BRITISH TAKE THE OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2448, 29 April 1915, Page 5

BRITISH TAKE THE OFFENSIVE

POSITIONS RE-TAKES , ...' —— .;; i v FRENCH ONCE MORE ON HARTMANNSWIELER The High Commissioner reports:— ■I ■ ■ " London, April 27, 12.80 p.m. "On Sunday, tie Belgian infantry repelled three German attacks south of .JJixmudo; the Germans, again using asphyxiating gases, suffered heavy loss. '•'The -enemy's artillery was active, arid-the Belgians successfully replied !with. a. strong fire, proving useful to the French, who attacked Lizerne (on tho left bank of the Yser), wresting it from the enemy, into whose hands it had fallen on Sunday." ' . _ London, April 27, 2.55 p.m. Sir John French reports: "Yesterday the German .'attacks north-east of lYpres were repulsed. In the afternoon the British took the offensive, and . made progress St. Julien, and west of that place. The French co-operat-ed on the left,' further north, and retook Het Sas (below Steenstraate, on the right hank of the Yser Canal).' "In the course'of yesterday's fighting the artillery took full advantage of' several opportunities of inflicting severe casualties on the enemy. "In addition to the destruction of Courtrai Junction, mentioned yesterday, our airmen also successfully bombed the railway stations and junctions at Turcoing, Roubaix, Ihgelmunster, Staden, Langemarck, Thielt, and Roulers.". _ ' , , . ■ [A line drawn from Roulers to Ypres, thence to Lille, and back to Roulps would embrace, roughly, tho area in which these points are situated.] DAILY LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES. . The High' Commissioner reports:— ■' London, April 27, 4,26 p.m. . ""'Army casualties:— . A. Killed. Wounded. Prisoners. . Canadian (officers) ... 20 68 — Canadian (men) ...... 10' 43 — British (officers) .... 10 27 ' — , ... '. . British (men) 86 127 85 Total :..L; 126 255 35 ' ■ London, April 28, 1.60 p.m: North of Ypres the progress of th 9 Franco-British troops continues, and . numerous prisoners were captured, together with a trench mortar and mitrailleuses. . ■ , . ■ ~ "On our front, Eparges-Saint Rem and the trench at Calonne, the Ger- ; man attacks were completely repulsed. At one point on the front one thousi and dead were counted.. The Allies then took the offensive and have made ' progress." THE GERMAN ONSET IN t FLANDERS EXPERT VIEWS ON THE SITUATION. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, April 27. The German authorities are keeping the frontiers of Germany and Belgium closed. There have been no mails from Belgium or Germany to Holland for several days.. The Belgians are expecting the gravest developments. It is reported from Cologne that the Kaiser isdeparting for the Yser. The German onset in Flanders is attributed to a desire to obtain a success thaS will react on the political situation. The correspondent of "The Times" in North France says: "The mine which blew up Hill 60 started a conflagration from Ypres to the sea. There was fierce fighting, and the thunder of many guns along the whole line. The Germans had been Jong preparing for this. The recapture by . them of Hill 60 is an essential preliminary to a general advance." The military correspondent of "The Times" says: "The magnet call still lures the Germans to face the hated English. There is no proof that the Germans' old plan of campaign has been changed. Troops are coming in from all parts of Germany. They will have_ cause for regret if they fail to send every man that can he spared; we will have cause to rejoice if the Germans oome on in force. There is reason to hope for a German onset in Flanders; yet we can hardly allow ourselves tho gratification of believing that it is coming." • WHERE IS THE NEW BRITISH ARMY? (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. April 27, 5.55 p.m.) . _ _ London, April 27. "The Times" military-correspondent points out that Mr. Lloyd George did hot say that 36 British divisions were in France; he said they were "aboard." Consequently there is a considerably less number actually in France. ' "A period of great and decisive operations finds us with six other campaigns on our hands all needing men and ammunition. There is scarcely a man in the British Armies in France who does not ask daily when the new armies are coming out, and no one is able to give a satisfactory reply. "England js literally crammed with troops at a moment when derisive operations are imminent, and if these operations are not successful, the. blame , will be the Cabinet's alone."—("Ti*neii" and Sydney "Sun" Sei'vioes.)

