The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-10
Eye Witness In Flanders

Lonaon, May S.--The official press
bureau issued tonight the following
account of the fghting in Flanders
written by an eyewitness" at the
front under the date of May Z:
After severe fighting on the after
noon Of sunday. May 2, the line north
OF Yprres was reestablished. Later
German attack delivered northwest
of Zonneheke resulted in trench be-
ing blown mp by large bombs thrown
by the German minewerfer. The
4aoops occupying the trench were
compelled 10 fall back and support
IL. line at trenches situated behind
ne wooa slightly toward the north
n ests Of the village OF Graferssafeh
Nc awhile. the Germans attacked
The Bc.gians beyond the French left
,sitii asnhyxiat'ng bombs and then
advanced TO assault. The Belgians
nothing daunted, hay down awaiting
sie onset OF the foe and, opening on
their assallants the FIRE OF their ma
,.aine guns This fre was delivered
At very short range, killing and
woundiuR hundreds.
Although the enemy's assaults
since their initial success of April q
and 20. had been repuised everywhere.
a was decided 10 withdraw our troops
temporarily around Zonnebeke and
tp-eStabii the line further to the
west This difficult movement was
completed with entire success during
the night OF May 3. The ground given
mp to the enemy by this withdrawal
was OF no military Importance and
tacticaliy a source OF weakness The
names Of Polygone. Nome. Boache
and yeldhosk woods. will be famous
In history.
Desrs<r4s sssss A ttackN
iii is against this line that the Ger
mans have beer delivering desperate
attacks ever since October and No
veuiber OF last year. These attacks
were finally broken on the morning
of NAV 4. Under cover of the mist
snd the heavy artillery bonbafdment,
the enemy pushed forward cautiously
10 = distance varsfng from SEQ to 500
Yards from our trenches On the NTH
the fghfing was renewed at several
points around the Tpres salient. At
3 A. M clouds ss gas suddenly issued
from the German trenches on Hill so.
These clouds had evidently been eject
ed under great pressure, for they
travelled q considerable distance. al
though the wind vas not strong.
The fumes forced us to evacuate
trenches, whereupon the Germans
rushed the hill. but they came i'm
mediatciy under the concentrated fire
81 our artillery, which temporarily
checked them. They forced way I'm
the direction Of Z!llebecke and reach
ed as far as our supporting line. In
the course OF this attack they captur-
Cd the trenches TN the north OF the
hul but our ccunter-attack drove
them from all points thus taken, ex-
amt from the trenches on the crest OF
,he hill and two short lengths to the
northeast.
"a EttIe before midnight our troops
succeeded in regaining the entire posi-
tfor but they were again driven on
by fresh clouds ut gas.
..Thus, on the morning Of the sixth
The Germans ware sin In position on
ne crest OF the hill and the small
salient to the north.
1T q well that those at home
shou1d realize the almost Incredible
spirit Of sayagery which animates the
Germans. During the nghting north
~ Ypres q Prussian of1cer's life was
spared by our men even In t1e heat
IL the charge and despite the ex-
ssperation caused by tho cnemy's
latest method OF warfare. He was
4 made prisaaseE, and. wh.is being 81
rorted 10 the rear he passed some
/. of our men who were wing On the
sronnd Il, agony, nghtfng FOR breath
With their lungs filled with fumes.
Ne stopped. looked them over, and
hurst out laughing, Pointing Mt tho
snrostrnte forms. he exclaimed. What
L AZ you think OF thaty,
wounded prisoners OF the Prus-
slays Guard. which was defeated on
the Ypres front In the month Of Mo-
I vember, have behaved In the hospital
a. 4. n
with suriy fngratitude and rtrieness.
I'VE know now, that Germany is
hound BY nd principle on any eort
or kind. She is actnetcd by q spirit
/. os sayAxery which. AZ vet utterly
crutlncd. will strike III tHe very root
= Durorean civilixation."