<– Part 11 – October 11, 1914  | Part 12 – October 18, 1914 |  Part 13 – October 25, 1914 –>

British colonial forces (the 129th Baluchis) near Holobeke, at Messines.

The Belgian Plain, site of much of this week’s fighting. Lille is in the middle of this map.

Fighting erupted October 12 around the Belgian town of Messines as the opposing forces attempt to outflank one another towards the North Sea. Some ground was retaken by the French and British forces, with only minor losses.

Later that day, the Germans captured Lille, and the following day, the Battle of Armentieres

German Uhlans in 1912

around Lille began. The Germans

Dismounted Uhlans during the war

ordered all French citizens to leave; some died of exhaustion on the long walk to safety while others were captured by German Uhlans. British aerial reconnaissance spotted German forces withdrawing to strongpoints, while the Germans dropped bombs from their own aeroplanes. On October 14, the Allied forces met and closed the line from the North Sea to the Swiss border.

After the failed assaults on Jabassi in the German Kamerun colony last week, a second assault on the 14th was successful with the addition of artillery support, and the station has been occupied by the British troops. 4 Germans were killed, and 10 captured.

Belgian soldiers

HMS Hawke

On October 14, the German sub U-9 sunk the British protected cruiser HMS Hawke.

U-9 before the war

On October 16, fighting on the Yser opened up between German and French & Belgian troops on the Belgian coast. The Belgian army is attempting to hold the last sliver of their territory; despite fierce fighting with heavy casualties on both sides, the Belgian army successfully held the city of Diskuide.