GERMANS RESIST THE ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15737, 12 October 1914, Page 7

GERMANS RESIST THE ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT.

RETIRE FROM LILLE AFTER BITTER FIGHTING. 7 FRENCH DISPLAY GREAT DASH AND COURAGE. FAILURE OF ENEMY'S FLANKING MOVEMENT. . (Received October 11, 7 p.m.) * London, October 10.: On October 4, two German shells fell in the centre of Lille,, and this marked the beginning of a desperate attempt by the Germans to escape from the encircling movement of the allies: " ' : .The shells did little damage. They were fired by batteries on the extreme left of a new German force, which had advanced from the Belgian frontier and formed a crescent line lying, roughly, between Turcoing and Armentieres. . A series of violent engagements followed between about 10,000 Germans and the infantry garrisoning Lille. Savage fighting continued in the streets and boulevards on the eastern- outskirts of the town during all of Sunday, October 4, and until Monday, when the enemy was finally repulsed. , . . On Tuesday, October 6, a gallant fight raged between the French and a large German 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, and the slaughter was of the ghastliest description. The Germans were mown down in hundreds, and their infantry fire was feeble, though it sounded incessant. This was taken to indicate that their whole transport had 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-drivei} back 13 miles. ... - ,3 On Wednesday, October ?, the French artillery few kilometres of Lens. The French fired straight over ..the fcov-n and bombarded the German positions near the village of Hoxson, and beat the enemy back north-eastwards, with heavy flosses. /, . 'v ' _ { On Thursday, October 8, the Germans evacuated the \j 0 18 1C "' and retired from Bethune in a north-easterly direction. |||g |||||||||||