BRITISH TROOPS' WORK.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15111, 29 October 1914, Page 7

BRITISH TROOPS' WORK.

CLEARING OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH. REPORT FROM HEADQUARTERS. (rRE3S ASSOCIATION TKIJSGIUH.) WELLINGTON, October 28. The Prime Minister has received the following cable message from tho High Commissioner: — LONDON, October 27. The following descriptive account, communicated by an eye-witness present -with, tho General nesidquarters, continues and supplements the narrative, published on the 24th, of the work of tho British forces and the French armies in immediate touch with them. When the arrival of reinforcements enabled the British troops to assist in tho extension northwards of the Allies' line, tho enemy in this area hail advanced from the north-eaefc and oast, and was holding a front extending from high ground about Mout dcs Cats, through. Meteren to Jtstaires, on the River Lye, with advanced bodies of cavalry and other troops thrown out some distance- in front. South of tho Lys his lino continued due south from E3taires, through intricate country, for about three miles, when it turned slightly south-cast, passing three miles east of Bcthuno to Vennelles. The Allies encountered some resistance on the 12th from the enemy's «d----vanco troops, and on the 13th there was fighting all along the lino between our advance guards and tho Germans, who at somo points, made determined counter-attacks. As a result of two minor engagements at Mont dcs tats and Meteren. on the lath, the enemy s right fell back in considerable haste, making uso of tho darkness to evade pursuit. Bailleul, which had been occupied for eight days, va s abandoned without a shot' being hred. On the Htn the advance -was continued by our leftwing, tho enemy bring driven back *o far That the rest of his line Uxsame ondanqcred, as we have learnt from Gorman? captured during tho operations.

These' stato that the right of tho liae having beun forced to withdraw, the iett was compelled to conform to tho movement. The laitors withdrawal left us by the night of tho loth in possession of all the country on the left bank of the I.ys. to :\ point five miles bolow Armeuiiores, and of all bridges above Arniontipros. O» the 16th the enemy retired from that town after a. tew shells had Ih>o:i fired at a barricade. The bridges to within a short distance of Freiinghein ioll into our lnucis At Armontieros. the enemy left behind fifty u-onnd<Hl. rifles and ammunition, and motor-cars. Our right vrinz SO x:ih oV the Lv S was f: U : 12. ra *k«. little progress until the tytn. (he reliance to its adv;mco was )^= y oncountors. In a:: and I " l " ,,,^^^,, ''' I* taken J'rogross Ma b made a'tl-nr-!. + i,, >• rhn r - T C At a&msi practically lJw , rhoie of ° At ono point where one- of o,ir bri K a n ado a counter-attack. 11 (XX') dead were found *, tenches, and 40 prisoners were taken Among tho prisoners captured by tho Belgians was a tunchbaok. who " h a .' f] no irajuuiß before tho ISHh of A«s,,,tl« t . Ho said many of Tho n4 t.- J "Spoilt w f«> between 17 and 18 ?e-ts of age. Tliero -vcro siens that rom many villages theto had C hurnod retirement. 1,, one a. rrcat •Vunutr of leilccs aml ammuait] - o( f'^ abandoned. J n another the Staff left tlieir dinner bohn.d. h: the operations armonred motor-cars, quipped with machine-guns, were most suemss-f,,! in dealing w,th small parties of Gorman ir.ounic<l troops. J u thoir cmplovmont BolgiaiKs ran lightiug with us, acquittins themselves nobly. They have shown themselves experts. They appear to Jcgard Lhlan-lnmtiiiK as a form *,f sport. Groups display tho utmost dash and skill ni this form of warfare. They offoii S o out miles ahead of tlioir own advanco troops, and seldom fail to return loaded with r-poiLs in tho shapo of lancers' caps, busbies, helmets, lanccvs rifles, and otlier trophies, which thoy distributo as souvenirs to crowds i'u tho market place Although the struggle in the Xortho.ru area materially attracts more, attention th.iv. that on tho Aisne. tho latter continuos. Though tliero is no alteration in tho general situation, the enomy lias mado cortain clianges in tho position of his heavy artillery, with the result that ono or two places, which wero formerly safe quarters, arc now subject to bombardment, -whilo others which won; only .•\pproachablo afc night, or by crawling on tho hands and knees, now servo as recreation grounds, 'file reeont official casualty lists captured show that tho losses of tho Germans continuo to bo heavy. Ono infantry company in a singlo list reports 130 killed and wounded, and other companies suffered as heavily.