STORMING OF HARTMANSWEILER KOPF

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 5

STORMING OF HARTMANSWEILER KOPF

GALLANT ALPINE CHASSEURS " BLUE DEVILS - OF THE FRENCH ARMY (Eec. March, 29, 7.20 p.m.) Paris, March 29. Hartmansweiler Kopf (which has been captured bv tho French), commands the districts of Thann, Cernay, and Stoinbacli. Tiic French Alpine Chasseurs, nicknamed tho "lihie Devils," after the tremendous shelling on Tuesday, assaulted and captured the lower ridges, regardless of loss and secured tho second line. On Wednesday, despite a devastating rillo fire, and the, enemy's stubborn defence, hand-to-hand lighting went on for several hours, in which the "Blue Devils" took many prisoners. The, climax was the assault on the crest of ihe hill on Thursday. This position, 1125 metres (about l-'iO feet), above the plain, ihe famous German 15th Army Corps were defending with a. formidable array of guns. Hand, grenades were (lung from the bcirdits, and burning liquid fell in streams. Many .of Urn Chasseurs wero badl.) 1 buruotl, but continual the liiiht .in their charred clothes-

The "Blue Devils" on Saturday swarmed forward to UlO flanks of the hills north-east., and south-cast, breaking the Germans' last grip on their stronghold. OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE WESTERN FRONT The High Commissioner reports:— London, March 2S, 11.55 p.m. Paris reports.—"A Belgian airman bombarded the German aviation camp at Ghistelles. "Kast of tho Mouse, on the heights near Marcheville, wo captured 300 metres (375 yards) of trenches, repelling two counter-attacks. "At Les Epargcs wo captured 150 motros (188 yards) of trenches." London, March 28, 12.25 p.m. "On tho Mouse heights near Mareheville, we lost part of the enemy trenches gained on Saturday. "At Hartmansweiler Kopf the total number of prisoners taken in tlie course of the attack which rendered us masters of the summit, were: Officers, (i; non.-coms.,-31; men, 353, besides numerous wounded." Army officers killed, S; wounded. 28. Men killed, 101; wounded, 2J6; missing, £3. Canadian oflieers wounded, 1. Men killed, 32; wounded, 71.