FRANCE BELGIUM

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144669, 1 May 1915, Page 3

FRANCE BELGIUM

THE BATTLE REAR YPRES. DESCRIPTION BY EYE-WITNESS. LONDON. April 30. 'The eyc-witnoss at headquarters states that before the battle of Ypros the British lino ran along the crossroads at Broodscindo, east of Zounebeko, to the cross-roads half a mile north of St. Jnlicn, following the crest of the Crafenstafel ridge. The French prolonged tho line north of Langcraarck to Stcenstraato. The movements of the German troops and transports were detected some days before.

The surprise was entirely duo to the asphyxiating apparatus. The attack was originally fixed for tho 20th, but was postponed owing to an unfavourable wind. On the 22nd a cloud of poisonous vapour rolled swiftly towards tho trenches of the Zouaves, west of Langomarck. Tho Germans charged practically an unresisting enemy By the sudden irruption they were able to surprise and over-run a large proportion of the French troops billeted in this area, and to bring some British and French guns under a hoi rifle (fro at rinse range. When the British flank was exposed tile troops were ordered to retire to St. Julien, with their left, west of the highroad. Their splendid resistance saved tho situation. The Germans meanwhile bombarded the sector north of Ypros. using projectiles emitting asphyxiating gas. Our reserves were watching tile shells bursting, when a staff officer rode up, shouting. “Stand to arms.” In a few minutes the reserves wore quickly marching northward amid wild confusion, panic-stricken refugees swarming tho roads. The officers mnstcrcd other reserves without waiting for orders and marched them towards St. Julien. Meanwhile tho confused fight had progressed north and north-east of V ■?., the Germans advancing behind a wall of vapour, which swept across the lioldsy through woods and hedgerows. The Germans’ noses were protected by pads soaked with bicarbonate of soda. A battery of 4." guns to tho left of tho British Tine was surprised ami overwhelmed in a moment. Farther tn the rear several field batteries wore unable to come into action until the Germans wore within a few hundred yards. But not a gun was lost. One battery was taken on the flank, but it swung round and fired at point blank, checking the rush. Another, with guns pointing in the opposite direction, had the enemy on three, sides. Our infantry, facing a vastly superior force, but lighting every step, without the slightest confusion slowly retired to St. Julien. The reserves. now coming up, attacked tho Gormans with tho bayonet. A melee ensued, wherein wo hold our own, both sides losing heavily.

The fighting was continued in the moonlight, our troops driving back the enemy with repeated bayonet charges, wherein our heavy guns were recaptured.

The position north of Ypres was now somew hat restored. The, Gomans, however, forced their way to the canal, and occupied Steonstranto and points on the western bank of the canal, Tho British rctwlsed two heavy night attacks at Broodscinde, cast of Zonnebeke. A part of Ypres was now in (lames.

Early on Friday wo made a strong counter-attack northwards in co-opera-tion with tho Fronch, penetrating the St. J alien wood, where tho Gormans

suffered heavily through our bayonet charges. Afterwards we ul»o lost heavily in the dash across the open.

" IVo, dug ourselves in at 11 in the morning and held the line west from St. .fulion, curving north near Boesingho. During the afternoon wo made progress south of I’ilkom, further straightening tho line.

Meanwhile there was fierce fighting along tho '■anal. The Gormans captured Lizerno at night and throw several bridges over the canal and continued to gain ground west. They made further night-attacks under cover of gas east of St. Julien, but effected little progress until mid-day on the tilth, when large bodies of tho enemy wore scon advancing on tho Vpres-Poelcappclle road. These forced tho British to fall back on St. Julien, contesting every inch and making repeated counter-attacks. They were, a gallant handful, being until late at night only about 200 cr 300 strong. They hold out at St. Julien. Wo strongly counter-attacked on Sunday morning, but wo wore checked before St. Julien. Tho Germans in'tho afternoon made repeated assaults .in great strength near Broodscinde, hacked by a tremendous bombardment of asphyxiating bombs. All were beaten off with groat slaughter, tho troops showing even greater determination to pay the enemy tenfold for every act of frightfujnets. Tho Germans were only in possession of St. Julien for six hours on Monday.

Tho British attack commenced on Monday evening, and lasted all night. Tho Gormans fortified themselves in the village, which tho artillery quickly shelled. All tho houses soon collapsed, burying tho defenders. Before a rally was possible, the Canadians, Scots and Irish troops had launched a furious onslaught, tho Gormans .being driven out. They employed ovory Imaginable ruse. They placed their own dead and wounded in piles in front of :thoir ranks, and in some crises lay concealed beneath heaps of human flesh to escape tho dreaded bayonet of the British, who were now using only nominal cover, their trenches being eighteen inches. The. stretch of ground now regained is two-thirds of tho lost ground, and wo hold tho line well in front of St. Julien.

DEATH OF AN AIRMAN. (Received May 1, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. , Moorhouse, the well-known aviator, has died of wounds received while bombing Courtrai. GERMAN SOLDIERS SHOT DOWN. BY THEIR OWN GUNS. (Received May 1, 10,5; a.m.) PARIS, April 30. A newspaper reports that during the recent fight four thousand Germans crossed the Yser near Stecnstraate. Tho Belgian artillery destroyed the bridge, cutting off their retreat, and field guns dropped shrapnel ou them. Tho Germans hoisted their handkerchiefs on their rillcs and surrendered, whereupon the German machine-guns on tfie opposite bank of the Yser mowed them, down. The Belgians took tho survivors prisoner.

