The Washington herald., 1914-10-13

troops at Ostend. including the newly
arrived British forces, the Canadian regi-
ments who are reported to have arrived
thsre, and ;he Belgians. who have come
from Antwerp, to be ready to meet the
new German front
VIII Meet VIctors Halt way.
In the meantime there are indications
that Gen. Won Boehm, with Mons as his
base. is swinging his forces, like a great
arm. forward in the direction Of the on
coming Antwerp victors. 80
Everything indicates that the Germans
center and the points from which the
main attack upon Ostend will be at
I tempted. will rest along the Scheldt
River as it reaches south from Antwerp
and swings in a great arc toward Lille.
This will bring the theater of the coming
conflict near the course OF the Lys River
between Ghent and Courtrai. 1t will be
the purpose of the Germans. according
to experts, to drive the British. French
and Belgians concentrated at Ostend into
the North Sea or force them to evacuate.
In this event the natural retreat of the
army of occupation in Ostend would be
westerly along the coast toward Dunkirk
and then southwark to fall back upon
the allied left operating to the south Of
Lille and to the west OF there.
Evidently the cavalry actively reported
today in the official communiQue from
Bordeaux in the region Of west Of Lille
and about La Bassee, Estaires and Haze
brouck, is a part of the German plan
to occupy a line stretching to the sea
between Ostend and Dunkirk ard con-
Meeting with the main German line which
prove an effective barrier in cuttirg of
such a retreat from Ostend.
Would isolate Ostend.
Thus, IL the German plan is possible of
success, Ostend would be isolated and the
only way the Allies could save King AL
bert and his army together with the
French and British forces holding the
coast city, would be to cut through the
German line, a feat thus far not accom-
plished in the war in France because of
the enormous numbers of the invaders
line.
This strength, military critics now
agree, will be more in evidence from now
OH, because, with the taking OF Antwerp.
the whole German line is shortened auto
mstically and in this shorter line are now
still more men and guns.
The possession Of Ostend would mean
more to the Germans than many Ant
werps 1 nthe newly-assumed Napoleonic
granted that they will be forced to fight
every foot Of the way. Where Antwerp
could not be used as a naval base with
out infringing upon the neutral rights of
Holland, Ostend would be an effective
naval base for operations against Eng
land, now admittedly the aiser's main
war plan.
Today there was growing activity in
the vicinity Of Ostend. German cavalry
patrols were encountered by refugees
within a days march of the coast, and
from Bruges and Eecloo fugitives con-
tinue to enter the city, fleeing before the |
reported German advance.
Hard Fighting Reported.
The greatest activity in France aside
from the cavalry movements west of
Lille occurred today in the region of
Lassigny. Roye, Lens, and Arras. The |
heaviest fighting took place at Lens, |
where repeated assaults by the Germans !
were repulsed with great losses, accord !
ing to the French official communique.
The French war ONCE also reports |
progress in the engagement being fought |
on the plateau before Soissons, on the |
right bank Of the Aisne and to the east
and southeast OF Verdun. In the Vosges |
the enemy essayed numerous night at
tacks in the region OF Bau-de-Sapt, north |
of St Die, with no success. They were
forced to retire.
The French marines were mentioned |
for the first time since the beginning
of the war in the Bordeaux com 1
muniQue- Referring to them the re-
port says brigade Of marine fusilliers /
were engaged with the enemy all night |
and all day on October and 10, re-
pulsing the enemy with severe losses.
The Germans lost 200 killed and fifty
prisoners taken while the French
losses were but nine killed and thirty |
five wounded.
Reports from Ostend are that the
Belgian Queen has not left there for
as was reported in previous
but still remains at the side
Of King Albert.