New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-16
Open Way for Passage
of Division Which Oc-
cupies Frontier Town.
ALLIES FIND SOME
TRENCHES DESERTED
Invaders Appear To Be Retiring
on Centre to Concentrate
Forces Further North.

At the Battle Front, via Paris, 1903
a. m, Oct. 16.-Infantry and cavalry,
after a period Of comparative inactiv
ity, have been doing more fighting dur
ing the last few days than for several
weeks.
Two thousand French cuirassiers
have distinguished themselves by a
daring feat in swimming the River Lys
where it flows deep and swift. They
completely outwitted the Germans, who
were awaiting them on the other side
with machine guns and heavy artillery.
The French horsemen made a long
detour during the night. One man
swan the river with a rope, then
dragged over cable, which he at
tached to a tree. The others, holding
to the rope, crossed singly with their
horses through the swirling waters.
Arrived on the opposite bank, the
French drew up in line and charged
the German flank nc l-oerville, driving
the Germans back and opening the way
for the passage over the river OF
division of Allied infantry, who later
occupied Estaires.
New Battle Now Begun.
The present war differs from all pre-
vous wars, inasmuch as no one knows
just when a battle begins and when it
ends. What is now known as the bat
tie of the four rivers-the Scarpe, the
Somme, the Disc and the Aisne-may
be regarded as concluded and fresh
stage of the operations begun with the
fall of Antwerp and the renewed sp-
pearance OF strong Allied army in
Belgian territory, where it has made its
presence felt by the capture of Ypres
Meanwhile the siege of the German
positions further south has become
merely desultory, some parts Of the
line, where a perfect hail of shells was
a daily occurrence FIVE weeks ago, are
now enlivened by artillery fire only at
rare intervals.
At one very important point to-day
only thirty shells were fired throughout
the entire day. The infantry on both
sides are kept constantly on the alert,
although the Allies have found it pos
sible to reduce the strength Of those
actually on the firing lines.
T.or.bo. Aho.I-a>x
The remainder of the very strong
allied forces at these various points are
kept in reserve within measurable dis
tance, ready for any emergency. The
cold and wet have made trench work
very trying, but the Allies are well pro-
vided with blankets and waterproof
sheets. The soldiers are also combat
ing the cold by means of sheets of
parchment which they wear under their
uniforms and which are found to resist
the cold well.
Many of the advanced German
trenches appear TO have been aban-
doned and the Allies were able to make
much headway to-day, where previously
they had met with furious resistance.
The idea prevails that the Germans
are preparing 70 retire at the centre
and concentrate their energies further
north, where, it is supposed, they in
ten, to make another attempt TO break
the Allies lines.
Fresh Forces at Hand
Il appears that the commanders OF
both armies nave been awaiting rein
forcements where they are most need
ed, and in the meantime are feeling
each other out There is reason TO be-
lieve that these fresh forces have ar
rived and have been assigned 20 their
proper places. and rapid development
may be expected.
The newly arrived German troops
are thought 20 have come directly from
Germany and are composed OF second
and third reserves, who needed a period
of pulling together before going 20 the
front.
The allied commanders expect the
Germans 10 deliver another powerful
blow looking to the achievement of
their one great objective-Paris. But
this is awaited with confidence in the
power OF the allied armixs to respond
with a vigorous counter blow.