The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-19
REPULsE TOR GERMANS
WITH HEAVY CASUAL TIES
Saint Die. on the Murtl,e, Northeast
OF Epinal, Is Centre Of
Days Attack.
CLASHES AT SEVERAL PLACES
Along Intrenched Line, Where
Armies Are Face to Face, Nothing
But Desnitory Bombardn,ent Oc-
curs--Spies Are Numerous.

FROM THE BATTLE FRONT. Oo-
tober is (via Paris, October 10. 1906
a. M).--What in previous wars would
have been called great battles were
fought to-day on the eastern wing Of
the line stretching from the Belgian
coast to Switzerland. In, this great
battle of nations, however, these fights
are regarded merely as incidents.
Fighting always has been of fierce
nature in this district, owing TO the
strenuous efforts OF the Germans TO OBJ
tain possession of the strong fortrcsses
of Verdun, Toul and Epinal TO open a
way from Metz into France
Saint Die. on the Murthc, thirty-two
miles northeast of Epinal was the
centre of to-days attacks, which re-
suited in 4 repulse for the Germans
with heavy casualties. The borders OF
shock of the battle, and In tho Eosges
the famous French Alpine regiments
were In contact. with German columns
The mountaineers continually keep the
Germans. busy by utilizing their re-
markable mountain guns and battling
their efforts to displace them.
Their greatest achievement in the
recent operations was the cutting OF
railroad communication between Col
mar. capital OF Upper, Alsace, and
Muelhausen. Prussia. thereby increas-
ing the difficulties of the Germans in
sending their wounded to the rear and
bringing UP supplies. - q.
The Germans have brought ten-inch
mortars In this district, supposedly for
an intended eventual siege of Belfort.
In view of that, the French have re-
newed their attacks from the south and
again advanced beyond Altkirche. y
great part of the lighting zone in
Southern Alsace is Illuminated at night
by forest fires along the Swiss frontier
caused by shells falling across the
border.
Along the intrcnched line. where the
armies have been face to face for six
weeks nothing beyond a desultory
bombardment occurred to-day: but
fighting continues farther north on the
western wing, where the German eff
forts to break the allies lines have
been unsuccessful.
FRENCH INFANTRY MAKES
DASH ON THE GERMANS
During a dense fog, which overhung
the battle line, hindering operations
on both sides, n section of French in
fantry recently made dash on the
Germans on the Somme River. sur
prlsed the men In the trenches. and
annlhilated their first line with the
bayonet.
The Frenchmen pursued their adj
vantage, but fell into tho hands OF a
reserve battalion of German infantry.
who captured all of them. The fog
thickened and prevented the Germans
from moving, and they formed a hol-
! low square around the prisoners TO
await the clearing of the atmosphere.
The Germans then bivouacked, and
silence reigned, until n voice rang out
from among the prisoners, ITO the
guns, comrades!" Every Frenchman
rushed to the stacks of guns, the butts
of which could he seen beneath the fog.
The German commander and Il dozen
men standing guard tried to resist the
French, but fell under their own bayo-
nets. and the entire German battalion,
dazed by the onslaught, surrenderrd
Tho French took them back to the
French lines after the fog lifted.
On another part OF the line. where
500 Germans were we'll burrowed in
quarrles. the French general called for
! 800 Turco volunteers. During the
night the .slgerians, discardinG their
rifles, crept in with bayonets between
their teeth and surprised the Ger
mans, of whom only eight escaped.
The number of spies III the war zone
seems undiminished. and there are ire
quently executions, particularly In the
east. Recently u German colonel and
la captain appeared in the French lines
in the uniforms OF the French privates.
They said they had been separated
from their regiments, and requested to
another command. They replied with
out accent to all questions put to
them, and their identity was reveal ed
only when they claimed to know the
commander of, the regiment to which
they had applied for service They
said they had seen him at a certain
, place, but the commander not having
reveal their identity. They were shot.