The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-17

LONDON, Nov. l6-The official press
bureau issued tonight another despatch
from the official observer with the head
quarters staff in France. In which he de-
scrbes the operations from November
to November 2. He says the Germans at
no point during that period made an at
tack In great force such as that against
lpres at the end OF October. The writer
continues:
The policy OF the Germans appeared
TO be to wear us out by continual bonn
bardment interspersed with local assaults
AS regards their artillery attacks. which
continued without cessation for days
wonder Is aroused as to when their prod
igal expenditure of ammunition will cease
II has not produced the obviously calcu-
lated effect OF breaking our defence in
preparation for the advance of their in
fantry. The latter have been the chief
sufferers
ION Wednesday. November 4. they re-
nowed the attack east of Ipres. but their
EFFORT bore no resemblance to those which
preceded H. being more in the nature of a
demonstration in force than serious at
tempt To drive in our lines. and was beaten
off with ease.
Further to the south. on our left GEN.
TIRE. the French advanced under cover OF
our guns and made some progress in spite
OF the heavy fire brought to bear on them
from the Germans massed batteries. on
our centre all was quiet.
ION the right our Indian troops scored
a success by capturing and filling in
some trenches in which the Germans had
established themselves. only fifty yards
from our lines. under cover Of some heavy
artillery hra,iphf affar dark
Thursday November - was another
comparatively quiet day. there being no
attempt at an infantry attack against
amy point of our position Southeast Of
Ypres the Germans maintained a heavy
bombardment OF one section of our front.
but generally speaking their artillery fire
was not so heavy as had been some
what TO the south.
The French made some slight prosress
and recaptured ground further to the
south. Two villages which the Germans
had captured and their line on ridge
close by Were heavily bombarded by
British and French artillery from the
high ground to the west.
THE result of this artillery work was
most satisfactory. When the Germans
were seen to he running from shelter,
which had ceased TO act as such, they
were caught and moved down by the
rapid fire of the French field artillery
Against suitable target the action of
the French 1.5 centimeter field guns is
literally terrific. and must be seen to DO
realized.
ION the whole. the ground which the
Germans have gained in this direction
has so far proved a somewhat barren
acquisition. II is so exposed that II
proves a death trap for their troops and
they can derive no Advantage from its
possession.
Filters Blow Up Lille Forts.
Further south our aeroplanes and
those of the French scored "A success by
partially destroying two of the Old forts
If Lille. Fort Englos was blown up ON
the ich and Fort carnot on the 5th. Thcy
were most probably used as magazines
and may have been of some tactical i'm
portance as points dappui in the line OF
Entertainments.
ION Friday the sth. the attack was re-
ncwed souh of the Menin- Ipres high
road, but was repulsed without difficulty.
Against the southeast Of Ypres. which
town had been subjected TO bombird-
ment during the night and was also
shelled during 7he day a fairly strong
advance was made in the afternoon ana
the Germans gained some ground.
The French. however, made counter
stroke supported by us and by nightiali
had recovered all the lost ground. y
French attack on two villages, which had
been shelled on Thursday, made CONSIDER
able progress. one point being captur o.
hut the Germans contrived tn render this
position untenable, and our Allies mad re-
tired from the hill by dusk.
ION our right. south OF the Lys, the
Germans made two unsuccessful night at
taCks.
"On Saturday, the sth, on our left the
enemy i'm the afternoon again attacked IN
hna zf pf NnTpE along
Menin road Our line was at one point
forced back. only to be regained after a
few minutes. About 4 T. VI. the Ger
mans appeared 10 be massing opposite our
line southeast OF Ypres and the pres
sure was for a time severe, although the
attack was not driven home.
"Slightly further to the south fighting
continued with undated fury and re-
suited in gains to our Allies. About 400
Germans advanced from the cover OF a
wood against the French. HAN OF them
with the most reckless bravery came on To
close quarters and we're all shot Or
bdyonetted.
.On our centre there was recrudes-
cence of activity on the Germans part.
During the previous night some SIX pat
talions of SaxOns had succeeded IN cap
turing some of our trenches only 10 ne
driven out by cOnnter attack, Whlch re-
sult4d in one officer and seventy men
beng taken prisoners
THE Germans, however, refused TO ac-
cont defeat, and returning to the charge,
again occupied some Of our trenches ana
penetrated into the wood They we're asaln
counter attacked and cleared out OF the
wood, hut continued In possession OF parts
of our line and also some houses "hltn
commanded them
"Further south the Germans again ne
haved with great boldness, sapping up 10
within short distance OF our trench's'
Some of the prisoners captured ON TINS
dIv we're very young They stated That
their corps had lately been hrougn' up t'
strength with new recruits who had only
a few weeks training
Throughout the recent nghtihg sun
day has proved day Of activity and the
sth of November was no exception to the
rule. To the southeast of fprrs the
French continued to give US considerable
support and pressed forward Al '"o T.