DOGGED FIGHTING NORTH OF YPRES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2455, 7 May 1915, Page 6

DOGGED FIGHTING NORTH OF YPRES

POISON TACTICS AGAIN . ENEMY GAINS A FOOTING ON HILL 60 (By Telegraph—Press Aesn.—Copyright.) Parts, Mar 5. A communique states; The British left repulsed an attack north of* Ypres oil Tuesday evening, The French artillery took the Germans in the flank, inflicting Berioois losses. GRIM STRUGGLE FOR THE CALAIS ROAD. London, May 5. 'A correspondent in North France reports that, despite appalling losses, the Germans have not relinquished the offensive, but are grimly struggling for possession of the Calais road.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. .(Rec. May 7, 1.T5 a.m.) \ Amsterdam, May 6. There is a great concentration of Germans at Ronlers, Courtrai,. and Lille, 'foreshadowing a determined effort on Calais. Fifteen-inch guns have been mounted a few mues north of Nieuport, RENEWED FIGHTING ON HILL 60 POISON SCREEN GIVES ENEMY AN ADVANTAGE. The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 5, 11.45 p.m. ■v "Field-Marshal Sir' John French reports that fighting is progressing at Hill 60, where the Germans obtained a footing this morning, covered by a screen of poisonous gas, which was extensively used, and favoured by the weather • conditions. "The use of poisonous gas was made in an attack east of Ypres, which was easily repulsed, the'artillery inflicting severe losses on\ the enemy." "THIS STICK-AT-NOTHING ENEMY" •MUST NOT BE UNDER-ESTIMATED, SAYS "EYE-WITNESS," The High Commissioner reports:— .. . London, May 5, 11 p.m. "Eye-Witness," in his reports regarding the recent fighting on the British •Left in Flanders, says that there is no reason to expect that these attacks with, poisonous gas will continue in future. They do not mean that the Allies have lost the initiative,, or are .likely to lose it. The enemy's defensive, however is active, and v his confidence is still unshaken'in his ability to striko with some strength whore_a,local advantage can be secured. "In the attrition of the war the Germans aro bound ultimately to lose, their present policy being to influence neutrals and discourage the Allies. 'Adopting attacks, by ,gas is a confession that the Germans, Tare losing their former great, superiority in artillery. '"This stick-at-nothing enemy must not be under-estimated, liis methods rendering obvious the necessity for overwhelming numbers in. men and guns of the Allies.'.' . HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The High Commissioner reports:— • . London,. May 6, 2.30 p.m. . "In Belgium the Allies have captured a German trench, and pushed their lines -forward between Lizerne and Netsas, of 'which, place', they are now ; masters. . ....... In Champagne, west of Perthes, and in the Argonne, at Four de Paris, and bt the Calonne trench, the German attacks have completely failed. Hie enemy's loss was heavy. . "In the forest of d'Ailly the enemy gained a footing in the first line on ground recently taken by the Allies, but half of it was almost immediately recaptured. The result of a second attack to regain the remainder is unknown. "In the "wood of Mortmare three German counter-attacks were repulsed, Urith great loss to the enemy. "In the Alsace, on the north bank of the La Fecht, the Allies continue to gain ground. They have seized a peak ,east_ of Sillakenvasen, and made progress in the direction of the river near Steinbauck." GERMANS CLAIM FURTHER SUCCESSES ■"ENGLISH CONTINUE TO RETREAT ,WITH HEAVY LOSSES." London, May 5. , A wireless message from Berlin states:—"The English continue to retreat with heavy losses in the direction of the bridgehead at Harply, east of lYpres." , TRAPPED IN THEIR POISON BELT "EYE-WITNESS'S" STORY OF A THRILLING ATTACK. (Reo. May G, 8.5 p.m.) London, May 0. "Eye-Witness" reports that the French have made considerable progress west of Ypres Canal and south of Pilkem, removing the German wedge in the French lino between the canal and the Ypres-Langemnrck road, repiesenting a <»ain of over a thousand yards at the central point. ° "On May 2 the Germans assumed the offensive against tlio British north of Ypres at about five o'clock _ii> the evening. Dense clouds oF siiiforatinf vapour were emitted from their trenches on the whole front along the French right and our left. , ~ 'The ereninc "iras still, ajid th« fumes were not earned beyond our first

trenches, but these wore rendered untenable, and a retirement was ordered. Tho enemy immediately bombarded our lines with asphyxiating shells and shrapnel. The gas on this occasion looked like a great reddish cloud. Our batteries poured a concentrated fire on the German trenches. The Wavering Poison Belt. "Between us wavered the poison belt, its upper part shedding a thin vapour as if shaken by the wind, and tho lower and denser part sinking into the inequalities of the ground, and rolling down the trenches. "Nevertheless the German infantry faced it, and our hail of shrapnel. Our troops held firm, and shot through tho cloud at the advancing Germans, whilo tho men who were holding the front line managed to move towards the flank, beyond its influence, waited until tho Germans reached our trenches, and then bayoneted them. On tho extreme left our supports charged through tho vapour, and mot the oncoming enemy with the bayonet. "The Germans fled. Large numbers were mown down, and fell in heaps, many of them being unable to make their way through the gas cloud. Probably most of the -wounded perished by the fumes. "Before long wo had occupied tho trenches and re-cstaljlished our original position." PRISONERS ADMIT HEAVY CASUALTIES. (Rec. 5, 8.5 p.m.) London, May 5, Prisoners captured during the recent fighting state that one German corps lost 80 per cent, in the first week. Their losses from our artillery were very heavy. Many of the Germans suffered from their own gas fumes. MINE EXPLOSION AND ATTACK WITH GAS FUMES. (Rco. May 6, 8.30 p.m.) London, May 6. The Germans oxploded a mine in tho neighbourhood of Givenchy (north of La Bassee). They used their gas fumes, and four men were poisoned. Otherwise the attack failed. • DAILY LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES Tho High Commissioner reports:— . London, May 5, 9.20 p.m. Army casualties:— Killed. Wounded. Prisoners, Officers 14 27 — Men 106 614 150 Total 120 641 150 STATEMENT OF CANADIAN LOSSES. (Press Association.) London, May 5. Mr. Tennant, Under-Secretary for War, announced.in the House of Commons that the Canadian losses totalled 232 officers and 6024 men.