South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-06
ALLIES ADMIT LOSSES
IN FRANCE ARE GREAT
AngIO-FrenCh-B belgian Troops
Suffer Heavily But Sustain
Lines Under Violent Attacks
of Germans.

soldiers flghtlng IN northern rance
were fired upon by fellow troops when
they gave way before the attacks OF
the allies is the information secured
from a wounded German prisoner ac-
cording TO an official sta ement from
the government press bureau today.
The statement is the latest of the ser
les Of eye witness narratives written
by q member of the staff OF field
marshal Sir John French, and deals
with the operations OF the British eX-
peditionary force. Il supplements an
account given out yesterday afternoon
That section of the statement deal
ing with the shooting of Germans by
their own men follows:
"A wounded prisoner gives the fol-
loving information relative TO Ger
man methods Of warfare:
" on the goth of October my section
was ordered forward for an attack.
our officers warned US that, II we
gave way, we would be fired upon
from behind. This threat was act
ually carried into effect when our ter
ribIe losses compelled US 10 retire. NV
wound was inflicted by a German bull
let
THE same prisoner told his captOrs
that he had received no regular distri-
button of food since he entered
Franc"
Admits Heavy Losses.
The British government admits that
the losses suffered by the allies in the
northern sphere OF activities were
heavy. but claims that the German
casualties were far higher. This por-
lion OF the narrative deals with thau|
phase OF the operations.
"Our losses have been heavy. but
The enemy's losses have been far heaV-
Ter. Notwithstanding their terrible
0n hnpn ahlR tn
gain the object upon which all their
energies were concentrated. The
fighting of the French at DiXmude
and along the User has withdrawn.
The French army has gained undying
fame In that quarter The Belgian
army. too has repulsed the onslaughts
of the enemy with the utmost gallant
ry."
The statement. which is dated Nov.
]. begins as follows:
con oct. 30. the enemy renewed his
efforts against our right wing with
out success. In the center of the
northern line. the Germans conducted
% heavy bOmbardment.
Attacks are Violent.
The violence of the German at
tacks in the direction Of y pres in
creased steadily especially south cast
of the town where the invaders were
concentrated in force. At some points
tance. ON our left the Germans
were stopped by barbed wire entan-
clements and by our rifle fire which
was poured into their dense ranks at
close range. After two efforts the
Germans gave way.
"On the following Sunday (Oct. 80
determined attacks were made against
our left and left center and the line
was driven back by sheer weight of
numbers. but almost Immediately we
rallied and before night had recover
ed the ground we had lost earlier in
the day.
THE enemy did not advance
against our right. With the assist
ance of the French who had beSn
cooperating with us very effectively
we succeeded in maintaining our lines
and retaining Ypres The Germans
had set their hearts upon the capture
OF NpreS hy the end of October.
Desperate Fighting.
The fighting for the past five days
has been Of the most desperate nat
ure. our men have behaved splen-
didly i'm the face of heavy odds Re-
peatedly our forces have been com
ueIled TO face onslaughts wherein the
Germans replaced their first line with
fresh troops and we have been under
almost continuous fire from an i'm
mense concentration. OF havy guns.
The results of the inundation OF a
norton OF Belgium north OF l)lNmude
have been observed by aviatOrs and
reported TO headquarters these avia-
tors have seen numbers OF the enemy
collected in groups on dykes intesect-
ing the flooded country. \ number of
heavy guns were bOgged in the indu
mated area.
our airmen have done valiant ser
vice in harassing tho advancing hos
tile columns by dropping bombs upon
them or firing Gpon them with ma
chine guns mounted upon the aero
planes.
The tactical transfer OF troops be-
hind the German front is now done 10
"a great extent with motor fUe~"s N"~-
ing the past few days our airmen re-
ported seeing long strings OF these
motor busses ali filled with troops,
hurrying over the country
The statement says that the exodus
Of Belgian refugees continues with
out abatement Many troop trains
returning from the front are crowded