FRESH ACTIVITY IN BELGIUM.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 5

FRESH ACTIVITY IN BELGIUM.

FIGHTING ON THE COAST. EXTENSIVE MOVEMENTS OF ENEMY'S TROOPS Bj.Telegrapii-Prtga '.issoeiattca-Oosytlelit v Paris, November 24. 'A , communique 6tates: "The situs tion generally is unchanged. The enemy has maintained an intermittent cannonade on indst of the fronts, but it is less lively than that of yesterday. Wβ repulsed Some infantry attacks which were particularly violent in the Argonno, where we gained ground in the region of Tour de Paris.' Thick mist hampered the operations between the Argonrie and the Vosges." ; ' ■ . '.' ■ \ ONTHE SNOW-BOUND'PLAIN OF FLANDERS, ' •' , • Amsterdam, November 24. The plain of Flanders is still snow-bound with heavy frosts. An extensive exchange of troops continues, the 1915 class (next year's recruits) coming to Flanders, and the old men going ea'st. ' Two 42-ccntimetre (16J-inch) howitzers passed through Cologne for Galuowz, fifty-fivo small guns for Konigsberg, and two hundred field pieces for tho Austnans in Galicia The Rotterdam "Courant" states that all Austrian troops have left Belgium. ' The "Telegraaf" reports that light armed boats have reached the shallow • waters on the Belgian coast. "GERMANY PREPARING FOR A LONG WAR" A GLIMPSE OF THE ENEMY'S PEOPLE. ("Tlmoi"- and Sydney. "Bun" Serricee.) London,, November 24. A "Times correspondent, who has an intimate knowledge of Germany, writes: "Germany is preparing for a long war. It is hardly possible to starre hej out j she may run out of wheat and eggs, but an. abundance of other food is certain. The war is unpopular with the people as a wliole. The newspapers know, but dare not tell, the itruth for fear of suppression. "A religious wave has swept the coWtry since the outbreak of the war. It is pitiable to hear the quiet sobbing of women, in- churches and to see the" black, drosses. I never witnessed a more touching service than one in Cologne Cathedral. The priest happened to mention the destruction of Reims Cathedral, and heartrending sobs shuddered through the Worshippers. Attaok on England a Risky Business. "The factories are working at high' pressure, producing war material. The great shipyards aro now working night and day. Visitors spending a, night at Kiel hardly sledp owing to the noise from the Workshops. The general cry is to build warships and Zeppelins. Being aware that England easily out-distances Germany in warships, they are placing their hopes in Zeppelins. They realise .that to attack England is a risky business, but they are certain to make tho. attempt. Groat masses of timber havo been trana- - ported from Suwalki to Belgium. I was told that it was meant for making •Jafts to transport a- big German 'Army across the Channel." ~'■-■ DESPERATE QUARDARY OF THE GERMANS. ■ i . (Rec. Novemhor 25, 5.30 p.m.) London, November. 24. For strategical and political reasons the authorities at Berlin consider that it would be impossible to evacuate Belgium and Northern France. A revolution might follow.—("Times" and Sydney -"Sun" Services.) V " '■ ■

TOUTING FOE PEACE DENIED.: (Reo. November 25, 10.45 p.m.) \ Romej November 25. _ ' German papers strenuously repudiate the idea that Germany is touting. for peace, maintaining that the political and military situation is wholly in Germany's favour, IN THE EVENT OP A GERMAN RAID ON BRITAIN PUBLIC DESIRES TO KNOW WHAT IT SHOULD DO, ("Times'- and Syinoy "Sun" Semcos.) '(Reo..November 25, 5.30 p.m.) London, November 24. Mr. J. 0. Wedgwood (Liberal member for Nowcastle-under-Lyne), speaking in -the House of Commons, invited the 'Government to advise civilians what they should do in the event of a German raid on Britain. Though the chances of snch a raid, ho said, were very small indeed, the country ought to bo prepared. Many people, women as well as men, would use every weapon in their possession to defend their country. An Opposition friend of his. ho added, had armed his tenantry with shot-guns. Mr. H. J. Tennant (Under-Secretary for War), Teplied: , "The first duty we and the Navy have to do is to prevent an invasion. In the event of an invasion occurring, our duty is to drive the enemy into the sea as fast as possible. Emergency committees have been formed in counties where danger from invasion is apprehended." ZEEBRUGGE REDUCED TO X SCRAP-HEAP NAVAL' BOMBARDMENT OW GERMAN: SEA BASE. (Reo. November' 25, 11.30 p.m.) ' ... Amsterdam, November 25. The British , squadron, operating off tKe Belgian coast, destroyed the sections of sis submarines which the Germans had railed to Zeebrugge, and also the shipyard, military trains, and an immense quantity of stores. During the bombardment .German submarines attacked the squadron, which safely withdraw, favoured by the mist and the darkness. DOUBLE ATTACK ON GERMAN FLANK AT NIEUPORT WARSHIPS CO-OPERATE,-WITH THE ARMY, (Rec. December 26, 0.15 a.m.) . . ■ Amsterdam, November 25. 'At dawn on Monday British airmen reconnoitred the German positions on the coast. Their artillery was cleverly concealed, being partly buried on the slopes of the dunes, with the muzzles pointing seawards. The Allies opened the attack on the Germans at Nionport, in conjunction with a Franco-British squadron of three small cruisers and a number of destroyers and torpedo-boats. The Germans maintained an uninterrupted fire, attacking the infantry and the warships. The latter silenced two batteries at Wostende, and finally withdrew after a destroyer had been seriously damaged. RENEWED ATTACKS ON YPRES AND LA.BASSEE ; :■ SUPERIOR FIEE OF 'ALLIES'- ARTILL'ERY. (Rec. November 26, 0.50 a.m.) / 1 . ' London, November 25. The frost has broken, and it is now siinny and mild. Both Bides have been utilising the comparative inactivity to reorganise their forces. The Germans have been heavily, reinforced, and are attacking between Ypres and- La Bassce, but the British artillery is thworting their every effort. • It is noteworthy that the Allies' artillery is now proving superior. A feature of the recent fighting has been the number of German batteries that have been destroyed, particularly at the Battle of Zonneboke. Here the French artillery drove the Germans from the woods, and the French engineers, hurriedly cut down the trees and flung them on the road to prevent a cavalry, charge. ■' . ..'"'■.

v :£-. ■"' REVIEW OP THE FIGHTING INLANDERS'• (Rec. November 26, 1 a.m.) .: . . Paris, November 26. ' z Official.—A' , review of the sis weeks' battle in Flanders has been distributed to the troops. It states it has resulted in the failure of the German attempt to outflank and break through the 'Allies' line. The Germans massed fifteen army corps under the Crown Prince of Bavaria, Generals Von Fabeck, Von Deimling; and the-Duke of Wurtemberg. The Allied forces were not so numerous-as the Germans, but were considered euflioienl. The Kaiser came to the front, and had arranged to proclaim the annexation of Belgium at Ypres. The reviow shows generous appreciation of the help of the British contingent, but the chief burden fell upon the. French troops commanded by. General Foclvunder General Joffre's order, with General Castlenau commands, ing the army at Arras, General Maudhuy between Arras and Lille, and General Dur'bal commanding tho Belgians.. The forces also included, .trench cavalry, Territorials, Marines, and Fusiliers. , - . ' " The situation generally is calm, except for intermittent cannonades ana German attacks in the Argonne, which, were repulsed,