The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-12
POISONOUS GAS
FORCED BRITISH
TO GIVE UP LINE
Sir John French Exculpatcs
French Troops in Big
Ypres Defeat.
ACCUSES NJ OF
BARBAROUS METHODS
spsc,ai cable Despatch TO THE srx.

spec,ai Cabie Despatch TO THE srS.
IoxpoN. July 1.-THE official Press
Bureau is in receipt of a report from
Field Marshal Sir John French in which
ne condemns the Germans for their bar
harous disregard for the we'll known
usages of civilized warfare" The re-
mort covers the operations In a general
way from April ) to June Is. A sum-
mary OF its contents follows:
81 much regret that during the period
been characterized on the enemy's side
bv a cynical and barbarous disregard
for the well known usage OF civilized
warfare and a fiagrant defiance of the
Hague conventions. All the scientific
resources OF Germany apparently have
been brought 90 produce gas so virulent
and poisonous in its nature that any
human being brought in contact with It
IS first paralyzed and then meets a lin
serlng and %agonizing death.
The enemy has invariably prepared
FOR his attacks by the discharge of stu
pendous volumes of fumes whenever the
Wind has been favorable. As n soldier
! cannot but express the deepest regret
and surprise that an army which here
,cfore has claimed to be the chief ex-
ponent Of chivafry IN war should have
stopped to employ such devices against
a brave and gallant foe
Eject of Ga. on soldiers.
Gas was first used by the enemy on
April 22. Sir John French says De.
scr,bing the effect upon the allied troops
he says:
The effect was so virulent as to rem
der the whole line held by the French
division practically incapable of action
Al first 1t was impossible for any one
10 realize what actually had happened
The smoke and fumes hid everything
from sight. Hundreds of men were
thrown into a comatose and dying con
diion and within al. rour the whole
position had been abandoned with about
nifty guns.
IL wish particularly to repudiate any
idea attaching the least blame to the
French division for this unfortunate in
cident and TO express my firm convic
" AtAbA - Nhht haocIf' ~ wv WIN thh'
been able to hold the trenches in tn,
face of such n treacheiou and alto
ge,her unexpected onslaught 1t woult
have been the French division.
Their retirement thus left the lief
flank Of the Canadian division exposed
10 serious attack and there appeared
every prospect that this force would b.
overwhelmed. In spite OF the danger
however, the exposed Canadians hell
49,. --,. .,. 1900.
and courage. These splendid troops
syeried a disaster which might hav'
been attended by most serious conse
0uences.
The heavy battery which vas n.
taChcd to the Canadian division va
posted behind the French right and cou
sequently in the retreat of the Ercn.
division fell into the enemy's hands
1t was recaptured by the Canadians. ~,
the guns could not be withdrawn he
fore the Canadians again had bee
driven back.
whole Line Withdra WI.
During the entire day of April (.
the enemy's artillery was very a.
tive. Attacks all along the front We
supported by heavy guns. issue
o'ders on May l to the with
'rdwll to "A new line. The retir,men
was carried out deliberately and wit
scarcely any loss. II reflects the great
est possible credit upon Sir Hcrbe'
Plumer and those who so efficiently ear
ried out the orders.
During the day and night of Nav
the enemy shelled the trenches we Ia
evacuated and which were no lonPe
occupied. Up to the morning of May
the enemy made attacks at hort IN
iervals with gas IN all ARTS of III
line east of Ypres. but every where n
was driven back with heavy losses.
Throughout the whole period sine
the first break in the line on April 2
al the troops had been constantly su'
jected to violent artillery bombardmer
from large gum with unlimited su.
plies of ammunition. This artiller
bombardment was soon followed by
heavy infantry attack before which u,
Line had to give way"
Referring to the work of the BIRTHS
living corps sine his last despatch =
this subject Sir John French says tn;
sixty air combats have occurred
which not a single British aeroplar
has been lost. Some units of the ne
army have arrived. ne says. and prob
ably will prove a valuable addition
the lighting forces in the field.
Turkish BntterIes siirnced by Guu