FIERCE STRUGGLE NORTH OF ARRAS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2463, 17 May 1915, Page 5

FIERCE STRUGGLE NORTH OF ARRAS

. GERMAN FURY GROWING WEAKER allies make substantial progress (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Paris, May 14. A oommimique state's:—"ln a oeaseless raid since yesterday we carried aeveral trenohes south-westward of Souchez, and maintained our gains on the L ° o^'Several German blockhouses and trenches in the Aisne Valley were destroyed." VIGOROUS;ADVANCE BY. THE. FRENCH.' . (Reo. May 16,11.55 a.m.) Paris, May 15. Official.—"Our offensive north of Arras continues. We attacked south-west of Andrea, on the road to Aix-Non- Lettes and Souchez, carrying trenches a kilometre long (three-fifths, of a mile), and also a defended wood and secojidline trench. Wo found 400 German dead. "We have captured twenty guns, and a hundred machine-guns since Sunday." WOUNDED OFFICER'S THRILLING STORY. (Reo. May 16, 11.65 p.m.) Paris, May 15. An officer who was wounded in the fighting north of Arra6 states that the troops at sunrise on Sunday received a warning to attack the hill, and shouts of joy were raised. The artillery battered the German trenches with terrific effect, hurling men and earth In the air. _ ■ "The advance was ordered for seven o'clock. The French crept through a wood, on the outskirts'of whioh were the first of the German trenches. A hail of bullets from mitrailleuses burst on the attackers, and orders were given for a bayonet charge. ' "With one rush we carried the trenches, and then a second-line ' trench. The suddenness of the onslaught bewildered the Germans. Most of them fled in terror before the bayonet, and the remainder were swiftly dispatched. "The French swept onward, and breasted the hill. When half-way up a dreadful rifle firo on the crest checked the charge, and _the French sought cover. Obtaining little, they suffered terribly, but the "7o's" reopened, silencing the enemy's fire and tearing up their entanglements. "The charge was resumed under a murderous flanking fire to the mined entanglements, where .there was encountered a fresh terror.' Holes were dug every yard, and in each was a bayonet. The French paused in their weary uphill struggle, and the enemy rushed up masses of Teservos. The French artillery made caps in the ranks, but the Germans swarmed the hilltop. "The French carried another trench, and pressed on for a hundred metres, till a fresh storm broke forth from the enemy's niitrailleuses, and the French fell hack and rested for the nicht. , "They refought for the hilltop on Monday all day long, and victory came on Tuesday, as with a double turning movement they reached their goal.