A GERMAN WARSHIP., ’ DROPS SHELLS IN DUNKIRK. (Received May 1, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. Tho French Embassy states that nineteen shells fell m Dunkirk. Twenty persons were killed and'4s wounded. A German warship was seen off tho Belgian coast. A GROUNDLESS RUMOUR. DUNKIRK NOT BOMBARDED. (Received May 1, 11.35 a.m.) > LONDON, April 30. The Press Bureau says that the rumour that Gorman warships bombarded Dunkirk is untrue. It probably originated from a misreading of a French communique. A GERMAN STATEMENT. THE FORTRESS SHELLED. (Received May 1, 12.30 p.m.) BERLIN, April 30., A communique stares that our artillery shelled tho fortress at Dunkirk. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. WELLINGTON. May 1. The High Commissioner reports under date London. Anri! 30 (8.15 p.m.): The Press Bureau officially denies that German warships bombarded Dunkirk. The rumour probably originated in the misreading of a French official communique issued to-day. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. ATTACKS ON WESTERN FRONTIERTIMES AND SYDNEY RCN SERVICES. LONDON, April 30. The Times’ Paris correspondent says that in spite of the intense ehalticter of tho struggle in Flanders, it must not bo forgotten that there is heavy fighting elsewhere. Ho says that, a hotly of Germans, estimated to number •50,000. are trying to regain an important position at Los Eparges. At present tho French appear to have the upper hand, but tho German attacks arc not exhausted. Tho military critic of the Debate suggests that the German attacks at-Yores wore a feint to cover a more violent and more dangerous effort elsewhere, probably in eastern France. There is every reason to suppose that the Germans, foreseeing the Allies’ vigorous offensive, will try to anticipate it by a paralysing stroke at more than one print- of the line. Tho Daily Mail, in its comments, states that if the German headquarters report contains even a fraction of truth, the ground lost last week has not yei been recovered by the Allies. On almost every important point that report flatly 'contradicts our bulletins. These matters are of the most extreme impdrtance to the nation, and it is hoped that a clear and unambiguous official .statement will-tell the people that tho German reports are pure romance.

A correspondent in tho north of Frame says that although the second battie in /.'binders lasted only fivo days, tho fighting was so furious, and such deadly effects were caused by the engines of wav and tho enemy’s diabolical devices, that the losses of tho Allies exceed those in any action since the wav began. The enemy suffered more heavily, and the temporary advantage that was gained would ho inappreciable when ihe final bombardment was completed. Tho Immbardment of Ypres has left scarcely a house standing. Every village on the Ypres-Poperiughe Hoad was shelled, and our ambulances were hit. Popcringhe suffered severely, especially at the railway station, where our wounded were entrained. It was tho main object of the attack, and was converted into a shambles. Tbc wounded were removed to neighbouring cellars.

SLIGHT PROGRESS ON THE TSER. MORE SHELLS AT RHEIMS. (Received May 1, 11.35 a.m.) PARIS, April 1. A communique states;—Vie progressed in tho neighbourhood of Steeustraato. Fivo hundred shells, many or an incendiary character, have fallen in Bbeitns. The fires caused were quickly extinguished. THE CANADIANS’ EXPLOIT. WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL HEROISM. AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION. HELD. (Received May 1, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. Tho conduct of tho Canadians is almost the sole topic of tho Canadian Press, and there are many stories of individual heroism. Colonel MT.arg fell dead at tho mouth of a machine-gun while attempting to rescue a private. Colonel Birchall was wounded twice before ho was mortally hit. Tho 10th and Kith battalions mado a wonderful , charge. Colonel Boyle fell while leading his men, who worn cheering and yelling, into a perfect hell of fire from tho enemy, who wore hidden in a wood three hundred, yards away. From tho medley of accounts received tho Vancouver Daily Province surmises that the Germans, despising amateur soldiers, know exactly whore the Canadians were, and know they lacked experience. Tho Germans, accustomed to long attacks, know that by imparting novelty and frightfulness in the shape of chlorine gas their chance of breaking the line was greatly enhanced-. At first tho results wore just as calculated, and it appears that there was some confusion, into which tho Germans drove full tilt, apparently surrounding some Canadians. Tho announcement that the Gormans had raken a thousand prisoners, was probably mado when things looked like it. By all the rules of warfare tho Canadians were beaten, but they did not know it. They suffered terrible casualties, but gave as good as they got, and eventually turned the tables on their foes.

A sergeant-major says that from Thursday evening to Friday morning the Canadians held,, on to .a .position that was realty untenable.. If the Canadians had not held the Germans .might have been masters of Yures.

;a reward for the CAR ADI AES. (Received May 1, S.oo a.m.) LONDON, April 30. Ballot-boxes have been sent by Mr. Porley (High Commissioner) for the use of Canadian soldiers at the front in the event of a general election.