Evening star., 1914-10-09
Aeroplane Aids Gunners

Aeroplane Aids Gunners.
brisk duel. while on our side the ma
chine guns were also hard at work,
the Chronicle correspondent continues.
This continued for some hours.
The Germans for a time did not
succeed in locating the Belgian bat
teries and ii was amusing to Watch
their shells exploding. as a rule, IN
any but the right places
Early in the afternoon, however.
they sent an aeroplane over the Bel
gian lines and positions and very
shortly afterward their shells began to
gians found that they were oelng
overpowered and orders were given to
withdraw from their positions.
1T must be remembered that the
whole of this country is covered by
villages and hamlets, and l hope / may
not gain see scenes similar TO what
then occurred These poor peasants hold
on to their homes to the last moment
and when the end comes there is con-
fusion.
The retirement of the guns and in
fantry meant. of course. that in very
short time the Germans would be on
the ground, and the narrow road run
ming back from the bank of the Scheidt
and village of Berlaerre were soon
wagons and ambulance vans. while
the infantry made their way back as
quickly as possible"
Fassage of Scheldt Forced.
Concerning the operations around
Antwerp, the correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph in Belgium, under
date of Wednesday, says:
THE Germans today succeeded in
forcing the passage OF the River
Scheldt al point between Schoonaerde
and Eigenem. They did this under
cover of a heavy early morning fog.
During the last few days the Ger
mans have brought up large reinforce
ments. They are no longer depending
on the landsturm and the reserve
troops. but are bringing up troops OF
the first line. At least one army corps
Is concentrated at Assche. from which
place they advanced through Alost TO-
ward the Scheldt
The previous attacks of the Ger
mans on the river were all made under
cover of violent artillery assaults.
which repeatedly proved futile. me
last of these open attacks was Mon
day evening. and was defeated oy '"e
vigorous defense of the allies.
after this defeat the German Is
changed their tactics. Instead OF mar
ing an advance in force on the scnoon-
aerde position, they crept up uuiins
further east. Here they threw across
a pontoon bridge, and at CLOCK tHis
morning about 500 infantrymen were
seen crossing under cover OF heaNS
artillery fire.
Beleians Are Driven Back.
~rbev were observed by the Belgian
patrols, who Immediately opened nre.
The defenders. however. were III
small numbers. and after accounes
for few of the advancing in1ahtry
q
lines.
simultaneously, the Germans COM
menced an action all along the river
side line extending from Termonoe ee
I-ytherden a few miles east OF Grem-
bergen They met with vigorous oe.
fense in which both the artillery anc
infantry participated, and at one point
they were repulsed by bayone
charge. Again the enemy advanced thi'
ceeded in breaking through.
"During the morning the German:
brought up several batteries or heaVS
guns These outranged the Belgian ar
tillery and forced its ts.retiremen.; oui - !,
fantry. 1t was noticeable that a taube
aeroplane directed the German opera
tions.
Germans had crossed the river. the
BeIgians brought up troops to hold
them back under cover OF batteries
which were shelling the enemys main
position on the opposite side.
Fight All Along Line.
"At 1870 this afternoon a hotly con-
tested battle was engaged along the
whole line. The mitrailleuses played a
considerable part in the fighting. Many
of those employed by the Belgians are
drawn by dogs, several of which l saw
lying wounded in the roadside.
subsequently, the Germans made
desperate efforts to bring their artil-
lery over the pontoon bridge. This was
fercely contested by the Be1gians and
two guns were destroyed by shrapnel
midway across. One battery, however,
succeeded in forcing a passage 1t was
centrated vigorous fire on the area
held by the Belgians to the east of Ber-
laerre.
After several hours of fierce fighting
the enemy brought up strong rein
forcements from the south. They threw
large bodies of infantry over the pom
toon bridge, and although many were
swept away a considerable number sue
ceeded in passing over. They occupied
houses in Berlaerre, and from these
vantage points kept up a rifle fre on
the Belgian infantry. At the moment
still in progress. Although they have
not yet got any large body of mer
across the Scheldt, the Germans are
evidently making determined ad-
vance, with a view, no doubt. of ap-
preaching Antwerp from the south
west"
Germans in Strong Force.
The Times Belgian correspondent. in
4. disnatch dated Wedpeaday savs.