The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-17
FURIOUS ENGAGEMENTS,
With TERRIFIC CARNAGE
Franco-British Line Holds, and at
Some Points Gains Notable
Advantage.
GERMAN FORCES DRIVEN BACK
Crown Princes Army Weakened by
Withdrawal of Several Crack Corps
Sent to Aid OF Won Kluck-His
Position Endangered.

PARIS. October luxurious en-
gagements with terrific carnage were
reported to-day from the two extremes
OF the 300-mile battle front. sweeping
through France to the Belgian North
Sea coast.
Everywhere the Franco British line
has hold, and at some points notable
advantage has been gained. Laventle.
west Of Lille. has been added to the
the battle OF the Lys as result of
stubbornly contested and courageously
fought engagement. in which the losses
on both sides were heavy.
Elsewhere on the left wing numer-
GUS engagements have been fought
along to the new line. which has been
extended until the allies battle front
in this section reaches from Ypres to
the sea-
To the east the incessant assaults
upon the German left wing have
brought the French right almost with
In cannon range of the outer works
of Metz. One report says the French
are twelve miles from the forts. While
the allies have been pounding away
at Won Kluck on the left. and have
been heavily engaged In hurting their
arrow shaped brigade I'm front OF the
German Antwerp army, Intent upon
sweeping along the Belgian coast, the
allies centre and right have been oc-
cupicd with n desperate effort to cut
the German line to the east with every
prospect OF success. Already the Ger
mans have been driven back by the
FRENCH. who have taken the offensive
from their garrisoned and strongly
fortified positions of Toul and Nancy
In an endeavor to carry out the plan
of interrupting the German crown
princes line of communication between
the Meusc and Metz.
The German armies here. principally
that OF Crown Prince Frederick VIII
helm. have been severely weakened by
the withdrawal OF several crack Prus-
Sian corps, sent to the aid Of Won
Kluck, and these have never been re-
placed.
POSITION OF GROWN PRINCE
SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED
Now the position OF the German
crown prince has been seriously en-
dangered by the French domination of
the Nancy -Metz route by which a Ger
man retreat might be effected.
To-day the Germans essayed another
attempt to cut through the French line
northwest OF Verdun In the vicinity OF
Melancourt, but their attack was fruit
less and they were given off. while
the French retained their advantage
Gus position.
Furious lighting is reported from the
i5ountati passes OF the Vosges. and II
i. officially stated the Germans were
hurled back with great losses.
There has been received In Paris
from London a report that more than
100000 fresh German troops arc now
traversing Germany with artillery and
cavalry remounts to reinforce the Ger
man line where It bends back near
the Franco Belgian border.
TO meet this army of reinforcements
the new line, stretching to the sea.
has been made up to include the new
from the south OF France, and It will be
their function to cut OFF this advancing
body OF Invaders.
In detail this allied limo extends east
from a point OH the seacoast between
Dunkirk and the Franco-Belgian bor-
der to Ypres. from which point the
line turns south and crosses the
Sommo and the Disc. and traverses the
Aisne eastward again to Vcrdun. Es-
tablished on thle line, the allies can
effectively halt any attempt OF the Ger
mans to nank II either from tho cast
be 1t from Antwerp or from Germany
director from General Won Kluck's
position In the. north. Military experts
agree that along this limo the allies
will be able to hold out indefinitely.
Messages from the vicinity OF Os-
tend hint at the occupation OF that
coast city by the Germans. but there
Is no official confirmation Of the re-
port. The Germans from Client have
occupied Blankenburghe. ten miles
northeast OF Oetend, and a sanguinary
CURED at Ursal. ten miles southeast
OF Bruges, preceding the occupation of
the latter city by the Germans.
From Hayre the announcement was
made by Belgian Minister Huisman
that Queen Elizabeth is still with
King Albert at the headquarters of
the Belgian general STAFF.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES