Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1914 — VERDUN DOOMED, DERUN CLAIMS; NIEUPORT SHELLED [ARTICLE]

VERDUN DOOMED, DERUN CLAIMS; NIEUPORT SHELLED

Allied Armies Hold Invaders in 1 Check After Battle on Yser; LOSSES OR BOTH SIDES HEAVY Decision in Great Battle Is as Far Distant as When Kaiser’s Forces Occupied Ostend Ten Days Ago. Berlin, Oct. 27 (By Wireless via London). —Word comes from the front that Verdun is doomed and Its fall is expected by the German besiegers. This follows the report of last week that some of the outer fortresses had been reduced by the Germans’ guns and that the defenders of these outposts bad withdrawn to the main stronghold. The Germans have liad considerable difficulty in bringing up their heaviest siege guiiß to bear on the French fortress because of the frequent sallies of the defenders and the main French army supporting them on one Bide.

The anuonncement that capture of the fortress ie imminent is believed here to mean that the great guns are now playing on the main defenses and that Verdin Is to meet the fate of Liege, Namur, Maubeuge and Antwerp. r

Both Sides Claim Gains. Paris, Oct. 27. —The Germans are bombarding Nieuport. After forcing a crossing of the Yser In great force between Dlxmude and Nieuport, the main body pressing back the main Belgian line about six miles south of the latter city, the invaders’ advance was halted when the bending allied line stiffened, held and met the attack with a furious counter-assault. But the Germans were able to bring up their heavy siege guns, and about noon a violent fusillade was directed from the German batteries on the Belgian positions on the outskirts of Nieuport. Scores of shells burst over and in the eeaport city, and the din, which rose even above the roar of the general battle being fought along the Yser. was frightful. Frightful destruction of life was recorded in the history-maklhg battle of Flanders, in which the most deadly en gines of war are engaged. Night at tacks of great Terocity have been delivered along the entire front between La liassee and the Somme by the Germans, hut the allies have been able tohold the invaders to their positions. While the Germans have driven forward at one point in Belgium, the allies have forced an advance at another, until the once jagged line now ehows great bends and sharp angles. A decision in this conflict is as far distant as when the Germans occupied Ostend ten days ago. For a time at least Dunkirk and Calais, the objectives of the Germans, appear to be safe.

Germans to Shell Fleet. London, Oct. 27.—That the Germans are now preparing to give deadly battle to the British and French ships of Admiral Hood's flotilla, which have lent such valiant assistance to the allied land forces between Nieuport and Ostend, was indicated by the report that two of the 42-centimeter (17Ineh) Howitzers and ten .28 centimeter (10-inch) siege guns had arrived at Bruges and had been posted on previously prepared bases between Zeebrugge and Heyst, a seaside resort nine miles north of Bruges. From here the long-range guns will be able to reach the British warships, which, according to report, are bombarding the German batteries located in the sand dunes near Ostend.

German Wounded Fill Towns. I Bruges, Ghent and Roulers already are full of German wounded and more trains and road vehicles, both horse and motor, are blocking the ways between these towns and the battle front with fhelr cargoes of Invalids. The villages of Moorslede, Poelcapellc, >Vestroosebeke and Staden, all lying along the railway from Ostend to Ypres, within a stretch of ten miles between Dixniude and Roulers, have been laid waste by ffiells and lire. Cortemarck and section points at either end of the railway division upon which these stations are located, have been severely damaged in the fighting.

In this section, counterbalancing the advance of nine miles made by the Germans near the coast, the allies bent the German line back at Roulers and Menin by a sharp wedge movement, but the allies were unable to hold Roulers because of the fury of the ‘German art.llery fire and were forced out—the fQijrth evacuation of

me <*lly m me HgTitlHg 'sr'the 'past week. Grand Duke Albrecht of Wurtemburg Is commanding the German forces In Belgium, which now have been re-enforced by strong bodies of the best troops at the command of ’the kaiser. The rush of these determined forces and the accuracy of the fire of the , Belgian rapid-fire guns and the Brlt;lsh and French ships has literally .heaped the northwest of Flanders (with dead.