The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 October 1914, Page 5

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

SUMMARY.

SATURDAY

The naval bombardment of the Germans in occupation of Ostend and Nieuport is growing stronger The British warships are now being assisted by a French squadron. Fresh German troops are continually arriving to assist in holding the German positions, which are considered crttical. New German guns have been brought to Ostend and Zeeburge, the North Sea entrance to the Bruges ship canal, to shell the warships on the coast. A violent battle has been fought between t he allied left wing and the German right from the^qrth Sea through Belgium to La Bassee, south of Lille. Everywhere on this fifty-mile battle-field the allies have held their own and have driven the enemy northward. Violent attacks by considerable German forces have all been repulsed. The chiefs of the German General Staff, Lieut.-General Helmuth yon Maltke, is reported to be dying from liver complaint. MONDAY No decisive result has yet been reached in the fierce fighting now in progress in Belgium. A " massacre " of Germans by the Belgians at Xieuport, and piles of German dead being washed ap on the seashore after the engagement, is reported. At Arras the Germans are said to have lost 5000 ; there are hundreds of German dead in the neighbourhood of Dixmunde and Fumes, and their losses at Westende were heavy. The allies have advanced closer to Ostend, and the allied warships are now opposite Middlekerke, on the Belgian coast, between Ostend and Nieuport. A thrilling account is given of a gallant charge by the Scots Greys against German cavalry to save a number of French soldiers who were bogged in marshy ground under the fire of the German guns. A London cablegram says that' London is feeding 300,000 Belgian refugees, and other parts of England 200,000. For this worth of supplies are required monthly. A desberate battle between Russians and Germans was fought near Ivangorod. .. An Austro-German force fighting in Galicia unexpectedly crossed the River San. The Russians met them with fixed bayonets, and drove men, horses and guns into the water. The Newfoundland contingent has arrived in England. TUESDAY A report from the allies' right wing, where the forces have been less active than in 1 Belgium, states that the garrison at Verdun is acting in the field, and has met the German army from Metz in several encounters. The battle between Arras and the North Sea coast continues with great violence. All the enemy's attacks so far have been repulsed. Jt is reported that the Kaiser -feas QvderecJ his army to take Calais at all costs. Qalais, which is only 23 miles from Dover, is wanted by the Germans as a base for submarines operatiug against the British Fleet. In Belgium the invaders are meetiug with a stubborn resist*r' ance from the Belgium army, while the bombardment from the allied fleets off the coast has been compelled to withdraw inland.* Tfrejioodmg of the country near Dixmunde by the allies inflicted great lossess on the Germans, casualties in this region \yere estimated at 30,000. Fighting continues in Poland, where the Russians, following up their victory along tne Vistula ape driving back the AustroQferman invaders tq the west and isouth. Several German cavalry regiments are said to have been cut up. yj* WEDNESDAY A German infantry regiment has been annihilated in the Argonne district. A violent battle is proceeding between Nieuport. The Germans have crossed the Yser at the cost of an enormous number of fives/ x At'Dixmunde the Germans fell into a trap laid for them by the French. The town appeared abandoned, " an,d the Prussians marched into it' with bands play-

ing. When they entered the prmbipal street' a terrific volley from machine guns concealed in houses drowned the music, and French marines sprang from concealment, hurling themselves on the Germans, who fled panicstricken. An account is given of a brilliant bayonet charge by British troops against Germans occupying a strong position. Six thousand Germans killed. Colonel Maritz, the South African traitor, and his -rebel followers have been completely defeaten by the force sent against them by the South African Government. In the fight Colonel Maritz was wounded, He fled into German territory. The Japanese have sunk an Austrian cruiser in Kiau-Chau Bay. Berlin newspapers state there are 299,778 prisoners in Germany including .5401 officers. About About 9000 of the prisoners are British. THURSDAY Accounts are given in . the cablegrams of a bayonet charge by Indians at La Bassee. The Germans, in great numbers, advanced on the British trenches, and at the word of command the Indians rushed at them with the bayonet. Immediately the German ranks were broken. The Indians re-captured the trenches, and pursued the Germans till recalled by their officers.. It is estimated that 20,000 dead and wounded Germans were left on the field. There has been fierce hand-to-hand fighting in the Ypres district. For five days an inferior allied force held in check 250,000 Germans, who were supported by the German seige guns used in the bombardment of Antwerp. On arrival of re-inforcements the Germans were thrown back. The Belgian army defended the crossing of the River Yser for nine days. Both sides lost heavily. The Belgian losses for the nine days totalled 10,000. Two thousand German corpses were found floating in the river after a single night attack. FRIDAY The great effort of the German armies in Belgium has failed to check the progress of the allies. It is clear from the terrific fighting of the past week that the German strategists attached great importance to the result of the battle in Belgium. Their forces crossed the Yser at enormous cost. It is new stated that they have been driven back across the river, and the Belgian Government officially announces tliat the position has improved. On Sunday last a German force marched into Thourout, but they were at once driven back to Bruges, leaving hundreds of dead and wounded. British and French columus came under the fire of a German battery near Lille. A Scottish regiment, which was ordered to silence the guns, charged with their pipers playing. They bayoneted the German artillerymen and broke the breaches of the guns, enabling the French artillery to advance. General Botha has taken j;he field against the South African rebels, and is already in ; pursuit of the nien under General Byers. The Russians have resumed fighting in E}ast Prussia, and are forcing the enemy te retreat.