The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-20
REPORTS CONFLICT;
 BOTH ARMIES CLAIM
 TO BE ADVANCING
Situation Is Still Much in the Dark-Germans Have I'm proved PositiOn-Decisive Result Soon Appears In- evitable

London, October 19.-(1O:l5 p. m.) The third act of the European war in the western theatre has reached a critical point. The first act was the German attempt to sweep upon Paris with the capture of the French capital as the climax of the advance.
 Ine second act was the allies offen- sivc, assumed after General von Kluck had stretched his army on the Ger man west wing over a longer line of communications than he could hold The allieo army pressed the Germans back, compelling the entire line to recede to maintain an unbroken front and d possible line of retreat.
 The third act is the attempted ac- vance of the Germans along the coast of Belgium and northern France ap- parently with the aim to establish themselves in channel ports. from where they could menace England
 Wing on Armentieres
 The extreme western fighting line now reaches from Armentieres through Roulers to Newport on the coast about half way between ostend and Dunkirs According to the French official an nouncement today German heavy artil- 1ery, presumably used in the siege of Antwerp, has bombarded the front fron Nieuport to Vladslo, which is about 10 miles from the coast. the allies also have made progress eastward from . point south of Armentieres toward Lille on line running roughly to Arras. The report tells of house to house fighting in which the allies are ad- vancing. The battle has ragged around Arras without respite for 10 days, and on the part of the allied troops with a perseverance and spirit which never for moment has been relaxed
 The German official report covers these operations more tersely. It says the attacks west and northwest of Lille have been repulsed with heavy losse es tc tho allies.
 Situation Still Dark
 The situation is still much in the dark. English and French papers gath : CT encouragement from reports pup- lished from their side. From the Gcr- man point of view it is possible the Germans have improved their position and with the forces that besieged Ant werp and achievements from Ger
 
 another sweeping movement.
 In this field of action it appears in- evitsb ble that there soon must be some decisive result. The country's flatncss seems to have made it impossible foI. the two armies to cntrench and epc. each other without important change Fl position for weeks, as they have done across northern France.
 The announcement that the Germans have taken siege guns to the neighbor- hood of Belfort may mean they plan an attempted advance on both ends of what has become virtually long for tified line.
 German official reports say the exo- dus from Ostend is being repeated :fl the flight of inhabitants from Dunkirk and Boulogne.
 Confirmation of this assertion he 8 not been received here, but it Is wholly possible, the proximity of the Ger. mans has created panic at thore ports.
 Battles Continue
 Great battles continue in the eastern thcater between the Russian and Aus tria Germany forces. Reports from botls sides are brief and contradictory Pctrograd claims the Russians have won partial success in severe fighting before Warsaw and Przemysl. Vienna declares the Austro-German arm.e have made advances in both regioEs nlic that the Russian casualties q, Przemysl number 10000.
 Police Protect Germans
 London, October 19.-Q1;10 D. m.C-Po- lice tonight dispersed mob that again attempted to wreck German shops in the borough of Deptford. Many shopkeepers, fearing attacks. had strongly barricaden their places
 A police court judge today deci'ied 10 accept bail in the cases of more than 30 rioters arrested during Sl.iday night 3 demonstration. The public prosecutor d. yised this, declaring the conduct Of those wrecking and footing the stores and Hv- ! irg apartments of Germans was dis grace to Englishmen.
 The newspaper campaign against the employment of subjects of hostile coun- tries continues. Several additional hotels today announced that all German and Austrian employees had been discharged. 4 number of large restaurants have sub \ stituted girl walters for Germans and Z Austrians.
 Freighter Has Serious Fire
 Seattle. october .1s.-After burning day <n~.a a it-~.te f~ofp Titan. in