Eastern Front
Poland: FIRST BATTLE OF WARSAW (until October 23) all along Vistula; 4 German corps against 4 Russian armies, Germans within 7 miles (ca. 11 km) of Warsaw whose evacuation is prepared.
Western Front
Flanders: Germans (III Reserve Corps) occupy Ostend and Zeebrugge. With Belgian Army along river Yser, Allied line now extends to sea and occupies Paperinghe. BEF cavalry finds Lys crossings, German-held but capture 2 villages on Ypres canal; British II Corps (2,000 casualties since October 12) makes progress but meets German VII Corps which relieves German cavalry corps.
Far East
Tsingtao: No running water; US Consul brings out several hundred women and children.
African Fronts
South Africa: Colonel Brits routs Maritz (70 PoWs) at Ratedraai south of river Orange.
Sea War
North Sea: Patrolling old British cruiser Hawke torpedoed and sunk off Peterhead by U9; 525 dead, only 21 survivors.
Neutrals
USA: State Department circular affirms US citizens right to ‘sell to any belligerent government or its agent any article of commerce …’
Home Fronts
Britain: Lord Bryce to HAL Fisher ‘People in London are depressed. Both Russia and France’s capacities are obscure’. 4,144 Belgian refugees arrive at Dover and Folkestone.
