CALAIS TO BE TAKEN AT ALL COSTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2508, 8 July 1915, Page 5

CALAIS TO BE TAKEN AT ALL COSTS

IMMENSE GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS BRITISH ATTACK EAST OF THE YSER Br Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright Amsterdam, July 6. The. newspaper "Telegraaf" states that immense German reinforcements arei expected from the eastern front. Officers at Brussels "tleclare that Calais will be taken at all costa._ The Germans are erecting numerous wooden barracks, suitable for 'hospitals, preparatory to a fresh effort being made. ■' ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) \ ™ ~ , London, July 6. ■The Pans "Matin" believes that the closing of the Swiss frontier aaid the rushing up of fresh German troops to Belgium heralds another try to capture ' Calais and bombard Dover-with long-range guns, in order to send troops in aluminium boats to invade England. A series,of attacks have been made recently by the Germans upon 'the Allied front, apparently without any particular object. > These efforts are interpreted as. a preparation for a severe offensive. From another source in Paris the Germans are reported to be constructing immense defensive works m Upper Alsace, apparently designed to render the positions practically impregnable, thus liberating troops for an offensive elsewhere.- , New heavy guns' have been brought to Altkirch and Hairzbach - V An Alsatian declares that , the Germans have a second line of fortifications midway between the Vosges and the Bhine, running the entire length of Alsace, and defended by 250,000 troops of the Landsturm. ' FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. July 7, 8.40 p.m.). Official—"The British' repulsed several counter-attacks south-weft'of Pilken, inflicting heavy losses. . "The Germans bombarded Arras, especially the Cathedral, with incendiary shells;' ' "Wo recaptured a section of the Souvaux trench on. the heights of the ' Meuse. The enemy counter-attacked, and was caught by our machine-guns and shrapnel, and retired; in disorder, with heavy losses." - ■ • A SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS i■ ■ \ . (Reo. July 7, 9.15 p.m.)' ; ... Paris, Julv 7. The fighting in tlia Arras region has assumed a new character. The Germans have commenced a series of violent, attacks against the two extremities of a semi-circle, which is being formed around Souchez—that is, against tho advance post which was thrown out in front of Lorette Hill and against Cabaret Rouge. There was ferocious infantry fighting on tho Angres Road, both sidesusing stakes from the trenches if their bayonets wero and . their cartridges expended, The Germans were prevented from tlieir threatened occupation of Souchez. The German bombardment cast of Amiens was not accompanied by infantry attacks, though intended to foreshadow violent attacks by massed troops, resulted in a disproportionate loss of ammunition, as tho French were not deceived. , ( ■ , , " GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE." -> . Amsterdam, July 6. /A.German communique states: "Our airmen bombed the aerodrome at Corcieux, the French camp, in the Vosges." \ NEWS FROM SIR JOHN FRENCH NO CHANGE SINCE HIS LAST REPORT, London, July 6. —Sir John French states: —"Since my last report the situation- has not changed. Tho fighting has been mainly confined to artillery duels, a feature of which was the enemy's employment of a largo quantity of gas shells, particularly near Ypres. . . "Our howitzer fire on the ovening of July '1 wrecked a German sap north' of Ypres. A platoon of infantry, with a machine gun, advanced and drovo out tho few Germans who had survived the bombardment. "AVe captured on' July 6 on our extreniG leftj north of Ypres, two hundred yards of tKo enemy's trenches, taking eighty, prisoners." 1 • HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT v ' London, July 6. 3.10 p.m. "In Belgium, .British troops, supported by French artillery, captured several fresh trenches south-west of Pilken, east of the canal. - hot engagement took place around Souchez, which remained in tho bands of 'the French, despite repeated efforts of the Germans. "Two German attacks at the saddlo south' of the ravine ai.Nouvaux_ wpro completely repulsed, and likewise two attacks at Bois lo Petre, in the region of . jajtett-Hjtfe &nd Oroix d?s .Carm.cs, with heavj; losses ttt .thg .ejisfflX*

'"The' French deny the German successes which, were claimed -in the last five days; on the contrary, .ill their attacks in July have been defeated with heavy losses."- ' London, July 6, 9.45 p.m. • "Sir John French reports:—"On July 4 at Ypres the sap was blown in and capturcd by a bayonet charge; our casualties wore insignificant. The German version was "that they repulsed the attack with sanguinary loss at Pilken l!oacl. This morning, north of Ypres) we capturcd two liundrcd yards of enemy trenches, with eighty prisoners." London, July 7, 3.15 a.m. "Unofficial reports'from the Continent indicate that great German forces are being transferred from the Eastern to the Western froat, suggesting a further attack in the direction of Calais."