GERMANS GIVE GROUND IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2283, 17 October 1914, Page 7

GERMANS GIVE GROUND IN FRANCE

STEADY PROGRESS BY ALLIES FRENCH ADVANCE INTO UPPER ALSACE By Tel«p»ph—Frees Assootatdon-OopjTlßht „, -n • , , m London, October 15. The Pane correspondent of "The Times" is of opinion that the Germane hare taken up new positions at Oompiegne, Soissons, and Reims, which enable the troops at Roye, Lassigny, and Arras to 6eoure their positions in order to retreat on as wide a front as possible. The attacks on Hazebrouck, in. the extremo north of France, are feelere wiEh a view to widening the western front.

HAND-TO-HAND ENCOUNTERS AT; EOYE,

, Paris, October 15. For three weeks Soye was the sc'eno of the fiercest hand-to-hand encounters. The town and surrounding villages were taken and re-taken, at least a dozen times. When the French recaptured Royo for the twefth time they surprised a German oamp among the low wooded hills. They attacked in the half-light of dawn. The Germans were thrown into confusion and were unable to locate the direction of the attack, the result that a thousand cavalry and a battalion, of infantry were made prisoners.

ENTRENCHMENTS PREPARED IN GERMANY.

(Reo. October 16, 6 p.m.)

London, October 15. The Germane are employing French and Russian prisoners on tho construction of a second line of trenohes between Liege and Coblejitz, on the Rhine. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. '

TRENCHES RANGED CLOSE ON BATTLE FRONT.,

(Rec..October 16, 6 p.m.)

i London, October 15. Inactivity prevails in the Centre on the fighting front in France, where the Irenche6 are placed so close together that in Homeric manner the troops are able to bandy insults and taunts. They realise that attempts to carry the positions by frontal attacks are doomed to disaster, and both Bides are waiting developments on tho winge.—"Times" and, Sydney "Sun" service.

FRENCH PRISONERS FROM LILLE.

(Reo. October 16, 10.5 p.m.)

Copenhagen, October 15. A message from the German Headquarters states that 4500 French were taken prisoners at Lille.

GENERAL PROGRESS BY THE ALLIES,

(Rec. October 16, 11.5 p.m.)

„ . , , ' Paris, October 15. An official communique states: The Germans have evacuated the loft bank of tho Lys and tho la Basseo Canal; tho situation is stationary in the Lens region. Wo havo made notablo progress between Arras and Albert. We havo advanced towards Crnonno, and earned soveral trenches in tho direction of Beinc in tho Reims district. Wo repulsed night attacks between tho Jiciuso and tho Mosello and havo progressed south of the Verdun-Mctzuvad where the German offensive has been definitely stopped.

Tbo Lys-la Bassee Canal is between 25 and 30 miles long. It leaves the Lys at .Airo, 28 miles west of Lillo, and runs through Bethune to la Bassee, V l2 miles south-west of Lille. Lena is .16 miles south ■ of Lille; ■ Ornouna II 1.6 miles itortiwvest of fteUn»< Beiua ia 8 jaile* easfa of, Rejfflaj _y

. GERMANS WRECK FRENCH MINES. (Rec. October 17, 0.30 a.m.) x London, October 16. The "Daily Telegraph" says the Germans are creating havoc in the conl mines in tho north of France, and are evidently wreaking vengeance beforo retreating across the Belgian border. Tho eutrancesHo three of the biggest mines in tho Courriers district, between Arras and Lille, wore destroyed and the machinery blown up. French artillery swept position after position with a torrifio fire, The Germans occupied a wide area, but their batteries were ineffective. The French batteries, after half an hour's continuous rattle, cleared every foot of the German trenches. GERMANS ADMIT FRENCH GUNS SUPERIOR. ' „ (Rec. October 17, 1 p.m.) " ' The Hague,' October 16. A correspondent of tho "Helleven," who was recently with tho Germans in Lorraine, states that the Germans are dissatisfied with their progress, and admit, that the French artillery is proving superior. * The French seem to have dragged their heavy guns out of their fortresses,' and are using them in the open field. They, outrange tho Germans by two kilometres. The Germany continually find Frenchmen in trees and cellars with pocket telephones, who inform Verdun of any change in the positions of the Austrian and "German guns.. Though Lamdes Komains was taken the guns of the forts at Paroches and Leonville still cover the gap. ALLIES CAPTURE ESTAIRES. (Reo. Ootober 17, 1 a.m.) Parls v October 15, midnight. A communique records the capture of Estaires, and advances nortn and east of Reims, where the Allies .gained two kilometres, and south of St. Mihiel. EPIDEMICS AMONG GERMAN TROOPS. l (Rec. October 17, 1 a.m.) Paris, October 15. Professor Bessell, of Nuenster, who was sent to Metz to combat a threatening epidemic of diseases, found an exceptionally largo number of cases of dysentery, inflammation of the lungs, and typhus.' He declares that this is not' surprising, when the soldiere are uninterruptedly for five days and nights in trenches half-full of water, and it is impossible to send fresh supplies of proviBions, .bo that the men are living on rations carried in their knapsacks, and ■ which finally become mouldy. Tho horrors of the insanitary conditions are in-' creased by the fact that in many instances it is impossible to remove the dead and wounded. . .