South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-19
French Claim German Attempt
to Strike Coast Has Been Re-
PEELED and Allies Have Gained
Further Ground.
SOLDIERS FIGHT TEN
DAYS WITHOUT RESPITE
Big Guns Have Bombarded
Front of NiepOrt- -VIadSIOO
Without ReSuIt-PraiSe Va
IOr of Troops in Fighting.

PARIS. oct. 19.-Enorts by the
German army in Belgium 20 strike the
French coast have thus far been re
PEELED, and the allies. with whom the
Belgian troops are now lighting, have
gained ground according TO an official
statement issued here this afternoon.
The Germans have brought their artil-
lery into action in their attempt 20
bring TO success theil great tianking
movements.
The official statement follows:
THE enemy's heavy artillery has
cannOnaded without result the front
of NiepOrt-N ladslOo, at the east OF
Dixmude. The allied forces and no
tably the Belgian army. have not only
repulsed the new German attacks but
have themselves advanced 10 ROulers
(22 miles from the coasD.
"On our left wing, between the Lys
and the canal of LaBasse'e, We have
advanced in the direction CT Lille. EN-
tremely obstinate conflicts are taking
place on the front OF LaBassee-Ab-
lain-St. NaZaire. We are advancing
house by house in these two localities
TO the north and 10 the south OF Arras.
No Respite for 10 Days.
"Our troops have been fighting
without respite for more than 10 days
with a perseverance and courage
which have not given way at any time.
'In the region OF Chaulnes we have
repulsed a strong counter-attack py
the enemy and gained some ground.
AT the center there Is nothing 10
report.
'On our right wing in Alsace and to
the west OF COlmar, our advance
guards are on the line Of BOnhomme-
Pairis-Sulzern. Farther TO the south
we still hold Thann."
The desperate nature Of the fighting
going on between the allies and the
Germans in the district near the coast
is shown by the statement that the
former are gaining "house by house
This shows that the conflict Is raging
in and through the little towns in the
battle region.
According to the unofficial reports.
some of these towns have changed
hands as often as five times IN -
hours.
Chief Features OF War.
This is the 39th day OF fighting in
the mighty conflict in France and
Belgium and these found TO be the
chief features:
In a square around Arras
and Dunkirk maneuvers are in
progress, accompanied by severe
fighting at certain points.
-
cupied the important railway juno
tion point Of Armentieres in the cen
ter of the rough square and 10 have
secured good positions between Cal
ais and the main force Of Germans.
French forces have crossed the User
river.
"3.-An artillery duel is reported
to be in progress between French
and English guns on one side and
German batteries on the other near
Lille.
At is rumored that heavy
I fighting is going on near the coast
/ indicating that british warships
were bombarding Germans in the
extreme northern part OF Belgium.
Offsetting this, however, was a re-
/ port the Germans left only a handful
/ Of uhlans in the ports that they oc-
cUpied.
Hard Fighting in East.
There is hard fighting in
progress on the eastern end Of the
battle line in the vicinity Of St.
Mihiel, Verdun. and ST. Die The
/ French war Office says that a Ger
man offensive movement northeast OF
St Die has been repulsed.
"6.-The Germans are reported To
I have begun the bombardment OF
! Belfort, France, with heavy siege
guns and mortars.
RumOrs have been in the air dur
! ing the past 90 hours that the Ger
mans have been preparing TO deliver
a master stroke, but the nature OF
I this contemplated move was not in
dicated The greatest optimism pre-
vades the ranks Of the French and
British and It Is felt here that any
] German operations along the main
line must henceiOrth be chiefly OF
defensive nature.
/ In the north along the Belgian
I border, the allies claim 10 be fighting
a winning fight, Notwithstanding the
/ fact that their progress has been
slow.
Fight West Of Ostend.
Fighting IS reported west OF o.
| tend. A war correspondent In
Flushing, Holland. has sent out the
| following account:
The passage OF the German forces
westward from Ostend ceased on
! Sunday afternoon and fighting has
/ begun between them and the allies
/ Three wagon-lOads OF German
wounded has been seen returning
from the front An eve witness re-
I ported that he had seen a number of
dead and wounded Germans.
Guns were heard az sea on sun
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