With the British Forces.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 133, 29 October 1914, Page 5

With the British Forces.

OPERATIONS IN NORTH FRANCE.

THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVE FROM HEADQUARTERS. ALLIES .STEADILY OUSTING THE ENEMY.

BELGIAN ARMORED MOTORS DO GREAT WORK. Wellington, Last Night. The Prune Minister lias received tho following from the High Commissioner, dated London, 27th October, 8.55 a.m.:The following descriptive account communicated by eye witnesses present with the General Headquarters continues ami supplements the narrative published on the 24th concerning the British force and the Irench armies in immediate touch •When the arrival of reinforcements enabled the British troops to assist in the extension northwards of the Allies' line, the enemy in this area had advanced from the north east and east and was holding a front extending from Ugh ground about Mont Descats and through Meteren to Astaires ore the river Lys, with advanced bodies of cavalry and other troops thrown out so™ distance m front. South of the Lye his me continued due south from Estair»s through intricate country for about three miles, when it turned slightly south-east, passing three miles, when i't turned slightly south-east, passing three miles cast of Bethune to Vermelles The Allies encountered sonic resistance on lie 12th from the enemy's advance troops.

GERMAN RIGHT FALLS BACK.

On the 13th fighting occurred all alon« the hue between our advanced guard? and those of the Germans, who at some points made determined counter attacks. iAs the result of two minor engagements at Mont Descats and Metre* on the 13th the enemy's right fell back with siderable haste, making use of the darkness to evade pursuit, Bailleul, which had been occupied for eight days, was abandoned without a shot being fired

. >OUR ADVANCE CONTINUES. On the 14th the advance was continued •by our left wing, the enemy being driven back so far that the rest of his line became endangered, as iias since been learned from captured operation orders I nese state that the right line havin" been forced to withdraw, the left was complied to conform to the movement. Ihe latter withdrawal left us by tiie night of the 15th in" possession of all the country on the left bank of the Lvs to a point five miles below Armentiercs' and of all the bridges above Armentieres.

ENEMY'S FURTHER RETIREMENT.

On the 10th tne enemy retired from that town, and after a few shells had 'been fired at the barricade on the Mieppe bridge the river line to within a short distance of Frelinghein fell into our hands, at Armentieres the enemy left behind fifty wounded, rifles and ammunition, and a motor ear.

Our rigut wing south of Lys waß able to make little progress until the loth Resistance to its advanee was ot the most determined character. The lighting resolved itself into a series of fiercely contested encounters. In an attack on some villages all efforts of our infantry were unavailing until our howitzers had reduced the houses to rums. The village had to be taken and retaken three times before it was dually secured. On this front the Frewh the French cavalry gave our intantrv support, and by the night of the liitii the resistance was overcome and the enemy had fallen back live miles to tineastward.

NIGHT ATTACKS REPELLED. During the 17th 18th, and 'l'Jt'h our right encountered strong opposition from the enemy about La Bassee, who was established behind embankments well provided with machine guns. Advance was slow in the centre, on the left better progress was made, although Germans were everywhere entrenched. They still continued to hold some village's on the Lys in spite of the bombardment. At the close of each of these days a night counter-stroke was delivered against our line, but all were repulsed without difficulty. GEXERAI, ATTACK. LArxcWE:) WD FAILS.

On the 20tli, a determined but unsuccessful attack was made against practically the whole of our line. A; onn point, where one of our brigades made a counter-attack, 11,000 German dead were found in the trenches. 40 prisoner.-; wore taken. GERMAN STRAITS FOR MEX. Among the prisoners ea;;lured by the Belgians was a hunchback, who had had no training before the liltli August last. He said that many men of his regiment were between 17 and 18 years of age. There were signs' in many villages of a hurried retirement. In one a great quantity of lances and ammunition bad been abandoned. In another, the stair left behind them their dinner and operation order. GREAT SUL/GGLE OX THE AISXE. Although the struggle in the northern area naturally attracts more attention than that on the Aisne, it still continues, and though there is no alteration in the general situation the enemy has made certain changes in the positions of his heavy artillery, with the result that one or two places which were formerly .safe quarters are new subject to bombardment, while others which were only approachable at night or by crawling on hands and knees now serveas a recreation ground.

GERMAN'S STILL LOSE HEAVILY. Recent official casualty lists captured show that the losses of Germans continue to be heavy. One infantry company in a single' list reports U\) killed and wounded. Other companies suffered as heavily. Armoured mot.or-ears, equipped Villi machine guns, were most successful in dealing with suia'l parties of German mounted troops. In tlieir employment the Belgians who are now fighting with tis are acquitting themselves nobly. Tney ■liav.j shown themselves experts'. They appear to regard Uhlan-hunting as a form of sport, Groups display tlie utmost dash and skill in this form of warfare, often going out miles ahead of their own ad'anced troops, and seldom failing to return loaded with spoils in the, shape of Lancer caps, busbies, helmets, lanecs, r-ifles, jLnd_oiiiia_lm n kks*