OPERATIONS IN NORTH-WEST' FRANCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 13 October 1914, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN NORTH-WEST' FRANCE.

FOUR BATTLES IN A WEEK

GAP MADE IN THE GERMAN

LINE

(Received Oct. 13, 10.30 a.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 12

The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states that during the v/eek tiift Allies fought four battles, the most important being that at Lille, which began on Sunday and ended at nighv?all on Friday. .

At the. outset the Germans were reinforced by a strong force from Belgium, mainly . cavalry, • but the French were not caught; napping. The German line stretched from Armentieres to Roubaix and Croix to the outskirts of Lille, where there was heavy fighting at close quarters; the Germans sometimes entering the suburbs. v

The fight was renewed on Tuesday,• when the Germans, who had been reinforced though now outnumbered, had a preponderance of artillery. It Is believed that many German guns had been sent from Antwerp. Further reinforcements enabled the Germans to continue the battle well Into the night, but by dawn the result was certain, and by Friday the -Germans, had been thrown back a "dozen miles.

Meanwhile a battle was being fought at Lens, where the "Germans also lacked artillery, and showed no desire to await bayonet attacks. Their losses were much (greater than the. French. These: fights made a, gap in the German line which exteaded to within ten miles of St. Omer and cleared a stretch of country reaching to St. Meuen over the Belgian frontier, necessitating preparations for retreat along the valley of the Scheldt and Lys.