The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 September 1914, Page 5

The War News.

- . SATURDAY The Belgians have driven the Germans back from Antwerp to Louvain. The Austrians are reported to have lost 123,000 men in the recent battle in Galicia. Japan has joined in with the allies regarding the agreement not to concede peace separately. Mr Asquith announced in the House of Commons that Britain can put 1,200,000 men in the field. Advices from Pekin state that the German garrison atTsing-tau is unable to procure fresh pro- _ visions. ♦-^ Feeling in Vienna is becoming bitter against Germany, and Hungarian sympathy for Russia is increasing. The Scots Greys last -week decoyed some Germans in front of French machine guns and a , thousand were killed. The Servians are invading Bosnia, while the Montenegrins expect to conquer Herzegovina from the south. Sir John French has forwarded to the War Office a detailed report of British operations up to September 7. The Germans are feverishly strengthening Thorn, Kulm, and Grandenz, in Prussia, against the Russian advance. It is officially stated that the Austrian losses have been enormous, numerous regiments being completely decimated. A British soldier, who was invalided home says he saw Germans cutting the wrists of wounded British soldiers. The Ceylon tea planters have given £2000 worth of tea "to the Russian troops and donated £2000 to the Prince of Wales' fund. - The Admiralty states that on Wednesday and Thursday numerous squadrons of flotillas made a complete sweep of the North Sea up and into Heligoland Bight. MONDAY The Germans are in retreat practically at all points. The descriptions of the movement vary from a " fall back" to a " rout," but all agree that the allies are now on the offensive and that the Germans are retiring from strong positions under v.- extreme pressure, and their centre is routed and- both ranks demoralised. All the messages indicate a state of disorganisation in the German ranks, which is in striking contrast to the orderly retirement of the allies in the early stages of the war. A wireless message intended for Berlin, intercepted by the allies, stated that the invaders are badly in need qf horses and suppliesIn Belgium the invaders are eyen in a worse plight than in France. The Belgians have retaken Malines, Aershot, Ghent, and Termonde, and have driven the Germans completely out of the region between Antwerp and Ghent. The Belgian Government has forbidden the city of Ghent to pay the war levy imposed by the Germans. The news from' the eastern theatre of war shows continued Russian succes against the Austrians, the main Austrian k army being still in flight, with disorder in the ranks increasing. The Berlin Socialist paper Vorwaerts says there is a great army of unemployed in Germany, which is likely to be a greater danger to the empire than her military defeat. TUESDAY Cablegrams show, that the t can^e of the change in the in France has not heen PY^Prlestin^ate4. It is now stated that the rout of the Gjermans has deepened into complete disaster, and that the invaders are returning to their own frontier h,y the quickest route, abandoning the wounded and materials of war. The total distance of the retreat at latest reports is 62 miles. Several of the messages indicate that the Germans are disorganised, and that'they are illsupplied with ammunition. Two tlMuS^nd-bf'-th'ehV«u^endered- to file' attWs without firing a shot. 1 Many Qi the towns taken by the' Germans " haVP feP^'n' W i/pcupiefiiiy ihe $renph. The retreat of the Germans from Belgium is also being Continued. Brussels has been recaptured, and in a fight to the north of the city! the Germans were defeated. General Joffre, the French -jjays, <; vvll frur-aTffis &re fittslaed with'pucces-w and are executing a pursuit unexampled for its extent."

A WEEK'S SUMMARY.

The Russians have further weakened the Austrian Army by a brilliant victory, in which they took 30,000 prisoners and several hundred guns. Cracow and Prezemyl have surrendered. WEDNESDAY The German retreat continues. Pressure has compelled the Kaiser's army of invasion, to abandon defences they had prepared between Compiegne and Soissons and behind Amiens. French and Danish acknowledgements of the brilliant part taken by the British in the campaign have come to hand. In an article in the Figaro M. Hanotau r says the honours of the day rest with the British. In Denmark the British are being given credit for the German retreat, and Sir John French is -being compared to the Duke of Marlborough, who never fought a battle that he did not win and never besieged a place that he did not take. A German army has been defeated at Miawa, on the boundary of Russian Poland, and it is stated that the Germans are evacuating Poland. A report on the fighting in Austria states that the Russians have taken 180,000 prisoners, 450 field guns, 1000 fortress artillery, 4000 transport waggons, and seven aeroplanes. THURSDAY German retreat has become more orderly, and there are indications that the right wing and centre may attempt to resist the allies, who are in close contact with them. A battle is proceeding, but it is probably only a rear guard action to cover a general retreat to the Meusc. The Crown Prince, on |the German left wing, has retired to the north of Verdum, and it is reported that portions of the invading army from this vicinity have re-crossed the German frontier and are at Metz

The Central News Agency reports that General yon Kluck, with a force of 14,000, has surrendered to the allies.

Austria is being severely pressed on her southern boundary. The Servians have occupied Semliu, and a force of Servians, estimated at 150,000 are now advancing in Hungary.

A German cruiser and the submarine which destroyed the Pathfinder, have been sunk.