South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-19
FRENCH SEAPORT NOW
OBJECT OF AN ATTACK
Dunkirk, Across Channel From
England, is MenaCed by Ap-
preaching Germans With
Their Gigantic Siege Guns.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.

LONDON, oct. 19.-Hopes that had
been raised high by the announce
ment by the British press bureau,
that the Germans in France had been
driven back 80 miles. were dashed to-
day in an unofficial report that the
kaiser's troops were approaching
Dunkirk. the great fortified seaport
OF France across the channel from
England. This report came in Rot
terdam dispatch from the Mail, WhicF
says:
"a message Just received from a
German source reports that the Ger
mans have crossed the Belgian bOr-
der on to the coast of France and are
now about eight miles from Dunkirk.
Fort Des Dunes, first OF Dunklrk
outer works. is in their path"
News Of the arrival of Admiral Won
Tirpitz, head OF the German navy, at
Antwerp, is taken here as contrma-
tion Of the theory that Germany in
tends TO make an attack on England
as soon as practicable. There are
rumors that German submarines have
been transported by rail TO Belgium
and that these Will be put into the
waters OF the channel as soon as the
Germans are in u1disputed possession
OF the coast. A news agency dis
patch from Berlin says:
THE shortening days and the
thickening weather in the North sea
are steadily improving conditions for
the operations of submarines and tor
pedo boats Marine experts expect
that henceforth there viii he intense
activity throughout the entire North
sea"
Lightship SheTed.
The Belgian lightship off Zee
Brugge, the port Of Bruges, has been
sheIled by "a German battery from
shore and the crew has been forced
10 flee. This also is confirmatOry Of
the belief that the Germans intend
10 be active at the southern ehd Of
the North sea.
IL was marked today that the Brit
ish naval experts ignored the POSSIBLE
itv Of "a sea attack on England In their
comment on the war. Military ex-
perts devoted their attention wholly
10 the operations on land.
Col Repington, the Times war eX-
pert. in comparing the second and
third line troops of Germany and
England, says:
1T is evident that Germany has
5000 600 men in the field. The mass
of armies now consist chiefly Of sec
ond and third grade troops. As we
have plenty of such troops we must
see WnelneE We SllOuAQ not use AItHl
earlier than we had intended. There
Is a difference between our second
class troops and those Of Germany.
All the German reservists have re-
Ceived more or less military training.
The landwehr may be 80 years and
members OF the landsturm from 16
up 10 40 years of age. our second
raters, the special reserVist territOr-
ais. will not be highly trained but
A
Germans from a standpoint OF ages.
We do not always notice any particu-
lar principle followed by Germany in
the use of her second line troops. Her
dire need compelled her to throw in
troops as they came. regardless of
quality"
New Feature in History.
Gen. vOn Hindenburg. in his fight
at Tannenherg. seems 10 have held his
front with landsturm, and used his
first line troops on the wing for de-
cisive strokes against the Russians.
As 20 operations in France Col.
RepingtOn says:
This extraordinary line OF battle
which stretches across France is
something new in history. No one
knows quite what To make or think
OF it, The advantage may rest with
the commander who first dominates
"a new position and refuses any longer
to be dominated. 1T is ne who can
use first and second grade troops 20
the best advantage and may gain
much
Col. Repington comments as fol-
lows upon the Antwerp relief force
OF British marines.
II believe that the operations there
we're practicable They did not fail
through any fault Of ours. tt was a
natural disappointment with heavy
losses 10 the assailants"
The German attack is being direct
cd against the Russian army south OF
Warsaw. chiefly in the vicinity OF
Tvan,gorod and JosefOwe. For five
days in succession the Germans and
their allied forces have striven 10
cross the Vistula between these two
towns.
Aeroplanes Drop Bombs.
On Sunday two Germaa aeroplanes
flew over Warsaw and Cropped FIVE
bombs Only two OF theU exploded.
hut seven persons were Killed and
many injured. according 10 the War
eaw correspondent OF the NOvoe
Nreyma. The aerial raiders We're met
with fusillades or shots and ~ is be-
lieved that the airship was struck
According 10 the best estimates OBJ
tainable here the Russians now have
$4,000 troops engaged IN the fight
ing along the Vistula and San This
s. exclusive or the forces In the
Lornza and Suwalki districts and
CcONTISUED on PAGE III