New-York tribune., 1914-11-17
GERMANS PAY HIGH
FOR USELESS GAINS
Sustain Terrible Losses
TO Take Untenable
Positions.
ACCOUNT OF BATTLE
TALE OF SLAUGHTER
Nine. Picard'S Husband and
Other Wounded Officers De-
scribe Belgian Campaign.

BY NINE. JEAN ALCIDE PICARD.
Paris. Nov. l6.-My husband and other
wounded officers have just arrived from
Ipres and are now in hospital in the
south. This is what they tell me about
the situation in Belgium. giving an idea
OF what the struggle there really is:
Although the Germans evidently di-
rect their greatest effort against the
Allies on the front from DiXmude to
Ypres. they have failed completely till
now 70 gain any positive advantage
Fantastic numbers OF men are being
sacrificed by them TO take positions
which are without real strategic value
and which cannot be held. like the left
bank Of the User and DiXmude. Calais
holds for the Germans q fascination
which seems 10 render them oblivious
10 everything else. even the menacing
sdvance Of the Russian army. To
reach il they are neglecting their east
tern frontier 20 send reinforcements
after reinforcementS TO break our lines.
The appalling holes made in their
masses by our fire are instantly filled.
One wonders where all these men come
from. To be sure. lately they have
been made up Of young men and those
much older.
Especially during this last week the
battle al DiXmude and Npres has taken
on q character Of unheard of violence.
Thrown back on the User, the Germans
Go not give up their plan to reach the
coast. They renew their efforts con-
stantly and with extraordinary perse-
Verance. One officer said: "My brig
ade on Wednesday was north Of 1pres
on a three-mile front. The enemy tried
desperately 70 gain that point. Re
pulsed the first time with enormous
losses. they came back in greater num-
berS again and again without gaining
any ground Al times we lost little,
but roCained i soon by a vigorous Of
fCnsive. ! have seen one single trench
lost and retaken by us seven times IN
one day
THURSDAY night. realizing the use
lessness Of their efforts. the enemy
slackened their attack, but for short
time only. Saturday morning they took
the offensive again in the region south
of DiXmude There my men had 20
sustain a terrible shock. During forty
hours they fought without minutes
rest BY the violence Of the attack 1t
was easy 20 be seen the enemy was
trying 70 make q decisive effort. II Is
impossible 10 imagine such hell as pre-
vailed. Our losses were great, but
bow can one describe those OF the Ger
mans Whole battalions were swept
out Of existence by our seventy-fves.
"I have seen a regiment coming for
ward with flag unfurled 10 about 300
yards OF our lines, when they were
greeted by such terrible fire that
they had 70 retreat. Forming anew,
they came a second time, and nearer.
Again our fire swept them away. A
third time they came. The order was
WHISPERED in our ranks 10 let them ad-
vance. Then when the lines were
tmenty yards apart the order was given
2 10 fire at will Ten minutes later not
p one German was left. l. had taken
less than one hour 10 eXterminate 5000
men.
when I was wounded on Tuesday
the fight was going on with just as
much tenacity. Along the whole Bel
eian front the struggle is OF unheard
of violence. but the enemy has been
unable 10 gain. / don't speak Of the
inevitable losses of ground of one day
which are regained the next These
are without profit for the adversary,
but nowhere have the Germans sue
ceeded in breaking our lines, and this
is the one important point for the mo-
ment.
Notwithstanding hardships and the
difficulty and length Of the operations,
we breathe the atmosphere Of success
I'D there. We are sure Of IL. Our men
know il will come. They all say it will
be hard. but well have them; and this
spirit In our soldiers, with the corre-
spending uneaslness in the enemy's
camp. is as great an asset as the
splendid management of operations by
our superior officers"