STORY OF BOIS D'AILLY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 193, 24 April 1915, Page 5

STORY OF BOIS D'AILLY.

A CARNIVAL OF QHASTLY OARNA6R TERRIFYING EFFECT OF BOMBARDMENT. 'GERMAN GARRISON ANNIHILATED FRENCH WITHSTAND FEROCIOUS COUNTER-ATTACK. NOT AN INCH OF GROUND UNCHURNED BY EXPLOSITES. LONDON, April 23. The Press Bureau has issued the story of the capture of Bois d'Ailly, which was strongly fortified. The enemy employed large forces of artillery from Metz. The French on the morning of the sth April concentrated their artilery on the German postition, and aided by aerial torpedoes fired the parapets. The corpses could be seen still gripping their riflss, held over the trenches. The intensity of the artillery fire was redoub!ed,and some of. the prisoners state that the bombardment left an impression of anguish and stupefying fear. By neon we exploded a chain of mines close to the fort, annihilating the garrison and causing panic in the neighourig trenches. This was th e signal for the attack and the infantry poured into the trenches in three successive waves, with fixed bayonets. They did not fire a shot. Detachments of bomb-throwers accompanied the advance. Some carried small boxes fixed to wooden handles and filled wtih explosives, which were thrown like a diabolo. Sappers accompanied the infantry, dragging a gangway to enable the troops to cross the wide trenches and so get behind to attack the enemy, crush them with grenades or pin them to the earth with their bayonets.. The programme was carried out detailby detail. The trenches were rapidly; 'cleared, and many of the enemy to.dk refuge in th e subterranean shelte'rfe, which collapsed, asphyxiating them.

On the Bth the Germans sought to recapture the position and brought up the whole of their St. Mihiel artillery. We had'to repel eight attacks. Not an inch of groundwas unchurned by explosives in this hell. Under a hurricane of steel and iron we held our own. There was no shelter whatever, our artillery having previously destroyed all cover. In the afternoon th e final attack was made, and as a result six companies of Germans were annihilated. They had no more fresh infantry,but still had ammunition. Their artillery hurled 26,000 shells on the spur of Bois d'Ailly, and in cur trenches the deafening nois e resembled a continuous crash of thunder. Our losses were heavy. The enemy's fire dwondled away and ceased, and left us in possession.

HILL SIXTY.

• OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. RENEWED GERMAN ATTACKS. (Reed. 2.25 pjn.) The High Commissioner reports, dated London, 23rd April: Field-Marshal French reports that German attacks on Hill 60, which had stopped at the tim e of the communique on Monday, had since been renewed several times. Tha attacks all fallen and for the time being have ceased. . W e hold th e entire crest of the hill, ; denying its use to the enemy, who attached greta importance to it. -•■ There never has been any truth in: the statement established by HGie German communique that the enemy had recaptured this position. STATEMENT OF CASUALTIES. UP TO MARCH 31. {Heed 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 23. Mr Asquitb, in reply to Mr E. T. John stated that between the outset of war and the e nd of March, the naval casualties were: 332 officer, lulled, 61 wounded, 7 missing, 41 interned and 11 prisenered; 4981 ma:; killed, 640 wounded, wherecf 50 were taken prisoner, 12 missing,ls24 interned. 924 takan prisoner, exclusive of the above wounded. TI-IE SUNKEN TRAWLER. GERMAN INHUMANITY. (Reed 5.50 a.m.) Tha skipper of the Saint Lawrence '•'■'..:.z that after the submarine fired ' : :v. la'.iiii-hed their boats and ri" - -:; ':i except tiro, when the subm cv;'er.-l the boat to ba cut awry '""■' •"■ ■'"■ ~~"< the two jun—'--