In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 98, 28 April 1915, Page 5

In the West.

THE FI OHT FOR CALAIS.

LARGE GERMAN REINFORCE-

(VIE N TS.

Dunkirk, April 26

The battle for Calais continues to rage tiercel,v. The Germans brought up large reinforcements, at least a hundred thousand, to the fighting line, and made repeated efforts to break through between Boesinghe and Zuzschoote. It is untrue the Germans captured many guns. Thirty were abandoned by the French in the marshes and remain between the lines, the French artillery frustrating the German efforts to capture them. It is believed the Germans have the largest concentration ot artillery in the present war, including l(3in. guns and 1 Tin. howitzers.

The Allies recrossed the Yser, ma rfliiti" on Bixschoote. Despite the terrible fighting the enthusiasm of the reinforcing troops is irresistible. The French pushed forward chanting “The Marseillaise.”

ALLIES’ MARKED PROGRESS.

Paris, April 27

Official: The Allies made marked progress north of Ypres on the left fighting front, where they have driven back the enemy, inflicting heavy losses. The Germans again employed asphyxiating gases, hut the Belgians and French devised means of protection. with the best results. The Germans, after an extremely fierce bombardment, succeeded in setting foot on the summit of Hartmannsweilerkopf. Wo occupy the position a hundred metres from the summit from whence we attacked on March 25th.

ACCUMULATION OF CORPSES. WHAT HILL 60 MEANT TO THE ALLIES. THE CANADIANS SEEK REVENGE. Dunkirk, April 27. Two Zouaves greatly distinguished themselves, capturing Lizerne. A narrow river channel adjoining the village had been lost and retaken several times. The bodies of Germans were piled a yard high. The accunraaltion of corpses is unequalled since the bloody battle of Dixmude in November. The Germans already have suffered ten thousand casualties.

Tlie French and Belgians began a combined counter-attack between Pilken and St. Julien on Sunday night. They are still fighting. Prisoners state that prior to Thursday’s attack the German officers told the men that the lines were very weak and that it was easy to get to Paris. They made the men swear they never would surrender. When the Germans first saw the result of the asphyxiation they thought immediate victory was in their hands. The prisoners add that the Germans were preparing for tlnJ asphyxiation for three weeks. They laid a pipeline from the rear of the trenches to convey the chlorine to metal cylinders planted in the front trenches. It was intended to plant the cylinders all along the Belgian, French, and British front where an attack was contemplated, but the British attack on Hill 60 prevented the completion of the plan. Most of the observers agree that a greenish grey iridescent vapor preceded Thursday’s attack. Victims state that men, dressed diver-like, used yard-long • generators whereto a hose was attached. Others sprayed the earth with fluid, afterwards igniting it. A third method was the use of explosive shells, containing blinding chemical. Many rescued victims have since died.

The Canadians’ chief claim to distinction was that they held on in defiance of every tactical rule. They were left fully exposed by the French retirement. The men in the rear trenches were forced to face about. They were thus assailed in the front and rear, and also enfiladed, yet they resisted for hours and made many prisoners. Finally they retired in good order, conforming to the new alignment.

Wounded men state that during tlio retirement the Canadians left the wounded behind. After the counterattack they found that all had been bayonetted to death. They took terrible revenge—they made only two prisoners.

FRENCH FRAUDS. WAR CHARITY IN VEST I CAT 10 MS. United Puesb Association. Paris, Ap'.'il 27 Astoundin'); results lines followed tlie investigations of war ehardie-.. (Hit of 117 societies in tlie Department of Seine seventy-six were fradulent, of wliioh thirty-five have been founded hy shady financiers, most of whom have served terms of imprisonment. | One society was installed in a German house ami controlled hy a secretary who had eleven times been imprisoned. i There are several cases of Austrians and Germans' who had escap'd the concentration camps acting a* p’esidents with false titles. Two women who were penniless before the >ar aie making £lO )ier day. Another is

earning £BO daily by means of a spurious agency which purports to trace missing soldiers. The societies hare sold goods at exhorbitant prices, which the customers bought believing the profits were to bo devoted to charities. Sonic employed agents to collect subscriptions from house to house. Several of these agents received commissions averaging 120 s daily, j A tailor going to the front gave his stock of clothing to charitable purposes The tailor met the founder of the society wearing one of the gift 'suits. I ! i SIR JOHN FRENCH’S REPORT. i London, April 27. | sir John French reports that severe fighting north-'east of Ypres still continues, the general situation remaining unchanged. The British left Hank, in readjusting its line to meet the altered conditions due to the original forced retirement of the French was compelled to face north I extending west beyond St. Jv.lic-n. This extension weakened the line temporarily, and, after a gallant resistance by the Canadian - against superior numbers, St. Judm was captmed by the cue or. Cur line is iow nulling south o r ’Pul place. Our troops east of Ypres bo.? the brunt of repeated heavy attacks, which they stubbornly opposed throughout the battle in an comely unexpected situation, demanding the exercise of gallantry in the men and quick resource in the officers. The Germans attacked yesteday the cast (»i* Vpies salient, but iu o* iLG use of asphyxiating gases they wore repulsed. Officers and men were captured.

There were heavy German casualties during the last three ..lays, the British losses also being heavy. The German wireless report that four English heavy guns were cap turod is untrue.

SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS.

(Received 8.-15 a.in.)

London, April '27

Sic John French reports; We repulsed nil attacks north-east of Ypres, took the offensive, and progressed towards St. Jalien. Successful air raids were made on the railway stations at the .Junction to Tourcoiug, llouhaix, Tngelniunster, Stadcn, Langemarck, Thielt, and Holders.

FROM YPRES TO THE SEA. "THE THUNDER OF MANY GUNS." Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, April 27. The Times' correspondent in the I:9lth of Frame says: The mines which blew up Hill 60 started a conflagration froni Ypres to the sea. There has been fierce fighting and the thunder of many guns along the whole line. The Germans have been long preparing to recapture Hill 60, as an essential preliminary to a general advance. THE POISONOUS CASES. _____ ASPHYXIATION _Y SULPHUR FUJMES. (Received 8.0 a.m. ) Times and Sydney Sun Sebvioh. London, April 27. It is believed the asphyxiation was due to the Germans feeding wood fires with sulphur.

MAGNET OF THE DUNES,

GERMAN ONSET IN FLANDERS.

Times and Sydney Sun Service

(Received 8.0 a.m.) London, April 27

The Times’ military correspondent says; There is a magnet call from the still dunes to the Germans to face the hated English. There is no proof that the (Germans’ old plan of campaign has changed. Troops are coming in from all parts of Germany. They will have cause'to regret if they fail to send every man who can he spared, and they will have cause to rejoice if the Germans come on in force. There is reason to hope for a German onset in Flanders, yet we can hardly allow ourselves gratification for believing it is coming.

The Gorman authorities are keeping the frontiers of Germany and Belgium closed. There have been no mails from Belgium or Germany to Holland for several days. The Belgians are expecting the gravest developments. It is reported in Cologne that the Kaiser is departing for the Yser. The German ousel in Flanders is attributed to the desire to obtain a success, which will re-act on the political situation. MISCELLANEOUS. London, 'April 27. The Prince of Wales' Fund has now reached live millions sterling* I Tho King has inaugurated a national fund for Belgian relief and has given £SOO. I Mr Asquith's reply to the Miners' Conference is indefinite. Mr Asquith is still urging the Federation to accept the employers' offer to discuss tho war bonus at the various wage boards as a national conference to discuss wages would he an entirely new departure in tho coal trade.