South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-27
Struggle is Particularly Violent
in Northern Sphere of Hos
tiIitieS in Belgium Where AL
lies Gain Advantage.
GERMANS ARE STILL
PUSHING ON OFFENSIVE
Artillery Duel in Region of
scissors Turns to Advantage
of AIIieS-RuSSian Offensive
Along San ACCentuated.

PARIS, oct. 27.-Hard fighting is
going on all along the great battle
line in France and Belgium. it was
officially announced by the war office
this afternoon. There is particularly
violent fighting in the northern sphere
Of hostilities in the region OF Lens
and Roulers in Belgium where the
allies have made progress. In the
vicinity of Nancy the allies have
taken the offensive. On the center
an artillery duel has resulted in a
success for the allies, several German
batteries being smashed.
The report follows:
The battle goes on continuously
and is raging with particular vigor
near the User river and in the region
or Lens. on this part of the front
the allies have not yielded an inch,
While they have continued TO make
progress in the region between Ypres
and Roulers.
I'm the region Of Scissors and in
mat of Bery-Au-Ba an artillery bat
tie mas turned to our advantage and
mas resulted in the destruction of the
enemies batteries.
In the region east of Nancy. he
tween the forest OF Bezange and the
Iorest of ParrOy, we have taken the
offensive and have driven the enemy
across the frontier.
"Russian-On the river San and 20
the south og PrzemysI. the Russia n
offensive has become accentuated -
Germans Force Fighting.
FURIOUS night attacks mark the
oaItle between Dtxmude and Nieuport
III Belgium where the Germans. who
| crossed the User, are trying to break
through the wall of steel presented
Dy the allies. The Germans are still
! forcing the lighting in the northern
| sphere but they are compelled to stand
violent counter attacks The German
gains near Lille and on the User are
| out OF proportion TO the losses .sus-
tanned there in killed, wounded and
missing.
Special mention is made in the Off
clal dispatch Of the large number OF
prisoners taken by the British and
french troops in that region. The chief
zones OF activity now lie between Dix
nude and Nieuport; between Roulers
ana Menln, near Armentieres and in
the neighbOrhOOd of Labassee and
Lens southwest of Lille; between Ar
ras and Bray on the line running
through Friecourt and along the
helShtS or the Meuse river.
Port City Wiped Out.
The Belgium port city of Nieunort
mas been nearly wiped out by Shells
and flames. The famous Old light
mouse built in 1894, was struck bv
smells thrown from the German guns
I against the British warships and VS.
! badly damaged. The magnificent Cloth
nan gothic structure built in 14S4,
was pierced by shells. The 18th cen
nf N Ia oh vsfsF,
: The massive baroque tower which
was restored in 1903 was struck bv
shells and ruined
Inc fine windows were shattered
and the wreckage was strewn over the
sculptured altar and the renaissance
choir stalls.
Desolauon marks the hotel DevilIe
The famous paintings were torn from
the walls of this structure when the
bombardment of the city first began.
! and were secreted by the burgomaster.
Another famous edihce that suffer-
ed was the Tour des TemDliers the
only relic of templars' castle. which
was nearly destroyed by the inhabit-
/ ants OF Client and the English in 1888.
On Historic Field.
The fighting in the nIghborhood
of NieupOrt is over the field of the
battle of the Dunes, where the Dutch
under Maurice of Orange defeated the
! Spaniards under Archduke Albert in
July, 1900.
! The heavy guns OF the Germans
! which were rushed TO the coast to de-
! fend the German trenches, have
! proved superior TO the guns on the
! French and British warshiss, it is re-
! ported. The German cannon were
/ heavier and of longer range than the
naval guns of the French and Eng
/ lish and the warships are reported ia
T have been driven from their mOorings
! bv the shells from the German bat
; teries on shore.
The main positions Of both armies
are still being fortified with elaborate
care. Trenches are being built by the
/ Germans past ThiaourOut in the di-
rect Of Bruges and cement foundations
are being constructed for guns.
These preparations make il appear
that the armies may settle down for
the winter in approximately the same
positions they now hold if neither side
Is able TO score a decisive ADVANTAGE
/ before snow falls.
Fight i'm Three Nations.
The great engagement. which be-
gan on Sept. y as the battle Of the
/. Aisne. is being fought out on the soil
I OF three different nations France
( Germany and Belgium. The struggle
( in upper Alsace may be considered
a part OF the conflict which is now in
its 10th day.
The Belgium forces west OF the
/ User which were rolled back by the
Germans, were reinforced by both
| French and British and during the
lpast IS hours were resisting stoutly the
repeated attacks of the invaders.