Belgium.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 56, 2 November 1914, Page 5

Belgium.

GERMAN SITUATION ALONC THE COASTLINE. RETREAT FROM DIXMUNDE. United Press Association. (Received 9.25 a.m.) Amsterdam, November* 1. The Germans burnt .the pier at Blankenberghe, and ordered the people to leave the coast towns'. Many are fleeing to Holland. Fugitives state that the Germans began retreating the moment firing was heard from guns in the direction of Thourout. Everything indicates.a German retreat from Dixmunde. British aviators dropped bombs on German Avar material collected at Lichtervelde, and did much damage. The Germans have further reinforced the coast line between Ostend and Knocke, more fortified trenches being thrown up on the Dunes.''

INUNDATION OF THE COUNTRY.

(Received 9.10 a.m.) Havre, October 31

The inundation between the Yser River an the Dixmunde-Nieuport railway has reached Pervyse.

BRITISH CHEER GALLANT FRENCH SOLDIERS.

(Received 9.10 a.m.)" Paris, October 31

The British posted on the Labassel Canal in an exposed position were subjected to heavy fire from German quick firers. They requested French assistance and Baron Doulenbourg's battalion over open ground under heavy fire in short rushes, suffering severely. Finally they charged vith the bayonet,, capturing, the .'arms, and enfiladed the German trenches, enabling the British to advance. The British, admiring the French courage, stood in the trenches and cheered. The Brigadier wrote to the French General, thanking him and congratulating the battalion. ■

BELGIAN BATTERIES'SOLID WORK. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Havre, November 1. Official: Two Belgian batteries comprising eight guns, fired 8000 rounds >n the Yser in eight days. The shells lestroyed most of the German batter'es, which were unmasked. BELGIAN KINGS NARROW ESCAPE. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, November 1. \ The Germans have evacuated Lob)oke and Wetteren. King Albert had i narrow escape in the trenches. A .hrapnel burst and his aide-de-camp vas severely wounded, though tho ving was untouched. ■ in i GERMAN PRISONER'S STORY. Times and Sydnet Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) London, October 21.

A German prisoner taken on the Yser, said: "An officer remarked: 'We ■an do nothing here yet. We must >roceed to bayonet attacks fearful as iell.' A great stream of volunteers is irriving, but when actually fighting nany in anguish call upon their fathers uul mothers, through weariness, shock •ml fear of death. All the sights comiine to break the nerve of the soldiers. Hie early winter, with heavy rains, tleet and snow, is adding to the hor•ors of the fighting. In Poland the nud in the trenches reached to the chees of the men, who were forced to •emain inactive, chilled to the bone. South of Warsaw the ground is so soft ■bat guns and transport waggons conitantly stick and many are abandonad." SEA AND LAND OPERATIONS. Amsterdam. Octooer 30. Several fugitives state that the Garnans have evacuated wstend, and recreated to Zeebrugge. Dutch sources state that heavy ro-

inforcemonls are gathering north of Ostend. Guns from Antwerp forts have been mounted on the coast, and used against the British warsliips. Others are being hurriedly sent bytrain from Germany, indicating a determined plan to hold the coast line ' while combined sea and land operations are being matured. BIG SIEGE GUN EXPLOSION. United Press Association. London, October 31. A German siege gun on the right wing had been overcharged, and ex- ' jploded. The gunners and 250 men in j jthe vicinity were mutilated, their limbs ! being scattered over a cavalry detach- I meut. Several farmhouses were demolished. The gun itself disappeared, leaving a large hole in the ground. ! GERMAN COMPANIES DECIMATED Havre, October 81. The King of the Belgians reports that three German attacks were driven back at Dixmunde on the 29th, with heavy loss. Whole German companies were decimated. He adds : "German prisoners admit that the Belgian mac-hine-guns inflicted cruel losses." THE GERMAN ATTACK ON ENGLAND. APPALLING NUMBER OF DEAD. (Received 11.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, November 1. . A number of trains filled with cannon and pieces of submarines for the Germans on the Belgian coast are detained at Bruges until further orders as to the attack on England. According to the Germans the attack is postponed until the present battle is decided. The French Army Service Corps buried in a little over a week in the Wyres district 25,000 German dead. The German losses in the Dixmunde district are on a similar scale, the dead in some places being piled a yard high. , | Several hundred German soldiers in mufti attempted to enter Holland, but the Dutch sentries, recognising them, threatened to intern them. ' ff