Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-22
VIOLENT FIGHT
. ALONG SEA COAST
Both Sides Make Desperate
Efforts to Possess the
Ports on Channel
LITTLE OFFICIAL
NEWS is GIVEN OUT
Reports of Combatants in
Eastern War Theater
are Conflicting

Violent attacks and counter-attacks
for possession of the sea coast in the
extreme north of France continue
without decisive results.
Only one official statement-that
from Paris-had come through early
this afternoon. 1t threw little light on
the situation, being brief and referring
to events of yesterday.
The attacks of the Germans especial
ly severe at Nieuport, Dixmude and
La Bassee, Tuesday, were repulsed.
says the French war office There was
no noteworthy change elsewhere on
the battle front. News dispatches in
dicate the sharpest fighting in the
vicinity of Lille, with a renewal of
activity at vital points all along the
Aline.
Counter claims regarding the situa-
ion in the east leave much to specula-
ion. There appears, however, little
doubt that the German advance in
Rn~sian Poland has been so success
ful that Warsaw is seriously threat
nre'. Przemysl remains in the pos
session Of the Austro-German forces.
There hss hsen renewal of activity
in eastern Prussia without definite re-
suit a statement from Vienna issued
yesterday says that the fighting in
central Galicia has become more
severe and that the Austrian attacks
are progressing.
A news dispatch from Copenhagen
says that German torpedo boats have
been engaged with an enemy in the
Baltic off the Prusglsian coast. No de-
tails were given.
Albania looms again as possible
influence upon the attitude of Italy
towards the war. The Italian govern
ment today denied that Italian troops
had occupied Avlona, which has been
threatened by insurgents since the
abdication of Prince William of Wied.
At the same time the Giornale
D'Italia of Rome declares that there
is a state of anarchy at Avlona; init
mates that Greece is taking advantage
of the disturbed conditions and de-
ciares that the Italian government has
notified the powers that it will not
tolerate violation of the integrity of
Albania.
Rome reports unofficially that the
Anglo-French fleet is still bombarding
Cattaro, Dalmatia.
London, Oct. 21-A comparison Of
the official reports from Paris and Ber.
lin leads to the conclusion that all
along the western battle front in
France and Belgium, the Germans
have resumed the offensive, but with
their supreme efforts directed against
the allies left.
The news supplementing these Of
fetal communications, however, indi-
cate that on the left at least the allies
are not acting merely on the defen-
sive
The great turning movement is un-
doubtedly developing through the cor
ner of Belgium bounded by France and
the sea- but the public remains in a
haze as to whether the turning move
ment is one on the part of the allies to
get around the German right flank or
a German operation to envelop the
allies left.
The impression grows that the Ger
mans are determined to add Dunkirk
to the line of seaports now held along
the Belgian coast and the allies are
the invaders.
Late reports through Dutch sources
declare that the Germans have been
repulsed six miles from Ostend and
that guns are now heard near the CITY,
Other late reports which lack con-
frmation, state that the Germans have
abandoned Bruges. If these reports
are true it would indicate that the
allies are meeting with some success
IN their efforts to re-occupy the sea-
coast.
Fighting at Lille.
The movements along the coast con-
hnue to be more or less in the nature
Of reconnaissance movements while
the aim of the fighting on the allies
left centers around Lille which is be-
cause it's railroad and highway con-
nections are of vital strategic import
ance to the Germans. From Lille two
roads run out to the west-one north
erly to Armentieres and the other
southerly to Fournes through coun-
try which is enclosed and thickly
populated.
The French report contents itself
with the assertion that these roads
are held by strong forces Of Germans
while the Berlin communication claim
victory on them. The operations
along these roads may also merely be
a reconnaissance movement, checked
by the Germans, but all reports agree
that the German resistance at Lille
continues to be of the most stubborn
character.
Stubborn Fight in East.
Only the meager reports arrive from