Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-01
FIGHT IS PARTLY
BY LIGHT OF MOON
English Eyewitness" De-
, scribes the Desperate Bat
tie in Vicinity of Ypres.
GERMAN ARMY MAKES USE
OF ASPHYXIATING GAS
Repeated Attacks on the Allies in
Attempt to Get Behind the
British Lines.

LONDON. May 1.-The British official
eyewitness, liz q narrative of the bat
tie of Ypres. SAYS the Germans had pre-
pared to attack the allied line on the
10th. but the wind not being favor
able for the use Of asphvxiatins gases
they postponed it until the ed
The gas. the narrative says. was dis
tributed along the German front line in
front of the French position. and tile
wind being from the north il was blown
directly on the French. The German
plan. according to the eyewitness, was
to make sudden onslaught southwest
ward, which. If successful, would enable
the Germans TO gain crossings of the
canal south of Bixschoote and place them
well behind the British line and in posi-
ton 10 threaten Ypres.
Allowing time for the vapors to take
fun effect on the troops facing them,'
says the eyewitness. 1.-THE Germans
charged forward over the practically I'M
resisting enemy in the immediate front
and. penetrating through the gap thus
created. pressed on silently and swiftly to
the south and west. BY their sudden
Eruption they were able to overrun and
surprise large proportion of the French
troops blleted behind the front line in
this area and 10 bring some OF the French
guns as well as our own under a hot
rifle fire at close range
Troops Retire on st. Julien.
Our flank being thus exposed, the
troops were ordered to retire on St JUL
len. with their left flank parallel to but
to the west of the high road. The SPLEEN
did resistance OF those troops who
saved the situa ton already has been men
toned by the comma nder-in chief
Meanwhile apparently waiting until |
hair ty,S.,
allies line, the Germans opened a hot |
artillery nre upon various tactical points !
to the north Of Ypres. the bomba rdment |
being carried out with the ordinary high |
explosive shells and shrapnel OF various |
calibers and also with projectiles con-
tanning asphyxiating gas
The eyewitness then tells how |
battery of field artillery which the
upon the Germans at point-blank |
range. checked their rush and did not
lose a gun. The infantry meantime
had withdrawn to St Julien Rein |
foreements finally were brought up by
officers on their own initiative to meet
the Germans. who by this time were
barely two miles from Ypres
These battalions." the narrative con- !
tlnues. attacked the Germans with |
the bayonet and then ensued a melee, |
in which our men more than held their
own. both sides losing heavily. One
German battalion seems to have been
particularly severely handled its COL
oiiel being captured with several other
prisoners.
Fighting by Moonlight.
Other reinforcements were thrown
in AS they came up when night fell
the fighting was continued by moon
light. our troops driving back the
enemy by repeated bayonet charges in !
the course of which our heavy guns
were recaptured. BY then the situa-
ton was somewhat restored in the
area Immediately north Of Ypres Far
had forced their way over the canal |
occupying Steenstraete and. crossing
at Het Sas. had established themselves
az .1 Ear lou poi. points on the west bank.
nerthward in coopers eaon'er With atta a6s
French Our advance progressed for
some little distance. reaching the edge
OF the wood about a half mile west Of
st: julien and penetrating IT.
Here our men got into the Germans
fered heavily. The losses, also were
severe on our side, for the advance had
TO be carried out across the open But
IN spite of this nothing could exceed
One man. and his case was typical of
the spirit shown by the troops, who
had his rife smashed by a bullet. con- |
tinued to fight with an intrenchins
tool.
About IL am, not being able to
progress farther. our troops dug them |
selves in.
Straighten the Lines.
Broadly speaking. on the section of
the front then occupied by US the re-
suit of the operations had been to re-
move to some extent the wedge which |
the Germans had driven into the al
lied line and immediate danger was
over. During the afternoon our coun-
ter attack made further progress
south Of Pilken. thus Strengthening the
line still more"
The writer then tells how the Ger
mans, bringing up strong reinforce
ments and again using gas" captured
St julien and managed to throw sew
eral br1sades across the canal The
British made a strong counter attack
sunday. and. while they gained some
ground. 1t stopped in front of the VII
lage of st. Julien. The Germans. the
narrative adds, made repeated attacks
against the British near Broodseinde.
backed by a tremendous artillery bonn
bardment and gas. but they all were
driven on with great slaughter to the
eDaYnvn