New Britain herald., 1915-04-23
FRENCH CAPTURE GERMAN TRENCHES
 NEAR ST. M|H|EL
Spirited Fighting Near be|gIum--
 KdssT's Forces Compel Allies to 1RetiTe from Positions Near ' pres.
BRITISH TRAWLER SUNK
 BY GERMAN SUBMARINE

Dl 1Lh1AN OUDMHhlHl Czar's Black Sea Fleet Bombards Tur-
 kish Coast Near Russian Border f Demoralizing Sultan's Forces En-
 camped There-Four British War M ships Enter Dar6lanelles and Bom-
 bard Forts.
 1Capture of nearly half mile of German trenches near St. Mihiel, the southern extremity of the German wdge, which the French have been attempting for several weeks to force back, is announced today in the off cial communication from Paris. Spir- ited fighting in Belgium also is re- ported, and the admission is made that fise Germans compelled the allies to retire from positions near Ypres.
 Two men were killed by the blow ing up of a British trawler in the North sea by German submarine. The other seven mem bers of the crew 5, were rescued. .t. '...
 
 An attack by the Russian Black sea s fleet in the Turkish coast near the Russian border is said in Petrograd 4No have resulted in the demoralzatlon of Turkish forces encamped in that locality. Considerable damage was done to the Turkish barracks and a number of Turkish vessels laden with supplies and ammunition were sunk
 The opinion was expressed by prominent Italian statesman that gNtaly's participation in the war at present was unlikely. Austria would use every effort, he said, to avoid giv- ing Italy reasonable grounds for war, and would seek to place Italy in the position of the aggressor should that nation decide to take up arms. Dardanelles Assault Renewed.
 The assault on the Dardanelles has S%en renewed, although it is not ap- parent whether the allied forces are ready to begin the expected general attack Four British warships en- tered the straits yesterday and bonn barded the Turkish forts, which were subjected also to indirect fire across the peninsula from the Gulf of Saros The result of this fighting has not Seen disclosed.
 Bombardment of tthe Turkish forts at smyrna Asia Minor, also is be- lieved to have been resumed. There is nothing to indicate, however that any move has been made toward an attack by the forces landed from the ' Gulf of Saros, such as is expected to accompany the next effort on a large ~scale to win the Dardanelles.
 German Assaults Cease.
 An official report from British head quarters in the field says that the Ger mans were persistent in their efforts to win back Hill 60, the position near , Ypres which the British captured re- gently. It is said the British yester- day held the entire crest of the hill, and that thee German assaults for the time being ceased. >. A Petrograd despatch says that Russian aviators inflicted considerable damage by attacks on German posi- tions at several points. Bombs were dropped on Flock and Mlawa, Russian Poland, several German boats on the Vistula river were struck, and Ger man trenches were damaged.
 French OmciaI Report. l ' Paris, April 2S, Via. London, 3:35 D. J m.--The French war office this after room issued the following statement:
 Yesterday evening there were fairly lively engagements in bombardment. Tn the bend of the Yser to the north Of Dixmude Belgian troops repulsed an attack against the Chateau of .W1coque and inflicted heavy losses on' the enemy. To the north of Ypres the Germans, by employing large quan- titles of asphyxiating bombs, the effect of which was felt for a distance tf two kilometres behind our lines, forced us to retire in the direction of the Yser Canal.
 German Attack Checked.
 - Towards the west in the direction of Ypres, towards the south. the enemy's attack was checked. vigor- GUS counter attacks enabled us to regain ground and make many prisoners. ..-. ..
 Tn the wooded valley near St. Mihiel by attack to the east and west of the positions previously cap &ured, we took 700 metres of trenches . and made about 100 prisoners, in- :, clnding three officers
 .sf German Official Report.
 Berlin, April 23, via London, $40 D., m.--There was given out in Berlin ' today an official report on the prog resS of hostilities reading as follows: ] Tn the western arena of the fight Ing during the evening of yesterday We advanced from our front at Steen- Rtraate, east of Langemarck, against
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