New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-10


lBy Gable 10 ne T,lbuael
With the Belgian Army (name of
place censored), Nov. 9.-Ypres is in
flames and the greater part OF this fine
old Flemish town is a ruin. Early this
morning the Germans managed To get
the range with their heavy artillery.
and from dawn onward li-inch and
l3-inch shells were poured into the
city.
The town itself was completely DC
serted and no loss Of Life resulted from
the heavy shell fire.
A naval officer, who left Ypres this
morning, declared that the only living
things in the town were an aged and
crippled Flemish woman and a dog. The
woman was vainly attempting to quell
the sweeping flames with buckets %
water Famed by northeasterly
breeze the flames greedily licked the
houses. the majority of which are TIM
bered. and soon the western side Of
the town became mass Of red hot
wreekage.
High powered explosive shells, and
in some cases. it is reported, incen-
diary shells fell into Ypres at the rate
Of two 10 twenty a minute.
The objective Of the Germans de-
struction appeared TO be mainly the
Halles, the most considerable gothic
edifice Of its kind in Belgium. Much
Of the structural work of this build
ing dates from the thirteenth cen
tury, and its destruction ranks in his
torical importance with that Of Lou
vain and Rheims.
The tower of the Cathedral Of Saint
Martin is also partly in ruins. This
building Is an example OF the transl-
ton style and dates from 1921. Many
paintings, chiefly from the brushes of
pupils of Rubens, are reported 20 have
been carried away IN safety. In the
northern quarter OF the town, where
there were many fine old buildings.
considerable damage was also done
by fire and shell.
If any stimulus 10 recruiting bs
needed IN England it should be pro-
vided by recounting the deeds Of the
Scots Guards and the Scots Greys,
who magnihcently defended the Brit
ish position az Messines, south o.
Npres. Their bayonet charges and the
subsequent saving of a perillous posi-
ton is no less glorious than the deeds
of the London Scottish.
In a desperate effort 10 break
through, the Germans had massed enor-
nous forces at this point. The brunt
Of their attack was nobly borne by the
Scots Guards and Greys. For some
time the issue seemed in doubt. 1t ap-
Deared impossible 20 resist the over
whelming numbers. A devastating shell
fire raGed the British lines, and %
seemed as IL retirement was imminent
under the heavy fire. The Germans
sent forward their hordes 10 sweep the
British back by sheer weight Of num-
bers.
The lighting took place on open.
leve! ground, where there was room
for preliminary tactics. 1t was a hand
20 hand encounter, in which British
grit proved the deciding factor,
The order to charge was given. and
our men left their trenches and await 70
ed the oncoming Germans. The con
'lct was short and sharp. The German
advance was stemmed and finally IL
rolled back. Our losses were heavy,
but the situation was saved.
London. Nov. With smashing at
tacks which arr believed 20 denote the
teginning OF the crucial period of the
struggle 70 gain the north coast %
France, the Germans to-day renewed
their offensive IN the vicinity OF Ypres
md Dixmude. Previous attempts 10
break the Allies lines in this region
Rad failed. OF to-day's fighting the
French War Ofhce says: "ln the north
the day has been good We have main
tanned our positions between the River
Lys and Langcmarck, and we have
made appreciable progress between
Langemarck and Dlxmude.' Berlin
says that the attack on fpres IS pro
crossing slowly but steadily.
Despite the reverses which the
Austro-German armies have suffered In
the east, where the Russians have now
set their feet in German territory. both
in East Prussia and Posen, the Ger
mans are said 20 be still sending re-
Inducements 20 the west IN An en-
deavor 20 break down the resistance
Of the French, British and Belgians,
who have been holding their positions