SECOND PHASE OF THE YSER BATTLE GERMANS 'SHELLED OUT OP LIZERNE. (Reo. April 28, 9.40 p.m.) ' Dunkirk, April 28. The second .phase of the battle began on Monday with counter-attacks by t'he British and French troops, who oft'octed a junction west cf Saint Julien, in the midst of a bombardment. The Allies attacked along the Saint Julien Road, where the German advance was most dangerous. All arms were engaged, including tho cavalry, operating as mounted infantry. Our attack encountered varying succes6. At some points the Germans held their ground with great tenacity, and at others they ran, closely ■ pursued. Meanwhile, 'lie British salient north-east of Zillebeke was much exposed, and was subjected to an almost overwhelming bombardment on three sides, including the firo of 17-inch howitzers. No Germans are now on the left bank of the Canal. The terrible accuracy of the British artillery forced the enemy to evacuate Lizerne, and when the Allies advanced they found only smashed walls and dead opponents. ENEMY'S' REINFORCEMENTS EXHAUSTED. (Bee. April 28, 11.45 p.m.) / London, April 28. Telegrams from Amsterdam state that the German reinforcements have been exhausted, and the tide of the fighting has turned in favour of the Allies, who, with the thousands of fresh troops, have assumed the offensive, and are developing an out-flanking attack near Streenstraate. The Germans are now practically fighting on two fronts. ' , DISTRIBUTION OF THE ENEMY'S ARMIES. (Rec. April 28, 11.40 p.m.) ) Sydney, April 28. The "Daily Telegraph" publishes a map supplied by .tie General Staff of a foreign State, which shows the positions of the Western German "armies on April 14 last. General von Beseier, with four army corps, is in the sector from Nieuport to Ypres; the King of Wurtemberg,. with five army corps, from Ypres to Arras; Prince Rupert of Bavaria, with three army corps,- from Arras to Chaulnes; Over-General von Hearingen, with four amy corps, from Royo to Soissons; General von •ICluck, three army corps, Soissons to Reims; General von Billow, four armj; corps, Reims to Souain; General von Cinem and five army corps is stationed between Souain and Verdun; the Crown Prince, with four army corps, from Verdun to Saint Mihiel. General Falkenhayen is not mentioned, nor is the number of the corps stated to be holding the Saint MihielBelfort line. GERMAN COMMUNIQUE: LIZERNE EVACUATED . r, ,• . London,-April 27. , A Berlin omoial communique states: "Hostile artillery attacks southward 9* Ypres failed under our fire, with heavy losses. We evacuated Lizerne after the enemy's artillery'had completely destroyed the houses. We maintain the bridge-head eastward of Lizerne, on the left bank of the canal." FRENCH REGAIN HARTMANNSWIELER KOPF The High Commissioner reports:—, urnL >, tt i ' London, April 27, 6.40 p.m. summit of Hartraannsweiler ITopf, taken by tlie Germans yesterday evening, has been retaken by -the Frcnch, who also took some prisoners.*, I(mi ' London, April 28, 1.50 a.m. The Allies, having retaken the summit of' Hartmanuswieler Kokfj have advanced two hundred mutresj and aio descending the eastern slope." "A MAGNIFICENT FEAT OF ARMS" CANADIANS LAUDED IN THE BRITISH PRESS. . ' V London, April 27. The newspapers made a feature of the Canadians' exploit. Many Canadirms paraded tlie streets. The feeling behind it all is that ilie Canadians saved the situation by the sacrifice of their lives. ; Mr. J. L. Garvin, editor of the "Observer," says: "The men of the maple leaf set their teeth to dare all by a magnificent feat of arms which will stand out in tlie annals of war. Their sheer valour in a critical Hour baffled v the .Germans. Tlie Germans' use of asphyxiating gases proved how tlie utmost resources of scientific deviltry will go down before the indomitable hearts of free men;, Canada's ' hour is to-day; it \ will be Australia's and New Zealand's to-morrow. Tlie. situation exceeds in some ways and precedents a political romance, the possibility.of which was not conceived. Bcforo the war the Dominions had known Britain as a mighty mother, but she now is michtier than of old." '' ' . •

