HEAVY ONSLAUGHT ON BRITISH LINE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2312, 20 November 1914, Page 5

HEAVY ONSLAUGHT ON BRITISH LINE

BRILLIANT COUNTER-ATTACK GERMANS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS Hie Prime Minister has received the following from the High •Commissioner, dated London, November 18:—. Official—"The first division of the British yesterday was subjected to a heavy attack, first the artillery then tho infantry, the brunt falling upon' two battalions of the first division, who were shelled out of their trenches, but recovered them with a brilliant counter-attack, driving tho enemy back in disorder for five hundred yards. An attack was made on a brigade of the second .division, the enemy being repulsed with heavy loss." • 1 ■ (Reo. November 19, 10.80 p.m.) ' - _ Paris, November 18, midnight. Official.—There has been a very violent and almost ceaseless cannonade throughout the day on. our northern front. The Germans mined and blew up the western part of Chauvoncourt.

ISOLATED detachments oaught by the floods, ' k London, November 18. The "Times" states that in the flooded area, especially at Dixmude, Oostkerke, and Kaskerke, many German detachments were isolated in outposts and farmhouses. Some died of starvation. The Belgians picked off many of them. Seventeen TJhlans were shot in attempting to capture a floating log. WARSHIPS DEMOLISH A MILITARY TRAIN. Amsterdam, November 18. ( The "Telegraaf" states that the Allies' warships on Monday bombarded a factory on the canal from Zeebruggo to Bruges, used for military purposes. They also demolished a military' train, and killed many Germans. POSITION OF THE ALLIED BATTLE-FRONT REVIEWED. London, November 18. A Paris communique states: "The German bombardment from the sea to the Lys is being continued with considerable activity, especially at Nieuport. East and south of Ypres we-.have repulsed isolated infantry attacks. The Zouaves, by a brilliant bayonet charge, carried a wood near Bixschoote, which had been contested for three days. The British have maintained tho front. "The bombardment of Reims has been continued. We have regained the western front at Chauvoncourt, despite Gorman counter-attacks, and have forced the Landwehr battalions to withdraw from Sainte Marie-Aux-Mines (Markerch), in Alsace. The Germans have lost half their effective." I '• THE "SO-CALLED SIEGE" OF VERDUN. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Servicos.) London, November 18. A Paris report says that the so-called siege of .Verdun, reported from Berlin, is. entirely without foundation. TACTICAL IMPORTANCE OF PRUSSIAN GUARDS'- DEFEAT,("Times'' find Sydney "Sim" ScrykeE.) (Bee. November 19, 5.40 p.m.) London, November 18. The Prefes Bureau states: —"An eye-witness of the fighting at Ypres says that .although the Prussian Guards' recent attack failed to accomplish its object, it cannot yet be' described ss a decisivo event. Possibly it marks the culmination of the second stage of the attempt to capture Ypres. That, tho Guards were selected is proof of tho necessity felt by the Germans to gain a point. Failure in one great attack, heralded by impassioned appeals made in tho presence of the Emperor, but carried out by partially trained- men, was only, the signal for the second desperate effort, which was entriinted to tho Guards, who retained their roputation for courage and contempt of death,

WAR CORRESPONDENT'S PROPHECY FOR CHRISTMAS. (Reo. November 19, 10.30 p.m.) Paris, November 19. - The "Temps's" correspondent ab Fumes says: "Although it is impossible to give details, I am in a position to state that the Germans, have been orushed. They are now completely exhausted, and will soon be entirely driven out of France. Christmas will be celebrated with joy by all the Allies, and especially by Russia. It is stated that the Belgian Parliament will not meet in France, but will wait until it is able to meet in Belgium." SIGNS OF RETREAT TOWARDS WATERLOO. (Reo. November 20, 0.5 a.m.) London, JSoTCmlunr 19Tho "Dally Chronicle's" Calais comsponHenfc says that the German iaansport- wagons are choking the reads towards Brussels, apparently preparatory to drawing the fighting line further back. The Germans have, completed concrete trenches in the field of Waterloo, and it is calculated that they can indefinitely defend them m comparative comforf during the winter. The Allies hope the Germans will have made moro attacks before retreating.