Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-23

Reports Indicate That
Battles in Nor t h
France and Belgium
Are Going Against
German Invaders -
Ships Playing Impor-
tant Part for Allied
Troops

London. 1890 A. M.-oct. 22.-Re-
ports that the Germans had evacuated
Ostend and were retreating toward
Bruges and that their West Flanders
army, from the vicinity of the coast
south to Courtrai was being ham
mered into zigzag line by the COM
bined efforts Of the British navy and
the British, French and Belgian
troops, seemed to coincide at so many
points today that in the absence of
claims of any advances from Berlin,
the unbiased opinion was that the
lighting among the canals of North
Belgium, which followed the German
rush from Antwerp, had been gener-
ally against the invaders.
At any rate the Germans at ono
point have been driven back as far
as Thourout, and some dispatches
say that their communications in the
middle of West Flanders have been
so disorganized that troops from
Client are marching direct to Cour-
trail rather than join their comrades
to the north. who are in danger Of
being cut off.
confirmed this morning but from Ser
lin itself came a report that British
ships were Smelling that town, while
another dispatch said that the guns
of the war vessels had destroyed the
village of Slype on the canal bet ycen
Ostend and Bruges. where it is said
the Germans have their headquarters
AT Sluis. only a few miles northeast
of Slype, In 1910, British feet
achieved a victory over the French.
1t is clear now that ships have been
playing an important part in the war
fare along the coast. The admiralty
officially announced that the moni-
tors Severn. Humber and Mersey no>
only bombarded the German position
south of Ostend. but landed detaeh-
ments Of marines with machine guns.
1t is reported from other sources that
eleven war vessels in all are taking
part in the operations but what they
are is not announced.
Curiously enough the monitors re-
tain that title from Lincoln's cheese
box of Civil War times.
The monitors So far appear TO have
been able to dodge submarine at
tacks. though as reported on Tues
day at least twelve torpedoes were
discharged at them. without. one find
ing its mark.
How the German submarines got
to Ostend is unknown. but presum-
ably they crept down the Dutch
coast, submerging whenever sighted
by a British patrol and then picked
their way carefully through the Bri
fish mine fields.
With the fighting along the Belgian
coast hardly more than seventy miles
from Dover that area of hostilities
necessarily holds. chief interest with
the British public. though. according
to last nights Paris official communi-
cation, there were violent actions here
and there along more than a seventy
mile front, extending almost due north
and south from Newport to LaBas-
see. Everywhere the allies claimed
to be holding their positions,
Reinforcements for the German
right have been spoken Of daily since
Ostend was taken and today comes
report saying that Austrian forces
were being transferred from the Ital-
ian frontier for this purpose.
Rumors that Emperor William il
seriously i'll are altering In via Paris
and this and q report that German
feet is off Falsterbo. Sweden. are
among the usual crop of unconfirmed
narratives that London is discussing.
From the east comes a claim Of the
Austrians that they have wrested ths
last point In the Carpathians held by
the Russians. and 1t was added that
there is now no enemy on Hunga-
rian SOIL" A reiteration that the
Germans have been routed south Of
Warsaw was the gist Of Petrograds
latest communication.
The members of the American COM
mission charged with the duty Of
sending food to the starving Beigians
are due to meet in London today.