New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-21
BELGIANS' DEFENCE
PRAISED BY FRENCH
War Office Report Calls
Their Stand on User
River Remarkable"
GERMANS CLAIM
SUCCESS AT LILLE
Say Enemy Failed in Advance
to Relieve City-Both Sides
Rush Fresh Troops.

London, Oct. 2l.-Thc correspon-
dent of "The Daily Mair' at Flushing
says: d
Heavy fighting continues near
Nieupori. Both sides hold their own
thus far, but the Germans have sus-
fered very heavily. Ostend il full of
wounded. The losses are apparently
about 5000 men.
German headquarters has been
moved from COST camp, three miles
south Of Bruges, probably TO Gheut,
where large reinforcements are arriv-
ing. The men and guns are all quite
fresh and the new columns probably
total $4,000 men. They appear to be
proceeding toward the coast"
Paris, Oct. 20.-The German armies
stretched along a winding front Of 800
miles, from the Straits Of Dover
through Belgium and France. to-day
made a desperate and concerted effort
TO break through the allied lines and,
in the text Of to-night's official COM
munique, everywhere were repulsed"
The latest War Office report, though
presaged to some extent by the after
noon communication, is regarded rs
the most optimistic one that has been
issued for many days. II is circum-
stantial TO a degree infrequently seen
in such announcements, though .erser
than many.
The row of strategic points at which
the hammering blows OF the Germans
we're received and firmly resisted are
thus catalogued in the report:
"To the extreme north, where the
Belgian army has held remarkably; n:
La Bassec, where the German troops
have attempted an offensive movement
Of particular violence; to the north Of
Arras; at MsmetZ. between Peronne
and Albert; at Vsuquois, TO the east
of the Argonne, and, finally, on the
heights of the Meuse and in the region
of Champion"
From Rotterdam comes the report
that bridges have been erected by the
Germans over the River Meuse between
Liege and Wise, preparing way for a
retreat
report from Dunkirk says that thu
Allies have driven 5000 Germans out
of Bruges and that the Allies are now
in possession.
Belgian Army Holds Its Own.
Il WIS evident from the afternoon
statement that fighting Of the most
desperate character was in progress in
West Flanders and Northwestern
France. II was already known that
the Belgian army. supported by the
Allies, was holding on stubborniy to
the line of the River User. despite de-
termined German attacks, and had sue .
eeeded in bringing TO a halt the ad :
varce Of the invaders along the coast.
Tho unusual tribute paid TO the Bel.
gians, however, in the late French Of
fetal report has increased confidence
in the ability Of the recent Antwerp
garrison to hold its own.
II is now admitted also in the an.
nouncement Of German general head
quarters, which yesterday spoke OF
lighting in the neighborhood OF Dun.
kirk, that a battle has been going
on since Sunday in the vicinity of Nieu.
port, IN Belgium, which stands AT ths
crossing of the User River near the
sea.
A little further TO the south the Al.
lles are making an attempt TO advance
toward Lille FOR the relief Of that citv,
, which has been in German hands for
some time, and arc also pushing on "a
the north and south of Arras.
To the south, at the bend Of the bat
tie line eastward. the Germans continue
20 make furious but unayaiiine at
tempts 10 break the French ljae. In
the east, along the Meuse, the Germans
have, according to the earlier French
account, essayed in vain 10 repulse tho
French troops who debouched along
that territory, in which Is the Camp
des Romaines, now in the hands Of tb a
Germans.
Allies Destroy Fifteen Guns.
Il is reported here that the Allies
have destroyed fifteen German machins
guns, TWO of which were armored near
La Bsssee, and battery of German
heavy artillery in the environs of 81.
Mihiel.
Both sides are bringing up reiuforee-
ments to the western front for one OF
the greatest struggles of the war. The
Germans arc not bringing new troops
from the east, but are throwing every
available man in Belgium into the Ar
ing line.
In the fighting in this open country.
whore the men have not the protection
OF elaborate intrenchments, such as
! they have on the Aisnc. the losses must
be very heavy. especially where en-