New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
Both Sides Lose
Heavily at Ypres
Without Gaining

London, May 13.-"The Morning
Post" correspondent in Northern France
says:
AT no time have the Germans dis
played greater determination to break
through at all costs, sacrificing large
numbers of men, violating every rule
Of God and man, in a desperate, al
most desparing, effort. The fighting
between Ypres and Hill 60, which We
still hold, has been of the most des-
perate description. Despite losses, We
have held our own.
"On the next sector, that Of the
Aubers Ridge, the action has been of
n quite different nature. Following up
our quiet but steady progress around
Armenteres and Houplines. both Of
which places are now under heavy
bombardment, we were enabled 70
launch an attack upon the ridge, the
last obstacle between US and the
plains which lead to Lille, some FIVE
or six miles away.
Swinging around at Fromelles TO
the left Of our old Neuve Chapelle
battle-ground, the horseshoe ridge here
runs in a northeasterly direction, and
before Fromelles there lies a small
wood, similar TO Pietre Wood, which
proved stumbling block at Neuve
Chapelle. This was quietly captured
by our Indian troops, Patnans and
Gurkhas.
1--WE opened then upon the ridge a
bombardment which. if it could not
exceed in intensity that of NcCve Cha
70
period. 1t was found that, prohtlng
BY previous experience, the Germans
had greatly strengthened their de-
fences with dugouts and shelters made
of concrete and steel. Thus it fell
out that, after having carried the ridge
and the first lines of the German
trenches, apparently obliterated by our
artillery fire, we were caught by con-
cealed machine guns cunningly placed,
so that they should escape the gen
eral devastation.
when these opened on US at short
range our position was made untenable
and we had 10 content ourselves with
the footing Of the lower slopes OF
the ridge. In the meantime, to meet
our onslaught at Aubers, the Germans
have brought up great masses OF men,
that they had apparently been con-
centrating in Lille.
preceded by terrific lombard
ment, our troops delivered an attack
upon the famous railway triangle west
OF La Bassee, where entertainments had
been converted into a strong, e!hcient
fortress. SO strong have they made
their trenches with concrete and iron
plates that it was found that our ar
tillery had really made very little i'm
preston upon them. Even wire en-
tanglements were pretty nearly intact.
"The enemy also resorted to strata
gem. He left his two first lines empty
of men and materials to undergo bonn
bardment, which was. therefore, harm
less, but he was waiting for our in
fantry in his third line. At the slme
time the now famous brick nelGs OF
this part of the country were verifab!e
nests of machine guns. Nevertheless
we came very near carrying our point,
and had achievements been at hand
would probably have done so.
"As il is. things are again pretty
much as they were before, and we
have not only inflicted heavy losses on
the enemy but have taken numbers OF
prisoners. But we must have more
shells. Between Saturday and Tuesday
night we fred a million and d half
rounds. These figures speak for them
selyes"