Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
GERMANS DRIVEN BACK
ALONG BRITISH FRONT
Official Visit Of King George Made
Memorable by Brilliant Offensive
OF His Men.
TROOPS FIGHT LIKE DEMONS
Enemy So Stunned by Audaclty Of
Attack and ITS Dashing Execution
There Is No Effort TO Retrieve
i.osses-Isotli3 Sides Lose Heavily.


t.ilecial Cable to The Times Dispatch. ]
i'AHIS. December 5.--Gencral Sir
dohn Trench and his British forces
niasln doubly memorable the official
visit ofyKing George to the trenches
~ MS lighting forces to-day by brill
Isn't and dashinE offensive in which
ihs Germans were driven back all
along the British front from Dixmude
In the Lys
North Of the Lys they charged from
their Trenches at daybrenk and fell
treii-meli upQn the German first line
arthworks They went down among
De- Germans with cold steel and thrust,
iobhed and beat down tho helmeted
occupants until they had cut them down
az; dug them out.
When the first ditch was chock "A :
block with gouging, tearing khaki
and gray fighting. dying and dead. the
oncoming rear ranks swept over the
tho second line OF intrenchments had
been taken. -, ~ <l..se. Ia
It was 500 metres from the British
position to the second line of trenches.
and the British fought every inch of
the way. Theyifought like demons It
was superhuman. The Germans were
20 stunned by the audacity of the at
;ack and the briiliance of its execu-
ion That there was no effort made to
fctrieve their losses Unofficial ac-
cunts OF the charge place the Cor
nan Losses at one hnlf OF those en-
i;aged. Tho British Losses were hoavy.
nut did not approach the casualtiep OF
tho enemy.
The British also settled "a dispute OF
months standing by winning the
battle of the ferry house." which has
been bitterly contested, irst by the
!ielgians then by the French
10 the east OF Posele. on the right
bank of the User. about halfway be-
tween DiNmude and Spree, on a mound
which commands the surrounding
fsround for. every military. purpose.
atnnds the house of the ferry keeper.
or what Is EFT of 1t, for the structure
lis long since been shattered by
s.irnpnel and lead.
The Germans have held 1t against
all attacks-held II desperately. for
tltis position effectively blocked tho
allies plan OF strengthening tho salient
position. aside from tho occupation OF
Dixmude IA questionable advan-
tage), that tho Germans enjoyed /.
juttea into the allied line and he,a
The allies Mt this point from adyan
Ing 20 menace the German gun posi-.
i!ohs directly to the rear.
On the day of yesterday tho Brit
ish began to bring strong pressure to
BOAR against the German stronghold.
Massed feid pteces aud concentrated
tire of the quick-firing guns opened the
attack. Infantry assaults followed
under the most difficult conditions,
for the intervening ground was a
.noraas, and passage afoot was peril
To-day the pressure told with a
furious onslaught, the British troops
atormed the trenches, and the be-
legged troops were compelled to with
tisAw. Later they formed and at
~. tnE tha nd I'm rrfn-
,4yt countcrattack, in which fresh
;-SopB participated
They brought their heavy artillery
~ Lear on the British and directed a
tusrIic cannonndn on them, but with
lit avail.
po-nights official report from Bor-
lf,,uN gays the British were able to
etFengtnen their position on the
3und. and 1t is now believed that
lha allies of France will be able to
uAd II until the lire to the south
v,,i, % brought up to a line with It's
rrSut. which Is tho plan of the allies
rag ihIa section.
Northwest OF ,I4angemarck another
cnga e eme nt was fought, which. Is re-
i;sted closely to this STRENGTHENING OF
the Yprea salient SlightlY>morc than
half q mile distant from Langemarck
is the hamlet Of Weidendreft, which
the Germans have been attacking for
seHeraii days. tne crohcn War oihce
NOW admits that tho Germans have
heon able to occupy portion of the
viilage, but the British resistance was
90 stubborn they wore able to retain
possession OF tho western portion OF
The town only.
The battle north of Arras continues,
but the lighting now rests with the
artillery. Terrific can1onading from
one side and another waa all the action
reported during the day. neither slde
gaining any advantage. In Champagne
there WAS like activity. Rheims also