TROUGH THE FOG OF DEATH. THRILLING STORY OF THE FIGHT IN THE WOOD'. . j. • (Rco. April 28, 9.20 p.m.) H London,. April, 28. A Canadian who was present at the fighting on Tuesday stated that at four o'clock in the afternoon the pickets reported that the French were retiring along the Ypres-Langemarck Road. "A strong north-east wind was moving a vivid green smoke, four feet high, extending to within 300 yards of the left of the Canadian lines. Through the green, mist, which was becoming thicker, presently came a mass of dazed men, reeling like drunkards, who fell as they passed our ranks. -The majority .of them were not wounded, but their faces wore an agonised expression. "Meanwhile the Germans advanced t feverishly, and entrenched until nine o'clock, when the Canadians prepared to 1 attack them. They advanced slowly in-order not to tire the men, and found heavy fighting proceeding at Saint Jullen, where the. Fourteenth Canadian Battalion was putting up a stiff struggle." "The night was very dark. We found the Germans entrenching in a wood near the British lines, from whioh they must bo driven out with the bayonet at all costs. Wo also had to retake the British guns'. _ "The Tenth Battalion was in the vail. Colonel Russell Boyle was killed while leading the charge. ' Whon we reached a low ridge, in full view of the "wood, a hellish fire was loosed from the German rifles and machine guns in the-undergrowth skirting the wood. Wa njshed on, cheering, yelling, and swearing. At first the Germans fired too highland our losses were slight until we were within fifty yards.' Then our chaps began to drop, and the whole of onr front line m&lted away, only to be instantly closed' up shouting. "We jumped over the wounded, and not one of the Germans with the machine guns escaped. But those in tlio wood fought doggedly, though many of them threw up their hands. We wero now pressing into the wood, and the struggle became hand-to-hand. We fought in clumps, batches of the living struggling over the dead and dying. "At the height of the fight the moon came out from the clouds, and the clashing bayonets flashed like quicksilver, while the faces, of the men were lit up as by limelight. Sweeping on, we came to a line of trenches which had been hastily thrown up, but which could not be ' stubbornly defended. All who resisted were bayonetted, and the rest were sent to tne rear." POISONING THE AIR OP THE BATTLEFIELD , . . . . London, April 27. It is believed that the asphyxiating fumea were due to the Germans feeding wood fires with surphur. _ Many ;>f the German prisoner were found to possess cotton wads, which they state they had inserted in their nostrils when charging through the gas fumes. .. (Rec. April 27, S.SS p.m.) . London, April 27. The poison which was thrown hy the Germans on the Yser coloured the ground yellow for a large area. Wounded Canadians speak bitterly of these tactics. ''Tile fumes," they say. "made us black all Over, or black and yellow. It makes the eyes swell; if it gets at your stomach you're done." ■ PROTECTIVE RESPIRATORS FOR THE TROOPS. 1 (Rec. April 28, 8.40 p.m.) London, April 28. Official.—The War Office states that the doctors report-that a number of the Canadians have died from inhaling poisonous gases, diffused by the enemy, contrary to The Hague Convention. The War Office has issued particulars for respirators against asphyxiating gases. These are composed of cotton wool, or stockingeite. The public is invited to supply them. THE WAR ON THE EASTERN FRONT SCANTY NEWS OF THE OPERATIONS The High Commissioner reports:— „ , „, ,Tr , ' London, April 27, 10.50 a.m. On the Polangen coast of Kurland on Sunday' an enemy cruiser bombarded two villages without result. At dawn on Sunday a Zeppelin discharged several bombs on the town of Bielostok (in the province of Grodno) without doing damage. In the Carpathians on Saturday the Russians successfully repulsed enemy attacks on the heights of Polen. ? In the direction of Stryj- on Saturday and Sunday we were engaged in a desperate battle, which still continues. GERMAN STRENGTH IN THE CARPATHIANS. (Rec. April 28, 11.10 p.m.) „ , -- i „ , *. ■ , Potrograd, April 28.' I lie Germans have half a million troops m the Carpathians, of which half nre striving t.o force a passage against the eastern Russian wing in the direction of Str.vj, while the remainder are distributed amongst the Austrians in order to secure an influx of energy in the fighting. Only the Hungarians'are putting any heart into the work, realising that they are fighting 0 for their hearths and homes. The Russians have now ■collected at Fort, Przemysl a thousand "uns in pcrfrcf, order, mid mur.h ammunition, with refills enough le'equip Uo 'aruM corps with ammunition for two montlw. •