Evening star., 1914-11-19
For First Time in War, Artillery Is
Declared to Be Proving
Ineffective. Il
GERMAN RETREAT PREDICTED
British Correspondents Say Trans
port Is Being Moved Back and
Roads Are Being Mined by
the Kaiser's Forces.

p.m.-FlanderS is still the scene
of heavy fighting. In spite of
adverse weather conditions and
flooded trenches, the Germans ap-
pear to be holding their positions,
from which, at intervals, they
launch the attacks for which the
territory from the Belgian coast
to Arras has become famous.
The allied warships are still off
the coast, hurting shells inland
when opportunity offers. The
Belgian army remains in the
region where the floods have been
the worst, and some dispatches
say that in certain places they
have been fighting from small
boats.
Artillery Proves Ineffective.
a story Of this inland naval warfare
comes IN the following dispatch from
Bruges. Belgium:
Fight ng between the German and al
lied forces in the inundated territory be-
tween Dixmude and Nieuport, on the
North seacoast, is now frequently being
carried on in boats.
Artillery. for the first time in the war.
has proved ineffective, but personal brav-
cry and enterprise are counting for much
and the battle is beginning to resemble
the classical siege of Leyden in the six
teenth century, with raids and counter
raids by means of flat-bottorned boats.
Two corporas o. the eth Belgian in
fantry have been made kn gnts of the
Leopold Order for transporting forty men,
including fifteen severely wounded. across
the inundations under heavy fire.
The battle, in its present stage, army
officials say. may last several months
Thinks Retreat Imminent.
The correspondent of the Times in
West Flanders relates further indica-
tions Of an impending German retreat
from the line they are now holding.
Their transport, he says, has been
moved back several miles at different
points, and the mining of roads has
been carried out extensively in the past
few days. According to the corre
guns of late has done much toward de-
moraltzing the Germans, whose guns
are becoming much the worse for
heavy wear from reckless use.
"A week ago." says the Daily Nails
Dunkirk correspondent. the Germans
noticed that the fire from the English
warships spared the houses on the sea
front at Middelkerke, whereupon they
took up quarters in them. This fact
became known to the British. who sud
dan a1ty tov dad ha frNv fixro
ships at once. The German casualties
were enormous, the dead alone being
estimated at 1,700.'
Go to Battle on Rats.
PARIS. November ia brilliant at
tack by British troops and French sail
ors caused the Germans to evacuate
Schoerbakke. Belgium, which is practi-
cally surrounded by the water from the
broken dikes, according to news reach
ing here from the battle front.
Because of the flood, only two roads
were open to the town, and on one Of
these the British approached in two
armored automobiles. 1t was a night
attack. and the Germans in the town
Immediately turned their attention to
them Meanwhile the bluejackets, who
had made RATS on fiat-bottomed boats.
crossed the water and took the Ger
by the one road still left open. The
Germans abandoned many guns, am
munition and stores, and their dead
and wounded.
There is some anxiety here as to just
what has happened at Chauvoncourt,
a village near ST. aucniel on the Lor-
raiue frontier. Tuesday the French
official communication reported That
the French troops had occupied the
western part OF Chauvoncourt and yes
terday's official statement sad that
this part Of the town had been blown
up by the Germans. VINO apparently
had mined the place be ore they re-
tued How severely the French troops
suffered by this exploit is not yet
known.
Contained Military Stores.
Cauvoncourt, which contained vast
French military buildings and stores.
ia on the right bank of the Meuse. 1t
has been occupied by the Germans for
some time, and is an important link
between Argonne and Metz.
The Belgian army is drawing a sup
ply of new officers in large part from
the Belgian Civic Guard. According
to a member of the Belgian war office
AZ Hayre the civic guard is composed
~ men who have seen service in the
amy and are well qualified to become
officers.
Figures are not yet available regard
ing the results of the mobilization OF
the Relgian class of 1915, or regarding
the call for volunteers. but it is known
.ho+ Tho voung men refugees in Hol-
,and england and France are respond
;nr with great readiness and enthu-
siasm.