BELGIANS INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES ON THE GERMANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15749, 26 October 1914, Page 4

BELGIANS INFLICT HEAVY LOSSES ON THE GERMANS

ALLIES ADVANCING NEARER OSTEND. ENGLISH CAVALRY WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES. Received October 26. 7.30 p.m.) London, October 24. The Belgians, faking the offensive on Monday, fought fierce engagements at Schoore, Kcyem and Stabason, while a force under the cover of the guns of the allied fleets made their way for Westende, northeast of Nieuport. The Belgians attempted to envelop the German right wing. Heavy fighting continued all day, both sides suffering considerable losses, the Germans suffering the heavier. A Belgian motor machine gun surprised some German cavalry near Westende and chased them along the road firing into their mass. A hundred and fifty were killed, and the whole regiment was rendered practically hors dc combat. A terrible spectacle was presented in some woods north of Roulers, where hundreds of Germans were killed. The fighting at Nieuport was of extraordinary violence. A German column, advancing towards Dunkirk close to the seashore, using the sand dunes as cover, were massacred by the Belgians. It is declared that the waves are washing up a pile of German dead upon the beach. The fields in the neighbourhood of Furnes and Dixmunde, to the west and south of Nieuport, are covered with German dead. German shells struck a house at Dixmunde, where 2" Belgians were resting. None of the Belgians escaped. The allies have advanced closer to Ostend. It is reported that the Germans are leaving the coast road to Ostend clear. British warships are now abreast with Middelkirke, five miles along the coast from Nieuport, English cavalry are active, working from Thourout, 15 miles south-east of Ostend. The Germans have placed artillery between Thourout and Ibdcke.