The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

yii JldlX l''Ki:N"Cl!'S UKl'i iI!T, SUCCESS NEAR YPRES. JMUVJXt; TllF. EXiOIY BAC!^. .eccivcd .July 11, H.ilO p.ui, London, duly 10. •Sir John French reports that since the successful imterpmc north of Ypres, 011 the oth, the enemy made repeated 111.■ iuto retake the lost trenches, but. all counter-attacks ware stopped, with the co-operation of the French artillery. After a bombing duel lusting- two (lays and nights the enemy this morning fell hat e along the canal, enabling; n„ to ext..mi our plans. We, in addition to prisoners, captured a machine-gun and three trench mortars. ''U reports indicate that tile fJerman los-e- vere severe, particularly during the counter-attacks. ACTIVITY IX FL\NJ)r:i;s. FIERCE FIGHTING AT NIGHT. ENEMY ITSES LIQCII) PTHK. Paris, .July S. A communique .-tates that there has been a lively artillery night duel around •SonoMcz during the week. There has been a continuous bombardl"tween the Oise and the Aisne. Mine fighting has occurred upon the 'plateau of Xouvron, and we. with grenade lighting, recaptured the trenches between Fey-cn-llayc and Lois le i'retre. Fhe I'liemv used aerial torpedoes and liipiid fire at Crois de ( harny, ami, follrewing up the attack, gaineii a footing in onr fir.-t line. We counter-attacked and ejeited them, except at the most advanced points. We were markedly successful at Fontenelie, recapturing the former positions and driving out the (brinaiis from their exten dve defence works, advanc:injr -even hundred metres on a front of six hundred metres. We took many prisoners and a greai quantitv of ammunition: The fiermans at dawn violently bombarded the 10-t position. THE ROAD TO CALAIS. ENEMY'S FOIK'I'K MASSINf!. (Times and Sydney Snn Services.) London. July 11. The Swiss papers state that six Herman army corps were recently tminferred from the eastern to the we-tcrn front. DAsmxc wtiiiK i;v bklciaxs. Received July 12, 0.5 a in. Paris, July 11. Ollicial: The Belgians repulsed .ui enemy attack at a point d'appni on the right ba'ik of the Yser opposite 'Jie ferryman's house. A surprise attack i:i Champagne district rendered us masters of a Cerman listening post, the occupants whereof

were either killed or dispels, d. NO T[IOOPS fliOM OAl.lclA. ' RAW" UNIT'S FROM ALL PAIiTS. Zurich, .July 10. Trustworthy information from Ger-many-states that only artillere has been brought we-t-ward from Culicia, and that no attempt has been made to reduce the infantry there. The infantry sent to the western front consists of newly-trained units from all parts of Germany, hut five corps are concentrated at Tliurin ready for transportation westward. CONFERENCE OF LEADERS. A MEETING AT CALAIS. Received July 11, ,'!.:!0 p.m. London, .1 til v 10. Air. Asquith, Earl Crewe, Lord Kitchener, and Mr. Balfour on Tuesdav con. ferred at Calais with MAI. Yiviani. Del'casse, Milk-rand" Augagnem and Thomas. Oeneral JolTrc and',Sir John Frem-h were 'also present. CELERRITTES AT Till-: I'KoXT. KTTCHF.NER VISITS THE FRENCH TROOPS.

Received July 11, 'f p.m. ' London, -fillv 10. Hon. 11. ||. A.-qiiith ,'uiil Lord 'Kitchener visited b'ir John French at ho;uli|ii:'vtorii on Tuesday, and loured the liritish front for two days. They in- ' sported the first and second armies and tin! Indian flying corp-. and were c-peci-'ullv interested in the niachino-£im school. They also met. Kin» Allievt. ' Lord Kif (Th-iht vi-itrd tile I'rencli ("owps a: Arras, and iviunied in London in .lie afternoon. r, <>r i.IT.MAX KKCUK/i- ---: i: ■ eiv,..i .h'h 11. ■: p.:,,. ' London. -Inlv 1"L A Lriin v,ii'elc-s -in.-: Our heavy ' : i,' r. 1 > .;i ■:; { ;•! \ rra-- ii. ■ -1; ,ved (he on : 1 111" I 'ri! i- :i ;! ri' ! 111' h\' liar,-! :•]" <l. We re, ivi 1 :im ii : <■ ti Pe>!r«l al W : i ••••!,! . i'" ' " 1 ' A. i!. \ li.. it 'Ai \ ■ -i;. iAI. - .r.'-i . i l.w.

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,g *■■y. ■-- * f.~ S fi i. T.l: :; »>' Si THE STIU'IiULIC IN I'LAXDEIiS. €APTUT!K Of IiJLL Oil. SIR JUI IN FPiKXCH's IiKI'OUT. l'eceived July 12, 12.e a.m. London, July 11. Sir John French's di-patch coniinues: "I concurred, but stipulated that if the. position was not established within a limited time the liritish troop, woidd not- he allowed to remain in this existing exposed situation. Aiany circumstances combined to make the situation east of 1 prcs very critical for two vr three dais. Fresh units had been pushed into the firing line in an area sive|it by artillery l'irc, which, owing to Hie capture ol the Flench guns, we Weio unable to keep down. This led to very heavy casualties. I wish to record my deep admiration of the resource and presence of mind of the commanders on the spot, particularly Major-Cencnil Snow anil !>rigadier-lleneral lluil. The Lahore Dhision gallantly attempted to push the enemy north, but were partially Jrustrat-cd by gas. 'The French meanwhile had retaken Lizcnic, but, as there was no further progress on April 28 towards the recapture of the original line, I ordered (,'cneral Pluuicr, who was now in charge of operation-, to prepare for a retirement. Theso orders were postponed until the I,t of May, anil Oeneral Foch's rei|uest was then carrisd out with scarcely any loss, reflecting the greate-t possible credit on (Icneral I'lumer. Our artillery, assisted by aeroplanes caused the (iermans considerable loss, when entrenching opposite our iievy line and advancing their guns into new positions, During the whole of Mav -Itli the enemy heavily shelled our e\e,cuatel trenches, ipiite unaware that they were 'unoccupied."

