The Western Front.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 296, 24 May 1915, Page 8

The Western Front.

ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH. lIOW TilE MEN FOUGHT THROUGH. RACE AFTER THE GERMANS. ENEMY SURRENDER IN HATCHES. Received May "23, 4.30 p.m. London, May 22. "Eye-witness" continue; his description of the fighting, cabled on the ilitb: By counter-attacks north of llooge, in the neighborhood of Verlorenhoek, we re-occupied trenches, or rather craters representing them. As our men crept 'behind a rise waiting for the signal to attack, a party of Germans suddenly 'bolted, and someone cried, "They're oil!" Our whole line raced after them. All the Germans, including those in the support and reserve tren.-hes. broke and lied, suffering t.everuly Lorn artillery and machine-gun fire. Subsequently, the position at Verlorenhoek was heavily bombarded. During the night we established our line a litt'.e way behind the original trenches, which had been destroyed. Cur liun often lay exposed to murderous artillery fire, but perfectly steady, and this was largely due to the ofliccrs, one of whom, with bis thigh shattered by a shell, lay oil the ground in the open giving orders and directing operations. When a retirement occurred, four of his own men tried tc rescue him. Three were shot. He ordered the fourth to retire, anil lie was not recovered till the following nig'.it. Describing the Fcstubert-kiclieboarg offensive "Eye-witness" says the Germans did not expect an attack on that part of the line north of Fcstuhert, where we carried the whole of their intricate entrenchments without difficulty and with such great dash that we pressed ibeyond the enemy's third line until twelve hundred yards behind tin; German front in the direction of Ruedumarais. We took a hundred prisoners, ■ some of whom were Kitting round lire:; in dug-outs. The prisoners testified to heavy casualties from the artillery( fire. The enemy's line was broken at two places, with" a short intervening space. At a point where we penetrated right through the entrenchments our line formed a pronounced salient, defended by breastworks. The Oermans counterattacked during the night and forced us to evacuate most, of the exposed por- ' tions, but we maintained all our other gains. Our troops were much eneourag- ' ed by the enemy surrendering in batches.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. APPRECIABLE PROGRESS MADE. GERMAN AEROPLANE CAPTURED. Lendon, May 21. Field-Marshal Sir John French reports that bad weather has hampered operations; nevertheless the troops have made appreciable progress east and south of Quinquereue. The main characteristics have been numerous local fights for strong points behind the enemy's original line, wherein the infantry displayed «reat gallantry. A German aeroplane was brought down at Ypres on Thursday night.

FRENCH CAIN'MORE GROUND. ' THE WEATHER IMPROVING!. ' Received May 23, 2 p.m. Palis, May 22. Official: The weather lias improved. We captured German works on the sale spur at Lorette where the Germans were holding out. The. whole of Lorette and the spurs is thus in our power after nix months of hitter German. defence. We also conquered a further portion of Ablain. Later reports increase the importance of our success north of Ypres. (in Thursday night we captured several trench mortars. 'The Germans left uOO dead on the ground.

THE UNSPEAKABLE GERMANS. RESORT TO POISON. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 21. It is reported that the Germans poisoned with arsenic a river in the vicinity of Ypres, with the object of killing the British troops. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. Loudon, May 21. A French Embassy communique states that the Germans gained a foothold in the French trenches northward of Ypres, eastward of the Yser Canal, hut an immediate counter-attack drove them hack, enabling the French to occupy some ground beyond their original position. They took 120 prisoners. The British made some progress northward of La Bassee. AIRMEN DESTROY A BRIDGE. Dunkirk. May 21. French airmen destroyed the bridge over the Scarpe at Douai. stopping trallic behind the German front. EXPLOSION IN ANTWERP. Received May 23, 2.-40 r> m. ITarve, May 22, 1" an I'Milnsion in ail explosive factory at Antwerp twenty were killed, including seven officers, and thirty wore wounded.

BRIGHT SIDE OF WAR. PiJiWARDS FOR HEROISM. lfeceived May 24, 12.10 a.m. London, May 23. Victoria Crosses have been awarded to: Private Anderson (Yorkslnrpx), for bombing a large party oi tlie enemy who entered the 1 iritish trenches at Ncuvc Chapcllc, and saved what, might have heroine a serious situation. Private Dwyer I East Surreys), who elimoe.L a par;ipet at Ilill (iO, and drove oil' with grenades a party of derma ns and with hand grenades attacking the trenches. Private Morrow (Trisli Fusiliers), reselling under heavy (ire several men buried in the debris of a wrecked trench. Lieutenant Moorehonse (New Zealand), bombing Contrai railway and afterwards Hying thirty-five miles though mortally wounded to report tile accomplishment of the task. Lieutenant Woolley (flth London Battalion), for holding a trench at Hit. CO under heavy fire until relieved.

BRITISH REPULSE AIM ATTACK. HEAVY LOSSES TO THE ENEMY. Deceived May 24. 12.10 a.m. Paris, May 23. Official: The British repulsed a strong attack northward of La liassee and indicted heavy losses on the enemy. Our artillery successfully replied to an extremely violent hoinhanlii.cnt on our positions northward of Arras. We took more houses ill Northern Ablain, and also a number of prisoners.

IMPORTANT POINTS TAKEN. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ENGAGEMENT Received May 24, 12.10 a.m. London, Mny 23. The British on tlu> Fostbert sector av(i advancing. They captured further trenches and several important points. Anti-aircraft puns winded a German aeroplane, which landed in the German lines. Sir John French reports a violent artillery engagement north-east of Fcstubert, and some infantry lighting on Friday evening. We further progressed southward of Quinquerve. ENEMY TRENCHES CLEARED. PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH. 'Received May 24, 12.10 a.m. Paris, May 23. Official: We cleared out the enemy's trendies on the Blanche spur, and great numbers 'were killed in the communication trenches, while others su'rendered. The enemy made several counter-attacks at night, and were repulsed with heavy losses. The entire Blanche spur is in our hands. We also progressed south-east of Chapcllorctte. anil are now within a hundred metres of the north-eastern estremitv of Ablain.