The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-20
BRITISH WARSH|PS
AID IN DRIVING
GERMANS BACK
kaiser's Plan to Seize French
Seacoast Meets With De-
cided Check
Rumored Germans
Evacuate Lille
French Commander Describes
Fighting as a House-to-H ouse
Advance-.-Germans Attcmpt
10 Break Line at Chaulnes

London, Oct. 2O.--A Morning
Post special correspondent In the Il
north of France says that he II
informed on excellent authority
that the allies have retaken Os-
tend. There Is no confirmation
here of this report.
Paris, Oct 19.-Rrit1eh wn<.
ships of the coast of Belgium
shelled the German line near
Newport today, and aided the
gallant BelgianS In driving tho
Germans northwafd from Rou-
lers.
The kaiser's plan 20 seine thu
French seacoast has met with de-
cided check and the gums OF Brit
ism cruisers supporting the Bal
Eian army and the French mss
rines, have compelled the Ger.
mans to retreat from eight to TEN
miles.
The Official news that q Britain
squadron now coznposes the OK
treme left wing OF the allied forces
and has already made itself pow
erful felt, is q totally new d.
veiopanent of the war. Tho kOa1g
range gums of the cruisers nx9As
holding the Germans back ffuGN az
the scacoast, multiplying tho Occu.
patton of Ostend. and forcing TIM #
Germans to gtye battle ON ground
chosen by General JOfFrc.
The commander-in-cllief RS
ports tonight that the Belgian
army splendidIy distinguished ~ Il
self In the days fighting moving
northward from tho river YpreS
despite csannonading by the heavy
Ssf hf no mr. &vNa
Roulers and standing impress.
nably ON a greatly advanced battle
line.
In France, the northern section o
the left wing of the allies Is advanc
ing toward Lille, the Germans givtns
way. but fighting desperately. Gen
sral Joffre describes the fighting Il
this region as a house-to-house ad
vance. There Is an unofficial rep01
that the Germans have evacnates
Lille, unable to hold the city ate
was retaken by tn
allies.
Allies Move Forward at Roye.
Southwark, in the region Of Arra
and toward Roye, the battle has takes
on new violence. The government re-
ports show that the allies are slowl
driving the Germans from outer On
and have carried tn
lighting to the barbed-wire defensek
In this quarter the allies press fo4
ward with unimpaired conffdenc
after nearly two weeks OF night An'
day fighting. Further SOUTHWARK,
Germans made a new attempt &
break through, at Chaulnes, but wsx
repulsed and lost ground.
Along the fortified center on IA
Hills there IL desultor.
artillery duelling. neither side strOnl
apparently, to menace sertcu1
" the defenses of the other: eAcl
waiting the issue in Northern France
But in the east tho French. after ~
gaining the left bank OF the Meuoe
are now advancing on the right banA
In Alsace they have made progre
and strong forces are active ALI alont
the barrier fortress line.
Generally encouraging to France a.
report 10 tonight There l.
one item that 10 Of thrilling interest,"
the presence of British neet Oh ~
Belgian coast and actively assisting n
repulsing the Germans. The AIttee
have made progress in France. Th<
text of the night communique wa ~
Belgium--German attacks betWoe5
Newport and Dixmude have been N,
pulsed by the Belgian army. whtcl
was aided most effectively by the HF1t
Ish squadron.
Between Arras and Roye ~ hnNl
made slight progress at several pOtn&1
Our troops advanced a. Tar ~ ~
harbed wire defenses OF the AnAEny. -
Gaia Ground II 81. laihaaf. ss
I'm the neighborhood Of St. Nihi1