The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-24
SITUATION TAKES
ON MORE CRITICAL
ASPECT FOR FRANCE
kaiser's Forces Hewing Theis
Way Over All Obstacles ~
Southern Advance
Decisive Battle
Is Yet to Come
While Pressed Back by Furious
Assault Allies Lines Remaip
Unbroken. With No Appear-
ance of Defeat

Paris. Oct, 23.-The Germans
struck at the allied line bctween
the North Sea and the Disc today
with tremendous force and drove
back the French and British N Il
the rcgion Of La Bassec, although
compelled themselves 30 give
ground east Of Armentieres.
General Joffre teieGraphs frous
headquarters that the allied un4sf
as whole. stands fast.
There II nothing in the ofIiciath
reports today to cause apprcfSens
sion. although II Is apparent thaf
the new effort by the Germans u
hew through the allied line whcrc-
ever a weak section can be found
in Belgium or in northern France, VI
has gained momentum In the paAl
SIX days. The German general
stan has drained Belgium Of gar@
risoning troops. and has hurr1c1
new corps OF very young and mts1-
dle-aged reservists from hcnbe 4
depots.
Probably the situation ID naoel A;
critical than 1t any timo silsc4
the flrst invasion Wh1ch bognn
from Liege and Namur. II II -
ported that the Gerunan 49,. Y
manders are again Adopting IT.
policy Of hacking throueh ~
whatever cost. The GerUs@
losses in Belgium in the pa@ET
week are estimated At 10000
killed and wounded. An re-
ports, intending General JoGresa,
point to further supreme effort
- to take the road to Paris 80 s.ss
At the extreme left Of the Um1
where French and British warsEaI
are supporting the tndomftable E
gians. the Germans could not gain p
inch. but southwark. Along the Can2
drove forward slightiy. A littlA u
nc nth OF La Bassee. In the ragion 1saS
east OF Armentieres. the ailioe %
ceeded in pushing hack Z Ger =
army, and we're equally aueca y
south Of tho HommA The hnrlN
fighting was In tho regions of III
Bassee. Armentieres and Arrns.
though the conflict ragged with .Gr3S
violence along the whole voek MAI
from the sea to north Of 0ojsepna Il
is evident that the day producsd no4h
ing decisive. 4 81
which Is the cornerutone Of the haf
tie line. there was IN artillery non
fiict with tho result favorable toS IN
British and French. 0enAral JrlIl
reports that three German u
were put out OF action. Enoel ~
the Argonne ridge there wAs NJ II
ing Of importance, but the Ul(c11 n r.
port Of the afternoon states TIT tE
French gained slight Successes II tJ
region of verdun. S;ls ssss
Correspondents in Ba1&1ln1 IN = ,.a ~
France ASSERT tha& II liix
have made progress than H. Y ~
ported by the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WY
that the warships have madS
gian coast too hot for the GernsS n
hold; that a retreat has already To-
gun from the coast. and that tn uaa1a
conflict on the whole west fank rsf1i
be decided very soon II for 10 uelS1i
reason than the terrible loaoe1 vhf
both sides are suffering.
OmC4any ADMITS LOux
The government report tonighk -
m1tted that the allies have lont -,
tain positions in the region 81 NY
hardest lighting. The text Of the coIn,
munique, issued at IL p. m. VA ~
'.On our left wing the action II,
continued with great violence espec3Ss.
ly around Arras, La BaneAe inl
The allied forces Aayl
lost some ground at certain polaf1
around La Bassee, and have eainox
ground east of ArmentierAs.
Generally. on this part Of the froQl
the situation has not been changel
North of the Aisne our arttlfeS4
has destroyed three German batterta1