South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-08
CAVALRY FORCES REACH
NEARLY TO NORTH SEA
COmpaCtneSS of TeutOn Lines
in Center DiminiSheS As
Troops Are Withdrawn to Aid
Threatened Right Wing.
BY FRANKLIN p. MERRICK

PARIS. oct S.-Inat the Germans
have been forced by the allies oflen-
sive TO withdraw north OF Arras is
the chief announcement made in the
official French statement issued this
afternoon. 1t declares at no point
that the Germans have been able TO
succeed.
The official statement follows
..On our left wing in the northern
region the enemy has made no prog
ress at any point. He has Withdrawn
at certain points, particularly al lhe
north of Arras. where the conflict Is
spreading out under conditions favor
able to Us. The operations OF the TWO
cavalry forces are now spreading out
almost as far as the North sea
Retake Positions.
Between the Somme and the Oise'
in the region OF Roye, the enemy is
always in force, but we have retaken
the great part Of the positions, which
we had been compelled 10 yield prev
iOusly.
compactness Of the German troops ap-
pears to have diminished.
AT the center, between Rheims
and the Meuse there is nothing 10 re-
port. on the heights OF the Meuse
enemy has withdrawn to the north OF
Hattcn-ChatteL He continues TO hold
St Mihiel and some positions 20 the
north Of St. Mihiel on the right bank
Of the Meuse.
I'm the Woevre region the violent
attacks which the enemy has at
tempted TO the east OF ApremOnt have
been repulsed.
ION the right wing (JOrraine and
So n
"In Russia on the front Of East
Prussia the Russians offensive con-
tinues. There is sharp fighting on the
front west of Suwalki."
Take Troops From Center.
The statement that the compact
ness of the Germans north OF the
Aisne appears TO be diminishing IN
dicates that the Germans are with
drawing troops steadily from the cen
ter for service on the right wing. The
statement that the Germans still hold
st. Mihiel solves one Of the questions
that has served as a mystery 10 the
military experts for some time
The French recently announced
that they had driven the Germans
east Of St. AIihiel. but said nothing
as TO the town Itself.
Today's announcement shows that
the Germans are still In a strong pO-
sition in the Verdun region.
The great battle Of the Aisne has
finally been extended TO Belgian soil
and furious fighting is reported 10 be
in progress between the Germans and
the allies around Men, Pres PrOnghe
courtai, Waereghem and Audenarde.
The scene Of this fighting, however,
is a considerable distance from Gen.
Alexander Won kluck's main line of
communication.
Undermine Trenches.
Another severe reverse for the Ger
mans is reported from Soisscns where
the British are said To have under
mined a German trench. Dynamite
mines were exploded, and the trench
es were destroyed with the loss OF
from 400 10 500 men.
All now look 10 the extreme north
eastern part Of France and north
western Belgium for the next decisive
battle. The cavalry advance guard
Of the French army OF the north ap-
pears TO have reached the eastern end
Of the German right flank where 10
has encountered German reserves
Then instead Of being extended far
ther east, the new battle front reach
ed further nOrthward-
The grand total OF men now en-
gagged in eastern France and Belgium
is approximately 1000, goo and the
battle line is nov about 200 miles
long. Beginning in the WOevre dis
trict Of Lorraine IL stretches westward
20 the Somme river from which point
It swings sharply 20 the northeast in
10 Belgium.
There have been 26 days OF hghtin~
in this titanic engagement and even
Yet the end is not IN sight.
Douai and Tournai have been re0c-
cupied by German troops
All Of northwestern Belgium
swarms with uhlans who are lighting
desperately 10 stem the ad ance Of
the French cavalry which precedes
heavy detachments Of French and
British infantry
Allies Cavalry in Belgium
The allies cavalry has been able TO
push into Belgium with incrediAle
swiftness IN spite OF the opposition of
German cavalry. Belgian forces
made up mostly Of volunteer citizen
soldiers, are cooperating with the al
lies
The Ostend railway line between
Courtari and Thourout has been cut.
The war Office reports no decided
change in the center nor upon the al
lies right wing. although lighting is
in progress.
The report which has just reached
Paris % the blowing up OF the Ger
man redoubt north OF scissors gives
the following details:
The Germans were so strongly en-
frsnN--r-rs srr~r~r, nN- na-- my.