BATTLE GOING FAVOURABLY FOE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2302, 9 November 1914, Page 5

BATTLE GOING FAVOURABLY FOE ALLIES

DESPERATE STRUGGLE IN BELGIUM EVERY INDICATION OF GERMAN RETREAT ByHeleeiapi—Prsss Association—Oopyilßht . (Reo. November 7j 4.SQ p.m.) London, November 6. "The Times" correspondent at Flushing says all the scraps of news obv tainable indicate that things are going favourably with the Allies. The increasing anxiety of _ the Germans to prevent the circulation of news is in itself a hopeful sign. Life is getting more and more unpleasant for the German soldiers, who: are growing rough' and overbearing, as if the.ir tempore are giving way. From every direction comes the samo tale of a constant and terrible stream- of wounded pouring in in train-loads and convoys of motor vehicles, whib there is a continuous stream of limping and bandaged men along the Eoad'j. FIFTY, THOUSAND WOUNDED AT ROULERS. London, November 6. Amsterdam asserts that there is over/ indication that the Gennanß are ( ' retreating along the whole front from Bruges to Thielt. Their losses were enormous, and there are fifty 'thousand wounded at '■Keillors alone. ' ' ' 1 The Germans freely informed the Dvtch correspondents that the English Wore formidable enemies.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. NOTABLE PROGRESS AT SEVERAL POINTS. Paris,.November 5. Official.—"The Allies have slightly progressed oast of Nieuport, on the right bank of the Yser. The German attacks were renewed on Wednesday from Dixmude to the Lys, but with less energy, at the several points, especially on the part of the infantry. did not retire at any point, but, assuming -the offensive! notably progressed in several directions. A feature of the fighting between La Bassee and Comines was the artillery battlo. We retained Quesnoy and Santerro, and advanced appreciably towards Andechy. "There has boon a recrudescence of German activity between the Oiso and the Moselle, especially by the artillery. We finally repulsed all attacks, in same oases after an all-day battle." ''Comines is a small Belgian town about thirty-six miles north-east of La Bassee, and twelve miles north-west of Lille. Quesnoy is a few miles northwest, of Lille, on the way to Comines. WHOLE FRONT UNCHANGED ON FR.IDAY. / Parlß,. November 6. A communique states: The whole front remains unchanged, though there $as been severe fighting at Dixmude and Lys. The Germans in Belgium and northern France are apparently reinforcing for a now offensive! Artillery destroyed a column of German wagons north-cast of Forest do l'Aigle. We have retaken Sapigneul, near Berry-au-bac (north-west of Reims), and repulsed with the bayonet desperate attacks in the Argonne and the iWcovre districts. Paris, November 6. Official (Midnight).—A violent German offensive movement was made 3)orfchward of Arras, and some trenches were lost, but were subsequently r&; taken. All the German attacks in the Saint Hubert district and the Argonne were ropulsed. BATTLE IN NORTH AS VIOLENT AS EVER. (Reo. November 8, 3 p.m.) Paris, November 7. Offioial.—The battle in the north is as violent as ever. Our* offensive •ast and south of Ypres continues. Wo ' repulsed attacks from Arras to Oise, "and have retaken Soupea.'near Vailly. The German attacks in the Argonne continue to be violent, but resultless. We earned tho trenches on the heights of the Meuso, also in the east of Verdun. SUMMARY'OF POSITION ALONG WHOLE FRONT. (Hoc. November 8, 6.6 p.m.) , i ' Paris, November 7. Offioial—The Germans were counter-attacking tho Belgians, who advanced ibo the right bank of the Yser, on tho Nieuport to Lombartzyde line, but the Belgians were supported in time, and the situation on that side was completely "restored. Marines repelled the counter-attack on Dixmude. We progressed around Bixschoote. ~■,»■«■ lit 1»1 The British again assumed.tho offensive south-east of lpres, and defeated a particularly violent attack by a recently-arrived army corps. Tho British repulsed violent attacks near' Neuvo Chappolle. We stopped several day and night counter-attacks between tho La Bassee Canal and Arras. Between 'Arras and the Oise we slightly progressed. At Vermillos and south of Aixnoulette we continue to gain the ground recently lost. Near Va.Hy wo rc- ."' pelled fresh attacks. In the Argonne, where we progressed at several points, wo occupied Harbourt and Nogeville . • The enemv was unsuccessful in his attacks on the heights of the Meuse louth-oast of 'Verdun on the Aprcmont Forest, and south east of Saint Miluel ve carried a few trenches near Saint Rcmy. Tho Germans suffered considerable losses in attacking the approaches to Grand uro "™ d f .™W,-. J*? i German coup, do main against the heights dominating the Col de baint JUaue fin the Vosgea has completely failed.