r l he despatch proceeds; ''Tlr: spleiuliil courage whereby the leaders ral.ied their nm and subdued a natural tendency to panic, combined with the prompt intervention of supports,' drovu back tint enemy. A mole severe gas attack on -May -3th, under much more favoiahkconditions, enabled the eaeiny to recapture Hill 00. A few days later meaib for counteracting (he ga-, which have since proved so effective,.y.vere introduced, otherwise the attack on .May .">tli would have been resultless."

Sir John French goe., on to describe the first use of gas on April 22nd. Air-' craft at .} o'clock reported that thick yellow smoke was issu.ng from the German trenches between LangeniarcK and liixs'choote. \\ hat followed almost defies description. The effect of the ga-isc was so undent that it rendered tile whole line held by the French division between .Steenstraate and Pool Chapelle l'oail practically incapable of actiyn. At first it was impossible for anyone to realise what actually had happened. The smoke fumes hid everything, and hundreds of men were thrown into a comatose and dying condition. The whole position within an hoar was abandoned, u ith fifty guns. "1 wish particularly to repudiate the idea that the least blame can he attached to the French divi-ion. After all the examples our gallant allies have 'khown of dogged tenacities ami courage, it is (superfluous to insist on this point. If any troops in the world could have held the trenches the French division would have held them firm, hut a retreat was made. The left flank of tlie Canadians was dangerously exposed, and there was a prospect of the being overwhelmed, enabling the tiermans to cut off the llritisli occupying the salient to the east. The Canadians, 'however, held their ground with a magnificent display of tenacity and courage, and the conduct of these splendid troops avoided a disaster. in the confusion 'of gas and smoke, the Germans captured the bridge at Steenstraate and the works south of Lizerne. 1 sent some reinforcements to assist and support Oeneral 'lnilz, and ordered reinforcements from the second army corps. I had a conference with General Focli on the morning of the 23rd, and he asked me to maintain the British line while he endeavored to regain the trenches belonging to the French division."

Sir John French's despatch of June loth states that since April otli the army luis been heavily engaged on both flanks. Yprei has again been successfully defended against vigorous sustained attacks by largo forces, supported by masses of heavy field artillery, which in number, weight, and calibre are superior to any concentration which had previously assailed that purt of the line. In the south the first army has taken a vigorous offensive, during which a large area of entrenched and fortified ground ivas captured, whilst valuable support was afforded 'by the French attack at Arras and Lens. L much regret that the fighting on the enemy's side is characterised J>\- a cynical and barbn rons disregard of the well-known n«oges of civilised war, and in flagrant defiance of the Jlrtguti Convention all the scientific resources of Germany have apparently been bronglit into piny to prodnef »as so virulent and poUonoua tliat any hnmnn beinp hroiipbt into contact wifh it is first paralysed, and then inert- a linpci'iup agoiiNinp death. Tin; enenn - invariably pivivd; U, prepared. a.n'i supported his attacks jjy the di-charge in' a "t.upi'ndons volume of these pas fimu's whenever the wind was fa\'<n'ah!e. weaklier condition-. only prevailed to any oxtmt in the neighborhood oi j-r.• -. The filines influenced ihe I'pernlion- ai \ jiini.l rxperi- ! riice .U' "-h'd el'tVf'tive collider n\easI }•< ■:. r I«•*»• i! Il; the flliue- 1111 H i(;'i> 11 ~. ' I 111' i!' ! ; i' ■" ;n |h ■■ -ho\V • Iha t tin l en ;• ;,i >-V in' • i•vl••• r-'-I I he-e -v • ! :'.>r a loiiy iiine. :i -ojiper i j ;;P:i 'tM 11' • \\ : .'\>'/\ -■' tll ' l Jill !' !'Ui;.' j v jii,■'I !l;w hi 11n ."to Hir-nr.l io he Ibe : , r\!' (l :i n■ »«s' *-\v\ ;>ii v in -va r j ,-iei:]> to c?llpl<:« r •11e! i (le\ice- fl st ! .i 1 i.l tt t l'< j ] ■ -wilii i: ii" 1 ea pi lire el Hill '»0. | >'i' i!j 1 31;■ IVeii.-li iha! it a!j • I; ;i ,1. r*• 1 1 IM 1 ihi'iin pi'.l illicd Ihe : l il i i;a e.i ten lii! ihe 111! H! iI. ; ral C il.l .i« ■ IVi'-ilM'll e;irj |i.l i T [he ;;! f ; 1 ' kon Alt' i! 17. wilt-IV-IVe-,;-'.: n'M !-:i■ t- a- ! .\>.l. The a!i"n:pt i : . r-'-aplur" Hi!! ' i;i \i; ilv l a v;,-oVfed J.v a-! .h v\h: • ( V,hh-h jaaHv all th< m, n nil a. s"r«sn 1 «■:' 0.-ir 1 illl •!;v.! .rd- ti ".■ ■ I a.' !y • l rai ' d.e,, it V.' the