The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-04
fight HAS CEASED
B0TH ARMIES REST AFTER TRE'
NENDOUS ACTIVITIES
REINFORCEhENTS NEEDED
Germans Lose Heavily in Holding
Crossing Of User Canal-Belgians
Come In FOR Praise-New Attempt
TO Break Allied Lines is Expected
Further Inland, Safe from Ships.

Further Inland, Safe from ShlpS'
The limit of human endurance has
been reached in the battle in West
Flanders. and the fighting which
slacaened on Tuesday, has come to
an almost complete stop They may
have been some Infantry attacks, and
these may continue, but dispatches
from points along the Dutch frontier
state that the artillery firing has ceas.
ed. Passengers who crossed the Chan
ael brought the same news.
The fact is that the two armies
have fought themselves out temper
arify and that the Germans first ef-
fort TO break through the Allies line
has failed. Neither side could con-
.inue any longer, then men having
been without sleep or rest for the ten
DAYS that the battle has been in pro-
gress, over ground which at best is a
moraSs.
The Germans succeeded last Satur-
day in getting some men across the
User canal, and they put more men
across on Sunday. But the force fac
ing them was too formidable, and
now the opposing armies are taking a
aong needed rest.
There is every evidence. however.
that the Germans intend to renew
their attempt TO force their way
through to DNnkirk. They are bring
ing up fresh men and more ammunl-
ton and guns. but at the same time
are taking the precaution to prepare
a second line OF defence should their
forward movement again meet with
defeat.
The new attempt, it is believed.
will be made further inland, for the
failure of the first one was largely
due to the bombardment that the
troops and artillery had to undergo
from the British and French war
ships of the coast of Belgium.
This cessation Of heavy fighting
seems to have extended along the line
as far as Arras, the result of it all Is
: Shat the Germans, while they have
suffered heavy losses and have in
ficted similar punishment on the AL
lies, are further away from the
French coast than they were at the
Beginning Of the battle.
'sThe Belgians never entirely dis
lodged the Germans from the footing
they obtained across the User near
Pervyse. though the Germans suffer
ed terrible losses in keeping the strip
of ground thus won in the bend Of
the river. Again and again they
have been practically swept away by
Belgian shrapnel. but they have con-
Iinued to pour men into the death
trap. which served them as a bridge
head.
At Dixmude and Nieuport the
struggle has been equally severe. At
Dixmude the, French marines were
obliged to withstand a forty-hour
continuous attack before they were
able to expel the Germans at the
point Of the bayonet.
Last Saturday the Germans made
another crossing further south. near
Saint Georges Capelle, and fright
full struggle ensued between the river
channels The Germans occupied the
village OF Stuyvekenskerke and were
driven out. but not for long. The
Germans concentrated their mitrall-
leuses on the canal bank and raked
the Belgians. compelling them to re-
tire again. The fighting continued
till Sunday morning, when the ar
rival Of the French forces resulted in
driving TIE Germans back over the
river. except the little forces holding
the bridgehead at Terraete.
The main point at which the Ger
mans crossed the river and where the
situation has been most critical is
north of the village of Pervyse. on
the railway line from Nieuoort to Dix
nude. They crossed last Thursday.
but were prevented from advancing
over the main waterway at that time.
On Saturday they succeeded in get
ting across the second channel and
nearly reached the railway line. They
were finally driven back after fierce
fighting and it is the railway embank-
of the Belgian defence from Nieu-
port to Dixmude.
The correspondent pays high t-i-
. butte to the Belgians for their valor
and tenacity He says: ION top Of
two months hard fighting, followed
by a long, discouraging retreat, and
while tried and disorsanized. they
were called upon to hold the line Of
the User when they we'll deserved p
rest. Yet they fulfilled the task
longer than was expected under the
trying conditions. The infnnt~'- has
been in the trenches almost without
repose for ten days. driD'Sin" or'v the
wafer from tho canals which th"v are
guarding. with little onnorturi+y TO