The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-10
SHARP OFFENSIVE
 GERMAN MOVE
 FAILS IN PURPOSE
Battle Line in France Has Now Gone Beyond Four Rivers-Sharp Fight
 ing at Rove

On the Battle Front, october a.-(yia Paris. 11:41 D. m.)-The sharp offen sive movement of the Germans on the western wing of the allies at the Bel rian frontier evidently has failed ir It's object of bending or breaking the French and British line.
 The long extension of the battle line which now has gone beyond the lou, rivers Scarpe, Somme, Oise and Afsne was initiated by the allies in an en- dosvor to find solution of the prob. lem of busting the Germans from theii strong position in northeastern france In these positions the Germans had been besieged nearly month, since the conclusion of the bloody battle oi the Marne. a frontal attack being con- sidered inexpedient by the allies. The present front is within about 6S miles of Antwerp where the Belgians have offered such heroic resistance to the bcmbardment of the heavy German ar tille1y Belgian officers who have ar rived here from Antwerp declare that the Belgians themselves destroyed Forts Waelhem and Wavre-St Cath CT ines.
 Severe Fighting
 Further down toward the center of the line the severest fighting continued today at Rove. where the allies took a large number of prisoners. Rheims again was subjected to a short bom- bardment.
 In other parts of the center the op- posing forces remain constantly alert. i. 1l tensity and the allied troops occupy ing the trenches are becoming thor oughIy accustomed to the situation. Many of them spend the intervals be- tween the spells of rifle firing reading newspapers to their comrades beneath the bombproof shelters.
 The allied artillerymen seem indefat- igueable. replying with vigor when ever a German cannon opens fire. The men throw themselves on the ground when they hear the peculiar tearing noise of the enemys shell and conse- quentIy the casualties In this section are few.
 Nights Quiet
 At night every body is at high ten sion and few noises are heard An occasional dull signal lamp or a lam tern with it's light turned away from the German lines indicates the num- Der of a brigade or a division occupy ing the position and permits of the rare dispatch of a ride on q motorcycle 10 find his way along the rear to the commanding officers. All around the air Is full of dust and sand thrown up by shell splinter, while the odor from the explosives is intense.
 The French and Germans still gen erally utilize bugle calls and when these are heard searchlights immedi- ately are flashed out. The British commands, however, whispered along the trenches from mouth to mouth so that even In the silence of the night no sound reaches the ears of the Germans in their trenches not so far away, and no indication is given of any proposed movement of attack until il Is in full swing.
 On the eastern wing the fighting is still very fierce around St. Mihiel. with many night attacks. The Germans are extremely clever in constructing blind trenches against which the allies fire is often directed while the Germans actually are posted some distance away in other trenches from which they can pour in an enfiladed fire.