In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 1 May 1915, Page 5

In the West.

A PERFECT HELL ! THE CANADIANS’ GREAT CHARGE. '• J DEEDS OF HEROISM. BEATEN, BUT DIDN’T KNOW ■ i 1 *' (Received 8.35 a.in.) [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] United JPrebb Association. London, April 30. The conduct of, the Canadians is almost the sole topic. The Canadian press' publish many stories of individual heroism. Colonel IMcLarg fell dead at the mouth of a machine gun while attempting to rescue a private. Colonel Birchall was wounded twice before being mortally hit. The Tenth and Seventeenth Battalions made a wonderful charge. Colonel Boyle fell while'leading his men cheering and yelling into a perfect bell. The fire came from the enemy who was hidden in a wood three hundred yards away from the medley.

An account received by Hie Vancouver Daily Providence surmises that the Germans, despising’ amateur soldiers, knew exactly where the Canadians were, and knew they lacked experience. The Germans, accustomed to long- attacks, knew that by imparting Hie novelty of frightfulness in Hie shape of chlorine gas, their chance of breaking ‘ the, line would he greatly enhanced. At first, the results were just as calculated, and it appears there was some confusion, into which tho Germans drove full tilt, apparently surrounding some of the Canadians. The announcement that the Germans had taken one thousand prisoners was probably made when things looked like it.

By all Hie rules of warfare, the Canadians were beaten, hut they didn't know it. They suffered terrible casualties, and gave as good as they got, and eventually turned the tables on their foes.

A sergeant-major says that from Thursday evening to Friday morning’ the Canadians held on to a position which was really untenable, hut if Hie Canadians hadn’t held on, the Germans might have been masters of Ypres.

PERHAPS—PERHAPS NOT! (Received 12.30 p.m.) Berlin, April 30. A communique states: Our artillery is trained on the fortress of Dunkirk. Dunkirk is the most northerly port of France, with a strong fort, good harbor, and trade, population 42,000. GERMANS MOWED DOWN BY GERMAN GUNS. (Received 10.5 a.m.) Paris, April 30. Newspaper .reports state that during the recent fight 4000 Germans crossed the Yser near Steenstraate, when the Belgian artillery destroyed a bridge, cutting off retreat, and the field guns shrapnelled them. The Germans hoisted handkerchiefs on their rifles and surrendered, whereupon the German machine guns on the opposite bank of the Yser mowed them down. The Belgians took the survivors prisoners.

PRIVATE LONSDALE IN THE HANDS OF THE KAISER. (Received 11.35 a.m.) Amsterdam, April 30. The Frankfurter Zeitung pleads for the commutation of Private Lonsdale’s sentence. * RUMOR DENIED. • (Received 11.35 a.m.) Loudon, April 30. The Press Bureau says: The rumor that German warships bombarded Dunkirk is untrue; probably it originated through misreading the French communique. THE BOMBARDMENT OF RHEIMS. (Received 11.35 a.m.) Paris, April 30. A communique states: We progressed in the neighbourhood of Streenstraate. Five hundred shells, many of them incendiary, have fallen in Rheims, but the fires were quickly extinguished. i OFICIAL NEWS. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner, dated London, April 30, 9 a.m. : Army officers killed 23, wounded 57, missing 6; men killed 68, wounded 65, prisoners 19. Dardanelles: Naval officers killed 4, wounded I ; men killed 1, wounded 7. The arrivals and sailings of merchantmen of all nationalities at United Kingdom ports for the week ended April 28 were 1! 11 ; sunk one; British trawlers sunk, four.