Belgium.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 54, 30 October 1914, Page 5

Belgium.

DESPERATE HAND-TO-HAND

FIGHTING.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) London, October 29./*

A correspondent, describing the fighting at Yser, says: Numbers of Germans threw down their arms and pleaded for mercy, the fighting being too desperate, for that was the moment when the tired Belgian infantry gave up and left the trenches .but the core of the trenches and saved the situation. At Dixmunde the greater part of a German battalion of prisoners is mostly young men with a mild studious expression.

EXCEPTIONAL CARNAGE.

Loudon, October 28

A correspondent at Amsterdam says the severity of loss of life in Flanders exceeds that "of the battles on the Meuse and the Xethe. Shells from the sea fly here and there, searching the trenches, scattering columns, and annihilating bridges. The German shells also bring death and destruction. The carnage is enormous. Germans have filled the monasteries with wounded, and fresh German troops continue to arrive. v

ON THE NIEUPORT-OSTEND LINE.

(Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, October 29

The bloody struggle continues on the Nieupovt-Ostend line. Belgian wounded reached the base hospital on Monday and Tuesday. The Belgians still say gleefully: "In a few weeks we will again have 100,000." This has reference to the training of recruits. The Germans on the Yser carry socalled table-tops, roughly constructed wooden devices, to throw across narrow riverlets and canals as bridges. They are also used as shelters when charging, but the rushes usually end in appalling slaughter. LOSSES PROVE THE SEVERITY OF THE. CONFLICT. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 29. Germans admit that they never lost so many men as they did on the Yser. Of one group of 150, only two returned. •,■- i:

A GERMAN FORECAST.

London, October 28.«j>.»

A Berlin report says that a definite result of the battle proceeding among tho dunes on the Belgian coast is hourly expected, and it is considered that the Allies will retire. The investment of Belfort is expected to last :a long time, as the garrison is very strong, and the French have shown hemselves masters in the part of building field fortifications.

FIGHTING ON THE YSER CANAL.

London, October 28

The Daily Mail's Rotterdam correspondent states that on Monday, when the Germans were driven back over the Yser riyer by bayonet charges, the Allies destroyed the pontoons at Jesty. The monitors .slaughtered the German ranks,

Amsterdam, October 28

Recent fighting on the Yser Canal was very severe. Many places were taken and re-taken repeatedly. The Germans crossed many times, but were always repulsed with heavy losses. At some points their bodies blocked the canal. ' GERMAN BRIGANDAGE. Paris, October 28. The Germans occupied the Prince of Monaco's Chateau at Demarchis, I near Rheims, and threatened to blow it up unless they were paid 2& million francs. Paris, October 29. Official.—The enemy's two night attacks in the Dixmunde district were repulsed. The enemy's efforts on the Nieuport and Dixmunde front are apparently moderating. The Allies' offensive continues northwards of Ypres. Slight progress has been made on our part between La Bassee and Lens.

London, October 28

The High Commissioner reports:— German attacks in the region from Nieuport to Arras were much less violent yesterday. Progress was made to the north and east of Ypres, and between Cambrai and Arras. The Germans attempted a violent night attack on the right bank of the Aisne, in the region of Craonne, but were repulsed. Our advance in the Woevre district continues. The Belgian Government states that the situation on the Yser has improved. The fire of the enemy's artillery has slackened, beinn; subdued by the guns of the fleet. The Allies' operations at Ypres proved very satisfactory.

Paris, October 28

A communique states: The German attacks between Nieuport and Arras were much less vigorous on Tuesday, and our position was everywhere maintained. We progressed north and east of Ypres, and also between Cambrai, near Labassoe, and Arras. The Germans attempted a very violent night offensive in the Crt.onne region, but were repulsed. We continued our advance in Woevre, between Apromont and Saint Miliiel: also into Lepretre wood.

Paris, October 28. Official. —The English have advanced to Passchendaele.

WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

A FRENCH AIRMAN® PLUCKY

ENCOUNTER.

Paris, October 28

Paulham, from a height of eight thousand feet, traversed the German lines towards Amiens with a mitrailleuse and destroyed a German aeroplane. The enemy's bullets hit his motor,and Paulham descended near a French force. Uhlans appeared. Paulham's mechanic worked the mitrailleuse in co-operation with the infantry, and the enemy was driven off.