THE WAR IN FLANDERS AND NORTH FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2458, 11 May 1915, Page 5

THE WAR IN FLANDERS AND NORTH FRANCE

ATTACKS ASND COUNTER-ATTACKS 1 ON HILL 60 "EJjE-WIMSS'S" ACCOUNT PITIABLE AGOiNIES OF POISONED VICTIMS ."_ ■ " / <iri ; • London,'' May 9. iiiye- witness states:—"After severe fighting-ca-the afternoon 'of April V Qurliue north of Ypres was re-established in the There were indications on Monday morning of a renewal of tho attack., , Our guns fired 1 at considerable bodies of this enemy, inflicting heavy losses. The fighting -was renewed on Wednesday at several points round the Ypres salient. ''Clouds of gas forced us; to evacuate the trenches on Hill 60, whereupon! the Germans rushed the hill. Though temporarily chocked., by our artillery, the Germans had the advantage in. the confused fighting, and followed up their success. Tht{y forced-their way to our supporting line in the direction of Zillebeke, an 3 took trenches north of- the mil'.... A. British counter-attack drove them from all,the. captured tranches except on the crest and north-east of tho hill. "The British made another counter-attack at midnight,and 'regained the whole position, but were again driven off by the gases. • At the' same time two British counter-attac?<s on the trenches north-east of the hill failed." "The sight of our comrades orowliug about in agony, moaning for water,and dying in their tracks like poisoned vermin aroused the troops to the feeling that it is to be hoped the British Empire will not rest until further retri/ bution is exacted." STRONG GERMAN WORK CAPTURED. „. , , ' " ' Paris, Mar 9. Official,— We nave a strong German work westward of Lena (which is north of Arras). "We have progressed nearly; a kilometre (five-eighths of a mile) on the right bank of the La Fecht, along a 1650 feet front towards iletzera! - GAS ENSHROUD® THE DESERTED HILL. (Rec. May 11,-0.40 a.m.) Dunkirk, May Id. Asphyxiating gases gave the Germans the initial advantage on Hill 60. The Britishers were blinded and suffocated, but held on as long as possible.Even with respirators the position was intolerable, and when they sprang on the parapets at the back of the trenches the German machine guns opened lire. Many fell under the hail of bullets. The others had to run from the gases, which then enshrouded the. deserted hilltop. GERMANS CLAIM FRESH SUCCESSES . Berlin, May 9. A communique says:—We disßicteed the enemy from strongly-fortified positions between the redoubt at Wieltje and Gheluvelt, and occupied import ant heights commanding the eas;t of Ypres. There have been 800 English prisoners taken up to the present. ' THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPOR!' ARTILLERY FIGHTING AUONG THE WHOLE FRONT. The High Commissioner reports*— London, May 9, 5.20 p.m, "There have been artillery actions on the whole front. The French effected a coup de main by carrying strong German works west of Leus. One him. died prisoners were taken. "In the Argoune, at Bagatelle, tan d at Bois le Pretre, three German attacks were made. Each was repulsed. Londoni May 10, 2.5 a.m. . "Between Nieuport and the sea a German attack has been repulsed, wit-li important losses to the enemy. . "The British gained ground in "the region, of Fromelles. "The Allies have made marked progress north of Arras, in the direction of Loos and south of Carency, taking in the latter region on a front of seven kilometres (over four miles), with two, sometimest three, strongly fortified trenches. "The Allies took the village of Targette, half of the village of Nouville St. Vaast, advancing at some points a distance of four kilometres (about 2} miles); we captured 2000 prisoners an.d six guns." London, May S, 11.20 p.m. Sir John French reports that on Saturday night the enemy continued his attacks east of Ypres, and was attacking again to-day. All attacks were repulsed with heavy loss. In the morning our first army attacked the enemy's lines between Bois Grenier and Feshibert, gaining ground south-east towards Fromelles. Fighting in this area still continues. Our airmen successfully attacked St. Andre railway junction, north of Lille, and the Canal at Don Bridge. Fournes, Herlies, lilies, Marquillcs, and La Bassee also were bombed. [All the above place-names refer to the region lying between Lille and La , Bassee.]