The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 285, 11 May 1915, Page 8

The Western Front.

FIGHTiIMG TiEAR YPRES. BRITISH KIMiLY LSTAIiLISi 1K!). SUCCESS BY ALLIES' AIRMHX. Received May 10, 7.10 p.m. London, May 9. (leneral Sir John French reports under date of the !Uli that, the enemy last liiglit .made attacks east of Ypres. 'IV attacks were continual to-day and were all repulsed with heavy loss. The British line is perfectly established. The British First Army attacked the enemy on the !)th between Boisgraeiuer and Fostnrbert and gained ground in the south-east toward Frouilles. This lighting continues. Airmen successfully attacked >Saht Andre Junction, north of Lille, and a canal bridge. They also dropped bombs on Fount*;, ITcrlics, Armquill.es, and La liassee.

ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH. GERMAN TP.ENtUIES CAPTURED. Paris, May 9, Official: We made considerable progress towards Loos and advanced n'ong a front of seven kilometres. South of Clareney we captured two and sometime;; three lines of German trenches, very solidly fortified. We advanced at certain points four kilometres. We took 2000 prisoners and six guns. The German attack at Nieuport was repulsed with important losses.

GASES AND BULLETS. THE BATTLE ON lIILL 00. Received May 11, 12.40 a.m. Dunkirk, May 10. Asphyxiating gases gave the Germans un initial advantage at Ilill 00. The IJritishers were blinded and suffocated, but went on as long as possible. Even ivith respirators, the position was intolerable. When they sprang over the parapets at the back of the trenches, the German machine-guns opened fire, and many fell under the hail of bullets when they had run from the gases, which then enshrouded the deserted hill top.

CONFUSED FIGHTING AT lIILL GO. TIIE BRITISH BACK THERE. London, May 9. "Eye-witness'' at headquarters states that after severe fighting on May 2 our line north of Ypres was re-estab-lished in the evening. There were indications on Monday morning of the renewal of the attack. Our guns were fired on considerable bodies of the enemy, inflicting heavy losses. The fighting was renewed on Wednesday at several points round the Ypres salient. Clouds of gas forced us to evacuate the trenches on llill 00, whereupon the Germans rushed the hill. Though temporarily checked Iby artillery the Germans got the advantage 'in the confused fighting, and, following up the success, forced their way to our supporting line in the direction of Zillebeke and took the trenches north of the hill. The British counter-attack drove them off and captured the trenches, except uiose on the crest and north-east of tho hill. The British made another counterattack at midnight and regained the whole of the position north-east of the hill, but were again driven off by gases. At the same time two British counterattacks on the trenches north-east of the hill failed.

The eye-witness adds that the sight of their comrades crawling about in agony, moaning for water, and dying in their tracks like poisoned vermin, aroused in tlie troops a bitter feeling. It is to be hoped that the British Empire will not rest until full retribution has been exacted. NEWS FROM BERLIN. Received May 10, 4.30 p.m. Berlin, May 9. A communique states that we dislodged the enemy's strongly fortified positions between Wieltje and Gheluvelt and occupied important heights commanding Ypres. Eight hundred English prisoners have been taken up to the present. FURTHER PROGRESS. Paris, May 9. Official. —We captured a strong German work on the westward lines and progressed nearl ya kilometre at night on the bank of the l'eeht, and along 1500 metres on the front towards Metzcral.