The Washington times., 1915-05-07
Germans Are Making
Every Effort to Blow
British Out of YpreS

PARIS, May THE Germans are
bringing an enormous amount Of addi-
tional artillery into action at every
point Of the battle line. It 10 plain
that the general staff has decided i'm
portant gains cannot be expected un-
less the strong allied positions are re-
duced and that they are risking cap
ture OF their heavy guns to bring them
into action.
All reports received from the Franco
Belgian and British field headquarters
in the north tell the same story. OF
violent artillery combats with an enor-
nous expenditure Of ammunition.
The Germans have apparently de-
cided to endeavor literally to blow the
British out of Ypres.
Hurl Explosive Shells.
Their guns not only are throwing
enormous quantities OF explosive shells
on the city and the line extending from
It to hill so, where hard fighting has
been in progress since Wednesday
morning. but they have mounted extra
heavy guns on the wooded hills about
Zandvoorde, six miles southeast Of
Ypres. and are alternately shelling
Ypres and the road to Poperinghe. hill
60. and the country west OF 1t as far
as st. Eloi
Inc IeTmdns commune lnc usc VI
asphyxating gases along the entire
front. They have brought UP addition
a, troops who have been massed ready
to attempt to push their line forward
when the artillery has done its work.
Withdrawals Expected.
Today's official communique Is laconic
in Its treatment Of the general situation.
but declares emphatically that the Ger
man attack in the vicinity OF Bagatelle
has proved a complete failure.
In the region of Vauquois. the Ger
mans are reported shelling the French
lines preparatory to another attempt to
move forward.
Reports that the Ypres-Bxschoote
line Is being rendered untenable by the
Germans are characterized as absurd at
headquarters. For the purpose Of pro-
tecting their men. the allied COM
manders on the north may decide to
order Withdrawals at certain points,
but 1t Is positively asserted that there
Is not the slightest chance that any
drive to the seacoast can be successful
The Germans have attempted to renew
material success. Many of the In
habitants Of the city. however. have fed
to the south and the authorities have
issued proclamation declaring that
there Is little danger.
Ototc lItpdltlI OlI,tldlS are deeply
interested in the full text Of the re-
port Of American Consul Listoe. at Rot
terdam. concerning the attack on the
American ship Gushing by a German
aviator off the Holland coast This re-
port has been forwarded by mail from
The Hague by Minister Van Dyke.
summary Of the report, sent by
cable, apparently indicates that the
idpptitV of the aviator ta hli ha5
by three crosses painted underneath the
aeroplane, which, naval officials say
estabi' shes her nationality as German.
The 'ierman foreign office has been
asked for a report OF the incident
Another report, outlining the details
Of the disaster to the American tanker
Gulfight. off the Scilly Islands, is ex-
pected from Ambassador Page at Lon
don shortly. Berlin also was asked for
a report on this matter, but there Is a
suspicion IN State Department circles
that Germany will not furnish informa-
ton which may be used against her.