The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-23
The Germans Fiercer
Than Usual in Their
Latest Attacks on
the Belgians
.LATTER'S WING
20 MILES LONG
Allied Cavalry Is Reported to Have Dis
tinguished Itself in Magnificent
Charges, Quite Like Those in the
Old Style of Battle

The Battle Front, Via Paris, Oct %,
11.51 P. M.-The obstinacy of both
armies in the fighting apparently is
growing daily. The battle in the north
has become more violent than ever.
The Germans were fiercer than usual in
to-day's attacks on the Belgians, whose
extreme wing stretches from the coast
along a front of over twenty miles, on
which they are fighting heroically For
the restoration of the independence of
their stricken country.
Further on to La Bassee and Lille
the combat to-day also was of most
vigorous character.
The allied cavalry distinguished it
self in magnificent charges, quite like
those in the old style of battle. A
light brigade, composed of French and
British hussars and mounted rifles, led
the way and were followed by heavy
dragons, lancers and cuirrassiers.
Scottish Infantry in Evidence
The Scottish infantry also took a
prominent part in the work. The
"kilties' charged battery of heavy
German artillery and machine guns
which made the passage of the allied
field .artillerv difficult. The Scotch
made their way through the barbed
wire entanglements, reached the Ger
man guns and disposed of other artil-
lerymen and made the deployment of
frequent fir. of the German machine
guns, which were brought into play too
late, the allies gained the position,
The scene on the battlefield is a
striking one. with the lowing of fright
ened cattle and the bleating of sheep
in the burning outhouses of farms min
gled with the sharp reports of the can
non, the rattle of the machine guns
and the patter of rife fire. Troops
can be seen advancing across the open
in widely spread lines. Trees fall
all around, cut down by shells, and
the ground is furrowed with the burst
| ing of shrapnel. In the marshes, which h
are numerous in this country, it is be-
lieved that thousands have been lost
City of Lille Suffered Much
The city of Lille commercial quar-.
ter has suffered very much, while the
old church of st Maurice is almost de.
stroyed.
The soldiers at the front, although
most Of them are very young men, are
beginning to look aud act like veterans.
Many of them have grown boards dur
ing the eleven weeks of constant fight
| ing. Their faces are bronzed and their
clothes covered with dust. They ap.
pear perfectly fl and full of ardor and
ready to do anything.
A bicycle dispatch rider, after hav.
! ing carried orders to the brigadier gen.
eral, placed his motorcycle against a
| tree while he smoked cigarette
Shells were bursting all around him and
one struck his machine, which was de.
stroyed. The cyclist was then ordered
| to take the reply of the brigadier gen
eral afoot to the divisional command,
er. In carrying out his task he
crossed the tireswept field. Then he
encountered q party of Germans, but
| jumped into a river and escaped by re
naming in the water eight hours
Eventually he got his message safely
to headquarters.
Abbe Captures $50 Germans
| Able Carmellino, a second lieutenant
in the French infantry, when all but
| thirty of his company were killed OF
wounded, took command and captured
$50 Germans. The able was twice
wounded.
Spies are being captured everywhere
in the vicinity of the fighting line. A
French general selected an apple tree
for observation purposes. A shower of
shells Immediately fell all about him
and caused him to retire. At the same
time man believed to be a peasant
was seen waving rag from an ad-
jacent farm. The man was caught and
was found to be a German officer. He
was shot.
From all points along the line reports
reaching general headquarters show
that the progress of the allied armies
was constant to-day.