WAS THE GERMAN ATTACK ON YPRES A FEINT?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2450, 1 May 1915, Page 7

WAS THE GERMAN ATTACK ON YPRES A FEINT?

VIEWS OF MILITARY CRITICS HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH AT LES EPARGES '". T. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) , , , (TTT . Paris, April 29. ~ A communique states: "We contmua to progress on tie right bank of the lser. We captured ISO prisoners and two machine guns. "The enemy's aviators dropped incendiary bombs at Epernay, which is exclusively occupied by hospital units." . "SUGGESTED MOVES TO ANTICIPATE ALLIES' OFFENSIVE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. April 30, 5.16 p.m.) rn,' urn; ,„ t, • ■, London, 'April 29. ine limes s" Paris correspondent says: "In spite of the intense character of the struggle in Flanders, it must not be forgotten that there has been heavy fighting elsewhere. For days, the Germans, estimated in number at forty thousand, have been trying to regain the important position at Les Eparges (southeast of Verdun). - At present the French appear to have the upper hand, but the German attacks have not been exhausted. A military critic in the Paris "Debats" suggests that the German attack on Ypres was,.a feint to a more violent and dangerous effort elsewhere, probably in Eastern France. "There is every reason to suppose!" he says, "that the Germans, foreseeing the Allies' vigorous offensive,,may try to anticipate it'by a paralysing stroke at more than one point on the line," . The "Daily Mail" comments that if the German Headquarters' report contains even' a fraction of truth, the ground lost last week has not yet been recovered by the Allies. ' On almost every important point it flatly contradicts our bulletins, says the paper. "These matters are of the most extreme importance to tho nation, and we hope th at a clear and unambiguous official statement will toll us that the German reports are pure romance. The "Times's" correspondent in North France says: "Although the second battle in Flanders only lasted five days, the fighting was so furious, and such were the deadly effects of the engines of war and the enemy's diabolical d<s vices, that the losses of the Allies already exceed any action since the war began. The enemy suffered more heavily, and the temporary advantage ho ; gained was inappreciable. " ° HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - , . London, April 29, 12.10 p.m. The Belgians heavily bombarded E aims Capelle, Pervyse, Lampernisse. and Oostleperen. . . , "Belgian artillery vigorously co-operated in the French attacks on Stccnstraate. Belgian aviators showed great activity. „t D. • «•'- " , . . i London, April 29, 3.25 p.m., ' Y -Belgium, the French maintain the ground recaptured during the last three days, and continue to progress in co-operation with the Belgian troops • • j l Z ®PP , last week dropped bombs on Dunkirk was seriously loured by French artillery, and was completely put out of action: it stranded • in the woods between Bruges and Ghent." ' ' THE DAILY. LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES. v London, April 80, 9 a.m. [Army casualties:— • Killed. Wounded. Missing. \ Officers ... 23' ' 57 6 ' Men 68 65 19 Total 91 122 .25 (Press Association.) (Bee. May 1, 0.15 a.m.) m. ii .. , , - . . London, April3o. lists from April 1 < to April 25 show that 116 officers were killed and 269 wounded, including 28 Canadians killed and 91 wounded. Colonel Hart, the champion rifle Eliot, died of his wounds. FOR FIGHTING THE POISON FUMES AMPLE RESPIRATORS SUPPLIED BY THE PUBLIC. m. T.v r' , '• London, April 29. , The public has already supplied the War Office's demand for respirators for she troops in their attacks on Germans using chlorine vapour. " EYE-WITNESS'S " STORY OF THE BATTLE OF YPRES HOW- THE GERMANS 'ACHIEVED A SURPRISE. (Reo. April 30, 7.30 p.m.) „ , London, April 30. "Eye-Witness" wntes: "Before the Battle of Ypres, the British line ran from the cross-roads at Broodscinde east of Zonnebeke, to the cros3-roads half a mile north of Saint Julien, following the crest of the Crafenstafel Ridge. The French prolonged the line north of Langemarck to Steenstraate. ~ . "Movements of German troops and transports were detected for some days previously, and the surprise which tho enemy effected was entirely duo to their asphyxiating apparatus. The attack was originally fixed for April 20, but had been postponed on account of the unfavourable wind. ''On April 22 a cloud of poisonous vapour rolled swiftly towards tho trenches of the Zouaves, west of Langemrfrok. 'Hie Germans, then charged n x Was P r ? ctical ly- an unresisting enemy, and by this sudden irruption were able to surprise and over-run a large proportion of the French troops Who were billeted in this area, and bring some of tho British and French guns under a hot rifle fire at closo range. "When tho Brjtish flank became exposed, the troops were ordered to retire on Saint Julien, with t their left west.of the high road. Their splendid resistance saved the situation. Tho Germans meanwhile bombarded North Ypres, the shells including projectiles containing asphyxiating gai "Our reserves were watching the shells bursting when a Staff Officer rode up, shouting, 'Stand ho arms!' Jn a few minutes the rcecrves were (pn'oMr marching.northward, amid a wild confusion of panic-stricken refugees who were swarming alone the roads. Tho officers mustered other unci fflihcM waiting for orders, marched them towards S&uit Juliea*

