The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 278, 3 May 1915, Page 5

The Western Front.

HEROISM"OF THE: CANADIANS. wondmfc'l charge wto a' permot'iikll' of sjkr ivivsikcpthk the GEKMASrS.'. Paris,■..•Sjij'il 30. A eommuiiiljue' states:—-Ve- progrossed in tlii"'']ieighbbrhood of straatK-Five-hilndrec?..'shells, many of an incendiary character, have' fatten' in Rheinis. The'.'ires caused w'Sre-'quickly extinguished.

London, April' 30. The conduct'c*'the'Canadians-is almost the sole topic of ■the • Canadian Press, and there'--are many stories of individual 'heroisjr.

Colonel McUrg--fell dead afrt the moutli of a maehrhe->gun while attempting to rescue a-private. Colonel Bircliall'was wounded twice before ho. was ino'rtallv hit. The lfltli and IUTL' battalions made a wonderful charge.' Colonel Boyle" fell while leading his men, who were cheering and ;yelling:"i,sel a"perfect liclf' of (ire from the enemy, who were 'hidden. in a wood three hmrdrcd yards aw.tT:

From the medley of accounts revived the Vancouver Mi\y Province surmises that the Contrails, despising amateur soldiers, knew exactly where'- the Canadians were, and knew they braked experience. The Germans, accustomed to long attacks, knew "that by importing novelty and 'fr^lrtfulness in" tn» shape of chlorine <g;rs their chance of breaking the line was greatly enhanced. At first the results ulated, and it appears that there was some confusion, into which the Germans drove full tilt, apparently snrroirmiing some Canadians. THe- announcement that the Germans had "taken a thousand prisoners was. probably made when tilings looked like it: By all tho-mles of warfare the -Canadians were beaten, but they did not 'kriOTrnt.'. They suffered terrible casualties, but gave as good as they got, and eventually tinned the tables on-their -firest.-,.

A sergeant-major • says that' from Thursday evening to-. Friday morning the Canadians held onMa position-that was really untenable: if "the Canadians had not ■heldV.tlte.-Utri'imiiis-might have been .masters of Ypres.

Ballot-boxes have been scout by Mr. Pcrley (High iWimfeiiMK*r)'. for (fie use of Canadian soldiers at the front in the event of a- general'election..

Moorhouse, the well-known- aviator, has died of woundis rateivisdi wliile bombing Colmtrai.'.

A STORY/OF GRIMF FIGHTING. PLUCK. AND. BEBSJSTEXCE. iN..iv\t;i';:oi;. tekjmele odds. lvweivod. May. i 4.30 p.m. London, May 1. The.- P,rf»a. DUMam published the record. of. an. ofiir.er with the Canadians. He stated four- divisions, sup])orted by immensely superior heavy artillery, attacked the second and third Canadian brigades, holding ai five thousand yards front—namely,, the Yprcs-Roulers railway taiYprca-Poet Cappelle Eoad. When thei Zouaves retreated, the Canadians, at a: moment's notice, had to extend their.- lines, to. nine thousand yards. Later on Thursday the first Canadian Brigade, which was in reserve, hurried ill).

Tliii- Canadian 'Scottish battalion and the. 10th 'Battalion led the assault in a wood, west of Saint Julicn, as cabled.. They found tlic Germans bad blown up, four' guns which were captured on tin;, evening of the 22nd during an assault. Fire from machine-guns was placed upon the Canadians like a watering-pot. The- situation was so critical at dawn: that the commander decided it was essential to counter-attack the German trenches, two miles and a half ahuud. General Mercer led the Ist and 4th Battalions, assisted by a British brigade. Colonel Bui-chill, carrying a cane, coolly rallied the men, wavering under a withering fire. A moment later lie fell dead, heading the 4th Battalion. The Canadians sprang forward to avenge, and an astonishing charge followed. They pushed home in the face of diceet frontal fire in broad daylight. After a hand-to-hand struggle, the last German was bayoneted and the trenches w«re won. Meanwhile the. Germans made several emissions of poisonous gas, forcing the Montreal Highlanders to abandon the trenches. But they rallied- and rcoecupied them. The German onslaught finally forced the 3rd Brigade to retire to the left flank upon Saint Julicn wood. Captain McCraig, of the Montreal Highlanders, was seriously wounded in a. trench, and might llatve been carried to safety, but refused, and continued in command. When orders were received to withdraw, the niv.« wished to take him. but Captain McCraig resolutely refused to burden th«m. and he was left in the abandoned' trench with three loaned eolt revolvers waiting in racked pain to sell his Irre dearly.

It is possible .lit** seven British battalions reinforced the Canadians on Friday afternoon, but the Germans increased their artillery- fire, overwhelming the superiority of" numbers. Stubliornlv contesting ~vo;:y yard, the 3rd Brigade . abandoned Saint Jnlien. It would have, been impossible without hazarding a.large foivu- to disentangle the two iothree 'hundred Montreal Highlanders and Royal Mbntrealers in Saint Julicn. Ascabled, their rifle fire was heard hours after fin. rest of the Canadians had. loft. If th,i Montrealers died, thev died worthy of Canada. Meanwhile the retirement of cjio. 3i"d Brigade left Brigadier-General Curry's £int Brigade in the air. General Currv thing his left (lank southwards, as the 3rd Brigade had done when expelled ; from the trendies by tb«. emission of ■gas. General Curry counter-attacked and retook the trenches at the bavonet point. General Curry did-not leave, the trenches until the German artillery was obliterated. General Alderson, on Simdav, commanding the British reinforcements, took up the attack. As the Britishers passed the Canadians 1 line thev paused :Und gave deep .throated cheers for Canada.

