FRENCH TROOPS SEVERELY TESTED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2435, 14 April 1915, Page 5

FRENCH TROOPS SEVERELY TESTED

TWO DESPERATE ATTACKS ENEMY REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS (Roc. April 13, 8.15 p.m.) Parts, April 13. Official,—"The Germans on April 8 attempted to retake Beausejour. After a violent cannonade, the infantry attacked in force, led by volunteers from all the regiments concerned on the cast and west salients to the north of the fort. Our machine-guns and artillery caught them in tiank, and literally mowed Ibem down. Few regained the trenches. "The Germans delivered a second attack, a.nd despite very heavy losses Ktmtil *, Anting tn Lhs aiitniMiiugl wiagis. held th» gusht

"While the Germans directed fresh attacks on other trenohos on April 9 the French artillery rained shells on tie .outermost trench, where the Germans had oiowded four hundred men. Then the French charged with the bayonet. Only ton of the four hundred survived. The French lostses were very, small. ATTEMPT TO GET EVEN FOR LES EPARGES ENEMY LAUNCHES A MASSED ATTAOK. London, April 13. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Paris writes. "The Germans, desiring to counter the French triumph at Les selected seven timeß that length of line along the Ancre and exploded mines under the French trenches on Saturday, four miles north' of Albert. Several bayonet encounters followed, and tho battle began in earnest at midnight. The tremendous can-' nonading awakened the citizens of Amiens. . "Unfortunately for tho Germans thoy had selected for their attack an impregnable spot, and the cleamoss of the night was favourable to the French rifles and macninc-gun6. "The Germans camo on shoulder to shoulder, shouting: "Hoch!" The ground in front of the French trenches vas piled high with the dead and dying. "The French artillery prevented the German reinforcements from mustering. The French locs was comparatively 6light."THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The High Commissioner reports:—• Paris reports: "Between the Mcuee and Moselle, we b&re, consolidated the positions we previously captured." • ; London, April 13, 1.15 a.m. "At Les Eparges on Sunday nicht, after a cannonade and fusiiade, ai German counter-attack was repulsed. _ _ "There have been heavy artillery .actions In the wood Bois d'Ailly and ia the region of Flirey. "An action initiated by the enemy in Bois Le Petre on Sunday was easily, checked. ' ~ . i "On Sunday night a German dirigible dropped seven bombs over Nancy* One landed near the Civil Hospital ana another near the school." DAILY. LIST OP BRITISH CASUALTIES. London, April 12, 5 p.m.' Killed. Wounded, Jfiasing" Officers 1 8 — Men 214 361 10 215 "369 ."To Belioved to be killed, 105. . . ' BRILLIANT COUP. BY. THE BELGIANS ON THE YSEIt. , London, April 12. "Eye-Witness," with British Headquarters, .writes:— "The Belgians on April 5 brilliantly drove the Germans out of a redoubt they had constructed on the west bank of the Yser. Most of the garrison were killed or drowned while attempting to escape across the river." i FRESH TROOPS FOR THE FRENCH FIGHTING LINE. M. Millerand, French Minister of War, has called up the ■1889 < class o! reserves, comprising men of forty-six years of age, who will be usM to guard the communications. ... T1i61916 class of recruits joined the colours to-day, and received enthusiast tic sepd-ofts. PREPOSTEROUS PEACE TERMS .'•London, April 12. New York transmits a report that Germany has communicated to tha American Government the fact that she is willing to discuss peace, on terms so preposterous that the approach is probably merely a feeler by German agents. The terms include the following: No territorial change in Europe; Germany will evacuate Belgium, and i 6 willing to purchase the Belgian Congo* Germany demands the redistribution of the belligerents' colonies, especially i» Africa. The Powers are to agree to the freedom of the seas, ensuring that commerce shall not be attacked in war time.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services.