The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-17
GERMANS FIGHT
in GARB Of FOE
Charge Allies Trenches in
British Uniforms Eye
witness Says.
MANY DIE FROM OWN GAS
Poisonous Vapors Leave Grass Bleach
MANY DIE FROM OWN GAS
Poisonous Vapors Leave Grass Bleach
ed Scene of Horror at Ypres.
Dead Strew Field.

London May l6.-The press bureau to-
night gave out the following .'eyewit-
ness account OF the fighting around
fPres. under date of May II.
On Monday. the 10th. the fighting on
Our front was confined TO Ine Ypres
salient. where it continued to rage with
the same intensity as on the dag before,
especially along the eastern fac and both
| sides of the Menin road
| apparently the enemys purpose vas
| to wear us out and batter trenches with
high explosives. After their artillery had
| done its worst, the bombardment being
| the most violent experienced up to now.
the Germans brought up their Sas 'yln-
ders. Half an hour later. having al
lowed the gas to produce the expected
effect. the infantry advan; ed to attack
our trenches.
! This method of frightfuinSss went
| dstray. for our men. provided With meas
| ures for counteractinG the gas. still were
| mt, alive and strange scene %ds Wit
! messed.
In British Uniform.
| Through the scattered woods and
| across the clearing strCamed loose
| disordered mob of attackers. some he
ing in British uniform in order TO put
! ~ off our guard and give time for tue
| rest Of their men to come up.
suddenly our infantry linea the para
! 20 is and poured in rapid lire from their
! rifles and machine guns our guns also
| opened heavy fire with shrl ,Jnel and
| in few moments the ground MAS strewn
with dead and dying Germans al along
| the front.
| Amid this scene of horror and con-
! fusion and out Of the smoke AID dust
| there suddenly emerged a mdn dressed
| in highland uniform shouting. Don't
shoot. don't shoot as he ran towards us.
! The rIIse was seen through. however. and
he fell instantly riddled by bullets.
Forced Back by Gas.
! AZ one point the Germans sI""eed"d
but apparently they were fOl,sT to re-
! tire because of the gas.
| Another effort to drive us from our
trenches by means OF gas was made
north of Ypres on the Comes Canal.
| The Germans here had two batteries of
/ cylinders placed so that the MOBILES
! projected over their parapets. For half
an hour a cloud of white gas spurted
! out in such dense volume that a man
could not see his hand in front of his
! face. Its fumes bleached the grass
and turned the sandhags on the para
pets a bright yellow color. No in
fantry attack was attempted. although
our trench had to he evacuated for a
| time. 1t was soon reoccupied.
1T is proba BILE that the Germans suf-
| fcrcd equally from the effects OF the
gas and had to leave their own trench.
a third attack took place north OF
! the Mcnin road. The enemy for the
time being obtained Judgment in our
trenches on the outskirts OF tho Bollo-
waarde wood. but they were driven out
by counter-attack.
Yprcs in Flames.
ON tho morning Of the 18th the hos
tile heavy artillery again opened fire
all around the salient. their fire being
especially severe against that portion
of our line which lay astride of the
St. Julien road. An assault was hurled
against our trenches south of the
Menin road. Three separate efforts
were made and when cOunter-at-
tackled the enemy offered the most
feeble resistance and was easily driven
back.
Some hours previously the Germans
had been throwing incendiary shells
into Ypres and the town was blazing
fiercely at several places. while a dense
pail of smoke hung over it.
"On Wednesday. the 18th. there were
no infantry attacks. but the Smelling
continued heavily. Our artillery retail
lated with good effect. A mine gallery
on Hill. No. TO- was laid bare by ono
of shells and rendered useless TO
the enemy. Those attempting to repair
il were caught by our machine gunfire
One of our airmen had a thrilling
experience lie alone in single
seated acroplane IN pursuit Of Ger
man machine. While trying to reload his