The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-10
phases OF FIGHTING
ON FRENCH LEFT WING
Battle of Arrns Begins October 1
aud Whole Region Becomes
Veritable Inferno.
UNCEAsING HAIL OF SHELLS
Clasl, Develops With Amazing Sud-
Z denness, and on All Sides There Is
Violence, Destruction and Death.
Correspondents Diary OF Events.

LONDON. October 9.-The Times
Bonlogne correspondent who lis
been on the scene. relates some phases
OF the lighting on the French left wing.
The correspondent says he went un
susrectingly to Arras September 10.
The battle of Arras began October L.
and the whole region became a veri
table inferno. All around was an up-
.ceasins hail OF shells and sh:apnel.
'violence. destruction and death.
On the previous Thursday the
correspondent continues. "the allies
were battering ut the gates of Cam
brai On FRIDAY the enemy developed
vigorous counter attack from VaIen-
c:cnnes on Lens, and from Cambria and
BoDaumc on the allies position, south
and east OF Arras 49,
On Saturday, the enemy. greatly
reinforced. attacked with great vio-
lence all along the line Tho allies We're
compelled to fall bnck from Lens and
Douail lighting stubbornly the while
The enemy occupied Bethune, and Gent
troops into Lille. firing from windows
us thcy went
swept around II. They cut a line be.
tween Arras and ST. Pol seeking to
effect junction with their Bethune
force. S.
They came into contact with strong
French reinforccments and were driven
retired to La Basses. with their right
wing resting on Lille. The tide ofEthe
battle has been stemmed-perhaps has
turned in favor of the allies.
This Gattle of the north devclopcd
with amazing suddenness, as may be
gathered from the diary of my cxpe-
rlcnces."
The, diary describes the beginning of
the battle on October l and continues,
in part:
BI.OODSrAINED SOLDIERS
STREAM INTO ARRAS
"As darkness fell the ;iret. blood
stained soldiers began streaming into
Arras. Throughout the night the boom
[ OF guns could be heard In the distance
I. from the east and southeast
Apparently as the day advanced
the sound was coming nearer. but the
citizens showed stout heart and had
plenty OF occupation tending the
wounded who were being brought in
continuously.
The losses on both sides, 1 am told.
have been very heavy. In one action
alone to-day Ave German regiments
were cut UP and the horses of..their
conveys stampeded. They were ad-
Sancing on Arras by the road along
| the River Scarpe, and at the village
vastating fire from our artillery, and
the whole five regiments broke and
fed
The day, however. has not been al
together favorable for the allies, as
the French line was obliged TO fall
back considerably; and this evening
the enemy's shells are falling within
| a few kilometres Of the Arras sta
ton.
'On October T was awakened at
daybreak by the thunder, Of. heavy
| guns. now from the north. and east,
where the third days battle is raging
in triangle formed By Arras. Lens
and Douai.
October 4.-The action is now gem
eral in all directions. We go out I'm
the afternoon with the Red Cross to
aid in bringing In the wounded. Co
ing in the direction OF Cambria. the
shells hurtlc overhead as we run the
gauntlet Away to the south the VII
lagos are In flames. and northward a
huge cloud of black smoke hangs over
Lens. where the coal mines are on
fire. -qr
we reached little hamlet. where
every building is full Of wounded, and
the nurses and doctors are working
heroically at the terrible shrapnel-
mangled limbs We take all we are
able in the cars back to Arrns sta
ton. where they are entrained.
Entering Arras again, we learn
that all the men between eighteen and
forty eight have been ordered to leave
town. They are already streaming
out on foot for. st. Pol. and we join
them"