A RECORD BOMBARDMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 271, 26 April 1915, Page 5

A RECORD BOMBARDMENT.

' BRITISH HANG ON GRIMLY. A VOLCANO OE DEAFENING NOISE. SUBLIME COURAGE 01? INFANTRY. INCENDIARY BOMBS USED. Received April 25, 0.30 p.m. London, April 24. The Daily News Dunkirk correspondent sayc. there was unspeakable tumult throughout Thursday: on Hill CO.. The Gerir.ans brought up the whole of thejr »lieavy artillery. The British hung on ■'grimly against the most terrific bombardment ever experienced. it resembled a volcano in its deafening noise, everything being obscured by dust aiul smoke. The major of the battery shouted his orders through a megaphone, with a gunner at !iis side. The British infantry, consisting of the best shots of many regiments, lay prone for hours, firing until their rifles were too hot to hold. Their courage and staying power amid this hell was su- ' bliine. Shrapnel was continually bursting hundreds being wounded in the back. Whenever tJlicre was a chance of a charge they too ; k it in magnificent verve. The enemy aeroplanes flung hundreds of incendiary bombs on the entrenchments. By nightfall Hill 60 was an indescribable spectacle. Paris, April 23. A communique states that the Belgians at the bend of the Yser, north oi Dixmude, repulsed an attack on the Chateau Vicogne, inflicting heavy losses. North of Ypres the Germans used a number of asphyxiating bombs, the effect of which was felt two kilometres behind the "Allied lines, forcing us to retire. The German attack at Ypres was held up, and a vigorous counterattack enabled us to regain the ground ■ and make ninny prisoners. HILL 60. AN IMPORTANT POINT. FIELD-MARSHAL FRENCH'S REPORT. London, April 23. Sir John French reports that the German attacks on Hill CO failed. During these the enemy fired 17in. shells into Ypres. We forestalled the, German mining operations near Armcntieres- by exploding a mine. S'ir John adds that the British airmen who attacked the Ghent shed on April 21 ran the gauntlet of fire from a captive balloon, also from the ground. They descended two hundred feet and effected their object, causing a large explosion. London, April 23. A correspondent in the north of France says the capture of Hill GO has removed what lias been a check to the British advance for months from Ypres towards Menin. Lille is now seriously exposed, ■ compelling the withdrawal of the German line considerably towards Menin. The strain might well reach breaking point, because here the Germans do not possess a salient like those at La Ilassee and St. Mihiel. Its concave line has Zandvoorde for the centre of the curve. The capture of Hill «0 breaks a long period of comparative inactivity. Tlie Times' military correspondent says the success at Hill CO shows that the offensive is passing to the Allies, and that the Germans are not so good as formerly. The Allies for months sustained the fight against bewildering disadvantages. The Germans had heavier guns, more machine-guns, giant periscope trench mortars, and took the initiative underground and organised bombthrowing and sniping. The Allies gradually caught -up by accumulating heavy guns, until they are beginning to dominate the battle. We have more machineguns, periscope mortars, telescopic sights, bombs, and steel shields. Our snipers and night patrols have become active and enterprising. "A CURTAIN OF STEEL." QUEEN OF BELGIUM AND lIER FAMILY. Received April 20, 1 a.m. Paris, April 25. The well known writer Pierre Loto visited the Queen of the Belgians. 'During the conversation reference was made to Bavaria, of the ruling house of which she is a member. In a low voice she said: "Between them and myself all is over. A curtain of steel has fallen between us for nil time." •A SURVEY OF THE FORCES. NOWHERE INFERIOR, .MANY PLACES SUPERIOR TO GERMANS. EFFECT OF NEUVE CHAPELLE VICTORY. BELGIUM'S DEPLORABLE STATE, A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. ' (Times and Sun Service.) Received April C p.m. London, April 24.

