The Sentinel=record., 1914-10-18
HEAVY FIGHTING IN FRANCE IS NOW NEAR THE sEACoAsT
 IN SOUTH BELGIUM.
ALLIESCLAIM ADVANTAGE
Believed Germans Will Center Their Efforts to Break Through the Allied Lines at Arras or Some Point Nearer the Seacoast.

London, Oct. 17,--10 D. m.-Each day brings the war nearer home to England Today there was a naval battle off the Dutch coast in which a British cruiser and four destroyers sank four German destroyers, while on land the German troops reached the coast of Belgium less than 70 miles from Dover. They are about to
 attempt march southward to Dun kirk and Calais, which are even closer to the English coast
 1t is here in West Flanders and
 across the French frontier in Pas de Calais that the heaviest and most important fighting is now going on. According to the French official com, manication issued this afternoon. the Germans have not advanced beyond the line running from Ostend to Thourout, Roulers and Menin. The last mentioned place is just on the border north of Lille. which the Ger.
 mans occupied some days ago bu:
 which according to an unconfirmed report they have been compelled to abandon.
 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 per sistent fighting The Germans are trying to break through to the Calais railway while the French are attempt ing to push the German front to the northeast. In this fighting the French appear to have met with some sue cess, as they announce that they have occupied Fleurbaix and also have taken the immediate approaches to Armentieres. At Arras they claim they are continuing to gain ground.
 New Battle Begins.
 The fighting has only commenced | in this district, however for the Ger mans, who would consider it a great | victory to reach the coast of France and hold the pistol at England's | head" have brought up stronS rein forcements and will strive with all their might to achieve this object | Their official report issued this after noon says that no events of impor- l tance have happened, but as they | await important victories before mak- ing any announcement, this does not | mean there has been no fighting.
 The allies also can bring up rein | forcements both by sea and land and | have been doing so, which makes it | certain that a great battle must be fought before either side gives ground. The allies will be assisted by the British ships when the fighting reaches points near the coast.
 Along the center, which now stretches from Rove to the Mouse, there appears to have been a lull in the fighting. which means of course, that although the artillery has been busy as ever, neither side has at tempted any attacks
 Around St. Mihiel, south of Verdun, where the Germans are hanging on to 1 the little strip of the River Mouse which they succeeded in crossing and from which the French have been try | ing for weeks to drive them, the bat tle has been almost continuous and the French claim to have gained more ground.
 Away down in Asace, which is sel- dom mentioned in the official reports there has been fighting, which, how ever, both French and German state ments ignore. Twice during the week | .1eports have come from Basel that Inc Germans have been defeated | there. and now an unofficial account from Berlin says that the fortress or dSelfort has been attacked with nor tars.
 Both Berlin and Paris express con fidence in the outcome of tue battle In the east and west.
 Has Przemysl FalIen?
 Reports of fighting in east Prussia, | Poland, Galicia and Hungary are so widely at variance that it is difficult 10 judge the progress of the battles Austria claims to be driving the Rus sians out of Hungary, while the Rus sian generals say they are leaving the country to escape danger of infec- . tion from cholera. Berlin says the Galician fortress oi Przemysl has been relieved while tns Russian report received through home says the fortress at last has dallen. In Poland both sides insist