FRENCH ADVANCE INTO BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2282, 16 October 1914, Page 5

FRENCH ADVANCE INTO BELGIUM

HEAVY GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS FRUITLESS EFFORTS TO ENVELOP THE ALLIES By Telegraph.—Piees AssocfatJon-OopyTlßht • ' Paris, October 14. The French, on Tuesday; resumed the offensive at-Haze'brouck and Bethune, west of Lille. 'The Germans are seeking to cut off the Allied forces in Belgium. Having failed to capture Lille by a surprise attack, they I rushed up forty thousand men, and crushed the resistance of the Territorials. A "communique records a notable advance in the Berryaubac district. ■ , ' OPERATIONS AT. LILLE. -~'. ■'■'.. ■ Paris, October 14. When the Germans, evacuating Lille, reached the suburb of Fives, the market was in full swing. TJblans lining the pavement, at. a signal from an ' officer, without any.. provocation, and -though no French soldiers were in the vicinity, fired into the windows of the houses. . Several people were lulled, including'a young girl. The Germans also' looted wine and beer, and set fire to a number of houses. ■ . During the 6th a regiment of French Territorials captured two cannon, ..after killing all tho Germans serving them. .' Throughout the operations at Lille the Germans wore hampered by tho Jack of artillery. Later in the weok the pressure of the fighting was removed elsewhere. , i The French state that only a small garrison was left at' Lille, and its cap- ( ' ture does not alter the.French battle front. ■ . ■':.•■ A GERMAN- COMMUNIQUE. l ■•■;■•■■ _ ■ Amsterdam, October 14. A communique published at Berlin from tlie headquarters in ■ France states that the enemy's violent attacks eastward of Soissons were repulsed. Thore has been heavy fighting in thcArgonnc district, the Germans advancing through dense underwood on very difficult ground with . siege guns for use against the French, wlio offer the most obstinate resistance, firing from trees, whero there are machine guns. Besides the rifle-pits, the French have built strong points of support. ■ . The communique concludes: "T!". French attacks at Saint Mihiel were repulsed. Etain is still in our possession." Etain is 12 miles east of Verdun. FRENCH OCCUPY YPRES. (Rec! October 15, 9 p.m. ■ • Paris, October 14. The French forces have- occupied Ypres. ' Ypres is in Belgium, and is 16 miles north-west of Lille. It has a population of about 19,000. In tho 14th century it ranked with Bruges and Ghent, and in its prime was a city of 200,000. The ; Belgian cavalry training school is at Ypres.' GERMAN DASH AT CALAIS FAILS. (Rec. October 15, 10.5 p.m.) . . Paris, October 15. ■ . ' Tho German right was intended to make a dash at Calais, and was timed -to coincide with tho taking of Antwerp. This was intended as a second Wow to England's prestige, by tho planting of tho German Hag in sight of the British shores. , French, guns wero advantageously placed on an eminence at Mont Cassel, and tho Gorman forces met with a raking _ side firo from trenches which escaped their notice. .Many hundreds wore killed and wounded, and the Germans retreated in disorder! Two days later tho German front was thrown over tho Belgian border. Cassel is about half-way between Lille and Dunkirk,

GERMANS REPULSED AT VERDUN. (Reo. October 15, 10.40 p.m.) . ' . , , Paris, October 14. A communique states-—Some regiments liave been in tlie Ghent district for the past two days. Operations on the Left Wing are progressing normally. The progress at Berryaubac is confirmed. On the right there is nothing fresh. The Germans have not yet come in contact with tho fortress at Verdun, though they niado two fruitless efforts to envolopo our. forces around Verdun. During these efforts two battalions were annihilated. All efforts to traverse the Mouse in tho St. Jlihiel district failed, the enemy being outflanked by tho French from tho southern AVoeuvre. Ghent is about 33 miles north of the French frontier. BELGIAN COMMANDER A PRISONER. (Rec. October 15, 10.40 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 14. German newspapers state that General do Guise, the defender of Antwerp, has been taken prisoner, and ib now at Ais-la-Chapelle. HALF. A MILLION GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. , (Rec. October 16, 0.15 a.m.) Amsterdam, Ootober 14. The newspapers report that another Half a million men are reinforcing the Germans in Belgium. It is reported at Ostend that the German forces now travelling to Ghent are estimated at one hundred thousand men. Advices from Berlin state that the real struggle is about to begin, and if necessary five million more Germans can be compelled to serve. Moreover, volunteers are also available. UNTRUE GERMAN REPORT. (Rec. October 16, 0.15 a.m.) : . Paris, October 14. !A." communique states that the German newspaper statements that,two French cavalry . divisions - were destroyed are entirely false. Ine truth is that French and German cavalry, with supports, had been engaged for several days on the La Bassee-Estaires-Bailleul front. The Germans made small progress between the La Basseo Canal and tha lliver Lys, but their other cavalry wa? driven back to the north of the Lys with losses. One German' division suffered' pore-rely as French aviators pursued it the whole day, incessantly dropping bombs.