New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-24
CROSSING MADE,
BERLIN CLAIMS
Allies Forced to Rearrange
Long Front Back of
Old Positions.
FOUR VILLAGES TAKEN
Kaiser's Troops Sweep in Charge
from Langenmarck and
BiXschoote Westward.


London. April 2S.-The Germans, by
the use Of bombs which spread asphyx-
Eating gases for more than mile back
Of the Allies lines. have pressed their
WAY 20 tho User Canal. north of Ypres,
q. ore point by an advance Of three
MILES. The French troops, stupeted
bv the fumes. were forced 10 retire
although to-night's official communique
- the French War Office states that
no grave consequences have followed
The Berlin official report declares
that the German troops have crossed
- che ives. side Of the canal southwest
of Bixschoote. It pictures the charge
- The German columns which resulted
3, the capture Of the villages Of Lam
-srsrck. Steenstrate CON the canal,
He. sas and Pilken. but makes no men
,ior Of the use Of asphyxiating
hor,bs The French claim that their
,,ur.er attacks, which followed their
-,.i-ement. have resulted in the re-
eapture Of some Of the ground lost TO
the Germans.
German Advance Assured.
Al the Official reports, however, dove
,ol into each other with a nicely that
shows that the Germans attacking the
Arelo.French line north OF the posi-
tions about Zillebeke least Of Ypres)'
made a clean sweep on the front from
R;vscboote 10 Langemarck and won
their way either 20 or across the canal
That the new great battle Of Ypres Is
still in progress north of the Ypres
salient is attested in all the othciai
commun icauons
Following is the report on the Ger
mans advance and the effect OF their
gas bombs sent to-day by Field Mar
shall Sir John French, commander-in-
chief Of the British forces in France
and Belgium:
Yesterday evening the enemy de-
,eoped an attack on the French troops
on our left in the neighborhood Of
Bixschoote and Langemarck, on the
norm OF me pres Sa4lC4''
This attack was preceded by q
heavy bomoardment, the enemy at the
same time making use Of large num-
ber Of appliances for the production of
ssphyx;ating gas. The quantity pro-
duced indicates long and deliberate
PREPARATION for the employment Of
devices contrary 10 the terms of The
Hague convention, to which the enemy
subscribed.
Forced from Gas Zone.
The false statement made by the
Germans q week ago, TO the effect tnat
We were using such gases, is now ex-
planned. Il obviously was an effort 10
diminish neutral criticism in advance.
During the night the French had
to retire from the gas zone, over
whelmed by the fumes. They have
fallen back TO the canal in the neigh
borhood Of Boesinghe three miles
north Of Ypresl. Our front remains
intact. except on the extreme left.
where the troops have had TO readJuSt
their line in order 10 conform with the
new French line.
1.-TWO attacks delivered during the
night on our trenches east OF Hpres
were repulsed Fighting continues IN
the region north Of Ypres."
Some Ground Regained.
The French official version Of the
lpres battle says:
North Of Yprcs the Germans, using
EsphyzIatng bombs. the effect otwhtch /
was felt for a distance OF two KlIo-
metres behind our lines, forced us 10
retire in the direction of the User
Canal. The surprise caused by the as
phyMating bombs has had no grave
consequences.
"Our counter attacks, vigorously sup
ported by British troops on our right,
and also by Belgian troops on our leIt'
were developed with success. The An
glo-French troops gained ground tow
ard the north, between Steenstraete
and the YpresP Poelcapelle road. Our
allies took prisoners belonging 10
three different regiments.
IN the bend of the User. north OF
DiXmude Belgian troops repulsed an
attack against the Chateau Of Nlcoque
and inflicted heavy losses on the en-
emy."
Berlin Silent on Bombs.
Following is the official report of
the German army headquarters:
I'VE advanced yesterday evening
from our front east of Langemarck
against the positions of the enemy
north and northeast of Ypres. With
rush our troops moved forward along
line extending as Tar as the Mills south
Of Pllken and east of Douon. At the
same time they forced their way, after
stubborn fight, across the Ypres
Canal al SteenStraete and Het Sas,
where they established themselves on
the western bank of the canal.
The villages Of Langemarck, Steen-
straetc. Het Sas and Pilken were taken
AZ least 800 French and British SOL
dlers were taken prisoners, and thirty
cannon, including four heavy British
guns, fell into our hands"
German Retreat RurlOred.
Although a dispatch received from
holland tonight gives rumor that
the Germans are about 20 fall back TO