The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-17
Heavy Fighting Between Allies
and Germans Occurs Along
Franco Belgian Frontier
cavalry NOrthWard.
ANTWERP DESPERATE
Defenders Fall Slowly Back Before
Teutonic Guns-Austrians Defeat
misunderstanding Kill
20 In Antwerp.
{ Summary Of EOenkS. }

In Northwestern France on the
Allies left wing, the main posi-
tons Of the cOntending forces now
reach within ten or fifteen miles
of the Belgian border, while be-
yond those points masses of cav
airy continue the struggle over
the frontier line and into Bel
GUM. Along the greater part of
the front, however, the antagon-
lists seem content to watch each
other without attempting any
definite movements.
Belgium Is Desperate.
While the immense armies of the
belligerent powers of Europe are en-
gagged in death grappIe along lines
hundreds of miles in extent, the in
trepid little army of Belgium is max
ing a last stand behind the forts of
Antwerp, one of the strongest fortified
positions in the world.
For the moment, at least, the strug-
gle around the chief port of Belgium
attracts the most attention, for the
result of the engagement there must
larger battle between the Anglo
French and German forces, which now
extends from the Swiss frontier across
France, almost to the North sea.
French Much Encouraged.
The strong German reinforce
ments, which appeared on the Bel
gian frontier in the region of Lille,
according to a late report, have made
no progress in any point, and at GER
tain points the Germans have moved
back, particularly to the north Of Ar
ras, where the fighting is developing
under conditions favorable to the
Allies.
The cavalry are fighting even fur
Their north than this and the French
communication says operations have
developed almost to the North sea.
Around Roye, where the Germans cap
tured important heights from the
French last week, the French have
regained some of the positions.
From the north of Aisne, where two
forward movements by the Anglo
French troops have been mentioned
within the last few days, the Germans
seem to have withdrawn some of their
men, probably to strengthen their ex-
IRENE right, around which the Allies
have been trying to work ever since
the battle began, nearly four weeks
ago.
Need Antwerp for New Line.
The unexpected ierceness of the
German attack on Antwerp, which, it
is reported, is conducted by five army
corps, is giving rise to the opinion
among the higher military officers
that Germany intends to establish a
second line of defense running from
Antwerp to Brussels, Namur and Metz
upon which it will be possible to re
treat in case the German army has to
retire from its position along the
River Aisne in France.
Fighting in the Vosges.
The Nord Deutsche AIIgemeine
Zeitung, leading German paper, de
scribing the frontier fighting in the
Vosges regions, says: THE officers
and men have been fighting day and
night for thirty-seven days and the
Germans are facing a difficult stra
tegic situation in the mountain dis
tricts, where they are rendering su
perhuman services, chiefly in water
filled trenches and under almost in
describable conditions. The strain is
said to be almost uncomfortable. The
French are fortified in excellent posi-
lions on the Vosges and it is impos
sible to see their guns. No German
troops have been able to retire from
the fighting line for rest. The army
chaplains accompany the troops right
to the front and are holding religious
services and preaching sermons IL
the trenches. Bad weather is causing
much sickness
Air Bombs Kill a Score.
Antwerp.-The condition of panic
among the popuIace was increased b.
the appearance at IL o'clock in the
morning and o'clock in the after
noon of German aircraft, which
dropped bombs, destroying sever
houses and killing a score of people.
EnFAOUI Arnuaans