Tim Gorman attacks were pressed so fiercely on Afonday that General Alderson asked General Currv if Ids shrunken brigade was aide to return to the 11 mi" line. 11,, replied that tlic men -utc tired, but ready and j,'la<l to return. General Curry's brigade, though reduced to si quiirtcr of its original strength, returned to the hottest section "f the li.silit, and held the position through Monday, and onlv retired iVum tin- fight on Wednesday.' GKIIMAX LOSr-'iOS I>T HjAXDI-RS. deceived May •_>, 8.30 p.m. London, May I. The German losses in Vhmders for the. past week are lm.iflMally estimated at 189.W) to ?fifi'!'f.

; SITUATION UNCHANGED. j AttTILLKBY ACTIVE. j Received May 2, 3. 45 p.m. f London, May 1. BieldtMarshal Sir John French reports that- the British situation is unchanged. Activity is confined to the artillery. MEW GERMAN BRIGADES. KOR.TJSE ON THE-YSER. Received May 2, 3.45 p.m. Paris, May 1. Tin 'Germans are hastily forming new infantry and- artillery' brigades at Bruges-.for.'the Ytter, which make 120,000 south of. Polecapclkr. FRENCH. MAKE PROGRESS. RAILWAY BOMBED. Hieorvctl l May 2, 3.50 p.m. Paris, May I. Official:—We- progressed north of Ypres iK-ee.lmmlivel metres to a kilometre, capturing two lines of trenches and many prisoners.. Our dirigible-bombard-ed the nrJk'Ohy at-Valenciennes.

DUNKIRK SHELLED, 33a T&E. GERMANS.. GREAT. DAMAGE DONE,. JS T ew York, itpr.il 3& There is-i.Tußrisish official denial that a German.,warship, bombarded D-imkixk. It appears,that., the shelling yesterday was froiiL.the German land'force. It is repprtcd.that the Allies, heavily bombarded.. Zeebmgge, ths- German, submarine haaei;. London, April 30i. _ The Pnns.,Bureau; statss that according to an- .aerial r.econnaisance the shell, nig of Dunkirk, was fooin land guns. The reports of warships, off the coast were due-.- to-. • misapprehension. The Preach Embassy states that nineteen sheJEsfcll: in. Dunkirk. Twenty fiarsons w.eravlaUed,and forty-five wounded. A GcrinatL-warship, was seen off the- Belgian coast; The YUMif Bureau states that the-ru-mor that: German warships bomliimled Dunkirk is-untrue.. It probably originated from thee misreading of a F ranch communis} ire... Berlin, April 30. A cona-aumquu- states that our. arfcjllery shelled; the fortress at Dunkirk.. Wellington, May I. . The 'High: Commissioner reports under date liaudonj April 30, 5.15 ji.hi,: ThePress .lSDreau officially denies that German warships- bombarded Dunkirk.. The rumor:- probably originated >u the misreading' of. a- Frvnch official conmuini'iiue issued i't.bday.. Received May 2, 3.45 .m.

Paris, Jla.y-I.' Tbe-oYst sltefl fell at Dunkirk at three o'clock, in the afternoon. It came as a bolt frwnv tlfe blue, and tile first ell'eet was. amazement. Presently three German. aeroplanes appeared and' reconnoitred' over the town. Over a. diameter of 3S(i' inSßjustrcs shells begaa to fall in quit'k succession, the ainneiv apparently diiwtiiag: the fire. Tlh.- sheila were scattered: over the town and great damage was-; doae. Anti-aircraft guns drove oil' the airmen and the bombardment ceased. Ik«re was; no, panic amongst the population, lint a few thousand quitted! tlie town, mosSEy Calais-wards. Critics opine that the Germans brought up guns of lars;c calibre intended to assist. In the recent elliitt to reach Calais.

MONSTER GERMAN GUNS. Received May 2, 3.43 p.m. London, Hay 1. Newspapers suggest tnat the Germans have established monster guns near Nieuport. BRITISH AVIATORS ACTIVE. Received May 2, 3.50 p.m. London, Slay 1. Official.—British aviators dropped fourteen bombs on- the German land guns which bombasded Dunkirk. OF NO MH4TARY VALUE. Received Mjty 3, 12.10 a.m. Paris, Hay 2. Official: The bombardment of Dunkirk is fresh proof u>B>t the Germans are tin-,, able, to pierce our line. They are endeavoring to niipiess neutrals with demonstrations .which are of no military., value. Received- May 3, 12.10. a.m. Paris, May 2. * Official: Ttut more shells were firearm-. Dunkirk, ejiere were several ties.