The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-10-13
Germans and Allies
Hot|y Engaged.
RESULTS NOT DECISIVE
Battlefield Extends From Swift
erland to Straits Of Dover.

London, Oct. 13.-War office state
ments are not needed to make plain
that momentous results hang on the
fortunes of the desperate battles be-
ing waged at vital points on the line
that stretches from Switzerland
through Northern France to within
twenty-five miles of the Straits OF
Dover. The heaviest fighting is on
the line of Lassigny and Lens The
official report from Paris says the al
lies repulsed German attacks be-
tween Arras and the Disc and that
cavalry engagements continue in the
region of La Basse Estaires and Haze
brouck.
Special attention is directed to Os-
tend. There have assembled the
greater part of the Belgian army and
about two-thirds of the British forces
that escaped from Antwerp. 1t is be-
lleved that Germany is pushing for
ward to attack the city, with the hope
OF capturing and using the port in
operations against England.
A bitter struggle to keep the Ger
mans from the coast is inevitable.
Late reports indicate that the Ger
man cavalry advance Is less than
thirty miles distant from Ostend.
The strength of the allies at Ostend
is not known. 1t is possible that
British reinforcements, unable to
reach Antwerp in time to help in de-
Tense of that city, are in Ostend.
Report Antwerp Still Fighting.
Official advices concerning the op-
erations around Antwerp show consid-
cradle discrepancy, the French state
ment isued in Paris asserting that,
received there, the Germans occupy
only the suburbs of the city and
twenty-four forts on the banks of the
River Escaut are resisting with en-
ergy. The German general staff, in
a statement issued in Berlin, declares
the defenders of Antwerp fled in full
rout"
Advices from Holland towns assert
about 26,000 Belgian soldiers have
crossed from Belgium into Holland,
the majority having been taken to
Axel for internment. Some of the
Belgian wounded have been taken to
Huist and a dispatch from The Hague
says 1000 Belgian officers and men
have arrived there. These advices,
with reports from Client that the Ger
mans have thrown pontoon bridge
across the Scheldt at Wettern and
are pouring large forces northward in
the hope of cutting off the retreat
from Antwerp, would indicate there
are few soldiers left in the Belgian
city.
Routed by German Cavalry.
In Northern France, the German of
fcial statement says, the French cav
airy division operating west of Lille
near Hazebrouck was routed by Ger
man cavalry, the French losses being
severe. Until now" the German
statement says, "the engagements on
the western front did not lead to a
decision"
Paris news dispatches indicate the
fiercest fighting during the last fort
night has centered around Albert,
Roye and Lassigny. All the ground
In that region shows traces of the
terrific struggle. Albert, which was
first regained from the Germans, is
Z heap of ruins. Roye sustained a
continual bombardment for fort
night and no longer exists Lassigny,
the last stronghold of the Germans In
this region to give way, also was bad
iy battered by artillery fire. The Ger
man defenses in this region were es-
lablishSd in stone quarries, necessitat-
ing q siege to dislodge them.
The French statement reports prog