VILLAGE AT ST. REMEY CAPTURED. (Rec. November 9, 0.30 a.m.) Paris, November 8, midnight.. Official.—German' attacks all along the front were repulsed. Wo captured ■ at the point of the b&yonefc the village! of Saint Remey on tho heights of the Meuse. ENEMY WITHDRAWING FROM YPRES. (Reo. November 8, 3 p.m.) Paris, November 7i The German withdrawal from Ypres has begun. The British advance began on Wednesday, and several miles were gained. O.i Thursday there was fierce fighting in the La Bassee region, when a l» r e e French force successfully resisted the German efforts to break through towards the coast. . . . ■ Paris, November 7.( . / The battle round Ypres has become an artillery duel. . The infantry are resting. The enemy's superior long-range guns alone enable them to make a stand. Without them they would not have a chance. Thousands of British- wounded aro coming to Calais from Flanders. ■ Nearly all are suffering .from Bhrapnel wounds; there is hardly a case of rifle or- bayonet wounds. i (Heo. November 8, 3 p.m.) ' . Amsterdam, November 7. There is heavy cannonading in the neighbourhood of Thourout and Ypies, alio near-Roulers and Hooglede. The wounded are streaming into Bruges.. French airmen missed the' oil tanks of Bruges, but killed eight marines and also destroyed a section of the Bruges-Zeebrugge tramway. The Germans are treating the Belgians with increased severity, and priejts are being arrested. BELGIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF YSER. • "■ : . Amsterdam, November 6. "De Telegraaf" says the Belgians occupy both banks of the Yser. The Germans have evacuated Stuyvekenskerke, from whence they fell back -to Bruges. The battleground is now tho triangle of Dixmude-Roulers-Ypres. . FIRST LINE TROOPS BEATEN AT YPRES. (Rec. November B', 10.30 p.m.) Paris, November 8. The German corps defeated in the south-east of Ypres consisted of firstline troops sent to reinforce the reserves. ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ARRAS FAILS. > (Rec. November 8, 12.15 p.m.) : Paris, November 7. < The Germans were induced to' make a great effort at Arras on Monday by French'artifice. Air scouts revealed a German concentration between Lens and Doriui. The French evacuated all the" villages' north of Arras, pretending to have abandoned the town, and the German aviator was allowed to reconnoitre the position unhindered. Twelve thousand Germans entered Arras, and the band played.' They had hardly begun to pass'tho scarp of the bridge • when volleys were fired from the neighbourhood of houses, and machine gunssimultaneously' opened a deadly fire on the flanks, and rear of the Gorman v columns." A battalion of Guards rushed forward in the hope of getting beyond the ambuscade, but French Dragopns charged and the Guards surrendered bodily. The remaindor of the enemy retreated, but a military train with a seventeen-inch-howitzer'and a crew-of Krupp engincors were captured through an aeroplane destroying the line. , . '~. ENEMY RUSHES UP-MORE GUNS. . ;' . ~ . ' . (Reo. November 8, 3 p.m.) . . ■~,''■ Rotterdam, November 7. ' ■ ' The newspapers state that'sixty, motor machine gun's passed through Aix-la-Ohapelle westwards, also forty hoavy guns, fit is believed thoy-aro going to. Arras. '■'•■'/■'. ■ _ - . ( ■ ARTILLERY DUEL BETWEEN LILLE AND ARRAS. (Rec. November 8, 3 p.m.) Paris, November 7. The situation between Lille and Arras is still obscure. Tho 'fighting is mainly an artillery, duel with little advantage to either side.- The Allies are strenuously opposing the attempt to advance on the.direct road to Boulogne. "'■•■"' ENEMY PREPARING FOR RETREAT. \ ' London, November 6. ■ '•• ' The "Daily Mail" says that the Germans are devoting special attention on the Waterloo battlefield for resisting the Allies' advance. They are constructing small forte, and an elaborate system of mined entrenchments. Krupps are personally superintending the defence workß at Brussels, also along the Meuse from Liege to Namur. : ; . Amsterdam. Novembor 6. The Germans have removed the wounded from all the Antwerp hospitals, and train loads of German baggage have also left. The inhabitants of Ost; end have been ordered to go into the cellars, with five days' provisions. \ ■) _' GERMANS PURSUED FOR SIX MILES." .' ,- Paris, November 6. The Allies swept the enemy out of Hollebeke and Messines. A Wurtemburg battalion' was driven into tho muddy bed of the Lys and : surrendered. . -. '•''■"■ The German casualties were three thousand. Tho Allies captured many prisoners, six gun's, arid the entire ambulance.. The enemy was pursued for 6ix miles.—"Times'' and Sydney "Sun" services. "'" '"• Hollebeke is five miles south-east of Ypres, and Messines three miles- ' south-westof Hollebeke. ' ■ ■ ,' ■ FOUR" THOUSAND GRAVE-DIGGERS AT WORK.' (Reo. November 8, 3 p;m.) ' ''..■.," Paris, November 7. Four thousand Belgians were engaged/in burying German corpses. It is ' estimated there'are 8700- German dead round Dixmude. MANY GERMANS SURRENDERING. (Reo. November 8, 10 p.m.) ' "■ Paris, November 7. Official.