DEFINITE GAINS BY THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2340, 23 December 1914, Page 5

DEFINITE GAINS BY THE ALLIES

KNOCKING AT THE GATES OF LILLE , PATROLS WITHIN A FEW MILES OF OSTEND By TekgKtpb-PiW3 JLssoctatloß—Copyright London, December 21. The "Daily Chronicle" says: "A' week's suocesses for the Allies have followed the resumption of hostilities. Roulers was captured after fierce assaults. The floods between Dixmude and Nieuport have been passed, the Allies joined their forces on tile north-eastern side of the flooded area. Bayonet attacks were pushed home, and the result is that the Allies' patrols are within a few miles of Ostond. "The sweeping offensive was no less successful in the south. "The French and, British have arrived at the gates of Lille, and the withdrawal of the main German force to Tourcoing and Roubaix is reported." FIFTEEN HUNDRED YARDS OF TRENCHES TAE:EN. Paris, December 21. 'A communique states: "The only important occurrences in Belgium yesterday were that we made some progress, in the Lombaertzyde and St. Georges districts, and south-eastward of Bixschoote; also at Zwartetem and south-east-ward of Zillebeke, and_ the enemy's bombardment of the Ypres Hospital. W© carried a wood, occupied the first German trenches near Notre Dame de Loiette, wrecked the German trenches, and shattered two guns south-eastward of Carnoy, which is eastward of Albert. . "Our heavy artillery had a clear advantage in the. Aisne.and Reims districts. "We won 1500 yards of Germap trenches at Beausejour, in the Champagne, and progressed along the remainder of our front." [Lombnertssydo is between Nieuport and the sea, and St. Georges is about two miles east of Nieuport Bixschoote is six miles north of Ypros, Zillebeke is four miles' east of Ypres. Albert is seventeen miles east-north-east of Amiens.] > . GERMAN COMMUNICATIONS. ENDANGERED A SWEEPING MOVEMENT BY BRITISH. London, December 21. The Slltis. correspondent of the "Tjid" states that the Allies, assisted by the Fleet aiul British artillery, have occupied, without opposition, Lombaertzyde, Saint Georges, and Weston tie, oil the Belgian coast; also Bixschoote, Lnngcmarck. Passchendaele. and Moorslede. Tito British are patrolling the village of Westronsebeke, near Passchenclaele, but the definite occupation of tho village depends on the issue of the lighting in the woods to tlio south-west. ' ' Tim' Germans are now concentrating as ninny men as possible lo regain the tcrritorv lost north-east of Ypres. The Allies are steadily advancineT towards the Roulers-Menin railway. The German roninuinications are seriously endangered owing to the British oecunation of Moorslede. The Sluis correspondent of -the "H-ndelsbad" says that the English squadTon bnmharded the coast at ZoebrußEe and HeysL to-day, The Germans did not respond,

[Lombaertzyde is on the coast about three miles to tho west of Nieuport, Saint Georges is about three miles east; and Westende about four miles to the west of Nieuport and near the coast. Bixsclioote is about five miles to the north-west of Ypres; Langemarck i 3 about four miles almost due north of Ypres; Passchendaele is about eight miles almost due east of Langemarck; Moorslede is about two miles due east of Passchendaele, and from Moorslede to the Roulers-Menin railway is about three miles as tile crow flies. Westrooseheko is about two miles north-west of Passchendaele, anjl about five miles south-west of Roulers.l OBJECT OF ALLIES' RECENT MOVEMENT ANOTHER VERSION BY A CORRESPONDENT. (Reo. December 23, 0.20 a.m.) London, December 22. A correspondent in North France states that the fighting around Nieuport / has diminished in intensity. The Belgians are not attempting more than to , hold their own against the German counter-attacks at Lombartzyde and St. ; Georges. ; There is no foundation to the rumour that the Allies wero within two miles of Ostend. . The object of. the Allies' recent movements was to secure a footing on the further bank of the Yser, in order to make the later offensive easier when.' taken. We have no troops furthed advanced than Nieuport. A small German forr>e. frith guns sufficed to guard tho bridge-head. The Allies are pushing forward, and will lengthen their front to make the attaok easier, as more room will bfi available for manoeuvres. A second important movement is occurring north of the Ypres, in th«i region of Bixschoote. Floods cover the remainder of the country; thus tho Allies' offensive remembles two claws. The finer weather is welcomed by all the troops. GERMAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF REGENT FIGHTING, (Rec. December 23, 0.20 a.m.) London, December 22. A Berlin official message states: "The French attacks at Nieuport were repulsed.. We stormed and captured the Anglo-Indian trenches between Richebourg and La Bassee, dislodging the occupants with heavy loss and rapturing 270. We recaptured the post and trenches at Notre Dame de Loiette. lie French fiercely attacked in the neighbourhood of Sonain and penetrated our outer trenches, but the attacks broke down under fire and 310 were captured. Fierce French attacks north-west of Verdun failed completely. : "The situation in Prussia is unchanged. Our attacks in Poland continue."