First battle of Ypres

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1859: Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' is published, creating a sensation across the academic world.
1914: The first Battle of Ypres ends in a stalemate, marking the beginning of four years of trench warfare.
2005: New licencing laws come into force in Britain, allowing '24 hour drinking'.

Germans gain ground near Ypres by using asphyxiating gas
Berlin claims Yser Canal is forced and 1,600 prisoners taken

Allies advance in big counter-attack - 'French troops had to retire overwhelmed by fumes,' says Sir J French

Hun's Long Preparation of Forbidden Devices
By using asphyxiating gas fumes the Germans north of Ypres have forced back French troops to the Yser Canal near Boesinghe.

Though Berlin claims sweeping successes in the fighting that ensued, Sir John French last night reported that 'our front remains intact except on the extreme left' and the French communiqué states that the enemy's surprise attack 'has had no grave consequences'.

Berlin's claim is that the Germans forced a passage across the Yser Canal, that Langemarck and three other places were captured, and that 1,600 French and British prisoners with 30 guns fell into German hands.

Even in the short time at their disposal the Allies have retaliated and a vigorous counter-attack has developed successfully.

An official telegram from Berlin says: 'The Admiralty Staff states that recently the German High Sea Fleet has repeatedly been cruising in the North Sea, and has advanced into English waters, without meeting any British naval force.'

The bombardment of the Dardanelles forts has been resumed, and the transports of the Expeditionary Force have arrived in the Gulf of Saros.

Gas Fumes that Drove Back Our Ally
Sir J French Reports that British Had to Re-adjust Line to New Front

Sir John French last night communicated the following, dated yesterday: Yesterday (Thursday) evening the enemy developed an attack on the French troops on our left in the neighbourhood of Bixschoote and Langemarck, on the north east of Ypres salient. This attack was preceded by a heavy bombardment, the enemy at the same time making use of a large number of appliances for the production of asphyxiating gases. The quantity produced indicates long and deliberate preparation for the employment of devices contrary to the terms of the Hague Convention, to which the enemy subscribed.

The false statement made by the Germans a week ago to the effect that we were using such gases is now explained. It was obviously an effort to neutralise criticism in advance.

During the night the French had to retire from the gas zone, overwhelmed by the fumes. They have fallen back to the canal in the neighbourhood of Boesinghe.

Our front remains intact except on the extreme left where the troops have had to readjust their line in order to conform with the new French line. Two attacks were delivered during the night on our trenches east of Ypres and were repulsed.

Fighting still continues in the region north of Ypres.

This (Friday) morning one of our aviators, during the course of a reconnaissance which he completed successfully, damaged a German aeroplane and forced it to descend. Our Flying Corps also brought down another German machine about Messines

 

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'No Grave Result'
Paris, April 2: Tonight's official communiqué says: In Belgium the surprise caused by the asphyxiating bombs used by the Germans to the north of Ypres has had no grave consequences. Our counter-attack, vigorously supported by the British troops on our right and also by the Belgian troops on our left, was developed with success.

The Anglo-French troops gained ground towards the north between Steenstraate and the Ypres-Poelcapelle road.

Our Allies took prisoners belonging to three different regiments.

French Progress Continued
In Champagne, at Beausejour, we demolished an enemy gun protected by a casemate which was enfilading our trenches.

On the heights of the Meuse, the enemy essayed three attacks at the Calonne trench at Les Eparges and near Combre. These were immediately stopped.

In the forest of Apremont, at the Cow's Head, our progress was continued. We found in the captured trenches about 200 German dead.

Our artillery blew up two ammunition depots and a company of German infantry in the vicinity was almost entirely annihilated.

We captured a trench mortar, a machine gun and some material. (Reuters)

Driven Back by Bomb Gas
Paris, April 23: This afternoon's official communiqué says: Yesterday evening there were fairly lively engagements in Belgium. In the bend of the Yser, to the north of Dixmude, the Belgian troops repulsed an attack directed against the Chateau of Vicoghe and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.

To the north of Ypres the Germans, by employing a large quantity of asphyxiating bombs, the effect of which was felt for a distance of a mile and a quarter behind our lines, succeeded in forcing us to retire.

In the direction of the Yser Canal, towards the west, and in the direction of Ypres, towards the south, the enemy's attack was held up. A vigorous counter-attack enabled us to regain ground, making many prisoners.

In Ailly Wood, near St Mihiel, by an attack to the east and west of the position previously captured, we took 700 yards of trenches and made about 100 prisoners, including three officers. (Reuters)

 

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British Hold Entire Crest of Hill 60
Sir John French's Cheerful Report of Ypres Triumph - Air Hero's Raid on Ghent

Sir John French's bi-weekly report, dated Thursday and issued yesterday, is as follows: German attacks on Hill 60 just west of Zwarteleen, which had stopped at the time of my communiqué on Monday, have since been renewed several times. These attacks have all failed, and for the time being they have ceased.

We hold the entire crest of the hill and so deny its use to the enemy who attach great importance to it. There is not, and never has been, any truth in the statement published in the German official communiqué that the enemy had re-captured the position. During the course of the operations the enemy fired shells of 17-inch diameter into Ypres.

On Wednesday, in the neighbourhood of La Bassee, the enemy exploded two mines opposite our right. They failed to damage our trenches.

Having discovered German mining operations in the neighbourhood of La Touquet, near Armentières, we forestalled their efforts this (Thursday) morning by exploding a mine, which we had prepared there.

On Monday one of our airmen carried out a very bold and successful single-handed attack on an airship shed near Ghent. He had to run the gauntlet of the fire directed from a captive balloon, as well as from the ground, in order to attack his objective. In spite of this he descended to within 200ft and effected his object, causing a large explosion in the shed.