FRANCE &. BELGIUM

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144665, 27 April 1915, Page 3

FRANCE &. BELGIUM

NEW- GERMAN HORROR. DISCHARGE OF POISONOUS GAS. LONDON, April 26. The Daily Chronicle considers that the Allies arc no longer fighting a nation, but a scourge like cholera. The curtain of asphyxiating gas advanced like the yellow wind in northern China. It rose to a height of sixteen and evidently the Germans had placed big reinforced bottles of gas, compressed by high pressure, on the top of the trenches. Those bottles were opened when the wind was certain to carry the gases in the direction of the enemy’s trenches.

Many of the French troops, not knowing the danger, did not attempt to escape, but- died at their post. The corpses turned black, and those who escaped spat blood owing to the chlorine .attacking the mucous membrane. These effects were felt over six kilometres by two. Elsewhere the gas was too diluted to kHL though its suffocating effects were felt by many.

After the gas laid os-apod for fifteen minutes masked Germans took possession of tile arms of the dead men, bat made no prisoners. When they saw soldiers whom the fames had not 1 quite killed they threw their rifles into the Vser, and ironically advised the asphyxiated men to lie down and thus di,- better.

When reinforcement.-, arrived, the French opened a terrible lire. Simultaneously the Canadians rhrnst in a weds,o. cutting otl many Germans who had advanced too far.

In order to play an infamous trick on a party of Frenchmen, a Herman column that was threatoned with decimation owinsr to the French fire, held their rifle-butts and waved in the air a white flag, calling nut; “AVe surrender.” AVhen near tile French trenches they opened (ire. killing many Frenchmen, whom the Canadians were able to avenge. Floods north of the ferryman's house prevented the use of chlorine., as the trenches were too far apart. Mere tile Germans, four abreast, preceded hr three machine-guns, advanced on the road, crossing the floods regardless of the Allies’ big guns. The Germans did not use their machine-guns until they were close to the Belgian trendies, when they poured in a hot fire and charged with bayonets. They were able to cross owing to their great number. The Belgians fought gallantly mud reinforcements arrived and enabled them to throw back the Gormans at several points over the A'ser. Germans north of Diximide attacked many times in serried ranks, particularly at Chateau Decogne, which is a small country house and garden situated among a number of peasant cottages.

Three bayonet fights resulted unfavourably for the Germans, many of whom were made prisoners. The Germans continued their massed attack on the 23rd upon the Belgian Grenadiers, who performed many deeds of bravery, preventing tho Germans from passing tho French left wing, which, was weakened as a result of the poisonous gas used by the Gormans.

By midday on the 2oth the Germans were driven back over tho A'ser. The Germans throughout used many explosive bullets.

VIGOROUS GERMAN ATTACK. SUCCESSFUL AT FIRST; CANADIANS SHOW THEIR. METTLE DUNKIRK. April 26. Tho capture of Hill 60 upset the German calculations. The Germans were forced to disclose their hand in a premature attack upon the French lines north of tho British section. Throe German army corps were flung on the A'ser from Raiders with orders to gain the A'pi es-Fiirnes Road at any cost.

A north-easterly wind was blowing on Thursday evening, and the circulation ot' the sulphur chloride product resulted iu a heavy gas of about the same consistency as afterdamp, and the acrid smoke was singularly painful to the eyes. As the smoke arose in front of the German trenches, the enemy evacuated ihcir own trenches, giving the French, the impression they wore retiring. Many French sprung up and charged into the poisonous cloud, but were blinded and stifled by the fumes. Some regained their trenches, but the bursting of shells containing the same fumes scattered the poisonous gases, and- formed another wall of smoko behind which wore the bewildered Frenchmen. Ac one spot the Germans themselves caught the poisonous cloud and i fought until it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. A French sergeant-managed to escape, and told the Belgian commander of the gravity ot the situation. -The Belgians retired in good order. The Canadians had no time to got their 4.7 in. guns across the water. The Gormans brought up a quantity of ready-made bridges, thirty feet long, and despite the destruction of the first occupied Luzerne. This left tho Canadians’ position untenable, but within four hours they had turned and advanced. The Canadians met were retreating, being terribly sick, half blind, with weak limbs, front the effect of the fumes. Nevertheless, tho Canadians faced the shrapnel, rifle-fire, and machine-guns in country lucking cover. The French assisted, and in the growing darkness retired to their positions on the canal banks. They were still disorganised. At dawn a largo number of troops were still poisoned. Indeed, the men were being brought to Dunkirk on Sunday in' a state of stupor. The main German attack was directed on the Dixmude-Ypros Eoad, at a point where the road crosses the canal. After the Germans stormed Steenstraate they made a sweeping movement to tho left. The French valiantly defended, but were driven back, abandoning four batteries of 75 guns. The German engineers on Thursday night enlarged and strengthened the temporary bridge at Steenstraate, enabling reinforcements to entrench on the western hank before dawn, and supported by heavy artillery throughout Friday, the German infantry tried to capture Znvdichoote, but were repeatedly repulsed. The attacks were renewed on Friday night, when they held half a mile west of the bridge head. Tho Belgians meanwhile had dona their full share of fighting, holding the lino of the Ysor, tho flooded area, and the dunes. The German artillery everywhere searched their lines, but they fought with splendid courage and gallantry, co-operating with tho French. The combined forces recaptured I/izerne and threw the Germans across the canal. . Afters the Germans. poured,- over- the