"Meanwhile a confused fight progressed north and north-east of Ypres, the Germans advancing behind a wall of vapour, which'swept across the fields through woods and hedgerows." Germans' Protective Nose Pads. The Germans' noses were protected by pads soaked in bi-carbonate of soda. A battery of 4.7 in. guns on tho Jeft of the British line was surprised and overwhelmed in a moment. Farther to the rear several of our field batteries were unable-to come into action until the Germans were within a few hundred yards. But not. a gun was lost. One battery, taken in the flank, swung round and fired point-blank, and 60 checked the rush of the enemy; another, with its guns pointing in the opposite direction, the enemy, on three sides. "Our infantry, facing vastly superior forces, wero lighting every step of the way without the slightest confusion, and slowly retired oil Saint Julien. Tho reserves were now coming up. They attacked the Germans and a bayonet melee ensued, iu which we held our own. "Both sides were losing heavily in the fighting, which continued in the moonlight, our troops driving the enemy back with repeated bayonet charges, in which our heavy guns were recaptured. "Tho position north of Ypres has now been somewhat restored. Tho Germans, however, forced their way to the canal, and occupied Stcenstraate and points on the western bank. ' The British repulsed two heavy night attacks at Broodstule, east of Zonnebeke. Part of Ypres is now in flames. Early on Friday we made a strong counter-attack northwards, in co-opera-tion with the French, penetrating tho Saint Julion wood, where th'o Germans suffered heavily in a bayonet charge after we had lost heavily in a dash across the open." "We Dug Ourselves In." "We dug ourselves in at 11 o'clock in the morning, and held a line west from Saint Julien, curving north near Boesinghe. _ ■ Curing the afternoon we made progress south of Pilkem, further straightening tho line. Meanwhile fierce fighting proceeded along tho canal. Tho Germans captured Lizeme at night, threw several bridges across the canal, and continued to gain ground on the west side. "They made a further night attack under covor of g.is east of Saint Julien, but effected little progress until midday on April 24, when large bodies of the enemy were seen advancing on the Ypres-Poelcapelle Boad. These forced the British to'fall back from Saint Julien, contesting every inch of ground, and making repeated counter-attacks. A gallant handful, two or throe hundred strong, held out at Saint Julien until late at night. "We made a strong counter-attack on Sunday morning, hilt wero checked before Saint Julien. The Germans in tho afternoon delivered repeated assaults in great strength near Broodseiude. They were backed by a tremendous bombardment of asphyxiating bombs, but all their attacks were beaten off with great slaughter, our troops showing even greater'determination than before to pay the oneiny ten-fold for every act of 'frightfulness.' FIGHTING BACK OYER THE LOST GROUND BRITISH NOW WELL IN FRONT OF ST. JULIEN. (Rec. May 1, 0.15 am.) Dunkirk, April 30. The Germans only retained, possession of Saint Julien for sis nours on. Monday. The British attack commenced on Monday evening, and lasted all night. The Germans fortified themselves in the village. The British artillery quickly shelled all tho houses, which soon collapsed, burying the defenders. Before a rally was possible, the Canadian, Scotch, and Irish troops were launched in a furious onslaught, as a result of which the Germans were driven out. They employed every imaginable ruse, and placed their own dead and wounded in piles in front of their ranks. In somo cases they even lay concealed beneath the heaps 'of human flesh to escape the dreaded bayonet. The British, using only nominal cover, and with trenches only eighteen inohes deep, would ever and_ again move forward and gain a stretch of ground. They have now regained two-thirds of the lost ground, and hold a line well in front of Saint Julien.