HEAVY FIGHTING AT LILLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8965, 12 October 1914, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING AT LILLE.

ENEMY ROUTED

FLANKING MOVEMENT

CHECKED

LONDON, Oeiobo" 10

On the 4th, two German shells which fell in the centre of Lille, marked the beginning of the Germans' desperate attempt to escape from the encircling movement. The shells, which did little damage, were iired at batteries on the extreme left of a new force which advanced from the Belgian frontier and formed a crescent line lying roughly betwen Turcbing and Armentieres. A violent series of engagements followed between about 10,000 of the enemy and the infantry garrisoning Lille. Savage fighting continued in

the streets, on the boulevards, and on the eastern outskirts all through Sunday until Monday, when the enemy were finally repulsed. On Tuesday a gallant figh^ raged betwen the French and a big army stretching along the whole of the eastern, northern, and north-western suburbs of Lille. The battle raged all day and well into the night. The French guns wrought' terrible havoc, the slaughter being mostly ghastly. _ The Germans were mown down in hundreds. The fact that the German infantry fire was feeble, though it sounded incessant, is taken to indicate that their whole transport has broken down seriously along the northern Belgian lines of communication.

, The day ended in .the complete rout of the enemy. The French fought with magnificent dash and courage. The German army between Armentieres and Turcoing, which was intended to cover the flank of the main body advancing on Lille and Arras was driven back 13 rniJes. , '

On. Wednesday the French artillery came within a few kilometres,.of-Lens, and firing straight 'over the town, bombarded the .German positions near the village of. Hoison, and beat the Germans back to the north-eastward with heavy losses. On "Thursday the Germans evacuated the Lille district and retired from Bethune in a, northeast erly direction;. ', "■■■..,■.■.