THE BLOODIEST BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 131, 27 October 1914, Page 5

THE BLOODIEST BATTLE.

DEVASTATION OF DIXMUNDE. GERM AN3' DES PERATE ASSAULTS. COUNTRYSIDE A BLAZING MASS. TERRIBLE CARNAGE REPORTED. VIOLENT INFANTRY COMBAT. Received 2(1, 11.55 p.m. London, Ociober 2ii. Mr Ashmead Bartlett and Mr Piiiliip Gibhs, war correspondents, penetrated to Dixmunde, and witnessed the lighting on Wednesday. They state that it was one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. The Allies' pressure on Genera! Von Kluck's right will force all the German armies to retreat through tho Ardennes or the gap at Longwy, hence the desperate effort to cross the Vser Canal and reach the coast at Calais. The view from the tower of the Fumes Church on Wednesday revealed the whole countryside a mass of bu.'ning villages. Approaching the firing line by every road was a continuous stream of motor ears, and hundreds of private cars, packed, and under a medical officer, ready to go to any spot for woundel when a motor cyclist rode up and indicated the place. Everywhere shells were screaming, as the big German howitzers, nicknamed "Jack Johnsons," threw down houses and churches.

The guns of the entire German Army Corps were concentrated on Dixmunde. Few combatants were visible, but the German lire was terrific. Little groups of peasants were compelled to risk escape when the cellars where they had been taking refuge collapsed. Hundreds of mangled and wounded lay unattended on the roads leading to Dixmunde.

One siowilzer shell burst in the midst of the Belgian battery, and all the six horses and one gun were blown into a mangled heap, resembling a gigantic butcher's cart. Tho gunner was completely cut in two by a bar of steel. Four other horses were wounded, and fell dead a few yards oil'.

Not a house in Dixmunde escaped. The Hotel l)e Ville was riddled with shells, and the church was a blazing ruin.

The Germans made a final attack at dusk, when they hoped to cut their way to Dunkirk. The Belgian batteries were at last able to open a terrible sustained fire oil the German infantry, who were trying to turn Dixmimde from the south through the villages of Saint Jacques and Capelle. The village was the scene of a violent infantry combat. The French Reserves for the time were unable to reach Saint •Jacques, and it was impossible to pass through blazing Dixmunde. The Germans charged with the bayonet, ami the Bc'gians and Freneli nn«ivtivtl with crie« of ".fa-ja!"'

\\ lieu the t-lu irs :i)11 I cries died nw:i-, the Germans retreated, and ihtrkn fell, save for the red furnace of Div niunde and the small .furnace of Saia Jacques.

THE BATTLE OF XIEUPORT. . SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION BY THE FLEETS. GERMANS BETWEEN TWO FIRES. EVACUATION OF COAST TOWNS. PANIC DURING ENEMY'S RETREAT. Received 27, 12.41) a.m. London. October 28. A war correspondent, del a i in:-' the naval tight, particularly the T;ulnl ; 'ar Day fight between Niepi.rt an I Midd ekerke, says that the' Germau.-i from Antwerp on Tuesday were reinforced i>- a fresh corps from Brussels, an.l they made furious day and night adail.s, The Germans renewed their efforts o:i Trafalgar Day. The Franco-British squadron wai in action for twelve hours, and shelled the German entrenchments three miles inland. Some of the gnus discharged fourteen projectiles a minute. The fire of the squadron destroyed a German bridging train, collected in order to force the passage of the Yscr. The enemy's artillery attempted to get the range of the battleships, but aeroplanes and dropping smoke-balls proved ineffective. While the fleet was cannonading the German flank, the Allies' infantry were attacking in front, and the Germans were finally compelled to evacuate Nieiiport. The Allies' scouts did magnificent work, picking up each of the enemy's defensive positions, and enabling the fleet to keep pace with the German retirement.

During the retreat from Middlcke-rkc something approaching a panic seized the German army.

The German officials at Ostond hurriedly prepared to evacuate the city. Stores, ammunition, and reserve artillery were sent to Bruges. There was terrible confusion in the reception and treatment of the wounded.

Meanwhile, the British cavalry did dashing' work in the lioulers-Ypres district. '

Berlin messages claim that after heavy fighting tin? Germans crossed the Yser.