France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 48, 13 October 1914, Page 5

France

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. RESULT OF DESPERATE BATTLE ON TUESDAY LAST. United Press (Association. London, October 12. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent reports that the desperate battle fought on Tuesday to the northwards was a brilliant success, the Gormans being driven back for 13 miles, and losing 12,000 killed and wounded. The Allied cavalry was greatly hampered by miles of hop gardens. CHEEK OF AN AVIATOR. “YOUR TURN WILL COME SOON.” (Received 11.5 a.m.) Paris, October 12. Four were killed and twenty wounded by Sunday’s bombs. An aviator dropped a flag worded: “We have taken Antwerp; your turn will come soon.” The bomb which fell on Notre Dame fired a beam but it extinguished, CAPTURE OF GERMAN CONVOY BY CAVALRY. (Received 11. a.m.) London, October 12. The Central News Agency reports that Anglo-French cavalry captured a German convoy with 850 mitrailleuses, lenses. FOUR BATTLES. DRIVING THE ENEMY OVER THE BELGIAN FRONTIER. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, October 12. The Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspondent states that during the week the Allies fought four battles. The most important was that at Lille, which was began on Sunday and ended at nightfall on Friday. At the outset the Germans were reinforced by a strong force from Belgium, mainly cavalry, but the French were not caught napping. The German line stretched from Armentieros-Roubaix-Croix to the outskirts of Lille, where there was heavy fighting at close quarters, the Germans sometimes entering the suburbs. The fight was renewed on Tuesday, when the Germans were reinforced. Though now outnumbered, the Allies had the preponderance of artillery, it being believed that many German guns had been sent* to Antwerp. Further reinforcements enabled the Germans to continue the battle well into the night, but by dawn the result was certain. By Friday the Germans had boon thrown back a dozen miles. Meanwhile a battle was being fought at Lens, where the Germans also lacked artillery and showed no desire to await bayonet attacks. Their losses were much greater than the French. Those fights made a gap in the German line, which extended to within ten miles of St. Omer and cleared a stretch of country reaching to St. Mouen over the Belgian frontier, necessitating preparations for retreat along the valley of the Scheldt and the Lys. JOFFRE’S REBUKE. NEGLECT IN THE HARVESTING OF THE CROPS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received'B.o a.m.) I London, October 12. ' General Joffre, who circularised the prefects in the war zone, stressing the neglect of harvest operations, says he was struck with the number of strong men of about thirtysix years of age who were chattering and loitering in the villages whilst a considerable quantity of the crops had not been gathered. It was not admissible that food duff? needed for the continuation of the war should be allowed to rot in the fields.