Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-24
ALLIES FALL BACK
|. TO YPRES CANAL
BEFORE GERMANS
Berlin Claims Capture of
1,600 French and Brit
ish Prisoners.
CONTRADICTORY REPORTS
AS TO ACTUAL RESULT
Use of Asphyxiating Gas Bombs
Charged in Paris Official
Statement.
EUROPE HIGHLY EXPECTANT
Naval Battle in North Sea and Com
bincd Attack on DardaneIles
Predicted.
CONTRADICTORY REPORTS
AS TO ACTUAL RESULT
EUROPE HIGHLI EXPECTANT
Naval Battle in North Sea and Com.
bincd Attack on DardaneIles
Predicted.

LONDON, April 23.-With a big bat
tie developing near Yrrcs, in Flanders,
and reports of prospective naval en-
eaEement in the North Sea and of
preparations for Il combined naval and
military attack on the Dardanclles. or
some other vital spot in Turkey, Eu-
rope tonight was highly cxpectant
That severe engagement has taken
place near Yprcs is confirmed by Of
hcial reports. but these are so con-
Trajectory that the actual result of
the preliminary fighting is not known.
1t would appear. however. that, follow
ing their loss of hill No. GO and their
failure to recapture it, the Germans
have begun an offensive from the
northeast against the Anglo French
line in front OF Yprcs, scene of such
bloody battles last autumn, and also
against the Belgian line forther west
GERMANS CLAIM CAPTURE
OF 1000 PRISONERS
Tho Germans claim they drove tho
allies back to the Epres Canal, taking
1000 British and French prisoners and
n number of guns. The French admit
that the allies had toafall back, but
declared this was due TO the use by
the Germans of asphyXiating gas
bombs. Paris asserts that in counter
attacks the allies took many German
prisoners, and that the Belgians re-
pulsed German attacks. 1t is believed
here that these operations are only
tho beginning of another battle of
Ypres.
Although dispatch from Holland
tonight gives aFrurior that the GerI-
mans arc about to fall back to the
IN 4,
possible use against Italy, should Italy
join the allies, 1t is considered more
likely in military circles here that the
Germans will give battle where they
are. preferrlng to he the first to at
tack. having learned from recent eX-
periences that it is difficult to hold the
strongest positions when an extremely
heavy cannonadc is directed against
them.
Fighting continues in the Woevre.
and here also both the French and
Germans claim successes. The French
in this region seemingly still are on
the offensive. and apparently deter
mined to attempt further to squeeze
the German wedge which has Its apex
at st. Mihiel
NAVAL BATTLE PREDICTION
CALLS FORTH DISCUSSION
Tho prediction of n naval battle In
the North Sea. based on reports from
Scandinavia of activity by the war.
ships. the prohibition of slipping be.
tween England and Holland by the
the British admiralty. and the an
nouncement from the German adj
mlraltE that the German high seas
fleet several times lately had been out
in the North Sea without encountering
British ships. are calling forth much
discussion.
The only news from the Aegean Sea
comes from Athens and the Greek
islands 1t is that firing is heard at
times in the vicinity OF the Darda-
nelles and smyrna. and also in the Gulf
of Saros. which It is declared the al
lies have landed on in the vicinity OF
the Turkish port OF Enos.
There again have been reports of
zeppelin airships making their appear
ance along the northeast coast of Eng
land These reports lack confirmation.
No bombs have been dropped on the
coast towns. and IL is thought prob
able that If Zeppelins again have been
along the North Sea. it was for the
purpose of reconnoitcring for the Ger
man fleet.