GRAPHIC STORY OF BIG BATTLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20345, 4 May 1915, Page 5

GRAPHIC STORY OF BIG BATTLE.

GERM4NS USE GAS AND POISONOUS SHELLS.

A PROVIDENTIAL WIND.

MANY ACTS OF GALLANTRY

A HERO OF THE AIR

(United Press Association— Copyright) Received 7.45 p.m., May 3. LONDON, May 3. "Eye-Witness" says that when the Frenchmen were retiring before the gas--clouds the British position was shelled with a high explosive for some hours., The Germans also fired poison shells, for an hour. The infantry, who were entrenched a hundred and twenty yards away, evidently expected this result, and' looked over their parapet to., see the effect. We poured a rapid rifle tiro at them at intervals. A strong _wind dissipated the fumes and we did no* suffer seriously. The enemy did.not attempt to advance. ■■_ On the 24th the Germans used gas on several Occasions, but they did not press forward quickly, a prisoner explaining that many of the German infantry were overcome by the fumes and could' not advance. On the 26th the Germans, who were massed Pt St. - Julien, made, several assaults with increasing fierceness, but reinforcements secured our positions. . Further east our lines were pierced near Brobdifcina, and a small body of the enemy occupied a portion of our trenches.' An Anglo-French counterattack was made the same afternopn from Steenstraate, to eastward of St. x Julieri, accompanied by a violent bombardment. This was evidently the turn-ing-point of the battle, . for it caused a definite check to the enemy's off en- I sive and relieved the pressure. A certain amount of ground was regained. During the attack the guns on both j sides, contracted to a comparatively, narrow front, poured out a great volume of fire. The infantry on our right stormed the German trenches close to St. Julien, and in jbhe -evening gained the southern outskirts of a village on the centre, and farther west a simila-r advance was made and replenished six hundred kilometres, though we could not maintain the gains at -all points^ Opposite St. Julien we fell back southward, the enemy making extensive use of gas and machine guns. In the meantime the French recaptured Lizerne. Our losses were heavy, but the enemy's were terrible, their close formation making an excellent artillery target. There was a lull after the 27th, the enemy being greatly exhausted after five days' fighting. There were many acU of gall&ntry. A machine gun on our left in an angle of'the trenches, continued in action, though five dead bodies lay around it. The sjxth man took his place —though his brothel- was one of the fallen men. The Germans pressed on. but he waited until they were only a few yards away, and then poured in'a stream of bullets. The advance was broken and they fell back, leaving rows of dead, while the heroic gunner was wounded. An air-raid at Courtrai cost us a valuable life. The aviator started alone and on arriving at Courtrai glided down to 300 ft., and dropped a large bomb on the railway junction. Meanwhile lie was a target for hundreds of rifles and machine guns, and was severely wounded in the thigh. He might have saved his life by descending in the enemy's lines, but he decided to save his machine, and made for the British lines. Then he was mortally wounded, but he carried on, landed at his _ own base, made his report, and died in the hospital.

(The aviator referred to was' Moo' house, a New Zealander belonging to ChristcJv..rch)- >