The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-27
Villages Are Taken and Re.
taken Time After Time.
Attacks and Counter Attacks
Continue Day and Night.
ArmOred Motor Cars With Ma
chine Guns in Use.

LONDON, oct. ZI.-Ine OFFICIAL press
bureau makes public today the story of
an eye witness. supplementing the mar
rative Of October "a and bringing the
general course of operations in France
UP to October 20. The arrival Of rein
forcements, it says, enabled the British
troops to assist in the extension of the
allies line where the enemy advanced
from the northeast and east holding a
front extending from Mont Descats
about ten miles northeast of Haze
brouck, through Meteren, five miles
south Of that point and then on to
Estaiers, 13 miles west Of Lille on the
River Lys. The statement continues:
South Of the Lys this line extended
to three miles east of Methune and
Vermelles. The allies encountered re-
oistance all along the line on the 18th
and 18th when the enemy's right fell
back hastily. Bailleul, II miles north
west by west of Lille, which had been
occupied by the foe for eight days was
abandoned without a shot being fired.
"On the 18th our left wing advanced,
driving the enemy back and on the
night of the 18th we were in possession
OF all the country on II left bank Of
the Lys to a point five miles below
Armentieres. The enemy retreated
AlOI1 tudt tOWH vi Iuc 1OlU anu Tic
river line. to within a short distance
Of Frelinghien, fell into our hands.
The state Of the crossings over the
Iys indicated that no organized scheme
of defense had been executed, some of
the bridges being In a state of repair.
others merely barricaded. while one
was not even defended or broken.
Villages Wiped Out.
1.-THE resistance offered to our ad-
Oo on he Of
termined character, the fighting con-
sisted OF fiercely contested encounters,
infantry attacks on the villages being
unavailing until our hOwitzers reduced
the houses to ruins. Other villages
were taken and retaken three times
before they were finally secured"
Describing an incident OF the fight
ing on this night the narrative says
that the important crossing of the Lys
at WarnetOn was strongly held by the
Germans with barricade lOophOled at
the bottom to enable the men to fire
while lying down.
''Our cavalry, with the artillery, blew
the barricade to pieces and scattered
the defenders" the narrative continues.
advancing three-quarters of a mile,
our troops reached the square when one
of the buildings appeared to leap sky
ward. A sheet of flame and a shower
of star shells at the same time made
Ane PiuNC A6it DIS udy d1u CAIdOlCu tHC
enemy, ensconced in surrounding
houses, to pour devastating fire from
rifles and machine guns. Our cavalry
extricated themselves with the loss of
one officer wounded and nine men killed
ana wounded but a party of volunteers
went back and carried Off the wounded
comrades from the inferno.
During the 18th, 18th and 10th of
October our men held some villages on
the Lys in spite Of the bombardment.
At the close of each day a night
counter stroke was delivered against
one or another part Of our line but they
were all repulsed.
French Held LOO Dead.
Tuesday, October 20, a determined
but unsuccessful attack was made
against virtually the whole of our line.
At one point where one of our brigades
made q counter attack, LOO German
dead were found in a trench and 40
prisoners were taken.''
The narrative points out that the adj
vance of the allies has been hindered
by the weather and nature of the
ground together with the impossibility
Of knowing before hand the reception
that advance detachments were likely
to meet in approaching any village or
town.
Zone place may be evacuated hastily
while another in the same general line
will continue to resist for consider
able time. In some villages the inhab-