canal they attacked the Canadians in the rear. The Canadians, facing both ways, fought for their lives with their bayonets. British supports, with Zouave forces, fell upon the. Gormans and cut their way to the Canadians, The whole mass then charged the enemy in a glorious onrush. Whole, companies of Germans were wiped out. The Canadians lost heavily, but they drove the Germans, from Pilkem in disorder by means of two bayonet charges, delivered with magnificent dash and spirit, regardless of rules or German text-books. The Germans' successive confidence helped the Canadians to establish the whole allied line. The Duke of VVurtemburg’s army, with a number of Hungarian regiments, carrier! out, the attack. There are many rumours that General von Hindenburg was chief in command.

The Germans are now burying their dead near tiie battlefields, owing to the railways being congested with troop trains and preventing the conveyance of cremating furnaces. Great piles of corpses, mostly mangled and unrecognisable, are being collected west of Hooters, where wagons bring them from the banks of the Ysc-r. The burial pits arc fifteen foot deep, dug by German civilians, assisted by the Belgians compulsorily dratted from the villages. THE MEWS IN CANADA. MONTREAL, April 26. _ The exploit of the Canadians on the Yser was bulletined at the newspaper offices. The public rushed special editions. and were delighted with the unusually warm language of the War Office dispatch. The Governor-General (the Duke of Connaught) inspected the Montreal Home Guard, and congratulated the officers upon the gallantry of their brothers in arms in taking' the guns, which wore specially welcome. He recalled the exploit in South Africa, when Major Hollard won the Victoria Cross.

There is great anxiety over the casualty lists, as the Canadians had already a thousand casualties at Hill 60 and around Vines, The Toronto Star says it teas no fault nf the Canadians that they yielded ground. Annihilation nr retreat was the. only option. They did well to extricate themselves without, moro serious loss. Sneh n situation was Hie severest tost of discipline, THE ALLIES VICTORIOUS. PARIS, April 26. Witnesses of the Herman attack state that the Hermans did not use special asphyxiating shells. They holiove that the vapour emanating Irnm the chlorine was projected from the Herman trenches by some unknown means, the Hermans availing themselves of a favourable wind. The French were amazed at the thick clouds ut blackish fog moving towards their tret cites. Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, the Hermans came out, supported hy their artillery, wearing masks, bat. thanks to the numerous reserves and support of the British, the Herman advance was cheeked north of the canal.

Official. —The lighting north of Ypres continues satisfactory to the Allies. The Hermans attacked the British at several points, hut did. not gain any ground. The French progressed on the right bank of the canal by a vigorous counter-attack.

SPLENDID CANADIAN BRAVERY. RECOGNISED RY LORD KITCHENER. (Received April 27. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON. April 26, Sir John French informed General Alderson that he hud reported tho Canadians for their .splendid behaviour to Lord Kitchener. Tho latter replied that their gallantry and determination in a difficult position was highly appreciated by the English. A CANADIAN’S STORY. HARD FIGHTING ON EMPTY STOMACHS. (Received April 27, 11.. j a.m.) LONDON, April 26. A Canadian states;—'•After the line wifs broken on our left wo worn sent northward to Ypres without food or water in wot equipment', each with 400 rounds of ammunition. Wo waited from early in tho day until nearly midnight when two battalions were ordered to charge the enemy 500 yards away. The artillery mowed us down like-sheep. There were 2500 Canadians attacking "000 Hermans in a wood full of Maxims'. Before the attack some few shells were fired thither. We expellgd the enemy from the trenches in front of the. wood and wont right through and about .Vj’j yards to tho other side. Then wo were almost surrounded and retired to tho captured trenches, where wo dug ourselves in and remained overnight, the enemy shelling us with shrapnel.” \Ve filed out to make, room for the reinforcements. In our advance we were enfiladed hy heavy fire. Both sides of the Prussian Guards fronting ns ran like cowards. We recovered throe French howitzers, which we blowup, and next re-captured onr 4,7 in. guns. We surrounded at that point, sixty Germans, of whom we bayonettod forty-five. The officer blew out his brains. Wo wore unable to estimate tho number of German slain. Their searchlights were busy tho wltole night picking up the dead.

