In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 92, 21 April 1915, Page 5

In the West

SIR JOHN FRENCH’S DISPATCH. HOW HILL SIXTY WAS STORMED. I GERMAN LIARS STILL BUSY. ATTEMPT TO COVER THEIR OWN WRONGDOING. United Pkesh Association. (Received 9 a.tn.) London, April 20. Sir John French’s bulletin says:— An. improvement in the weather has resulted in increased aerial activity to our advantage. British airmen drove off three Tanhes in Ypres region on Sunday and then continued a reconnaisance. The enemy wore heavily shelled in the trenches near Sainteloi. We also exploded a mine, injuring some parapets, which were promptly repaired. The enemy suffered heavily. The explosion on hill sixty was immediately followed by an attack which gained possession of the whole of the enemy’s trenches on that hill. We put the

trenches in a state of defence during Saturday night. Despite a heavy bombardment, which caused many casualties, the enemy resumed bombardment towards morning and made a determined counter attack. At six-thirty o’clock this attack was pressed home and some stiff, hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Our infantry, with great gallantry and determination, well supported by the artillery, completely drove off the enemy. Our losses were heavy, hut the Germans more severe, particularly from machine-guns, which caught them in mass formation. The enemy made repeated desperate efforts throughout Sunday to retain a position which was of great importance and at one time gained a footing on the southern slopes. They were, however, promptly driven back and the whole hill was in our hands, and the positions on it consolidated by nightfall. The enemy’s attacks ceased on Monday morning, hut they continued to bombard the hill. The prisoners totalled forty-nine. The German official statement that we were using asphyxiating gases at Ypres is false, and is doubtless made in order to justify the enemy’s free use of these gases at hill sixty. The Hague Convention does not allow the use of asphyxiating gases. MASSACRE IN COLD BLOOD. London, April 20. The Daily Chronicle reports that after the Belgians had driven back the Germans at Driegrachten, a Belgian night patrol surprised and killed several German sentries. The Germans, infuriated at the discovery, took a greater number of Belgian prisoners belonging to the First Chasseurs, and massacred them in cold blood. The Germans have closed the DutchBelgian frontier. Even foodstuffs are not allowed to pass. THE MONTMARTRE FIGHT. Paris, April 20. Details' of the Montmartre light state that the Germans had peremptory orders to recover the ground at all costs. They managed to reach the entanglements of the new French trenches at several points by repeated night attacks, and beiora daybreak the French, worn but unflinching, had hurled back ten great waves of steel lire. As fast as one attack was beaten off fresh contingents were rushed forward. Only by superhuman courage and endurance did the French hold the ground. The Germans advanced to the final attack at daybreak, singing the “Watch on the Rhine.” They were allowed to reach within twenty metres, when a large number of mitrailleuses poured a terrific fire into them. The Germans in every direction went down in hundreds and fell back shattered. A couple of French battalions sprang from the trenches and completed the rout with tho bayonet. The enemy’s losses were appalling.

VICTORIA CROSSES. Li-lITED PIiKSB ASHOOIATION. London, April 19. Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Private Burlier, of the First Grenadiers, who ran ahead of a grenade company at Xonve Chapelle and threw bombs with such effect that a very great number of the enemy immediately surrendered. When his comrades came up Barber was alone, and the enemy surrendering all round him. To Lance-Corporal Fuller, oi the First Grenadiers. He was yuite alone, and seeing the enemy escaping by a communication trench at Xeuve Chapidle he rushed forward and killed the leader with a bomb. Fiity others seeing it was impossible to evade the bombs, surrendered. To Lieutenant Cyril Martin, of the Engineers. At Spanbroekmolen, on the 12th of March, though wounded, he led a grenade party into the German trenches and held back reinforcements for 2'. hours.

'IV) Private Henry May, of the First Caiueronians. At La Boutillerie, on October 22, he volunteered to rescue wounded under heavy lire, carrying an officer for three hundred yards. To Private Follerton, of the First Caiueronians. At La Boutillerie, on October II at Aisne, he carried a wounded officer to greater safety. When the jbattafion retired. Follerton, though wounded, returned to the officer and lay beside him for three days. Both were rescued.