WITH THE ALLIES.

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

WITH THE ALLIES.

| OPERATIONS IN THE NORTHEAST FROM 24th ULT. TO Ist INST. United Press Association. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, October 12. Reuter’s Paris correspondent says that the provincial newspapers give details of the operations at Roye and Lassigny from the 24th. ult. The German right rested successively at Peroune, Albert, Banpaurae, and Arras. It was impossible to go beyond, owing to the plain in Lower Flanders. r fho Germans on the 28th accordingly commenced numerous counter attacks in the hope of piercing the Allies’ lino. The heaviest lighting occurred between Amiens and Peronne on Ist October. The French from Roye junctioncd at Mericourt with British reinforcements, the Allies forming three divisions and having a large quantity of artillery to cover their crossing of the Somme. Meanwhile, the hulk of the Germans were awaiting the Allies before Bray. The Allies decided to attempt a crossing on the 3£-mile front between Yaire and Mericourt, where the ground was swampy and wooded and easy to defend. The Germans, however, did not believe that the Allies would cross at this point and they neglected to fortify their position and massed on the road. At ten o’clock, the French with their three-inch guns opened fire at Mericourt and the Germans replied vigorously, hut the Allied infantry, swerv-, ing westward, descended on the Somme towards Cortico. At midday the troops were wading through the bogs and marches, and began crossing by means of rafts and frail canvas boats. One of the regiments crossed by means of a rope stretched between the two hanks, while the cavalry crossed by way of a ford at Sailly. Three divisions crossed in forty minutes before the enemy discovered that the Allies were in battle formation and were marching to assault Bray. While the infantry attacked on the west, the cavalry captured the enemy’s eastern positions, the artillery at Mericourt continuing the cannonade. Finally, with trumpet calls along the whole line, the infantry with colors flying, advanced to the assault. There was a great shout as Tricolours wore seen waving on the crest of a hill. The Germans retreating northwards, fresh cavalry near Albert charged the enemy, obliging them to abandon the guns. The retreat was unchecked until Bapaume was reached.