A GERMAN REPORT. BERLIN, April 25. A communique slates: “We, in further successes near Ypres, maintained the ground captured on the 23rd, and continued the attack eastward. We stormed the Solaert farmhouse, west of St. Julion, which is three miles northeast of Ypres, also Kerselwere, and advanced victoriously against Grafeastafel, taking a thousand Englishmen prisoners and capturing seven machineguns. We repulsed the British coun-ter-attack on our position west of St. Julien, the British suffering most severe losses. British attempts to attack Wcstmill were stifled at birth. The French suffered a severe defeat southwest of Kombres. We broke through several linos. Nightly attempts to' recapture the ground miscarried. We captured twenty-four French officers, 1600' men, and seventeen guns.

HORRORS AT DIN ANT. A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE. TIMES AND SYDNEY BUN SERVICES. (Received April 27, 8 a.m.) London, April 26. The diary of a Belgian lady, who has since died in England, states that the Germans, when entering Dinant, were mostly drupk. They'set fire to houses ■and-pillaged shamentlly,'.

the French with bayonets in the streets. When the bombardment commenced women and children fled terrified, nuns holding up their hands and attempting to hearten hundreds who, from extremest terror and fatigue, were lying on mattresses. Babies in cradles were left in the streets, and a bare-footed woman, expecting a child, and clad only in a chemise and petticoat, was among those who were compelled to watch their unarmed husbands and sons shot.

Many women took refuge in the hill caves, whore several lost their reason as the result of their infants dying. Tire .Germans discovered them and compelled them to march in front of the army. The French cannon ceased firing, and the women, lined up facing the German riflemen, appealed for mercy. The officer replied: “Dinanl fired on our soldiers, and I am ordered to leave nothing in Diuant.” Heart-breaking farewells were taken when an officer rode up at the last moment and spared them. They were marched to a camp, where they saw immense braziers full of corpses. They were imprisoned in a church, and in response to the appeals of the priests were more kindly treated.

THE POPE AND BELGIUM. LONDON. April 26. The Pope has promised the Belgian Minister that the Vatican will use its influence to obtain the integral reconstitution of Belgium. A ZEPPELIN DESTROYED. (Received April 21. 8.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 26. The Telegraph states that a Zeppelin was destroyed yesterday in the air raid on Gontrode, ' STARVING BELGIUM. CONDITION'S GROWING DESPERATE, (Received April 27. 8.30 a.m.) LONDON', April 23. The National Committee o! IBber in Belgium is appealing for half a million sterling worth of food to keep body and soul together among the utterly destitute. .M. Eraucfiui, chairman of the commission in Brussels, writes :—"fiilcss we get more assistance hundreds of thousands of the seven million people in Belgium will starve. At least a million and a half Belgians are now entirely destitute and with the rapid exhaustion of the. meat and vegetal,le supplies probably before harvest lime there will be 2,500,000 who must ho fed and clothed entirely by charity. The remaining -1, ,100.1)00 will get a pitiful daily allowance of bread through the commission and pay for it.

DEMANDS FOR REPRISALS. (Received April 27, 10.5 a.m.) PARIS, April 26, Les Debars calls on |he military lo discard all false sentiment and adopt immediate reprisals for the nso of poisonous gases. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received April 27, 10.6 a.m.) LONDON, April 23. The French .Embassy states that the British stopped two attacks debouching from Pnssclteiidaclo and Bradsnmkr. The- Hermans violently bombarded Vpres. The battle of the Men.se heights is developing. The Germans, alter their repulse at Calonne. attacked towards St. Reilly with the object of retaking Los Kparges, but were repulsed after a vigorous bombardment and violent combat. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. WELLINGTON, April 26. The Premier lues received the lollowiug from the High Commissioner, dated London, April 26, 5 a.m.:—ln the Carpathians on Thursday and Friday night a series of Austrian attacks against the heights occupied by the Russians in the region of Rolen were repulsed, with enormous losses. The Austrians made equally unsuccessful attempts in the region of Wolviato. north-west of 4'zsok Pass. The Russians progressed on Friday in the district ol Ncdevec, St. House. Rostoki Pass and Sianki, two miles from tho head of L'zsok Pass. After obstinate lighting tho Russians seized a. scries of important heights in those regions. . Army officers killed, 7; wounded, 12; men killed, 86; wounded 194; missing, 23. Canadian officers wounded, 1; men killed, 3; wounded, 18.