THE BOMBARDMENT OF DUNKIRK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 5

THE BOMBARDMENT OF DUNKIRK

GERMAN DESERTER'S STORY KKUPP NAVAL GUNS OF IMMENSE RANGE , London, May 2. Official.—A deserter to tho French states tlint Krupp's engineers woro two months ot Dixnmdo; mounting a long-range naval gun, which it is believed bombarded Dunkirk from tbirty-cight~kilomotros (23J- miles). As only nine shells woro lired during the second' and third bombardments, it is believed that either the discharges damaged tho gun or that French aviators prevented it from firing. L'l'jio High Commissioner, reports tho above statement in the same terms.] DEATH AND DESTRUCTION WROUGHT. CRec. May 3, 11.50 p.m.) Paris, May 3. A- splinter from the first .Gorman shell which fell in Dunkirk decapitated a girl, alia another shell foil on the Grand Palace, killing many civilians. The Military Hospital was partially wrecked, and a number of the wounded killed. ■ A shell fell in the suburbs and swept away four small hoiisos, the inmates of which perished. Another house was reduced to ruins, and the bodies of a woman and 1 foiir children wore found in the debris. ' THE DEATH WHISTLE OF THE BELGIANS GERMANS TRAPPED IN A FIRE ZONE. Paris, May 2. After penetrating the line in Belgium between Ypres and Langemarok, the Germans entrenched preparatory to a further advance. Meanwhile, the Belgians concentrated a Grenadier battalion, with many machine guns, in strong entrenchments, and silence was ordered. The Germans confidently advanced, in massed formation, towards Ypres, They were allowed to approach to within 160 yards of the Belgians, when a Belgian whistle was sounded, and every rifle and machine gun was worked to its fullest capacity. k '■ , The foremost German ranks wera unable"to escape, owing to the pressure of the masses behind, alid soon the ground was carpeted with German corpses. Thousands were killed or wounded; the remainder broke an! fled. The Belgians had a few liieu killed and four hundred wounded. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The Premier has.received the following from the High Commissioner:— London, May 1, 1.50 p.m. . "Sir John French reports that a Gorman aeroplane was brought down in the British lines east of Ypres. Successful mining operations are reported at Wytschaete and Givenchv." DAILY LIST OF ARMY CASUALTIES. High Commissioner's report;— London, May 2. Army casualties:— . , , ' -Killed. Wounded. Missing. Prisoners. Officers 35 105 14 — , Men 91 136 MS 413 Total 126 241 '■ 62 413

NAVY'S CASUALTIES IN SEVEN MONTHS. London, May 2. In the House of Commons, Dr. MacNamara, Parliamentary Under-Secretary "to tlie Navy, announced that'63Bo men of the Navy and 417 officers had been killed up to thfe end of March.—("Times" and Sydney f 'Sun" Services.) FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ' (Rec. May 3, 9.20 p.m.) Paris, May 3.. , Official.—Our n\achiue-guns stoppeda German attack on our right, northward of Ypres. . - . ' Eighty Germans, armed with, wire cutters,-, grenades, and Bfowning'pistols, attacked our lines southward of Chaulnes. The majority of theqi were shot down. •' , The enemy in the volley of ths Aisne and in the Champagne district employed gases. Their bombs were charged with inflammable, gases, and overhung the enemy's lines. They did not reach' ours. ' We bombarded the southern front of an entrenched camp at Mote. The effectiveness of our fire was noticeable at one of the forts, and also at the barracks and adjacent railway. , •

THE WAR IN THE EASTERN THEATRE • 1 THE GERMAN FALSE ALARM ON THE NIEMEN * The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 2, 10 a.m. An official report from Petrograd' states that the German offensive on tlia Niemen was of no strategical importance; the only result was'the acquisition'of food and forage. ■ RUSSIA'S HAND IN THE WESTERN-FRONT. ,* London, May 2. { Tee "Observer's" Petrograd correspondent says that the Germans hoped to utilise several weeks' interval, when big. operations on most of the Russian fronts were impossible, in sending overwhelming forces to Flanders, but the Russians frustrated this, and Germany was reduced to a demonstrative display of activity in Flanders. Shoals of Germans continue to pile up reinforcements in the Carpathians, but the enemy are suffering 'daily mere, sing losses. The Russians' strategic position compels tlicm to attack unceasingly, with' liourly lessening hope. THE TSAR'S VISIT TO BUKOWINA. London* May 0 , The Tsar'e visit to th 6 borders of Bukowina is politically significant indicating Russia's firm, intenton to extend her dominion to territories that were .formerly Russian.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)