The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 292, 19 May 1915, Page 5

The Western Front.

BIG BATTLE IN FRANCE. FIXE WORK BY (BRITISH. THE GERMANS OVERCOME. A TERRIFIC BO.MBAIUJMEXT. SORRY LOT OF PRISOXERS. Received May 18, 11.25 p.m. London, ilay 18, On Sunday night hell broke loose and before daybreak the British army, stormed the German lines from l'estubert to Richebourg and Glavone.

Sir John French considered it necessary to risk a night attack in order to support the Allies. Several days previously the Allies kept up slow, persistent and well-directed artillery lire against the German lines, and then' was nothing to indicate from where the attack would come.

In addition to providing troops for the assault, it was necessary to provide for a long line of trenches/, and also have regard for the situation at Yprcs, where the German guns were causing heavy losses. Our artillery fire wrecked the barbed wire in places. Although tht effect was good it could not be described as overwhelming.

Late in the afternoon Sir John French addressed the troops and received an ovation. After dusk the units took up positions silently. Tie night was dark and warm. Our left attacked at 11.3-1' p.m., and the greater part succeeded in overthrowing the German defence. The bayonet and the grenade were chiefly relied on, a.s it was too dark for effective, shooting.

: The left and the centre dashed in with the bayonet and penetrated two lines, killed and wounded most of tile defenders, and made good on a front of about eighteen hundred yards on the German position. Our extreme left's attack was less fortunate, but the Indians eventually penetrated the opening made by the left and centre. i\Ve soon began to outflank the enemy. As morning dawned the German supports opened a severe fire, but our heavy guns got to work on the supports ami greatly aided the advance. At three o'clock a fresh and formidable line of British infantry advanced on the right against the Germans, in the direction of Festubert, and stormed I the position with the utmost gallantry. Soon they mastered a front of IJOO yards and overwhelmed the enemy's second line. Thry penetrated the Germans' reserve trenches, causing the Germans "icavy loss. By" eleven o'clock in the morning we penetrated a mile and promised to extend round the Germans, who still held a front of trenches between our right and centre. The enemy tried many attacks, which proved costly. There were me Inevitable German counter-devices to auest attack by employing petrol bombs. At one point, despite the German infantry's illdirected vacillation, the m-thods of the attack were furious. An artillery bombardment In the afternoon deluged the woods ot Festubert. Shells fell" thick on the enemy's communication trenches, causing heavy losses. One batch of prisoners belonged to the Seventh Army Corps, the same as was at Xcuvc Chapelle, but whereas the latter were well set-up, the quality of the present prisoners was of the sorriest, being mere youths.

GERMANS THREATENED. COMPLETE ENVELOPMENT LIKELY. ENEMY EVACUATE POSITIONS. GEKMAX DETAC lIMKXT ( ORXErvED. KILLED Tu Till; LAST MAX. Received Mav IS, y.ir. ii.ni. Paris, May 18. Official: Till' enemy i- threatened with complete envelopment I.y n\iv rnriil successful attack, and they have evacuated all pusitions westward of the Y-n- canal. The liritish were -übjeeicd !■> very strong counter-attacks nortliv.-ard of l;i Dassec from Sunday night till M,unlay. find continued the battle victoriously in the davtimc on Monday, infiielin-- very heavy losses. A detachment of 7'« i (iormans was caught between the Ibi'.l-li machine-guns and i.Yrinan.artillery, and was exterminated to the ki-t man under the Eritisll cross-fire. Tin; British took a thousand prisoners and captured niaehiue-oins. We captured several works at Pois d'Aiily and took tbtve niacliine-ar.ii- and iM prisoners, including several officers.

ALLIES' ADVANCE CONTINUES. GERMANS ADMIX RF/I'IREMFX'T. BLACK WATCH IN ACTION'. Paris, May, 17. A con»nniiii]uc stall-;: Our advance on llet Sas continue-. We captured a Gi rman lino east of the canal. Four G.rmau attacks at Notre Dame de LoivUc were reputed with heavy 10.-ses. A Zeppelin bombed Calais and some cliiklren were killed. London, Ma-.- 17. .Sir John French reports that the First Army had l'nrt'.ier sii<-cc.-.M'-i sooth of Richebourg and Lavone. All the Gcviiian trendies on a front of two mile were taken.

Bruges telegrams report heavy fighting on the Ypres stream. The Gorman wounded are practically incessantly arriving, and a great number of private houses liave been turned into hospitals, Sir John French rcorts that the British continue to fight with great gallantry and determination. Several Wit's of Hermans voluntarily surrendered to-day. One. ibody, trying to surrender, was caught by German artillery and practically annihilated. Five 'hundred and fifty prisoners have already hewn sent to the base.

Amsterdam reports that the Germans arc. feverishly strengthening the Lille fortifications. Tlicv have constructed three toredpo boats at Antwerp and one has proceeded to Zcebrugge via the Scheldt and the canals. The Austro-Germans are advancing in Poland and 'flalicia, but admit that the Russians are making a stand at Przemysl and on the line of the lower Sam The. Germans are apparently directing- an enveloping movement on this point. Amsterdam, May 17. Six liritish soldiers cut off in the retreat from Mons have readied Holland after nine months' hairbreadth escapes dodg:ng the Germans. A price was set on their heads. They lived in forests, dugouts, and reeaprious shelters. Peasants befriended them and provided them with food and civilian clothes.

A Berlin communique states: 'IWc gave up our advanced positions near ■Steinstraate am! llet Sas to avoid losses by heavy artillery. The English still hold part of our advanced trenches soutii of Xeuve Chapelle, captured on Saturday." London, .iluv 17. The B'aek Watch led the latest success northward of La Basuy. They Were compelled to cut barbed wire under a terrific enfilading machine-gun fire. They hung on till the arrival of the supports and then cut through the first line of trenches. There was a severe hand-to-hand struggle, at the second line with the bayonet, but the third yielded after a feeble resistance.

A corporal of the Black Watch, who was wounded, narrates that for bitter hand-to-hand fighting I.a liassee. was unequalled. The use of gas and the sinking of the Lu-itania bad driven out all false sentiment, and the men went into battle crying, "Remember the Lusitania.' During the eight hours' fighting the Black Watch rush.-'d the Herman trenches SWen times and finally threw themselves* upon the enemv like madmen. Britons and Germans lay; In heaps around the blood-soaked parapet. Some of the, wounded fought each other upon the ground, hurling gibes and curses with their dying breath. It was indescribably terrible, and bard to believe that Christians should show so much hatred. The Black Watch, after the seventh charge, held the. ground and the Germans ran. They were too exhausted to follow, ano many of them slept beside the dead.

A PICTURE OF YPRES. WILL TOE GERMANS ABANDON STRUGGLE'; '1 inies and Kydnev .Sun Services. Received May OS, 11.35 p.m. London, May 17. Eye-Witness says there is a dense ball of smoke over Ypres and many fierce fires as a result of incendiary shells. A similar bombardment to that of November synchronised the German abandonment of the efforts to capture the town, and possibly has the .same meaning to-day. He gives a typical net of heroism. A machine-gunner remaining in action was choked and blinded by fumes and died the following day.