Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1914 — ALLIES REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN TWO TOWNS [ARTICLE]

ALLIES REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN TWO TOWNS

Rumored to Have Taken Lille and Douai. NEXT FIGHT AT ARMENTIERES Turcos Defeat Kaiser's Men in Hand to-Hand Fighting at Tracy-le-Val—Artillery Duel Continues. London, Nov. 20.—Forces are gath edng for decisive events in Flanders According to unofficial dispatches from the front the Germans have been forced to quit Lille and the British are now said to be in the town. There is no official confirmation of this reported success, or of the report that the allies have occupied Douai, Tbe big guns are at it again, con dieting a terrific bombardment of the allies’ positions from the German lines The French and British guns are re plying in kind, but with less vigor. I nder cover of the military activity both armies are moving jroops with great rapidity and in great numbers. The movement is southward and it is believed that the next great effort of the Germans will be made to the south of Vpres. probably at Armen tieres

Airmen Busy All Day. Aerial scoutx of both the OtTiiuens and allies were pxtrernely a: live all day according m unofficial reports from the front The midnight, official statement from Bordeaux was barren of news from the front, but the afternoon communique related a remarkable story of the valor oi the half-savage French Algerians in repelling a furious attack by the Germans in the vicinity of Tracy-le-Val The allies took possession of Tracy-le-Val several days ago and the Ger mans Tuesday returne<rto the attack with the intention of recapturing the town So terrific was their initial onslaught. that it carried them up to and o,ver the first line of intrenchments. sfatight that it carried them up to and fort, they advanced rapidly on the village Turcos Win Hand to-Hand. The Algerian contingents, which had been called from the reserve to support the first line trenches, when it was seen the French troops were about to be overwhelmed, passed the retiring French troops on the road. The latter were almost exhausted from the vigor of the fighting. The Algerians were fresh and their officers insisted that they be permitted to meet the second blow of the attackers. As the French fell back, fighting all the way, suddenly there was uncovered to the view o- the oncoming Germans a solid front of turbaned Turcos. They fell on the Germans with blood-chill-ing yells and cut them up with lead and steel. ATte- an hour's hand-to-hand fighting the fury of the Turcos’ onslaught began to tell and the Germans beat a disordered retreat. The Algerians pressed their advantage with renewed energy and drove the enemy well beyond the outer trenches, regaining every foot of the ground that had been lost. French Embrace Algerians. The French regulars had re-formed jind were in support by this time, but did not re-enter the ’fight, leaving it all to the .valiant Turcos, whom they rushed th embrace in the trenches when the invaders finally were repulsed. The Algerian soldier is the hero of the day. Epidemic of Typhoid at Lille. Boulogne, Nov. 20.—1 tis learn*ed i',' • . ta

that' a serious epidemic of typhoid fever has broken out among the Ger- j man troops who are in occupation of i Lille and the surrounding districts. In I the last two days no fewer than 5,000 ! men have entered the hospitals, which are filled to overflowing. The Germans have evacuated Lille, but the French have not entered the town yet. a sanitary corps first having been sent to take the necssary measures of precaution. The epidemic is already spreading among the Germans occupying Roubaix and Tourcoing. The factories in these towns have not been touched as the owners, through the intervention of the American consul, were able to save their property by paying to the invaders $10,000,000. All the available space in the factory buildings is utilized for temporary hospitals which are now filled with wounded.