Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-21

subjected since the realignment Incl
dent to the extension of the left wing
northward to the North Sea. And the
test proved it's worth. 1t held at
every point, the steel barrier still
rigid.
In the field of the great battle for
German ascendancy on the North Sea
coast the invaders suffered still fur
ther check. The Belgians held them
impotent in a series of remarkably
executed counter attacks which kept
the Germans constantly disorganized
and broke the force of their frontal
attacks.
At and in the immediate vicinity of
La Bassee, to the southeast of Lille,
the Kaiser's troops directed extremely
persistent and furious attacks against
the Trench and British line with no
success and at great cost in men and
equipment.
North of Arras the Prussians again
resumed the offensive on a field in
which positions of Importance have
been taken and retaken alternately by
one and the other of the rival armies
during the past three weeks.
| Further to the south, between Pc
rome and Albert, the Germans ad-
vanced as far as the village of Ma
metz, where they were checked and
in the face of deadly hail of lead
and shell from the French quick-fir-
crs and field guns were compelled to
withdraw to save themselves from
disaster.
East of Argonnes detachments of
the army of the crown prince ap-
peared for the first time in the vi
cinity of Vadquois, where they were
met by French forces of equal
strength, but in entrenched positions,
and were driven back after vigorous
assault.
On the heights of the Meuse, where
the eastern wing of the French line
has been heavily engaged for the past
month new offensive operations were
begun by the invaders in futile at
tempt to dislodge the defenders.
In the region about Champion like
disaster met the German effort.
In the fighting, in which practical
ly every unit in both lines, with the
exception of the armies facing each
other on the center, were engaged, the
allies not only were able to hold their
own, but where the counter attacks
of the Germans were repelled with
great violence the allied troops were
able to take and hold ground at va
rious points.
Interest still centers on the gigantic
general engagement being fought in
Belgium. and in the vicinity of Lille.
Particularly brilliant has been the
defense offered by the Belgians, who
practically unaided, except for the as
sistance lent by the British fleet off
Nieuport on Monday, have held their
line along the river with distinguished
bravery. '"'~ssl
The carnage in this field and near
Ypres and between Ypres and Veurne
has teen terrific. Destructive flames
have added their horrors to those Of
war and the line of battle is marked
by burning homes, reduced by shell
and fire to clear the view of the gun
ners.
Great trainloads of German wound
ed have been taken to the rear. One
fugitive from the region northeast OF
Ypres (Which at this point reaches
] 5 miles from the Franco Belgian Dor.
der to the German positions) says
that on Sunday he counted II trains
of wounded and as many as 40 road
vehicles loaded with manned Prus-
SANS. Many ere reported to have
been taken to Client and even 20
Ostend, while Bruges, now practical
ly emptied of able-bodied Germans,
who have been relieved of garrison
duty to add their strength to the fight
ing lire, has been turned into a city
of hospitals.
The Belgians, the French and the
British are suffering only slightly
less, if any The losses admittedly
have been terrific, but the war office
at Bordeaux still refrains from letting
the figures be known.
Although the commandant of Paris,
General Gallieni, will rot admit that
the allies have reoccupied Ostend, it
is generally believed that this effort
| is only delayed until the convenience
of the commander-in-chief shall die