A RAIN OF SHELLS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 241, 14 November 1914, Page 9

A RAIN OF SHELLS.

THE STRUGGLE ROUND YPRES. ALLIES REPORTED AT OSTEND. Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 13. at'i j,v ; ,:':rvw:; The High Commissioner reports:—» •, LONDON, November 13. Official: The operations during the ; last few days have consisted mainly of ; heavy fighting north of the Lys. ' The - points of interest were Hollebeke, !, Wytschaete, and Messines, and there were also severe encounters on the'line , Oanvoorde-Frelinghien. The character of the fighting was frequent vigorous "■ infantry attacks from the Germans accompanied by heavy shell fire alternating -with equally vigorous counter attacks. The general result was the maintenance of our line: There were considerable losses on our side,-but still heavier losses on the other side. Ma- ; chine guiis and 100 prisoners were tak- V; en. by us on the Bth. > ' -r"' •' The Allies' strength is constantly be* - 4 ing maintained by reinforcements. Liat- > " terly there has been stress in the neigh- 1 ' bourhood of Gheluvelde, north' of ' Ypres and'Dixmude. German artillery -•■, fire has been continuous, the bombardment being intended to pulverise. our defence preparatory to the advance of , infantry, - * / , ._ 1 f The centre of the struggle was at Ypres, the defence of which will certainly be reckoned in history as.one of the • most striking episodes in the annals of the British Army. For mo*» than three weeks the position has been held under a rain of shells, which has hardly ceased day and night. Duringthat time the enemy poured successive ' • waves of infantry against it,' 1 only to. see them break in pieces one after the V other. \ PARIS, November 13. *•/ The following official statement.has been issued:— , ■ "We have held our ground in all our ' ! positions. The enemy in a night attack: attempted' to debouch from Dixmude, ' but were -,repulscd, and also thrown back everywhere over' the Yser, ex- , * cept from" 1 a position three hundred - ■ yards wirte on the left bank.'" AMSTERDAM, November 13. People *v r ho have* crossed the frontier "■ state that' the Allies entered Ostend ; •which the,-Germans abandoned.,