In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 15, 18 May 1915, Page 5

In the West

THE DLAGK WATCH AGASN THEIR LATEST SUCCESSES. United Press Association. [ Received 9.10 a.m.) London, May 17. The Black Match led the latest success. Northwest of La Bassee they were compelled to cut barbed wire under terrific enfilading machine-gun 1 fire, hut they hung on till the arrival of support. Then they cut their way through the first line of trenches after a severe hand-to-hand struggle ; the second line was taken at the bayonet point; and the third yielded after feeble resistance. “REMEMBER LUSITANIA!” BLACK WATCH'S BITTER FIGHT. METHOD IN THEIR MADNESS. (Received 11.15 a.in.) London, May 17. A Corporal of the Black Watch who was wounded narrates: hor hitter hand-to-hand fighting, La Bassee was unequalled. The use of gas and the sinking of the Lusitania had driven out all false sentiment. The men went into the battle crying “Remember the Lusitania!”. During eight hours of fighting the Black Watch rushed the German trenches seven times, and finally threw themselves upon the enemy like madmen. Britons and Germans lay in heaps around the blood-soaked parapet. Some of the wounded fought each other on the ground, hurling gibes and curses with their dying breath. It was indescribable. It was terrible hard to believe that, Christians could show so much hatred. The Black Watch, after the seventh charge, held the ground, and the Germans ran, but we were too exhausted to follow, and many of ns .slept beside the dead.

SINGE HONS.

PRICE SET ON BRITISHERS’ HEADS. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, May 17. Six British soldiers who were cut off during the retreat from Mens reached Holland after nine months of hairbreadth escapes dodging the Germains. A price was set on their heads, and they lived in forests, dug-outs, and precarious shelters, peasants befriending and providing them with food and civilian clothes. GERMANS FORTIFY LILLE. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, May 17. There are reports that the Germans are feverishly strengthening the Lille fortifications. They constructed three torpedoes at Antwerp, one having proceeded to Zeebrugge, via the Scheldjt and canals. ALLIES’ PROGRESS AT YPRES. ■ (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, March 17. A communique states: Our advance on Hetsas continues. We captured the German line east of the canal. Four German attacks at Lorette were repulsed with heavy losses. IN THE ALLIES’ FAVOUR. GERMAN LINES PIERCED BY THE FIRST ARMY. London, May 17. Sir John French reports that an attack was begun at midnight south ot Richehourg and another attack at dawn a mile further south, where, on a 1200 yards front a line of trenches was carried. We pushed rapidly on, extending the success 000 yards further south by bombing along the German trenches. Here we crossed the Festuhert-La Quiuque road and advanced nearly a mile on the enemy’s line. Fighting continues in our favor. Our brave troops throughout the day fought splendidly. All was quiet at Ypres during tho last forty-eight hours.

BRITISH PROGRESS REPORT. Paris, May 17. The British, whose progress at Richebourg continues, inflicted great losses on the Germans. We gained two hundred metres on a spur descending from the plateau Lorette towards the sugar refinery and captured more houses in the northern part of Neuvelle. We blew up the Germans’ captive balloon east of Viny. Our aeroplanes threw bombs on the station at Somiun. We achieved a brilliant success in the Champagne district north-west of St. Ell. The enemy on Saturday and Sunday night exploded a mine behind our first line. Eight German companies rushed up and gained a footing on our salient. We twice counter-at-tacked. In the second attack we dashed out, carrying the bayonet and hand grenades, and recovered the whole position. NEWS FROM DUNKIRK. Dunkirk, May 17. The French further developed their advance in the direction of Lenz, where

they tiolcl all the ridges but one. The British artillery co-operated ou the Frenchmen's left, and the joint elforts imperil live thousand men. I The British lines southward ot Ypres have heen established on a strong: 'strategical basis. making them prae,tically unbreakahle. British ships on .Saturday bombarded the German batteries on the front behind Rarascapelte effectively. REPORT ON GERMAN BRUTALITY. (Received Sf.lU a.rn.) Rotterdam, May 17. Mr.' Johannes .Martin, Editor of the Eotterdansche Xeiurisblad who I investigated the report regarding the .shooting of British prisoners of war. has since interviewed several German deserters. Hi.s Report iconic hides: — Since the murders which were committed on the* night of the 20th December, the o hirers have been found guilty, and in these eases they include Von Lassowitz, \ on Hering, Baumgartner and Rosihski. The latter wa s killed by his own men. , . p MORE GERMAN TRENCHES TAKEN. (Received 11.55 a.m.) London, May 17. Sir John French reports that the First Army had further successes South of Kichehourg and Lavone. All the German trenches on a front of two miles were taken. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT London, May 17th ('.‘1.20 p.rn.):— hi tlie region of Hetsas the advances of the French continued. Ou Sunday evening the French took a house strongly fortified by Germans on the east bank of the canal, and advanced beyond the first t German line, taking 145 prisoners and four mitralleuses. The German counterattack completely failed. There was a very violent artillery duel in the region of Notre Dame De Lorette. and a sanguinary blow' was inflicted in this region on four attacks by Germans. who suffered heavy losses. On the Oise, near Da illy, the Germans placed in view of the French linos a green Ottoman flag with a crescent. Tlie African troops answered promptly to the provocation, subjecting the flag to a fnsilade tirailleurs; then they went to, secure the flag and brought it into the French lines.