PREPARING FOR RETREAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 19

PREPARING FOR RETREAT.

LONDON, October 15. ■- The Daily Telegraph’s correspond ent reports that there are indications of events happening upon the issue of which hang the future of German Belgium and perhaps Northern France. He learns from reliable sources that at Ghent, Conrtrai, Bruges, and Charleroi trains are stands ing ready in case of retreat to Ger= many. Extra bridges have been thrown across the Scheldt. The liead= quarters of the army at the extreme right have been moved back. The Duke of Wurf¥mbiirg has estab= fished himself at Ghent, Troops have just arrived, and all have been flung into the zone northward of Arras. BRITISH SUCCESSES. SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. LONDON, October 14. Sir John French reports; On Wednesday afternoon, after a bombardment, we attacked the enemy’s trenches, under cover of a cloud of smoke and gas, from a point about 600 yards south-west of Hulluch tov Hoheuzollern redoubt. We gained, about ICOO yards of trench just south and west of Hulluch, but were unable to maintain the position owing to the enemy’s shell fire. We captured and held the enemy’s trenches south-west of Stelice, behind the Vermelles-Hulluch road, and the south-western edge of the quarries. We also captured a trench in the northwestern face of the forest, jind captured the main trench of the Hoheuzollern redoubt, but the enemy still occupy two communication trenches between the redoubt and the quarries. Sir John French, in a later report, denies the German statement that the British are attacking from Ypres to Loos. No attempts were made beyond those mentioned in a previous report. THE CHAMPAGNE BATTLES. INTENSE BOMBARDMENTS. LONDON, October 14. The Lokal Anzsiger says: “The four offensives during the last few days have been intense. The French used great quantities of ammunition in the battles of the Champagne, which is the centre of gravity. The Frankfurter Zeitung says the salient points in the German position at Tahure-Sommepy are suffering severely, but a flanking fire prevents the French from keeping up concentrations of troops.