STORY OF THE GREAT ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2465, 19 May 1915, Page 5

STORY OF THE GREAT ATTACK

GERMANS STRUCK HARD IN DEAD OF NIGHT. (Rec, May 18, 11.25 p.m.) On Sunday night, Hell broko loose, and before daybreak the British' Army had stormed the German lines from Festubert to Richebourg-L'Avoue. Su' John Irench considered it necessary to risk a night attack in order to support our Allies, and for several days previously had kept up a slow, persistent, and well-directed artillery fire against the German lines. There was nothing to indicate from what quarter the attack was to be delivered In addition to providing troops for the assault, it was necessary to provide for the long line of trenches, and also to have regard for the situation at Ypres where the German guns were causing heavy losses. Our artillery fire wrecked the barbed-wire entanglements in places, B nd although the effect was good it could Dot be described as overwhelming. Late in the afternoon of Sunday, Sir John French addressed the trooos received an ovation. After dusk the units took up their positions silently. The night was dark and warm. Out left attacked at 11.30 p m and the greater part succeeded in overthrowing the German defence, the bayonet and hand-grenade bcing'-chiofly relied on, it being too dark for shooting. The left centre dashed in with the bayonet, and penetrated two lines of trenches, lulled or wounded most of the defenders, and made good tl.eir front along about eight hundred yards of the German position Our extreme left's attack was less fortunate. They met a'severe and accurate Maxim fire, but the Indians eventually penetrated the opening n.ado by the lett centre, ana wo soon began to outflank tho enemy. Morning Dawns on the Battle. As morning dawned the German supports opened a severe fire but our heavy guns got to work on theso supports, and greatly aided the advance At three o'clock a fresh and formidable line of British infantrv -advanced on tho right against the Germans m the direction of I'esnibert, and stormed the position with the utmost gallantry. Tliey soon mastered a front of IJM yards, and overwhelmed the enemy's second line and penetrated the Germ-in reserve trenches, causing tho Germans heavv loss. By eleven o'clock in the morning we had penetrated a mile, and promised to extend round the Germans, who still held the front trenches between our right and centre attacks. As a firm hold was obtained there was good hono that this front would be ineffective The enemy tried many attacks which proved costly, as was inevitable. Tho German's used counter devices' to arrest tho attack, employing petrol bombs at ono point, but despite the German infantry's ill-directed and vacillating methods of attack, a furious artillery bombardment in the afternoon deluged the woods of Festubert, and shells fell thick in the enemy's communication trenches, causing heavy losses! One batch of prisoners belonged to the Seventh Army Corps! the same as were in action at Neuvo Chappelle, but whereas the latter were weil set ni> the quality of the present prisoners was of the sorriest—mere vouths' were i! the ranlts.