SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 204, 6 May 1915, Page 5

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT

GERMAN USE OF GASES. A NORMAL PROCEDURE IN GERMAN WARFARE. LONDON, May 4. Sir John French reports re poisonous gases, and states that Germans ejected gas from pipes laid in t|he trench is, and also from shells manufactured for the purpose. Attackers are equipped with special respirators. Germans constantly use' gases in defence and offence since the first occasion. The German press suggests the effect is more disablement or painless death. The fact Is than in hospital suffer acutely, and many db'd Mnrering deaths. Sur-J-'vcd lunar* and a reduced condition, indicating that they will be lifelong invc-iMdo. Sir Jofen French adds that he considers the en amy has definitely derided to u:;e pases us a normal procedure, and protests would be useless. READJUSTMENT OF LINES. OWING TO GASES. The High Commissioner reports, under dale.. London, May 5, 12.35 a.m. Sir John French reports that a readjustment of ground was due to unexpected uses of asphyxiating gases by the enemy. We have successfully completed the new line, running west of Zcnnegeke,

Paris reports that in the Champagne, near Beausejour, three German successive attacks were repulsed "with heavy losses. RUSSIA MONEY-RAISING. PETROGRAD, May i. Russia is issuing on foreign markets 20 rnilloins sterling, five per cent. Treasury Bonds.. REPLY TO GERMANY'S GAS. RETALIATORY MEAS URES. PARTS. May ". Unless the Germans relinguish Ihe use of gas. the French will retaliate with hand grenades containing chemicals paralysing men for several minutes. Journalists witnessed a test of rhe new invention. THREE ATTACKS REPULSED. PARIS, May 5. Official: Our progress continue:; i~t the region of Steenstraate. Three successive German attach i near Beanseour were repulsed with severe loss to the enemy. W advanced at Bagatelle and fo:i::M numerous Germans dead GERMAN PREPARATIONS. FOR BIG ATTACK. HEAVY BATTERIES BROUGHT UP. DUNKIRK, May 4. There are indications that the Germans are preparing another great effort to break through ihe allied U Their reinforcements in Flanders include a considerable number of cavalry. The German artillery is growing greater and greater, and is showing more daring, heavy guns being advanced close to the battle lines. Huge batteries shell the country to the north of Poperinghe. When retiring from Pilkin after an unsuccessful charge, the Germans turned their machine gun.-' upon the British wounded lying between the trenches. The cannonade on Sunday round Ypres was the most formidable in the present war.

A message from Amsterdam states that fugitives who have reached Ecloon report terrible German losses in every locality. Numerous closed trains, apparently filled with dead, passed Thiol; on Saturday and Sunday. Fighting is progressing most success' fully for the British oround Ar'mentieres. Houplines is in Britsh possession. The British have advanced a considerable distance over the flat country in the. vicinity. English batteries violently bcnu>nrded Frelinghien,' causing large fires. Important operations are progressing between La Bassee and Arras.

A Taube flew over Calais and dropped papers wilh tlie message. "Expccl us at Calais in three days." Allied airmen dropped bombs on the. railway station and military buildir.jv at Bruges. The airmen escaped. R.T7SS2A?? FJ.FET IN ACTION. PETROCRAD. May 5. The fleet Upmbfirdfid f"hc fortification? on •;•< rlyhi ftiink at 'he Clint'tala position •' i'o"! Ka>:'.barn« on the hW .>:! : •rra;-: ■•-• :-;t>iit = na ; :'' ■■■■ ■■'-■- ing J-.rtie v-:. an-d £: ',. ? ••-- 1- - : .a -"-.-•-"•" s"'Jiiini;\'r.__'!.. i?-'. -_ '.vr.'-tt : i;i ;>ora<> hy'-i'f-'jvv to iWloiiV.': *'•; *"."■,>-'

i the niBST BATTLE I —— MEN INTENSELY STKUNGv A BITTER. FIGHT. LONDON, May 5. i Canadian soldiers from Ypres stst-J that all their comrades wore int«n?ely Strang as the Gorman? approached. Who a the chance eamo they used their ;ir!es anyhow, as club? or as huyoiiets Tho St. Jnlien road was a seem of con' fusion, with dond and dyinc horso?, The Canadians fought bitterly as tiipj retired along it. Near by was a battor;.— believed to bo the Tenth Menire c Is —firing into tho advancing Gc-r----maris at 150 yards. The shrapnel sii_- ]'!;.• drove holes into the closely formed rallies, hundreds of Gorman? going down at evc-ry round.WON IMMORTAL GLORY. A THRILLING STORY. LONDON, May Z>. Tiit) bear declares that the Canadian recording officer is a new brand c»f "Eye-Witness," and regret.- that the gallant British regiments wore ra"■, blessed with such chroniclers in tho day of Mons and La Catean. Tho story of this fierce furnace not only breathes the names of regments which fougkft and died, but proclaims the names. c"i colonels and majors who died as Hero ward died —in a ring of foes. Whee will their glory fade? Not so lon*.*; as a patch of the British <?nrth is trodden by British feet. Tli.? Canadians had won more —immortal glory. There was no soothing syrup in the Cansdias story, no pap, piffle, or puerile, optip)i:-:" no glossinsr evor t.l>* Jsrk - d«:S= perate agony in which Canadian eour« age stood like a rock of granite. 800,000 TURKS UNDER ASMS. ANOTHER ATTACK ON RGYPT. LONDON. May 5. The Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent says it is estimated there are S00 ; 000 Turks under firms, excluding 200,000 Turks under :irm», excludtrenches and constructing roads and

bridges. Von dor Gdltz commands % hundred thousand around A<lriauopie s the Chataldja lines and Constantinople, Djemal'a 150,000 are threatening Egypt. Fifty thousand nre at Bagdad and also 180,000 in the Caucasus. V'os Sanders has 70,000 at the Dardanelles and 35.000 at Smyrna, picked drafts. with headquarters at Gallipoli. The Turks believe tbat unless the allies land 300,000 it is impossible le force the Dardanelles. Their chief nervousness is from the fear that Bulgaria will co-operate with the alliesThe Germans man Fort Hamidian, Other forts are garrisoned by Turks, with a sprinkling of Germans: The campaign in the Caucasus is at a standstll, owing to typhus, 150 dying daily, , | •' Meanwhile Egyptian expeditions are absorbing more and more of the Turks" energies. The next attempt in June will be more formidable. A light railway branching off from the Hedad line, north-east of Akaba, will bo finished in six weeks, and howitzers with German gunners are being sent. BRITISH WINE DUTIES. FRENCH PROTESTATION. (Reed, 8.45 a.m.) ' LONDON, May 5. French vignerons at numerous meetings have protested against the ruinous effect of British wine duties, and have urged the Government to make representations to the British authorities.