Fight for the coast

Belgians in Yser stand

British gunboats in action

Desperate Germans

A rumour was widely debated yesterday that Ostend had already been regained by the Allies but the statement did not fit in with the French official communique and anxious not to publish misleading intelligence we refrained from giving any further currency to it.

Had the story been true, however, it would have occasioned no great surprise, for the indications are plain enough that the Germans in the coast area are, as mentioned yesterday, awkwardly placed.

If their ranks have been stiffened it can only delay disaster and the big guns they may bring up are only likely to stick in the mud and make the eventual retreat harder to carry out.

The Germans pin their faith to their heavier artillery but while they may be tremendously effective against solid defence, they fail to make any considerable impression in the open.

The day will come when our own artillery will have its chance against the concrete and the enemy will then be despairingly regretful of the havoc they were the first to wreak.

But that is looking rather far ahead. The immediate present is our concern and the progress of events is perhaps best shown by the anxiety about the situation which is manifesting itself in Germany.

Truth is now dawning on Germans

Amsterdam has largely had the medium for the circulation of news and it is significant that the Tyd’s Berlin correspondent should be allowed to state that the Germans are depressed by the influence of the Aisne struggle, they have become silent and the capture of Antwerp has not neutralised the prevailing depression in the enemy capital.

The correspondent says that the worst is that the German army on the Aisne is significantly declining and the situation in the trenches must gradually become unbearable.

The truth is gradually penetrating to Berlin and when all the facts of the situation are known there will be little further object in maintaining the hopeless struggle in France and Belgium.

Another message from Ghent asserts that the latest war news has caused great angst among German officers and festivities have been cancelled with all available troops being sent in the direction of Nieuport.

Suicide of general

A German general has committed suicide and the air is full of rumours of great victories by the allies.

For a long time the Germans have been endeavouring to create a feeling of panic in this country and it is now pleasing to hear that stern facts are now causing depression in the foe’s country.