The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-10-22
BRITISH WARSH|PS
DRIVE GERMANS
I BACK FROM COAST
Fleet Aids Belgians in RepeIIiRg
Attack by Invaders.
TEUToNS NEAR TO DUNKIRK
Report From Berlin Says Foees Have
Reached Nelshborhood Of French
Town and Inhabitants Are
In Flight. .

Paris, Oct 2O,-Britlsh warshlps,
cannonading the German land forces,
who had opened terrific lombard
ment of the allies entrenehed position
between Newport. on the Belgian
North sea coast, and Dixmude, south
ward on the Ypres canal, repulsed the
invaders by their thanking and enfilad-
ing FIRE.
The Belgians, lighting on their own
soil to regain their country, dashed
forward and in desperate counter-at.
lacks are said to have hurled the Ger
mans back.
This is the first time in the war In
the North that naval vessels of any of
the belligerents have effectively aided
the land forces In the operations.
Ships Identity Hidden Two Days.
The firing from the guns of war ves-
sells along the coast to the west of Os-
tend has been heard for two days, but
until the Official communique was is
sued from Bordeaux and transmitted
for publication to General Gallieni in
Paris the identity of the ships and the
purpose OF their bombardment of the
coast remained hidden under the cloak
of Official military secrecy.
The German attack in this section
Of the allies front in northern Belgium
was directed in a frantic effort to
break through along the coast and Sc
cure a foothoId on the French coast
line positions before the strength of
the allies should have become SO great
as to bar their progress without resort
TO frontal attack, with its consequent
inevitable carnage. 4
5elglans Halt German Attack.
In their advance which started
from tho south OF Ostend the Germans
had singled out the position held by
the Belgian forces as the weakest
point in the line, because OF the re.
ported decentralization the Belgians had
suffered in their successive defeats
which ended in the fall of Antwerp.
But King Albert's troops had dug |
themselves in and were supported by
their shattered but still effective artil-
lery and rapid-irers. They brought
the Germans to a standstill in their
initial assault, one of tremendous
weight in numbers Of solidly massed
troops and heavy gun fire.
In the evening, after several hours
of furious fighting in which the Bel
gians maintained doggedly their posi-
tions, hurting the enemy back time
after time with heavy losses in each
repulse, there was heard the guns of
the ships to seaward.
Wounded Sent to Rear.
And the navy guns had the range,
for the first shots were effective and
demoralizing to the German at.
iackeFs
There was a perceptible cessation
IN the attack directed against the
Belgians. and in the lull, which en-
dured throughout the night. fully
three. railway wagons were loaded
down with the German wounded, ac-
cording to refugees who saw them
passing to the rear the following
morning.
The attack was renewed with in
creased fury In the morning and
lasted all day, the Germans alter
hdACAg CILlhB LuNiI Viz gun uE6
against the Belgian positions and the
ships at sea, the latter by indirect
FIRE and without effect, so far as has
been reported.
The fire from the navy guns became
SO severe and effective that the Ger
mans started to withdraw.
No sooner was this maneuver dis
Al ~ /
mander than a charge was ordered.
and the counter-attaek soon turned
the German retreat into a rout, with
the assailants in full retreat.
Drive Toward Paris Fails.
Newport is ten miles west Of Os.
tend 1t occupies a position on the
coast about midway between Ostend
and the Franco-Belgisn border.
Across the border and along the
French sea coast to the westward
lie Dunkirk and Calais, against
which the Germans are attempting
10 advance in their effort to estab.
iisb themselves in series OF coast
positions before starting their second 1
drive upon Paris. On
While the Germans were trying TO
hammer their way through the Bel.
gian line in the north, other corps
Of King Albert's army, assisted by 4
the French and British troops, drove
FORWARD across the width OF the bat
fleield, routed in their advance the
German troops VINO had bivouacked
for the night (evidently eontemplat-
ing an attack themselves during the
day. and swept the expansive field
clean Of the invaders, pushing them
back with severe losses as far as their
original position at Reuters.
The Germans have been bringing
up recently such great numbers Of
troops to repair their heavy losses
p the recent lighting that persistent
reports have been ia circulation that
nav eermaA army q 100000 nan