The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-07
TOMMY ATKINS
IS DOING WELL
British Soldier Lives Up to
His Old Reputa- :
ton
HE STOOD WE'LL
AT THE YPRES
Fight There Real Soldiers
Battle" Says Eye
witness

!
of the Eyewitness" story of the fight
ing in France was made public by thu
official press bureau yesterday. Begin
ming with the events of Oct. 80, Col
Swinton says;
81 have witnessed renewal OF the Of
forts against our right, which were with
out success to the enemy. In the center
the bombardment was heavy. Indeed
so many shells fell around our posi-
tions that telephone wires frequently
were cut. The attack in the direction
of Ypres generally was renewed. South
east of that town it was pressed IN
great force, and in places our line was
again forced back by short distance.
But on our left the oncoming Germans
were stopped by our entanglements, I'M
der close rife fire, and after two eff
forts to advance they gave way.
"On Saturday, Oct. 81, most deter
mined attack was made upon our left
and our left center, the pressure being
especially severe against the latter por-
ton of our position. Part of our line
was driven back temporarily by the
sheer weight of metal and numbers.
but the ground was almost all recovered
again before night. Against our cen
ter the enemy did not advance, while
against our right they were not nearly
so active as they were farther north.
so far, with the assistance of the
French, who have been cooperating
most effectually, we have succeeded in
maintaining orr line and in retaining
possession of Ypres, upon the capture of
which, by the end of October, the Ger
mans had set their heart.
GAS may have been gathered, the
fighting of the past five days has been
of the most desperate nature. 1t has
been eminently soldiers battle. and
without exaggeration or any undue self
congratulation, it can be said that our
men have behaved splendidly in the face
of heavy odds, and against the repeated
onslaughts of great masses which were
continually replaced by fresh men and
backed up by the almost continuous fire |
of immense guns. They have, by their
logged resistance, well upheld the repu-
tation of our army
Heavy as have been our losses, we |
have taken far heavier toll from the !
enemy. and we have prevented them /
gaining the object upon which all their
have been concentrated.
Not only have our troops maintained
their traditions. but our French allies
have been lighting with all the dash for
which they are famous. Judging from
all accounts. thew have made at Dixmmdr
and along the User a name for them
selves which will never die. The Bal-
gian army likewise has resisted the fu.
rious onslaughts of the enemy with the
utmost gallantry.
"The results of the inundation to the
north Of Dixmude have been observed by
,ur aviators. who have seen numbers Of
the enemy collected in groups on the
likes which intersect the flooded area,
where, according to report, some German
leavy artillery is begged Our airmen
llso have been able TO harass "a
ng hostile columns by bomb dropping {
nd machine gun fire.
"The tactical transfer Of troops he :
IND the German front line is now be
ny carried out TO a great extent by mo- 4
or omnibuses. Of which long lines are I
isible from above.
During the past few DAYS large num- ,
ors Of refugees have been streaming
ack along all the roads from Belgium a
nd crowding the empty trains return. Il
" from the front. upon which the I
rench have. most humanely. allowed I
hem TO travel In these trains whole
,milies NAV be seen iostled together o
horse trucks and having with them h
hat few household goods taey have :
zen able to carry away But the less v
rtunate have 20 trudge enc roads. max. Il
g use ~ any shelter they can frd -
"The inhabitants Of the district with q
our zone Of operations alec line the a
ads from morning 20 night. and listen
the sound Of the guns there being b
thing else for them 10 DO - the dun q
ar waves and uanes 70 does their con u
Renee lie away Or return. and IN such Il
trnativos ~ fear and hope j. each L
parv day passed AT this traffic % u
a fro Of civilians entails the utmost
gilaBca in order 70 guard against e. q
ouace Ia