The Western Front
CAPTURE OF ABLAIN. A STRONG POSITION TAKEN. DESTRUCTIVE FRENCH ATTACK. Received May 31, 0.30 p.m. .London, -May HI. , With tlie capture of Ablain the Ger mans lose what is considered the 1110s strongly defended position niter Notr. Dame Lorette. Ablain had two tlioi! sand defenders, with a hundred machine guns, of which manySvere destroj'cd b< high explosive shells. The Germans hai connected the houses by undergrounc ways in which they sheltered during tin French bombardments, ei-"-"ii:g wit!; maxims to meet the Flench buyuuei charges. The French, therefore, had u blow up the houses one by one, and di< not leave a wall'standing, to prevenl an ambuscade. The Germans eonvertet numerous factories and colliery works westward of Lens into veritable blockhouses. FIGHTING NEAR DIXMUDE. FRANCO-BELGIAN SUCCESS. Received Hay 31. 10.13 p.m. Dunkirk, May 31. There has been violent fighting eastward of Dixmuile. The Germans recaptured the La Violette farm. At Suclcsttikvekenskerke the Belgians and the French vigorously counter-attacking, expelled the enemy, taking 250 prisoners and capturing machine-guns. ENEMY AERODROME WRECKED. Received May 31, !).30 p.m. London, May 31. Airmen of the Allies wrecked the aerodrome at Gontrode, killing forty-four soldiers and wounding thirty. SMALL BRITISH GAINS. GERMAN AVIATORS BROUGHT DOWN. Received May 31, 4.30: p.m. London, May 30. Sir John French reports further small 'gains at Festubert since the 2lStli. Otherwise matters are quiet on our front. A British aeroplane brought down a German aviator in the neighborhood of Moorslede. SEVERAL FRENCH SUCCESSES.
A VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUEL. Received May 31,' 7.35 p.m; London, May 31. Official: On the right bank of the Yser we carried the whole of the German trendies at Hill 17 in the Pilken region, capturing fifty prisoners anil three quickfircrs. A violent artillery duel continues on the sector north of Arras. We attacked a great German work known as the labyrinth, south-east of Neville and St. Vaast. The action was hot, but we progressed four hundred metres and made many prisoners. We carried more trenches at Bois Lepretre, and repulsed an attack on the schnepfoureith range and captured the enemy's trench. A NEW GERMAN SHELL. Received June 1, 12.35 a.m. London, May 31. The Daily Mail says tlie Germans are using a new combination of shell, which by a simple manipulation enables it to be used as shrapnel, scattering small or large fragments. It can also be made a high explosive shell, but the most remarkable effect can be given by its high penetrative power and exploding in four seconds. BRAVE BRITISH DEEDS. THE BATTLE AT FESTUBERT. , London, Mayi 30. A correspondent at the British headquarters gives details of gallant deeds at Festubert. Of a company of Scots Guards two men. went too far ahead and were cut off at Rue de Caillans. A few days later their bodies were fount' rainsoaked and blackened by the sun amid piles of German corpses. The blood-soaked grass, broken rifles, and twisted bayonets"testilied to the Scots' desperate struggle against overwhelming odds. The Welsh Fusiliers made a brilliant dasli through the densest lyddite fumes from British shells and hurled themselves- at the breathes and parapets. Lieutenant-Colonel Gabbctt uied from five bullet wounds at the beginning of the charge, and Major Dickson, second in command, fell a moment later. A desperate bayonet charge resulted in the Germans being cleared out of the trenches. The German artillery then plasterei" the Welshmen with high explosives, but nevertheless company after company reached the captured trenches." A party of Welshmen ruMhed another trench, and although only four bomb-throwers were left, they bombed the Germans out of a cottage and held an advanced post until ordered to retire in the evening. Sergeant Barter, of the Welsh I'll -i----liers, went out on the liith with seven bomb-throwers and bombed a number of trenches and occupied one ivllO yards, long. Tliey took 10'2 prisoners, cut 11 mines and returned seathk-ss. The Sth Royal Scots Territorials kept their place throughout the thickest fighting, and the 4th Camerons, advancing at nightfall, found themselves facing a deep ditch. Some swam across and others used planks left by the Germans.. The Germans throughout shelled the l.'ighlauilers from houses nearby. One company lost its direction, and another was virtu "lv wiped out and. all the officers killed. One company struggled on anil captured the reanno-l German communication trench. The Warwick*. Border Regiment dons, Liverpools. Inniskillings, and bombers belonging to the Gr-natUcr* all did great deeds. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London. May bO. TJie Time~' corresnondent at. the I'ritish heailniierter-. HU 'lie -l-.rv of tl» l', s( nbert baltl". 1' rommeiicd the i night of Ma- 15. 'Hie adveneed Ornwil | , line-: between Nuive I and j , Guincliy, as the result of a fortnight's j
, fighting, were driven back. The Ger , mans' front for more than a mile now resembles a string of beads, each bead a fortress'enfilading further advance. II v.il! be necessary to destroy them piecemeal before a connected forward move ment is possible. At the outset of the advance tht enemy attempted to make a barrier ol . fire behind lis, making it perilous tc send up men and munitions. The; rail nullified tin: cannonade, numerous shell? sinking in the earth and not bursting Bombs played a large part in the attack clearing the enemy trenches. Seven Welsh J"ii«iliors seized 500 yards 01 trenches and 102 prisoners. This is an unparalleled exploit. A company oi Scots Guards who were cut off fought to the last man. The were found afterwards lying dead, surrounded 'by swathes ■ of the enemy. t The l'Vstuliert advance was due to the ' initial work of the engineers, and the ■ working under heavy fire. The most ■ important lesson from the present phase ' is the value of young officers. All the I battalions at I'estubert except the terril torials had 'been fighting since? October, ' including the first battle at Ypres, There wore desperate losses, and, as e consequence, new drafts of officers. It seemed a risky experiment, but it worked perfectly!, as the youngsters were popular, keen and highly competent. The army is full of a strenuous optimism and'unshaken confidence, and is deterl mined to finish the job. Amsterdam, May 30. The Ilandelsbhitt, in an outspoken article, says that if Germany proclaims the annexation of Belgium during the war Holland should regard it as a casus belli, inasmuch as the annexation would imply the extinction of Holland's independence. » Paris, May 30. A French aviator, fn an air duel, shot with a revolver and killed Lieutenant von Bulow, who is believed to be a relative of the ex-Chancellor. The observer was also killed. Suva, Mar 31. Of the Fiji contingent in Belgium six were killed in action, three died of wounds, and twelve were wounded, out of forty-three in the. trenches.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 1 June 1915, Page 5
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1,122The Western Front Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 1 June 1915, Page 5
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