Evening star., 1915-05-23
Raiding Force in Action.

Raiding Force in Action.
Mention in the German official reports
of a cavalry engagement east of Windau
indicates that the Germans have landed
another raidng force on the coast of Cour-
land, to take the place Of the one the Rus
slams drove back just when it was reach
ing the environs of Mitau.
All through this northern region, and
as far as the East Prussian frontier.
confused fighting continues between
widely separated forces, which ebbs and
flows as one side or the other brings re-
Inducements into the field.
Allies Claim Western Gains.
Both British and French claim to have
made headway at La Bassee. but the Ger
mans declare that all attacks have been
repuIsed, or that the fighting is still in
progress.
Apparently the allies are engaged in
Strengthening of their fronts to conform
with the positions which they won in re-
cent engaRements-a task to which the
Germans are Offering stubborn resistance
with their numerous and cleverly placed
machine guns.
German Losses Heavy.
German forces in attacking the Brit
ish north of La Bassee met with re-
pulse and heavy losses yesterday. ac-
cording to the official statements is
sued in Paris tonight. The lull has been
marked along the greater part of the
hphtine line Weather conditions. which
have been extremely bad. are re-
sponsible for the recent inactivity, al
though those engagements Wnlch nave
occurred in the past few days have
ipfe character.
have been long lived.
Sir John French's Report
Sir John French. communicated chief
of the British forces in France, today
reported to the British war depart
ment follows:
There was violent artillery en-
eagement Yesterday evening to the
northeast of Festubert. and some in
fautry fighting. We made further
progress south of Quinque Rue. On
the remainder of our front there is
nothing to report.
Ville-Sur-Tourbe Fight
The French official eyewitness" at
the front in dispatch today gives de
tails Of a check which he says was
administered TO the Germans at Vile
Sur-Tourbe. France. He denies the
statement made in German official
communication. May 16, that the Ger
mans occupied the village.
"Jn checking the German attack
saws the observer, more than 1000
German bodies were counted as dead,
and we made prisoners of the remain
der assulting troops, comprising nine
wbom were wounded. We also took
eftv nuick -firers Our total losses.
corntiug killed, wounded and missing.
were only 500. half of which number
uere merely temporarily incapacitated
| There was no loss of material
High Value in Position.
,;ons were made by the Germans pre-
| vious to the attack and he states that
. bipb value was placed on this posi-
| tion. He continues:
"precediug the attack three mine
| fields were exploded, each containing
.nnroximately six tons of explosives.
| however. the explosions were much
| oreater than had been anticipated and
| instead of aiding the attack, only de-
| iayed it.
| a,nter attacked brilliantly, much
| hand-to hand bdyohet hshti ensuing
An encirciing movement was begun.
h;cb effectively cut off al avenues of
r.,reat. and>the Germans had no al
| ,ernatiye but to surrender"
Soldier Gets $50 Wounds.
| The observer concludes by telling of
| saveral remarkable escapes from death
hv men taking part in this engage
| ,net One young sapper received $50
wounds in the explosion of a single
shrapnel shell.
soldier over fifty years of age, who
| had been fighting continually since
| August had his arm half carried away
bv a shell. He amputated the torn arm
| successfulIy with penknife
Peru Commissioner for Fair.
/ The