BATTLE ALONG THE LYS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2293, 29 October 1914, Page 6

BATTLE ALONG THE LYS

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT HOW THE GERMAN RIGHT WAS FORCED BACK . London, October 27, 8.55 a.m. The deseriptivo account communicated by eye-witnesses present with General Headquarters, continues! and supplements the narrative published on October 24. The British Force and tho FroiH'h armies ara. in immediate touch. When tho arrival of reinforcements cnafcled the British troops to assist in the extension northwards of the Allies' line, tho enemy in this area had advanced from the north-east and east, and wae holding a front extending from the high ground about Mont Descats through Sietereii to .Estaires oil the River Lys, with advanced bodies of cavalry and other troops- thrown out some distance in front. South of Lys his line continued''hie south fram Estaires through intricate country for about three miles, when it turned slightly south-east, passing three miles east ox' Bethuno to V erracllos Enemy Shows Fight. The Allies encountered somo rceistanco on October 12 from the enemy's advance troops. On October 13 fighting took place all along the line between our advanced guards and those of the Germans, who at somo points made determined counter-attacks. As.the result of two minor, engagements at llont Descats "and Mereren on October 13, the enemy's right fell back in considerable.haste, making use of tho darkness to' evade pursuit. Bailleul, which had been occupied foreight days, was abandoned without-a shot being fired. On October 14 the advance- was continued by our Left Wing, tho ciieniy. being driven back so far that the rest of hie lino became endangered, as was since learnt from captured operation orders! These state that the Right line, having been forced to withdraw, the Left was compelled to conform to the movement. Tiie latter withdrawal left us, by the night of October 15, in possession of all tho .country on the left bank of tho Lys to a point five miles below Armentieros, and of all the bridges abovo Armcntierce. Ou October 16 tho ciiemy retired from that toivn, and after a few shells had. been iired. at the barricade on the Mieppo bridge, the river lino to within a short distance of Frelinghein fell into our hands. At Armontieres- the enemy left behind fifty wounded, rifles,, and an' ammunition, motor-car. Our Right \Ving south of Lys was able to make little progress until October 15. Violent Encounters-. Resistance 1 to ,its advance was of'a most determined character, and fighting resolved t itself into , a- series'of norcoly contested encounters. In an attack on some villages, all the efforts of the infantry were unavailing until our howitzers had reduced the houses to ruins. Other villages would bo taken and retaken three lime 3 before being finally secured. On this front the French cavalry gave our infantry' support by night. I On October 1G • the resistance was overcome, and tho enemy had fallen Lack -miles to tho eastward.

During October 17, 18, and 19 our Right encountered strong opposition from the .enemy about La Bassee, established behind embankments, and well provided with machine guns. Advance was slow. In tho Centre and on the Left better progress was made, although the Germans everywhere entrenched and still continued to hold sonio villages on the Lys, in spite of tho bombardmont. At tho close of each or the three days, a night counterstroke was delivered against our line. All. were repulsed without difficulty. On October 20 a determined but unsuccessful attack was made against practically the whole or our line. At one point, where one of our brigades made a counter-attack, 11,000 German dead were found in the' trenches, and 4G prisoners were taken;

Interesting Notes. , Among tho prisoners captured by the Belgians was a hunchback who had,had no training- before August 17 last. He said that many of the men in his regiment, were .between 17 and 18 yeaie. ■There were signs in many of tho villages of hurried retirement. In one, a. great quantity of lances and ammunition had been abandoned; in another, tho Staff left.behind its dinner and operation orders. Armoured motorcars, equipped with inachino guns, were most successful in dealing with small parties of German mounted troops ' The Belgians now fighting with us are acquitting themselves' nobly, and have shown themselves experts. They appear to regard. Uhlan-huiiting as a .form of sport Groupo display the utmost dash and skill .in this form of warfare'., often going out miles ahead of their 'own advanced troops, and seldom failing to return loaded with spoils in the shape of lancer caps, busbies, helmets, lances, rifles, and other trophies, which they distribute as souvenira to the crowds in the market place. ■ ■ . . ' Along the Aisne. Although the struggle in the northern area naturally attracts more attention, that on tho Aisne still continues, though there is no alteration' in the general situation. Tho enemy has made , certain changes in tho positions of his heavy artillery, with the result that iiuo or two places, formerly safe quarters, are now subject to bombardment, while others, which were only approachable at night, or by crawling on harids and knees, now servo as a recreation ground. Recent official casualty lists, captured, show that the losses of the Germans continue to be heav.y. One infantry company in a single list reports 139 killed and wounded; other comI panies suffered as heavily. ' THE MILITARY FORCES COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. Training of the New Zealand Military Forces is to be proceeded with as usual, notwithstanding the, organisation of the Expeditionary Force and the reinforcements. The following course of instruction has been, arranged up till May next: — 1914. ■ October.—Ten days' District Refresher Course 'for Acting-Staff Corps and Permanent Staff, temporary appointments. November.—Fourteen days' District Refresher Course (voluntary) for officers and n.c.o.'e (Territorials and Senior Cadets). December. —Dominion Refresher Course (obligatory, soven daye) for •selected officers , (probably four from each-, district), PermanentStaff, and Permanent -N.Z. Field Artillery Cadre (preparatory to district exercise on the ground without troops). 1915. January: (a) Voluntary (six days) course of instruction for officers (Territorials and Senior Cadets), preparatory to tho February examination for promotion, (b) District- exercise ,on the ground without troops (three _ days).. (To bo run as a series of Regimental exercises on the ground without troops.) This course will be participated in by tho District Stall: officers, N.Z.S.C., R.N.Z.A., and Senior Territorial officers. . February: (a) An obligatory (six days) courso (including the examination) for ■ Territorial and Senior Cadet N.C.O.'s going up for commissions, (b) A voluntary district refresher courso for selected regimental officers and N.C.O.'s of Territorial Force unite going into annual camps fourteen days, seven days for mounted and other units, and seven days for infantry. March and April: Annual camps for all units except those which havo boon mobilised. May; .Casual camps.