THE BRITISH FORGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 130, 26 October 1914, Page 5

THE BRITISH FORGE

ITS STRATEGIC DISPOSITION. ALONG THE FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONTIER. STUBBORN FIGHTING. Wellington, Yesterday. The following is the High (Joiumis.sioner's report, dated London, 24, 5.25 run.: Official: A further descriptive aceoimt communicated by an eye-witness with General Headquarters continues and supplements the narrative published on the 10th.

The time has come when 'light can be thrown on the change in the strategic part of the operations being played by the British forces in the direction of the. application of pressure. Since the fighting on the Marne a gradual progressive extension northwards of the Allies' line has been ouc of the features of the campaign in France. Till recently it was carried out by the French alone. Now, thankg to the arrival of reinforcements, the British have been enabled to take a hand in this prolongation to utilise a portion of the forces acting much further norl.n than heretofore. j)uring the past few days the British troops have been engaged along the Franco-Belgian border, also along the Aisne. In the former sphere the allied forces extend (southwards from the Nieuport coast.

ADVANCE OF THE LEFT WING. The results in both theatres, though indecisive, are entirely satisfactory in furtherance of the general scheme which ,thc Allies are carrying out in co-opera- . tion. The right wing is'maintaining the pressure on the Aisnc without actually advancing. In the northern sphere the left wing has advanced considerably in . face of opposition, ACTIVITY WITH THE BAYONET. Since the repulse inflicted on (he enemy on the Aisne. on the 11th there was no serious fighting till the 16th. It was less of an artillery action than usual. Misty weather rendered observation impossible and militated against the employment of guns. Our patrols had been active with the bayonet, and accounted for numerous small parties of German infantry left to occupy tho front trenches. I GROUND GAINED. Tho Northern France fighting has hecn chiefly of a preparatory nature. Ground has been gained, but the misty weather 'hampered aerial reconnaissance. Artillery co-operation was almost impossible, rendering the progress slow. The country where the Brilisn troops are operating was mainly an industrial region, a i combination of mining and agriculture similar to the British black country! I The whole district is quite fiat, except ! Mont des Cats, which is 500 feet high, eight miles north-east of Ilazebrouck,' the eminence upon which stands Cassell. Fire was much restricted by the hedges and frequent bells of trees. Communication was bad. In this .blend country our advance guard near the Belgian frontier are engaging the advancing troops of the enemy. tAs in the advance on the Aisne, the enemy is making an effort to delay our progress, and give time for the stronger forces behind to perfect their arrangements. They] take every advantage from the ground to conical themselves we 1, using "hedges and ditches of the villages. They hold buildings, and occupy narrow trenches outside the villages.' Machine gnus are often placed in the centre of rooms, commanding the approach through the windows.

CONSIDERABLE LOSS INFLICTED OX THE L'XEMV. Tn advancing tlu> British inflicted considerable loss, despite the fact that the enemy retreated under cover of darkness. Their resistance was stubborn, and they made determined counter-at-tacks. Many prisoner.} show that they were surprised at being opposed by British in tliis quarter. North of Lys our cavalry forces knve driven the enemy back steadily. There has been hard fighting here, especially in the neighbourhood of Mont des Cits, where Prince Max was mortally wound- : oil on the 12th. A IiKILLIANT EXPLOIT. A brilliant exploit on the 13th was performed by the British cavalry patrols coining suddenly upon a German machine gun detachment. A subaltern was in command. Ho ordered a charge The result was that some of the Germans were killed, and the rest scattered, the gun being captured. South of Lys the progress has. been slower, because the terrain affords greater facilities for the defensive.. The enemy has had mere time for- preparation and

Si'cater strength. The numerous dykes here necessitate the transport of planks ami ladders to cross them.

OBSTINATE COMBATS. Most obstinate combats have taken place. The position of the villages enclosed in the countries renders artillery co-operation difliett'.t, where the villages are attacked, as they contain church and other landmarks standing above the trees, enabling the guns to get the range. lA MELANCHOLY ASPECT. The region whore- tho fighting is progressing at present bears a melancholy aspect. Once prosperous homesteads and hamlets, they have been literally torn to pieces. The walls are pitted with shrapnel balls. The villages and churches are smouldering ruins. Horses and cattle, caught in the hail of s'hrapnel, litter the village streets. The peasants are digging graves for the German dead. The work of burial devolves on the inhabitants. Amidst tho graves in the eountryside are rifle pits, treaehes, and gun emplacements used by the enemy.