BOMBARDMENT OF YPRES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1376, 20 March 1915, Page 4

BOMBARDMENT OF YPRES.

THE LISTENING PATROL. FIGHTING IN THE DARK. LONDON, March 3. Eye-witness, in a report dated Friday, width has just been made available by the Official Press Bureau, says that the activity on (lie western front has been confined during the lust few days to the region south-east, of Ypres. “On Monday a small body of our troops, at midnight, forced their way into the German trenches, near St. Eloi,’’ the report adds. “They fought forward in the darkness among the winding passages until 60 yards of the trench had been gained. Their progress was then, checked by barricades which' were defended by machine guns tiring along the trench, and also along the communication trenches. “Our men clung to the position most gallantlv for hours, under a rain of bombs and hand grenades, but it was 100 isolated for Diem to hold it permanently, and they withdrew.

“During the morning further south, hoary howitzers bombarded Messines. The day was bright and clear. As each shell burst, thy village, with its old square church tower and rod roofs was blotted out. by a, cloud of smoko and red dust, caused by the shattering of bricks and tiles. “The effect of the detonation of high explosives among buildings is tremendous. It does not depend upon the damage caused by the actual splinters of a shell, which is comparatively small, but upon the fact that every brick, stoije, and all solid objects within a considerable radius become deathdealing missiles, which arc hurled hundseds of yards in every direction. “The astonishing strength of the mediaeval buildings in the country is (winced by the way they resist (ho bombardment, of modern artillery. The Church tower at Messines had great, blocks of masonry blown oft’ it, the belfry was shot away, the interior burnt out, but the framework, though irregular in outline, and full of gaping holes, still stands defiant amidst tlie surrounding ruins. “When the British evacuated the building shells from the German guns set alight the woodwork, and everything in the church was destroyed, the sole exception lx*ing the crucifix, which was iintouehid. AT„TIIE BAYONET’S POINT. “Ypres was somewhat heavily bombarded by howitzers (hiring the day. and on Wednesday thee' was increased shelling at inany points. the (.-litre it was especially severe. < - u rtllK:, replied and inflicted eonsiderab damage, Our ottensi\o- - been aided by tlie daring enterprise of 0,.r patrols. “An exciting ent,.aider occurred m tlie. dark betw :en one of our patrols and a German listening pairol. T! e two parties went for one aim*her »■!*>• bayonet, and a fierce strut, r. nw; d. Though tlie sound of ie sirurri ■ brought other Germans from tin ire:’.( iies to mi ppm t their comrades, our men net only held tneir own. tint withdrew siuct-ssluliv. carrying oft' several articles of G ...in equipment, leaving two of tlie enemy dead. , “The line held bv the British is divided roughly into two portions by the River Eye. On the northern side of the river the ground is broken and rolling, and there are several commanding heights. The ground to the south is a flat water-logged plain. Our line runs from the river a little south of Irelingliien, through Letouquet, Legheer. and St. Yves. It then (urn? sharp westward, round (ho foot, of hill 63, for alioiit a mile, then north again circling Wytsehaote and Mcssincs. The ]Xi?ition represents a great wedge driven into the centre of our line, whereby the enemy has placed himself astride the direct; road from Ypres to Armcntieres.”