The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-11
NEXT Fen Days May Decide
Second Phase of Big War
Result of Operations Between Ypres and Arras Is OF Vital
Importance to Germany, but Advance OF Rus
slams May Hasten Conclusion.


on October Antwerp fell. Just
month has then passed since Germany
finally succeeded In crushing the last
effective resistance in Belgium. Coinci-
dent with the fall OF Antwerp there was
forecast, and correctly forecast. new
drive toward Paris and along the shore
OF the Channel.
Tho first step in this operation was
the capture OF Ostend. In the days FOL
lowing the fall of Antwerp the storm
beaten little Belgian army slipped south
west of the Scheldt and along the Dutch
frontier, the British troops at Ostend
Joined them and the retreat France
began
Meantime in France the great advance
by the left flank OF the French had
mounted steadily from the Disc across
the Somme toward the Lys. Begun as an
attempt 20 strike at the communications
of the Germans standing along the Aisne
Il had failed its purpose. but had been
continued as a movement to relieve the
Relgians at Antwerp and after Antwerp
fell 20 rescue the rctreating army OF tho
attack.
At tho precise, moment OF the German
SUCCESS at Antwerp the situat-i In the
northwest corner of France between
Arras and the Straits of Dover was
wholly confused. From the Disc to Arras
the line. Of both armies was wei defined.
But north and west the scanty reports or
the official bureaus shed little real light.
Yet II was clear that the Germans had
endeavored to drive a wedge OF cavalry
from Lille toward Calais and separate tho
rctreating Belgi-. from the French ana
British troops moving north. Thus WINE
Ostend was still uncaptured the dcs>
patches from Berlin and Paris alike de-
scrbed sharp cavalry engagements wen
within French territory south OF Armen-
there's and west Of the Lys.
Presently Il became clear that the
Allies had been able to mass superior
forces in this region and the German
wedge was extracted. the German armies
steadily pressed back away from the
Channel. east Of Arras and Afmentieres.
back upon Lille. At the same time other
allied troops moving north crossed tho
Belgian lire and Joined hands with the
retreating Belgians.
AIIies' Line Takes shape.
Thus. about the time the Germans VINO
had taken Antwerp and moved south were
apnroachinE the French frontier. they
were brought 10 complete halt before
Ypres and westward along the User River
through Dixmude to the Channel In
this opera ton the hitherto i'll defined left
Of the Allies took shape and was dis
closed resting solidly upon the sea at
NleuDOrt, Wnerc INC b'ikldHs hoih NV
coast
Having failed to prevent the junction
of the Belgian and allied troops the Ger
mans now undertook terrific drive along
the seacoast from the north bank OF the
User at the French Channel ports Of Dun
Kirk and Calais which face England and
might concevably serve as bases for a
submarine and Zeppelin attack upon the
British coast
This drive II now appears came within
an ace of success. The Germans were able
to force the passage Of the User they dld
mako progress along tho beach and across
the dunes. But after terrific fighting two
circumstances combined to check them.
First, a British fleet. by Smelling the shore,
forced the Germans to abandon their posi-
tions before Newport; second. in the mo-
mcnt OF supreme peril the BelEians
opened the sluiccs and flooded the whole
User River front. As n result the German
drive along the west was checked and ulti-
matcly abandoned.
Having failed here. the next attempt