The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-18
Heaviest and Most Impor- tant Fighting of War Is Taking Place in West Flanders
LULU IN FIGHTING
 ALONG CENTER, BUT
 ARTILLERY IS BUSY
Germans Are Attempting to Break Through to Calais Railroad, While French Resist Advance

London. October I7s--1e ?. m.) Each day brings the war nearer homo to England. Today there was . naval battle off the Dutch count in which British cruiser and four destroyers sank four German destroyers, while on land the German troops reached the coast of Belgium, less than a miles From Dover. They are about to att sernpt a march southward to Dunlxirk and Calais. which are even closer 10 thc English coast.
 It is here in West Flanders and across the French frontier fin Pas de Calais that the heaviest and most important fight ing is now going on. According to the French official communication issued this afternoon, the Germans have not advanced beyond the line running from osten to Thourout. Roulers and Menin. The last mentioned place is just on the border north of Lille. which the Germans occu- pied some days ago, but which, accord ing to an unconnrmed report, they have been compelled to abandon.
 Line Not Disclosed
 The allied line In this region runs from . point on the coast which has not been disclosed. For the moment Arras Is the scene of the most persistent fighting The Germans are trying to break through to the Calais railway, while the French are attempting to push the Geiman front to the northeast In this fighting the French appear to have met with some sue cess as they announce that they have occupied FJeurbaix and also have taken the immediate approaches to Armentieres At Arras they claim they are continuing to gain ground
 The fighting has only commenced in this district, however. for the Germans, who would consider 1t a great victory to reach the coast of France and hold the pistol at England's head" have brought up strong achievements and will strive with all their might to achieve this ob- ject. Their official report issued this aft ernoon says that no events of importance have happened, but as they await impor- tant victories before making any an- nouncement this does not mean there has been no lighting.
 'The allies also can bring up reinforce ments both by sea and land and have been doing so, which makes it certain that a great battle must be fought before cittcf dtQc 8Atca SI0uHu. ne dl,teS WILL be assisted by the British ships when the fghting reaches points near the coast.
 Lull in Fighting
 Along the center. which now stretches from Royle to the Mouse, there appears to have been Hull in the fighting, which means, of course. that although the ar 7tillery has been busy as ever, neither side has attempted any attacks. Around St. Miheil. south of verdun, where the Germans are hanging onto the little strip of the River Mouse. which they succeeded In crossing and from which the French have been trying for weeks to drive them, the battle has been almost continuous and the French claim to have gained moro ground
 Away down in Alsace. which is seldom. mentioned in the official reports. there has been fighting which. however, both French and German statements ignore. | Twice during the week reports have como from Basel that the Germans have been i defeated there and now an unofficial ac- i count from Berlin says that the 7,rtress 1 of Belfort has been attacked with nor tars.
 Both Capitals Confident
 Both Berlin and Paris express eoni- deEee in the outcome of the battle in the | east and west
 Reports of fighting in East Prussia. Po- land, Galicia and Hungary are so widely | at variance that 1t is difficult to judge of | the progress of the battles Austria | claims to be driving the Russians out of | Hungary, while the Russian generals say they are leaving the country to escape | danger of infection from cholera.
 Berlin says the Galician fortress of |
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