—Many Germans have been taken prisoners on the whole front. In some.'cases complete units surrendered. Two. detachments surrendered ' in Lens in thick fog. Some officers and men declared they were weary of the hardships and were confident they would be well treated. GERMAN WOUNDED USED AS SHIELDS. (Rec. November 8, 10.30 p.m.) , London, November 8. ' ■ /The Rotterdam correspondent of,the""Coura'nt" says the Germans have suffered terrible losses south-east of Roulers. The Allies' projectiles were deadly One' of the wounded declared that the Germans are using the dead and wounded as shields. Tho shrieks of the wounded thus used are heartrending. The Germans destroyed so many Belgian buddings on the line of advance that not half enough remain to accommodate their own wounded. Incessant train-loads of wounded are passing eastwards. .- . ' The French buried three thousand dead after repelling the latest attack at the Grand'Courronne de Nancy.' GERMANY ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER MILLION/MEN. (Rec. November 9, 1.85 a.m.) The Hague, November 8. From competent and unprejudice sources in ■ Germany • it is stated' that Germany'is easily able to send another million ..to the front. Advices from Cologne state that 150,000 troops are concentrating at Muenstor.and are going to Belgium. ~.-■. WOMEN FORCED TO BURY GERMAN DEAD. (Reo. November 9, 1.35 a.m.) Paris, November 8. The Germans at Moyen (? Noyon) requisitioned . all the wbmenand marched them twenty miles to a iprest where, during the-whole night under the fire of French shells, they were compelled to bury the German dead, can-vine the corpses on their shoulders for three'(hundred yards. The trendies were the ready-made grayes'and when the women .fel exhausted tho soldiers pricked them with bayonets and kicked them ■unM they rose up and resumed." At'daybreak the girls and women were, feebly crawling on the ground dragging the corpses by tho-legs, and arms; CORESPONDENT'S VIVID NARRATIVE , ON THE ARIIENTIERES-ARRAS LINE • ■ London, November 6. Mr. Martin Donohoe, the "Daily Chronicle's" war correspondent, says: "The Germans for two days fiercely attacked the Armentieres-Arras line. Enormous masses were hurled against> Arnientiere6 ' the enemy using a new type of mortar throwing a projectile weighing several hundredweight. Undercover of the night the Germans dug a huge pit, filled it with concrete, and mounted the mortar oji a wooden platform.;. At dawn our trenches wore raked by a liigh-ano-le shell fire, but tho result was disappointing; tho projectiles buried themselves in the so'ft ground arid'-merely gave the British a mud bath. ' "Lying in their bomb-proof shelters, the British did not reply, and the Germans misinterpreting tho silence, advanced in mass. The British silently remained' in their trenches, and the artillery, cleverly concealed in a. brushwood field behind opened fire and tore great rents in tho oncoming mass. Rifle fire /-also punished tho enemy terribly. The attack was an Utter failure. _ 1 Tho Kaiser and tlie King of Saxony ivoro present. The Kaiser, in ordering the chargo, pointed coastward, and cried: 'On, on to Calais I' Then followed another hour's shell fire before tho Germans again essayed to advance. One could not help admiring their bravery as they marched slowly to certain death. TJrgod forward by their officers, they advanced, leaving a trail of dead and dying. A withering 'fire decimated them for a second time, and thoy wavered and sought cover. . ■,-,,,, "It was clear that if the Germans stnyod they would be annihilated by •the French. An advance was ordered, but the men were disinclined to face tho hellish ordeal, and the officers vainly kicked and beat thorn. "Suddenly the British artillery and rifle fire ceased. The men left the trennlißH, fixed bayonets, and oliurged the Germans, .who fired a single volley ujid then turned right about. One line with bayonets .sought to cover tho

retreat. The British, cheering, closed Boon on a seething mass of men in death-grips, thrusting and parrying. The line broke clear, and the Germans woro running. They rallied round tho mortar, and after a despeTate hand-to-hand conflict the British captured the gun."(Reo. November 8, 12.15 p.m.) . London, November 7. Mr. Martin Donohoe, in a later message, states: —"In the fighting near Armentiercs and Arras the enemy's attack was completely, scattered. Whole divisions of Germans were decimated, and only forty men. and a corporal survived out of a full regiment. The country round Arnientieres is full of unburied German dead, while the wounded have been left to tho Allies' mercy. The unchivalrous enemy fired at tho Red Cross succouring tliem. Germans from tree-tops sniped the stretcher-beaTers, and ultimately machine guns'fired into tho tree-tops and brought down twenty sharp-shooters. Britishers captured isolated bands. They had heen subsisting on raw horseflesh, and eagerly surrendered. Cold mists are sweeping over Flanders, which greatly affect the Germans, among whom disease is making inroads.''