HARD PRESSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11216, 23 October 1914, Page 1

HARD PRESSED.

ENEMY HAS BAD DIE. ALLIES ATTACKING. (Received October 23, 10.30 a.m) . LONDON, October 22. The "Daily Mail's" Flushing correspondent says that the German position on the Belgium seaboard and in the vicinity of Bruges and Ghent is becoming critical. The Germans still hold Ostend. The bombardment of Nieuport c-n Wednesday took place under the fire of eleven worships, tho German fire falling short. The Germans in Ostend arc sheltering behind houses on the Digue. Firing has beeu heard ;:>t Bruges all day, and is coming closer. The railway viaduct at Oostcamp was blown up, and trains of German wounded were obliged to return to Bruges. The Germans appear exhausted. French dragoons from Ypres, after crpelling the remnaufc of the Germans from Rouiers, barricaded the streets and planted machine guns in the porches of prominent houses. 0)t Monday a large force of Gentians

j from Ghent and Bruges bombarded And ] took the town after tierce street fight- | ins, thf! French retiring, in good order. j The French were reinforced on Tuesj day, and after heavy fighting Boulers \ was retaken. i ' ! SHELLED FROM THE SEA. i | SURPRISE PACKET FOR GERMANS, ! I i (Received October 23, 9.45 a-m.) J LONDON, October 22. j The'monitors' marksmanship utterly • destroyed the dyke between Ostend and Nieuport, which, was . strongly held, blowing up the house occupied by the | German headquarters staff. ' (The monitors ustjd were the Hum- | ber, Mersey and . Severn, named after j three famous rivers in. England. They i were originally built to the order of Brazil, (but found a purchaser in. the Admiralty. They are mmiatiire battleships ,and have each a displacement of 1250 tons.) „ __ MONITORS RETURN. (Received October 23, 11 a-rn.) LONDON. October 22. It i? stated that the warships which were of the Belgian coast were the armoured monitors purchased from Brazil at the outbreak of. the war, built by Messrs Tickers, Ltd., at.BaJr-row-in-Furnesa, being designed for river work in Brazil Each vessel has a displacement of 1250 tons; speed being sacrificed to draught, they can only steam 11$ knots, drawing less than 9ft. 'They are armed with 6in guns. They left hurriedly on Saturday with scouts and torpedo boats. Firing commenced on Sunday, and they returned on Monday with ssveifinen wounded ! by. shrapnel.