GERMAN ATTACK ON YPRES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2700, 21 February 1916, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACK ON YPRES

IMPORTANCE OF THE SALIENT ALLIES' SPRINGBOARD FOR NEXT OFFENSIVE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 19. The attack on Yprcs occurred between the railway and the canal at Oommines. Some military experts point out that if our position here contracts much further, if wo Jose as much ground there this year as last year, this will mean the abandonment of Yvres. The German success, therefore, should not be taken -wit!) indifference, and counter-attacks, though expensive, arc worth making. The intrinsic gain may bo very small, hut the peril of tho Yprcs salient is imnortant. The Germans aim to damage our spring board for the next offensive. Long trains of artillery and infantry continue _to come westward and southward of Belgium, am! many German war councils have been held at Louvain. It is reported that tho Crown Prince is commanding the best troops, available in Germany, and has accumulated vast quantities of poison gas and munitions. '' VIRTUALLY EQUIVALENT TO A FAILURE. Paris, February 18. M. Marcel Hutin, in the "Echo de Pans," states that the British liavo already regained several sections of tho six hundred yards of cautured trenches. The British bare been expecting au attempt to break through to Calais for Burnt) time, u» the Cfennaiis tuid been largely remfnrciiijj, and «ad piled up thousands of tone of munitions.

Seeing that only a few trenches wero captured, while heavy losses were incurred, the offensive was virtually equivalent to a failure. He adds that it is reported that the Crown Prince has been promoted to lie Commander-in-Chief in the Argonue and Lorraine-Alsace, and is contemplating another attempt to capture Verdun. FIERCE FIGHTING IN UPPER ALSACE. ,(Rec. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February 19. A French communique says: In the Artois, northward of Hill. 140, we explodod a mine and seriously damaged a German trench. • Another mine caused a hugo crater between the two trenches. Wo occupied the southern edge, and the German attempt to dislodge us was stopped dead by our fi.ro. Our artillery, co-operating with the British, south of Frise, maintained a curtain of fire and rendered abortive the enemy's attack in preparation. The enemy, after intense bombardment in Upper Alsace, launched an attack north, of Lar&itaon, and temporarily gained a footing in our trenches. A counter-attack immediately expelled thorn. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON BOTH SIDES. (Reo. February 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The artillery generally is active on both sides of the Ypres front. We bombarded the enemy position north of the canal. GERMAN VERSION OF BRITISH ATTACKS. (Rec. February 20, 5.5 p rn.) Amsterdam, February 19. A German communique says: The British again attempted to recapture the position south-east of Ypres, but were repulsed with bloody losses.