New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-24

London, Oct eth Official In
| formation Bureau has given out an
| other account Of recent operations by
an eyewitness. This recital is dated
( October II, and explains at the outset
that, with the arrival Of reinforce
ments, the British have been able to
play more prominent part IN exert
1 ing pressure on the enemy and IN the
gradual extension to the northward,
which has thrown the British troops
to the Franco Belgian border.
up till recently" says this state,
ment, "the extension nOrthward had
been carried out by the French alone"
The narrative goes on to explain that
there have been actions in the two
western theatres of the war, from
Newport south, and along the Aisne,
and continues as follows: "ln both
these theatres the results attained,
without being in any way decisive, have
been entirely satisfactory and in fur
therance of the general tcheme which
the allied armies are carrying out IN
cooperation.
an the southern of the two spheres
in which we have been engaged, on the
Aisne. our right wing has been mann
tanning its pressure without actually
moving forward, while in the northern
sphere our left wing advanced a con-
siderable distance in face of some OPP
position.
Night Attacks.
"On the Aisne, since the repulse in
f1icted on the enemy the night OF DC
tober 10, there has been no serious
fighting and less artillery action than
usual. for the reason that the misty
and occasionally rainy weather has rem
dered observation almost Impossible
and initiated against the employment
of guns. On the night of October 1919
the enemy commenced an attack whicn
was not pushed through, and which
NAV be regarded as a demonstration
Our patrols have been active with the
bavonet at night, and they have &C.
counted for numerous small parties OF
German infantry left to occupy their
front trenches. But the positions OF
the opposing forces have remained
practically unchanged. e-L.;
an the north of France the iighung
so far has been of a preparatory nature
alone. AS stated, ground has been
gained by US. but the misty weather
| has hampered aerial reconnolssances
and at times rendered artillery coop
Grafton almost impossible, when rae.
/ tors. taken together with the nature OF
/ the terrain, have made progress some
what slow.
Before the actual course Of events
/ in this quarter Is ieeounted' II VIII
4 assist TO an understanding of what our
troops are doing If the country IN
which they are operating is described.
The narrative here describes the nat
ure Of the country along the Belgian
frontier, explaining that hedges are
frequent, that trees often restrict the
view and that means of communication
are bad.
at is in a blind country of this nat
ure," the narrator resumes, that our
advanced guards near the Belgian
frontier are engaging the advanced
troops Of the enemy. The latter con-
sist in some places of cavalry support
ed by lager and schultz detachments,
with large numbers of machine guns
and others with larger bodies of IN
fantry.
"As was the case in our advance up
the Aisne, the enemy is making every
effort 10 delay our progress, no doubt
10 give time for the stronger forces
behind to perfect their arrangements.
In general they take every advantage
that is TO be obtained from the ground
and conceal themselves well, making
use of bitches and hedges and the vii
lagos they hold, together with build
ings, mary of which have been placed
in a state of defence; furthermore,
they occupy narrow trenches with in.
conspicuous parapets on our side OF
the villages.
machine guns often are placed in
the centre of rooms where they can
command an approach through win
dow. SO far in our advance we have
inflicted considerable loss on these de-
tachments, in spite Of the fact that
they retreat under cover of darkness
whenever this is possible. But their
resistance is by no means passive, and
they have made several determined
counter attacks in order TO free them.
selves and throw US back. Many of the
prisoners falling into our hands have
expressed surprise at being opposed
by the British in this quarter.
"To the north of the Lys, although
for reasons already given an adequate
reconnaissance ahead has been prac-
tically impossible, and in spite of the
fact that the Germans held a strong
Sosition on a high bridge between
Godewaersvelde and Bailleul, one OF
our cavalry forces would not be denied
Supported by infantry, it has driven
the enemy back steadily. Some hard
fighting has taken place in this direc-
ton, especially in the neighborhood OF
Mont Descats. where Prince Macmillan
Of Heose, q son of the youngest sister
of Emperor William, was MORALLY
wounded on October -.
Captured Machine Gun.
"On October 10 a brilliant little ex-
plot was performed by one OF our cav
airy patrols coming suddenly upon a
German machine gun detachment. The
subaltern in command at once gave the
order TO charge, with the result that
some Of the Germans were killed, the
rest scattered and the gun captured and
carried off.
"On the right. to the south Of the
Lys, progress has been slower, partly
because the terrain affords greater IA
eilities to the force acting on the de-