BATTLE OF LA BASSEE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 741, 30 January 1915, Page 5

BATTLE OF LA BASSEE.

GERMANS' SURPRISE ATTACK. Received Friday, 11.20 p.m. Paris, Friday. Monday's figbt was the biggest wherein the British have recently been engaged. La Bassee plains were a bog and the Germans found the only workable foothold waa the highway, and suddenly attacked the unsupported British positions. The latter fell back before a rush led by the sth Prussians and 7th Pioneers. The enemy swept along the road to the outskirts of Givenchy, capturing half-a-dozen prisoners. English reinforcements, crossing a sodden morass for three hundred yards knee deep in water and mud under a heavy fire, secured the trench. Though they lost heavily, they drove back the Germans, who left four hundred dead. A small force of the enemy entered Givenchy. The British fired from windows and wounded many, the remainder surrendering. The British re-established their old positions and broke fresh ground.

DESPERATE FIGHTING CONTINUES. KAISER DIRECTS ATTACK. GERMANS MOWN DOWN. Received Friday, 10.45 p.m. London, Friday. Reuter states the Germans on Monday, concentrating important forces between La Bassee and Featubet, attempted to pieirce the Allies' line rind capture Bethune. The Kaiser watched the preparations on Saturday and inspected the German positions at La Basßee. The attack was supported by heavv artillery and an armoured train, which fired twenty shells at Bethune. The Germas planned to draw the Aliles towards Festubert by a vigorous attack, while the infantry regiments made a turning movement via La Bassee on the Bethune road. The Allies were aware of thafplan and the German .infantry advancing in close formation, received a murderous fire, being caught between the Engilsh artillery in front and the French artillery on the flank, and they were literally mowed down. • A couple of regiments endeavouring to outflank the Allies, advanced towards Auneguin. They were allowed to approach within a few hundred yardß of the Allies' lines, when a French 75 opened fire. Those not escaping were killed or taken prisoner, two companies being captured. The enemy vainly renewed the attack five times, seeking to break through the Allies' lines. They charged once to reach Givenchy church.

Bayonets did deadly work in the plains and round Vermelles and Givenchy, which were strewn with dead.

A severe artillery duel continues throughout the district.