The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-10-09
Battle Line Extends
Into Belgium.
MUCH HEAVY FIGHTING.
Franco British Forces Drive
Foe North Of ArraS.
GERMAN CENTER WEAkENS
Invaders Still Hold Positions
on the Meuse.
GERMAN CENTER WEAkENS

london. Oct. 9. = The battle ilne'
which for the last two weeks mas Deen
hearing more and more to the north
ward. now extends almost to the sea
coast.
Official reports from Berlin an
uouuce that the German forces are
gaining ground slowly but surely anu
mention specifically the recapture OF
Douai and the repulse of fresh attacks
in the Argonne and northeast OF yer
dun.
To Offset this, Paris announces thal
the Germans have fallen back north
of Arras, which is fifteen miles soath'
west of Douai, and that the hgntlng
in that region is developing under
conditions favorable to the allies.
Neither side appears to have cameo
\ decisive victory in the region OF
Rove, for violent fighting, according
to the Paris night bulletin, continues
there, and the afternoon bulletin an
nouuced that the Germans were still
in force between the Somme and the
Disc, although their numbers appeared
fewer north of the Aisne.
The German Statement
The official statement issued in Ber-
lin says:
Heavy fighting between great
forces of cavalry continue at the west
ern end of the battle line in France.
Infantry figures in the conflict only
occasionally. We took Doual from the
French and they have been striving
to drive us out for several days with
ont success, We are making steady
progress.
sThe engagements Of the right wing
n France have not led to any de-
cision. The attacks of the French In
the Argonnes and from the northeast
font of verdun have been repulsed.
'The capture of Fort Broechem, at
Antwerp, was accomplished after
hhavy fighting. We captured there
Anvtwo field guns, four heavy bat
tsg1as ~ many machine guns. the
- Md inner fort after we had
o1ooted ! breach that allowed us to
approach the city. They were all re-
pulsed.
1.-The Germans attacking Antwerp
have crossed the River Nethe and are
approaching the ianer forts. The cap
tura Of the Belgian guns was effected
in the open field. Many of the guns
In the outer forts were wrecked COM
paetely."
The French Statement.
The Official statement issued in
Paris says:
'-On the whole the situation is sta
t1onary, the positions occupied re-
several violent engagements, notably
n the region of Roye.
"F1rst-On our left wing, in the re-
g1on Of the department of Nord, the
enemy has made progress at no point.
At certain points he has moved back,
particularly to the north of Arras,
wher the fighting is developing under
eoaditions favorable to US. The oper-
atoms of the opposing forces of cav
airy are developing at the present
time almost as far as the seacoast on
the north.
Between the Somme and Disc, in
the vicinity of Roye, the enemy is still
In force, but we have retaken the ma
Jor part of the positions we were com.
PEELED to give up.
ITO the north of the Aisne the nu-
merical strength of the German troops
seems to have diminished.
"Second-On the center, between
Rheims and the Meuse, there is moth
ing to report. On the heights of the
Meuse, between Verdun and st. Mi.
hiel, the enemy has drawn back to
the north of Hattonhatel eleven miles
northeast of st. MihieD. He still holds
st. Mihiel and some positions to the
north of st. Mihiel on the right bank
Of the Meuse.
In the Woevre district the violent
attacks delivered by the enemy to the
west of Apremont have failed.
'@On our right wing, Lorraine and
tie Vosges, there has been no appar.
ct change"
Fighting Is Fierce.
The dercest fighting which has
marked the conflict in the Frenc'
thsater of war has taken place since
Monday On the western wing Of the
allies armies. New forces of Ger nan
cavalry and infantry, which haze a.
peareu III 4roni OF the allies lines, have |
used every resource and every effort |
% attain success. They have thrown
again and again at the
French and British, who have brought |
equally strong bodies of. troops for
ward to oppose them.
The battle is no longer one of ma
shine-like strategy of two armies, but
J contest centering in the powers of
endurance of two bodies of human be-
ngs, each as determined as the other
1ot to give up the struggle before vic
:ory is achieved. Here and there the
ines have faltered one way or the
,ther under the shock, but again have
.ightened up and become firm.
At one point the German cavalry
llfled lines at a place which must re-
main undisclosed, but not in sufficient
ltrength to make their feat of appre-
fable. importance. The retirement OF
he allies was, however, fully in &C
,ordance with the plans of the gen.
nal stan. The breach in the line was
i an acute angle, and the Germans
vere placed In a very precarious po-
ation, from which they were ousted
nth great loss later in the day.
Never, perhaps, in military annals