New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-06
lbs Cable to Tie Tribune J

Northern France Name OF town cen
sored). Nov. 5.--From the sea coas,
the tide of war in Belgium has flowed
TO .rd the south. For two days now
tho Germans have been tiercely attack
ing the allied line. Heavy reinforce
ments Of the first line troops have been
hurried I'D from Client and Bruges and
thrown at once into the fighting zone.
The German attack was especially
severe at two points in the Allies
lorc and thinly held line. An enor-
nous mass Of German infantry was
hurled against Armentieres. Around
Arras the Germans launched two army
corps against this section Of the allied
defensive position.
Roth at Armentieres and Arras the
Germans were supported by a number
Of guns of heavy calbre. Al Armeh'
there's they brought 10 bear against the
Allies trenches new type OF mortar
which throws a proJectlIe welgnlhe
several hundredweight. The ground
around Armentieres was too soft and
Welding TO sustain without artificial
support the weight of this mortar. I'm
der cover Of night, the Germans dug
deep pit. filed 1t with concrete, and
mounted their pet gun upon a wooden
platform. A. dawn they got to work
and raked the Allies trenches with
biph angle she'll fire the projectlles
from the mortar falling plump into the
trenches. Despite German elaborate
ness. The results of the shelllng were
disappointing. The Germans were iaf
from annihilating the allied soldiers as
tbov rad hoped. The shells from the
new tangled mortars buried themselves
deem in the uarapet OF the trenches
making huge holes where they struck
and giving the British o mud bath.
On impact these shells found no re-
sistance from the soft, claylike soil
and their destructive force, therefore
was reduced 70 a minimum An officer
vbose regiment was exposed TO the full
effects Of the mortar fire says the Ger
man fire did not put a single one OF ms
men out Of action. The advanced
trenches were subjected 10 d severe
shelling for three hours The British
had dug themselves snugly into COW
cred trenches and were furnished with
bombproof shelters, where during the
hottest moments Of the bombardmeni
men took refube.
Germans Meet Surprise.
According 20 all the theories OF the
German General staff, three hours
bombardment by these heavy mor,ars
should reduce any army 70 pulp. The
British gave no signs OF life; and 50,
interpreting their silence significantly.
the Germans ordered their masses OF
infantry 20 carry the trenches, which.
thew concluded. must already be hiled
with dead The assaulting column
came on in close formation. The word
rad beer passed around, and our men
crept from their bombproof shelters
and manned the trenches afresh. SO
quietly was the manpuvre executed
hat the attacking Germans had no
suspicion of the deadly surprise IN
store for them.
The British batteries had not as yet
come into action. They were hidden
in The fields behind. covered up with
brush wood. Then the guns spoke. and
many German soldiers went down 20
Use no more. The British shells
nlouched great rents in the oHcoming
closely packed ranks Of Germans; the
advance stopped dead and the survivors
Of the attacking columns went 70 earth,
where they proceeded frantically 20
dig themselves into cover with the!i