive lines of trenches and capturing prisoners and some quickfirers* FIERCE ARTILLERY DUEL. FRENCH MAKE PROGRESS. (Received June 8, 9.20 a.m.) PARIS, June 7. A communique states .wThere was, an artillery duel of extreme intensity at Notre Dame de Lorette, Ablain, and Cabaret ; Rouge on Sunday and Monday. The enemy's counterattacks completely failed. We attacked the enemy's position near Kebuterne and captured,. tyvo lines of trenches along a front of j 1200 metres, together with several quickiirers and a number of prison- 1 ers. ■. The Germans' violent counterattacks north -of the Aisne. failed, and we maintained the gains made on June 6. BATTLE ROUND SOUCHEZ. FRENCH STILL PROGRESS. ; PARIS, June 7. ' An official communique says:— "We made further gains eastward of Aix-Noulette on the Souchez Road, at Nouville, and in the' Labyrinth. We now hold two-thirds of the latter, "We captured eastward of Tracy-le-Mont, on the Aisne, in a single rush, two lines'of trenches and several works. We repulsed three violent counter-attacks, talrinjg 200 prisoners and capturing Ihree 77-milli-metre guns." - The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, June 7. North of Arras there is extreme activity, the advantage being with the French. successful attacks were made ri£ar the road from Aix-Noulette to Souchez, the French gaining ground. More houses were taken at Neuville St. Vaas't. Additional trenches were captured in the centre and south of the Labyrinth, 100 metres being gained.

A GHASTLY STORY. HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF GAS. LONDON, June 7. Major - General Stuart - Wortley, commanding a British corps in France, describes the horrors resultj ing from-the use of gas at Ypres. | "The public," he says, "cannot have • the slightest idea of this last damnable effort on the part of the Ger- ; mans, in disregard of all laws of humanity and civilisation. I have | seen our men in hospital after havj ing been brought from the treiiches. I There was no need to enquire the ! number of their ward. Their groaning Was sufficient direction. "In one ; ward there were 18 cases of men | sitting bolt upright or swaying back- | ward and forward, gapping, for breath, their facesj hands, and | cheeks a shiny black colour, j their; eyes glazed. They were | absolutely; unable to speak orfeed themselves. During the two days it takes these men to die they suffer most acute agony. If by the flightiest chance they recover, the probability is they will be useless for the restof their lives, as the effect of the gas turns the tissues of the lungs into liquid. It is the most hopeless, helpless, sickening sight imaginable." ~ AMSTERDAM, June 7. , The Germans are using, th&L chief factories at Vilvorde for the manufacture of asphyxiating gases. The buildings are protected by antiaircraft guns. GERMAN COURAGE. FIGHT BEST WHEN CORNERED. DUNKIRK, June 7. While the British are building up a reserve of high explosive: ammunition before they attempt another advance, the Germans are pouring an unending 4 stream of abouf our lines.! The German sappers are tireless, boring day and night. Despite the evidence that their infantry \is riot strong enough to launch ah attack in force, it is impossible, to exaggerate the importance and strength of the German raachine-guns. Gunners lurk in the cellars until the Allied gdvanqes have swept past them, and then open fire and work their guns to the last. This, courage. of.the cornered rat is curious when contrasted with the fact that. the Germans display no such quality in open fight. Machinegunners .are. often bolted, and barred within cellars, where the only! alter?-' native is to sell life as dearly as possible. This particularly is so in the fighting round Arras. BRITISH CASUALTIES. A HEAVY LIST. ' The High 1 Commissioner reports LONDON, June 7. The following Army casualties are announced:—: < OFFICERS. Killed .. .. 8 Killed by gas .... 1 Wciuitded; .. .. .. 15. ,Injured by gas .. .. 3 Missing ...... 5 Prisoners .. .. .. 9 MEN.' Killed .. .. .. 621 Killed by gas .» ... 4 Wounded 2274. Injured by gas .. .. 35 Missing .. .... 290