The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 314, 14 June 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

BOOTY FROM NEUVILLE. GERMAN LINES PIERCED. A COUNTER-ATTACK REPULSED. Received Jujio 13, 2.10 p.m. Paris, June 12. The Government lias made a commit tee of the Academy of Sciences ml esseu lial part of tlie great military machine IJie two points discussed were the po? •nihility of a cloud of asphyxiating gase counteracting the enemy's gasc:i insteai Df the use of respirators, and sumo. bu'u lititute for explosive shells in th destruction of barbed wire entangle uients. Ollicial: The booty among the Neil I'iile debris includes three seventy-seve] millimetre guns, three trench mortare fifteen machine-guns. There were algi luried or damaged thousands of gren fcdes, 800,000 cartridges, 1000 riiles, in tendiary implements, shells of 105 milli luetic calibre, and an enormous uaiitit l bf engineering tools, boxes of explosive** equipment, and provisions. We took prisoner an additional 130 ii Hie Ilebuterne district, and counted liun dredß of corpses.' The ambulances col lected numerous German wounded. VVi captured three more machine-guns. We pierced the German lines two kilo metres in length, and one in depth, am a strong German counter-attack wai completely repulsed. Our trendies ii the Guennesti district, eastward o. Tracy-le-mont, have strongly establish* immediate contact with the enemy. GERMANS CROSS THE YSER DRIVEN BACK BY ALLIES. PINE BRITISH CHARGE. Received June 13, 2 p.m. . Paris, June 12. taking advantage of a north-easterly Wind on Wednesday night the Germans, using poisonous gas, vigorously attacked the Belgian advance posts at Dixmudc and rushed across the Yser, and capturid three lines of Belgian trenches. t The Allies brought lip reinforcements, including a Britisii regiment, and a spirited counter-attack followed at daybreak, the British charging with great lalor. The enemy were driven back over the Yser, and compelled to take a less favorable position than the original one. Fierce fighting continues. Half the town Is held by the Germans and half by the Allies. The BelgiansTucar. Nieuport, found an island between small tributaries cf the i ser abandoned, and saw two bottles attached to a plank-. The plank was inscribed and the bottles contained photographs. The Belgians vainly tried to lift the bottles from t'lo water, and the

• enemy immediately shelled the spot, the .bottles signalling the Belgians' presence. Hie island was reoccupied by the Belgians, and subsequently captured, GERMANS TO FALL BACK. STRONG DEFENCE PREPARED. GLIMPSE OF THE POSITION. ' Received June 13, 4 p.m. London, June 12, Ihc Allies are pressing the Germans so hard that the enemy is apparently preparing to shorten its line and fall baek to a second line with Lille as a forI midable sailent. In the event of withdrawal the Germans will offer a tremendous defence by the triangle of Gourtrai, l.ille, and Tournai. Twelve big pins have been very strongly unplaced in a semi-circle around Courtrai, and the forts of Lille have been rebuilt ivith reinforced concrete and electrified barbed wire extending an enormous distance oround the guns cmplaecd. Mont .St. Hubert, which, lying behind Tournai, commands the country for many miles in all directions, and the road's from Lille to Lens have been put in a state, of defence. There are extensive ficldtvorks, suggesting it is intended to cover the retirement. IN THE LABYRINTH. GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. Paris, June 11. A communique states: "We had fresh successes in the labyrinth. The enemy was driven back and we carried some of the enemy communication trenches eastward of the labyrinth, near the high load from Arras to Lille. OFFICIAL FRENCH REPORT. SHARP ARTILLERY ACTIONS. Received June 14, 12.30 a.m. Paris, June 13. Official: There was a very violent artillery duel on the Lorette plateau, and sharp artillery actions east of Rheims and the Pithes-ISeauscjours front.