Belgium.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 57, 3 November 1914, Page 5

Belgium.

"THE BLOODIEST BATTLE IN

HISTORY. 1 '

United Press Assota-vnoN,

Amsterdam, November 2

While the Allies in Flanders are daily fighting with magnificent elan and splendid spirit, the Germans are struggling with valour born of desperation. . Their spirit' is almost at the last ebb. Occasionally by a superb dash they advance here and there, only to be driven back. Repeatedly they returned to the charge, but were held everywhere. Friday saw on the Flanders front* fighting as savage ,as any on the preceding fifteen clays. The battle was the bloodiest in history. The slaughter at the Marne and the Aisne pales before it. Untold numbers of dead are littering the fields, dunes. and trenches. Trench after trench-has been taken, and a deep wedge driven into the German positions. More shells were fired between the sea and Dixmunde during the past week than during ; tho whole of the Boer war. The severest .struggles were during the night encounters. German reinforcements are advancing to the strong defensive positions which are being prepared between the present line and Brussels. Entrenching around the capital is proceeding feverishly.

GERMAN SOLDIERS MUTINY.

Paris, November 2

Several German prisoners refer to a recent mutiny in a German regiment at Lorraine, stating that 150 men shot their officers and then' crossed the frontier and surrendered to the French authorities. Cases of suicide are frequent in- the German lines.

THE POSITION AT YPRES.

Calais, November 2

In a recent skirmish near Ypres, between a British regiment and half a German division, the enemy's line advanced, almost encircling the Britishers, who doggedly held the railway line, inflicting immense damage on their foes. Suddenly an armoured train poured broadsides into the Germans until they were practically 'wiped out.

Dunkirk reports that the Allies intercepted the Kaiser's wireless to the general in command, declaring that it was absolutely necessary to take 'Ypres before November 1, otherwise the army must be withdrawn behind the Rhine.

MAGNIFICENT BRITISH BAYONET CHARGES. (Received 10.0 a.m.) London, November 2. The British have had terrible fighting lately in the region of Ypres. The Germans made desperate bayonet rush, es on the British trenches. The British were sometimes outnumbered ten to one, but repeatedly hurled back the enemy and recaptured the village with magnificent bayonet charges. INCIDENTS IN THE FIRING LINE. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, November 2. After the capture of Lavenel fifteen British held a trench for. twenty-four hours against 700 Germans until relieved. One British man was wounded.

It is reported that a Belgian cyclist corps has blown up a bridge in the Dixmunde region, resulting in cutting off thousands of Germans, who surrendered.

GREAT SLAUGHTER OF ENEMY

IN ARTILLERY DUEL.

[Unitbd Press Association.] (Received 9.1.5 a.m.) London, November 2

The' German artillery at Poo-la-Cappelle; near Roulers, on Wednesday night, opened fire in the direction of Boesinghe, under coverc of which infantry strongly entrenched themselves at Poe-la-Cappelle. The British artillery bombarded the German position withi remarkable precision througout Thursday, and the French infantry stormed four successive lines of trenches, slaying thousands.

PROTECTION OF OSTEND AND ZEEBRUCCE HARBORS.

. -jiTJ ~ ■ {Received 8.55 a.m.) Amsterdam, November 2. It is stated that the Germans are mounting caissons capable of firing torpedoes at the entrance to Ostencl and Zeebrugge harbours.

OFFICIAL.

Paris, November 1

Official: There is nothing new to report on the front from Nieuport to Dixmunde. The Germans continued violent' attacks in the whole region north to east and south of Ypres. All were repulsed. We have progressed slightly to the north, and perceptibly to the east of Ypres. Early in tho battle the Germans captured the villages of Hollbek© and Meessines, but these were recaptured in the evening by vigorous counter-attacks. On tho rest of the front the struggle has been very fierce, marked by violent cannonades, the enemy unsuccessfully attempting to capture the ground wo had captured in the last few days. In Argonne the Germans made no progress during the week from the 14th to the' 20th, and 7683 German prisoners were interned. These do not includa the wounded tended by our ambulances, nor the detachment despatched o.i their wav from the front.

Official: There is nothing fresh to report in Belgium. We repulsed violent attacks in the environs of Lihons and Quesnoy, in Santerre, the valley of tho Aisne, and Lagrubie. In the Forest of Argonne we continued our progress northward of Souain. Our offensive in Vosges has made us masters of the heights adjoining the Saint Marie.