The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-17
Are Beginning to Show
Effects of the Past
Months Struggle in
Flanders
ALLIES SUCCESS
PREDICTED SOON
Staff Officer Of Anglo-French Forces
Says That Within Another Month
Germans Will Be Driven From the
Soil of France

Paris, Nov. II, Z A. M.-The Ger
mans, in the opinion of officers at the
front, are beginning to show signs of
the terrific strain they have undergone
for month past in Flanders and these
officers expect that General Joffre s
plan of holding the line and permitting
the German host to wear itself out in
vain but costly assaults will soon bear
fruit.
A staff officer, writing from the
battle line, even goes so far as to pre-
diet that within another month the al
lies will be in a position to drive the
enemy from French SOIL The writer,
however, admits that he is by nature
an optimist.
Details of Dixmude Fighting
Some details of the taking of Dix
nude, which the Germans still hold,
but which thus far has brought them
no advantage, have reached here. The
capture of the town it appears was due
to mistake on the part of French
detachment.
When the fighting started the Bel
glans were entrenched north of the
city, protecting the Keyen road. To
their right, turned toward the west IN
the direction of Essen were the Sepe
galese rifiemen. To the south the
French bulejackets occupied the most
exposed position on the Clerken road.
The enemy opened a terrific lombard
ment at a. m. on Tuesday last during
which the admiral who was in com
mand of the sailors and who was max
ing reconnaissance, just missed being
hit by the fragment of a shell.
Firing on the Trenches
The men waited patiently in the
trenches. Toward ! p. m. the cannon,
aiding slackened and the dense columns
of German infantry opened fire on the
trenches. One column threatened TO
turn the Belgians, who overpowered by
numbers retired ON the outskirts of the
city. They were followed by the Sen
egalese who thought that an order for
a general retreat had been given. This
movement uncovered the blue Jackets
who, however, continued to hold their
ground.
While part of the enemy advanced
on Dixmude by the Essen and Keyen
roads left open to them, the rest came
at double quick for the sailors. Faced
oy the Prussian guard they were in
danger of being surrounded. Undaunt.
ed, however, they dashed with the bay-
onet upon the Germans but were over.
whelmed by numbers and beaten back
to the trenches. Asked to surrender
they replied in the words credited to
General Cambronne at Waterloo when
IN similar circumstances he said: "The
guard dies but never surrenders."
Allies Obliged to Retire
For several hours they held off the
Germans who were four times as nu.
merous, charging their ranks everv
time they came too near.
Towards evening they were Obliged
to retire since their only means of re.
treat, the bridge connecting the eity
with the country, was about DESTROYED
They crossed the bridge under an avail.
anche of bullets with such magnificent
neroism that the Prussians officers aft.
erward greatly expressed tleir admira,
tiOn.
The fighting was resumed with ter.
rlfc violence in the streets the blue
Jackets defending each heap of rubbish
that had been house, but finally re.
treating across the User.