FURIOUS FIGHTING IN FRANCE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 208, 13 May 1915, Page 5

FURIOUS FIGHTING IN FRANCE

MOST BLOODY SLAUGHTER. | 1 THE GERMANS PANICKED. I AIRMEN’S SUCCESSFUL RAID. | (Reed. 9.15 a.m.) Fighting from Arras to the sea is developing into a sanguinary struggle. : There i B no official news, but there is too much evidence that it is terribly c'ostfiy.' All "news is entirely favorable to the Allies, and hopes are running high that the Germans have been checked along the Yser, although flood no longer stops the advance of the enemy. Resumed attacks were made on Yprea on th e 10th, with reckless disregard of life; everywhere there is appalling slaughter. : The British renewed their attack on Aubers Ridge, and have driven out the Germans from the village s of Aubers and Fronielles, and gained a footing on the ridge, where they were checked, j Furious fighting continues where the j Germans have pensive successive j earthworks, and masked machineguns in ingenious concealment. They are fighting with desperate courage and . carrying out bayonet charges with un- j usual dash. j British with aggressive courage, helped the French to the southward, where the Allies are already established on a ridge Owing to the French capture of the village of Vermilles, lost last December, the battle at La Bassee threatens to be of a more bloody character than that at Ypres. It is reported that during the desperate struggle of the last two days the British several times penetrated La Bassee suburbs, both along the Bethune and Festurbert Road. A large squadron of aviators succeeded in blowing up important works behind the enemy’s lines, and destroyed a large quantity of supplies. This created a panic, whereof the British immediately took advantage. It is reported that the Germans have been driven hack to Hourbourdin, along the Lille Road, but they reformed and captured part of the lost ground:. Germans have completed twelve rings of strongly fortified entrenchment outside Lille, facing the Allies. FROM ABBAS TO THE SEA. 76 MILES IN FLAMES. LAST AND MOST DESPERATE EFFORT TO BEACH CALAIS. ARTILLERY FIRE MOST TERRIBLE OF THE WAR. GERMAN BATTALIONS MELT AWAY BEFORE BRITISH FIRE Times and Sydney Sun Cables.) LONDON, May 12. .. A correspondent on the plains of Flanders says Artois is in flames. There has been fierce fighting on the whole front of 76 miles from Arras to the sea, the final and most desperate battle for Calais. .. There are. heavy losses on both sides. The first two days the Germans attacked Ypres. On Saturday they redoubled their fury, but were beaten off with heavy losses. The artillery fire was the heaviest and most terrible of the war. Massed guns bombarded East Ypres, a tornado of shells and high explosives pulverising every yard of the ground, and smashing the trenches. The troops withstood the fire with amazing courage and resolution but -were unable to live in the line of fire, and retired to the second line of trenches in good order,. although suffering lamentable loss. The enemy advanced to drive them out of the town, but the British poured out rifle and machine-gun fire and shrapnel on the dense formation. The advancing Germans were slaughtered, whole battalions melting away. Some came on, but were driven off with the bayonet. Successful British counter-attacks were made, and ground gained towards Fromellcs. A Berlin wireless says that the Kaiser arrived from the Eastern front and witnessed the battle. THE BATTLE NEAR THE COAST. GERMANS TRAPPED AND CUT UP. DUNKIRK, May 12. The expected German offensive at Nieuport commenced on the 9th. The wind has recently been so strong that it would have dipersed the asphyxiating gases. The Germans finally attacked amid blinding whirlwind of sand blowing upon the Allies’ trenches. In accordance with the pre-ararnged plan, the Allies’ centre yielded while the wings held their ground. The German followed up their success and es-, . tablished themselves in the abandoned trenches. Then the wing? doubled in apd enfiladed the Germans from both jsidee, The,, flp.rcejjt etruggl.® was carried on to the beach. The Germans were forced to retreat,, leaving their wounded.