OFFICIAL NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2445, 26 April 1915, Page 6

OFFICIAL NEWS

The High Commissioner's report it-"

London, April 23, 1 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir John French reports : —The German attacks on Hill 60, which had stopped at the time of my communique of Monday, have since been renewed several times. The attacks all failed, and for the time being have ceased. We hold tile entire crest of the hill, denying its use to the enemy, who attached great importance to it. There never ha 6 been any truth in the statement established by a German official communique that the enemy had recaptured the position. . On Wednesday,' in the neighbourhood of La Bassee, the enemy exploded two mines opposite our right, but failed to damage our trenches. "Having discovered German mining operations in the neighbourhood of Le loquet, near Armentieres, . we forestalled the efforts on Thursday by exploding mines we had prepared'there. "On Monday one of our airmen carried out a very bold and successful single-handed attack on the airship shed at Ghent. Ho ran the gauntlet of tbe fire directed from a captive balloon nn the ground in order to attack the objective. Despite this, he descended within 200 ft, and effected his object, causing a large explosion in the shed."

London, April 23, 4.45 p.m. North of Ypres the Germans employed large quantities of asphyxiating bombs, tlie effect of which was felt {wo kilometres behind the Allies' lines. They succeeded in compelling us to fall back in the direction of tlie Yser Canal, westwards, and Ypres, southwards. The enemy's attack was checked, and a vigorous counter-attack enabled , the Allies to regain the ground, and take many prisoners. At D'Ailly wood, near St. Slihiel, an attack eastward and westwards of the position the Allies primarily captured resulted in the taking of 700 yards of German trenches alid one hundred prisoners. CASUALTIES. Army casualties: —Officers: 7 killed, 17 wounded. Men: 87 killed, 209 Wounded, and 10 missing.