Eye-Witness, in a communication, dated Tuesday, states that a survey of Hie general state' of the army allows that in all 'j>artrt, generally speaking; it is in 110 way infer! or. while in many places it is superior to the enemy in the form of warfare for which it was originally the least prepared, for,' in spite of initial handicaps, it is beating the Germans at their own game. The mastery of sniping is so delinite that in sonic places the men are able to walk outside the trenches in comparative safety, even within short range of tlie hostile lines, Generally, the position is liarrassing, as the Germans' give little rest by means of shelling, bomli-tlirotf-iug, and sniping. The consciousness of increased power to light as shown lit. Neuve Chapelle has inspired the men witli a sense of superiority, and thev ale only animated by one desire —to :;('t

Concerts, cinemas, variety shows, boxing and football have boon organised to divert tlu> men's minds from their immediate wretched surrounding. The psychological value of music is remarkable, for a- penny whistle or wi 1 instil fresh life into tired lejjs. Tlit! Germans still bold JJi.umide, but ;>re unable to debouch, because of ilie ri\cr. Here, in entrenchments, is the army, unvanijuishod a!"tor vvihl. months of war. and behind stretches a narrow strip, ten miles in extent, of soil left to d-l'end. Kven then there are verv few villages or towns that have escaped (he eneiiiyV lire. Xieiiport iies ill ruins, and latterly 42f'ciitinieter shells have been raining on it. Funics is battered, and historic pros partially de-( roved, while liie village- in the rear-line ai'e almost rax.ed til the ground. The war lias added desolation and horror to the nattiral melancholy o!' the countryside, wMrh was always of the drearie-| rliarac!er. A visitor approaching t':e Belgian trenciics from the West traverses one battered villages after another, am! sees only ruins. A few women and children are

sl'Jl clinging to what i:s left of their liomes. In front lies a waste of water melting into tli'c sky, the further bankbeing obscured by mist. Corpses of long-dead Germans, swollen carcases of cattle and sheep with their legs sticking in the air, drift aimlessly about.' Rille shots are ringing in front and shells rum-i bling overhead accentuate the prevailing silence. The strongest contrast is 'presented by the sand dimes farther north, where desperate struggles continue daily. The trenches are only a few yards apart. The wind blows sandstinging clouds which necessitate motor goggles.. The configuration of the landscape is continually altering, fresh'dunes being formed and others disappearing.

LOADS OF GERMAN DEAD. A GERMAN CLAIM. Received April 20, 2.20 a.m. Amsterdam, April 25. On Tliursd.iv and Friday nights many train loads of German dead arrive; at linsselt. The civilians were compelled to bury th<-iii. Twenty-five tlio -sand Gciman wounded have reached Liege. Most of the business places hav • been trans formed, .into hospitals. The Germans officially claim that they have beaten off the Allies' att'aek from Ypres to Bixshoote and have Captured 2470 prisoners and many rifles and mach-ine-guns. THE LATEST NEWS. GERMANS' ATTACK FAILS. BRITISH RESULTS NOT YET KNOWN. Received April 20, 3 a.m. Paris, April 25. A supplementary official statement states that thick yellow' smoke was emitted from the Herman trenches on Thursday evening, and, driven before a northerly wind, produced an effect of complete asphyxiation. It was felt in the second lino. Yesterday's counter attacks enabled the recovery of part of the lost ground, which completely consolidated our position. The action is progressing with the support of the Britishers and Belgians. We repulsed attacks in Eparges. Forest, Apremont, and Reichaekerkop. The enemy suffered heavy losses. Paris, Later. Official: The enemy's renewed obstinate efforts to turn to good account the surprise achieved by their asphyxiating gases failed. Our Zouaves and Belgian carbineers recovered the village of Lizerne on the left bank of the Yser, which the enemy had temporarily carried. We appreciably progressed on our left, keeping in touch with the Belgians, and advanced more slowly to our right. The British troops meanwhile were subjected to a violent attack. They replied with an immediate counter-at-tack. The result is not yet announced. The Germans exploded five heavy mines in the neighborhood of our trenches on the spur of a small fort at Beausejour. Respite the violent explosions we out-distanced the enemy, and occupied the craters, which were twenty-live metres in diameter. There was hot fighting at Eois Dailly. The Germans repeated their desperate efforts To recapture the trenches tai.cn on Thursday. Jitter evacuation of a portion we retook and retain ther.ii TO MEDICAL SERVICE. A SPLENDID RECORD. .Received April 20, 2 a.m. London, April 24. The Eyewitness at headquarters pays ' a tribute to the army, medical service for maintaining the low sickness rate, and mentions that during the Nile cam- , paign there were more cases of typhoid ?in two brigades in eight months than ( in the whole British army during the present war to date. The mobile bacteriological laboratories have proved a "great success in detecting germ-carriers, and inoculation has proved the surest 1 defence against typhoid and other diseases. THE GERMAN REPRISALS. Received April 20, 1 a.m. London, April 25. Official: The thirty-nine officers arrested under tbe German reprisals include Lord Garlics, the Master of Sal; toun, and Captains Spencer Coke, Hunter, and Blair.