The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 273, 28 April 1915, Page 5

The Western Front.

BATTLE OF CALAIS CONTINUES. LARGE GERMAN -REINFOROEiIENTS. CONCENTRATION OF ARTILLERY. ALLIES (RECRQSS THE YSER. Received -April 27, 10.50 p.m. Dunkirk, April 20." The battle for Calais continues to •rage fiercely. The Germans brought "up large reinforcements, at least a hundred thousand, to the fighting line, and made repeated efforts to ibreak through between Boesinghe and Zuzschoote. It is untrue the Germans captured many guns. Thirty were abandoned by the French in the marshes and remain between the lilies, the French artillery frustrating the German efforts to capture them. It is believed the Germans have the largest concentration of arUillery in the present war, including Win. guns a»d I7in. howitzers.

The Allies ix r erossed~the Yser, marching on Bixschoote. Despite the terrible fighting the enthusiasm of the reinforcing troops is irresistible. The French pushing forward chanting "The Marseillaisci."

PROGRESS AT YPRES. GERMANS OCCUPY A SUMMIT. Received April 27, 7.40 p.m. Paris, March 27. Official: The Allies made marked progress north of Ypres on the left fighting front, where they have driven back the enemy, inflicting heavy losses. The Germans again employed asphyxiating gases, but the Belgians and French devised means of protection, with the best results.

The Germans, after an extremely fierce bombardment, succeeded in setting foot on fie summit of Hartmannsweilerkopf. We occupy the position a hundred metres from the summit from whence we attacked on March 25th.

London, April 27,

The Press Bureau states that FieldMarshal French reports that severe fighting and heavy casualties continue at Ypres. The Germans "have captured St. Julien.

An aviator destroyed Courtrai junc tion.

(St. Julien is half-way between Ypres and Poeleappello.)

PILES OF GERMAN BODIES. FIGHTING CONTINUES. GERMAN OFFICERS' TALES. THE SUFFOCATING SCHEME DESCRIBED. WOUNDED CANADIANS BAYONETED Received April 27 11.40 p.m. Dunkirk, April 27. Two Zouaves greatly distinguished themselves, capturing Lixernc. A narrow .river channel adjoining the village had been lost and retaken several times. T'le iiodies of Germans were piled a yard high. The accumulation of corpses is unequalled since the bloody battle of Dixmmie in November. The Germans already have suffered ten thousand casualties.

The French and Belgians began a combined coiintcr-.atttick between Pilken and St. Julien on Sunday night. They are still fighting. Prisoners state .that prior to Thursday's attack the German officers told the men that the lines wqre very weak and that it was tasy to get to Paris. They made the men swear theyi never would surrender. Wlicn the Germans first saw the result of the .asphyxiation they thought immediate victory was in their hands. The prisoners .add that the Germans were preparing for tie' asphyxiation for three weeks. They bid a pipeline from the. rear of the .trenches to coj&vey the chlorine to metal cylinders planted in the front trenches. It was jnteaded to plant the cylinders all .along the Belgian, French, and British front where .an attack was contemplated,, byt the British attack on Hill GO prevented the completion of the plan.

Most oi the observers agree that a ereenish grey iridescent vapor preceded Thursday's attack. Victims state that men, dressed diver-like, used yard-long generators whereto a hose was attached. Others sprayed the earth with fluid, afterwards igniting it. A third method ■was the use <jf explosive shells, containing blinding chemical. Many rescued victims have since died. The Canadians' chief claim to distinction was that they held on in defiance of every tactical rule. They were left fullyl exposed by the I'rcnch retirement. .The men in the rear trenches were forced to face about. They were thus assailed in the front and rear, and also enfiladed, yet they resisted for hours and made many prisoners. Finally they retired in good order, conforming to the new alignment.

Wounded men slate that during the retirement the Canadians left the wounded behind. After the "counter-attack they found that all had been bayoneted to death. They took terrible revenge • —they made only two prisoners.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. ST. JULTEX CAPTURED. GALLANTRY OF TROOPS. OVERCOMING NOXIOUS GASES. Received April 27, 7.10 p.m. Sir John French reports that severe fighting north-east of Ypres still continues, the general situation remaining unchanged. The British left flank, in readjusting its line, to meet the altered conditions due to the original forced retirement of the French was compelled to face north extending west beyond St. Julien. This extension weakened the line temporarily, and, after a gallant resistance by the Canadians against superior numbers, St. Julien was captured J)y the enemy. Our line is now running south of thai place.

Our troops east of Ypres bore the. brunt of repeated heavy attacks, which 'they stubbornly opposed throughout the battle in an entirely unexpected situation, demanding the exercise of gallantry in the men and quick resource in the officers. The Germans attacked yesterday the east of Ypres salient, hut in spite of the use of asphyxiating gases they were repulsed. Officers and men were captured. There were heavy German casualties during the last three days, the British losses also being heavy. The German wireless report that four English heavy gun; were capt'ured is untrue. An aviator destroyed the junction at Courtral station.