France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 55, 21 October 1914, Page 5

France

JN NORTHERN FRANCE.

GERMAN AVALANCHE DAILY WEAKENING.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) London, October 20,

The Telegraph’s correspondent, who visited the battlefields in northern Franco says there is every indication that the German sledgehammer has last its power, as the onslaughts are futile against the Allies’ centre. The German avalanche in the North-Eastern area is daily weakening. ALLIES FOUGHT THEIR WAY HOUSE BY HOUSE. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, October 20.

The Allies fought their way forward house by house at La Basse, and also completely defeated a series of German efforts to break through between Peronne and St. Quentin.

ARRAS SUFFERS.

DESTRUCTION EQUAL TO PAST rBOMBARDMENTS. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, October 20. Thp : ;J)aily Mail’s correspondent says that .Arras has suffered nearly as much W Louvain and Rheims. The town hall, museum, and threatre were gutted,and most of the buildings in the centre of the town are in ruins. The Cathedral’s famous belfry was severely damaged. A shell struck the hospital, killing a number of wounded and nurses.

Arras with a population of 25,000 in. habitants, is on tho right bank of the Scarpe, and is the chief town of the department of Pas-de-Oalais. The town was formerly fortified. The Hotel de Ville, built in the 16th century, and restored in the 19th, is one of the most handsome in the north of France. The belfry was 23oft. high, and tho “Banclocque,” or “Joyeuse,” the largest bell dates from 1 /2S, and weighed nearly nine tons. The cathedral was built in 1755-1833, to succeed tho old Abby Church. It contains some good paintings. A PLAN THAT FAILED ON THE / SEABOARD. (Received 9.35 a.m.) Paris. October 20. The Germans planned to march a hug© force across Nord and Pas d© Calais departments, and engulf the seabord towns, but the defeat at* Lille smashed the plan, and the German troops in the coastal districts are threatened with destruction. SEVERE STRAIN EFFECTING THE ENEMY’S TROOPS.

(Received 9.35 a.m.) Paris, October 20

A French staff-officer, in an interview, emphasised the great change that had taken place in the spirits of the German troops since the battle of Marne, many of the officers having become unnervedj wnilo prisoners attest that the long undecisive struggle at Aisne told severely on the troops. ENEMY CLAIMS ADVANTAGE AT BELFORT. Amsterdam, October 19. The Cologne Gazette states that heavy Krupp guns have been placed east of Belfort, whore there has been: severe fighting in the last few days, with only a slight advantage to the Germans. Paris, October 20. Official.—'The Allies made, a slight advance between Arras and Rove, where we reached the enemy’s wire entanglement. We also gained ground on the right bank of the Meuse, and in the environs of St. Mihiel. TALES OF THE BATTLEFIELD.

(Received 9.0 a.m.) Paris, October 20,

During an engagement on the French wing, the French were unable to locate the German machine guns. Two corporals and a. private volunteered to discover them, and crawled within ton paces of the German trenches. Half the enemy were gone to fetch midday rations," and the others were seated some distance from the guns. The Frenchmen leaped the trench and fired two mitrailleuses into the enemy who fled. Accompanied by two reserve companies, the French artillery completed the retreaters’ destruction. Last week a section of French infantry' while reconnoitring, lost its way in a fog, and were taken prisoners. Th© German captors, who stacked the rifles, were waiting for the fog to dispel and beguiled the tedium by insulting the prisoners. With a rush, the latter broke the Germans’ square and seized the rifles, bayoneted many, and th© remainder surrendered and were taken prisoners.

WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

TAUBE MACHINES WARDED OFF FROM PARIS. (Received 9.0 a.m.) Paris, October 20. French aviators guarding Paris warded off several German Taubes, which were approaching the capital.