The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-18
ALLIES HOLDING
THEIR own ALONG
BATTLE FRONT
loire Strengthening Barrier
Against German Forward
Movement
Weather Conditions
Becoming Bad
Rain Throughout Northern
France Yesterday Materially
Interfered With Military
Movements

Paris Oct. iTs--Ts,e FscrTa
and British columns attacking
the German right wing near Ialie
advancssd five miles to-day, drove
the Gurssns from Frvnsclic end
Fleurbuix and ssArrsi the APP
proat-hcs to Ar1r,entieryss-
This movement served To
straighfen the allied line which
runs now almost dirrssiy north
AMI south from, the NoYsh SEA-.
near Ostersi. To Yprcs, In BEL
GUM. and 10 the vicinity OF Ar
ncntferes. I'm flaassa The gov
ernnef,t reports to-day Indicate
that General Joffre ia rapidly
strengthening ffse hnrr1cr to
ncw German advance. through
Belgium, and the extsrHasc north
of France.
French marines are 6ehung along
the canal running from Ipres TO the
North Sea, aud there is little doubt
now that considerable Part Of the
British and Belgian forces that 'os-
capped from Antwerp and ostend are
operating on this extreme left wing. A
new British force has appeared III
the north and made itseff felt to-day
by taking the town of Frcmaneile. In
creased activity IN the north and
lui! in the fighting along the old bat
tie front of I4asalgny- Roye- Soissions,
points TO greatly reinforced allied
line at the Belgian frontier. There
can be no more turning movements by
either side. The allies, II Ia reported.
IRE in strength to Withstand new
frontal attack.
Weather Conditions Ba6.
There ia n, ofYicial news OF the sit
uatton along the center from Rheims
10 The Argonie Ridge. but newspaper
correspondents assert that German re-
distance has weakened. Along the
Mcuse near st. Mihtel, the govern
ment reports ar advance There Is
an unofficiaI report that the French
advance toward Meta has progressed
along the Vercun- Metz highway 10
within ten miles % tho fortress me
situation at the east az the battle
line from verdun TO Belfort appears
10 he to the advantaee OF the french
The lighting Is now carried on aa-
der most difficult conditions. IL WAS
-atpinx heavily today In northern
France. and there were reports of a
snowfall in Lorraine Wintry westa-
or at the east OF the line will prob
ably delay operations in that quar-
ter which can hardly be TO the al
vantage Of the invaders.
The striking points of the gov"ttt
ment reports today Were the success
full advances made by British aNd
French troops in the north Of Fran Ne-
towards Lille in which region nc.
lighting has been more violent man
anywhere along the battle Hoe.
$50 miles. The allies hold line =
the coast against the advance Of Won
Beseler. while they slowly push Sack
Won Eluek. The text OF the night
communique, issued at 1850 o'clo TX.
was.
ION the front there has been brief
cannonading. On our left wing our
progress continues. The British
troops have captured Fromelles.
southwest OF Lille. On the canal run
ming from Ypres to the North Sea orr
marines have repulsed a German at
tack"
The report OF the afternoon in
dicated that the Germans have not
been able. as yet. to progress south
ward from Ostend Incidentally a
successful movement by the allies &C.
ward Lille was mention, together with
an advance at the Meuse. The com.
muniuue was given ont at o:55
Allies Hold Their Own.
ION our left wing the action con-
tinued vigorously Everywhere we
have held our own. At certain points
we have gained ground and have oc-
cupied f4avende al the east of Tstairas.
In the direction Of Lille
There Is no Important incident to
mention on the other parts OF the
front. except an unsuccessful attack
by the Germans I'm the region Of Ma :
lancourt northwest Of Nerdun"