WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1313, 20 October 1914, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

The Press Bureau, London, re ports that the Allies have driven the enemy back over thirty miles in the northern area of the big 3 battlefield. An official confirmation of this c news states that the British troops t have made good progress during j the last few days. The new posi- - tion of the ( British force is with j the Belgians in this region. f Large reinforcements of Ger- ] mans have been rushed to their right flank. ; An official communique from j Paris at midnight on October 18th, , states that the Germans attempted , two violent attacks east of Saint Die, in the Vosges, and were repulsed with heavy losses. ' The German occupation of Oslend is a matter of no consideration from the viewpoint of the 1 general strategic situation. ! It is rumoured that the Germans ' have withdrawn from Ostend to ! the south-west. A German paper admits that the enemy’s plans have been upset by J the withdrawal of the Allies from .Antwerp, the invaders being confident of capturing the defenders. 1 An Amsterdam message states 1 that strong German forces have left Bruges with guns, going to- 1 wards France. Great numbers of German wounded have arrived in Bruges. It is rumoured that the Germans have retreated from West 1 Flanders, commandeering hay and < oats at Blankenberghe as a ransom. : The Russians report that the j general outlook is hopeful. The 1 Germans are said to have been ■ compelled to retire at several • points. 1 There have been anti-German ( riots in London, and military and 5 police were summoned to guard ! the enemy's subjects, 1 A sensational item of news * comes from Edinburgh, where a < German “ factory ” has been dis- - covered by the military authorities, 1 prepared evidently for German * military use on a site dominating ] Edinburgh. 1 A report from Tsing-tao states 1 that it is raining shells there. The ! Germans may surrender. | NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. FOUR GERMAN DESTROYERS SUNK, i The Prime Minister ol New ; Zealand has received the following ( official message:— London, Oct. 17, 7-35 P- m - The cruiser Undaunted, accom- ; panied by the destroyers Lance, Lennox, Legion and Loyal, engaged four German destroyers off the Dutch coast this afternoon. All the enemy’s destroyers were sunk. Official: —One officer and four men were wounded in the engagement, which resulted in the sinking of four German destroyers. The damage to the British vessels was slight. They picked up thirty-one Germans. London, Oct. 18, Captain Fox, of the Undaunted-, was in command of the Amphion (which was sunk by a German mine). The Undaunted left Harwich yesterday morning, and during the engagement she followed the Germans from the mouth of the Scheldt to off Amsterdam. The cruiser Undaunted is one of the fastest vessels (apart from small craft) in the British Navy. She is a sister ship to the Arathusa, which performed so brilliantly in the Heligoland fight, and was only launched in 1913. Her speed is 30 knots, displacement 3,520 tons, main armament two 6-luch and six 4-inch guns. The four destroyers which participated in the fight belonged to the L class, which are among the latest launched, their speed being something over 30 knots. HOLLAND MINES THE SCHELDT. Amsterdam, Oct. iS. The Scheldt is mined between Antwerp and the south-eastern extremity, south of Beveland. MARITZ’S TREACHERY. Capetown, Oct, 18, Mr J. X, Merrimau, speaking at Soraeria West, condemned Maritz’s treachery. South Africa’s duty was plain. It was to stand by Great Britain throughout the appalling struggle. Pretoria, Oct. 18. A meeting of commaodauts at Elroonstad, representing the Free State north of Bloemfontein, passed a resolution to support the Government’s measures inside and outside the Union, asking the South to mobilise the burghers against the rebellion, and declaring that Maritz’s treason is a blot on the Free State’s honour. It is noteworthy tnat the Free State constituencies were hitherto lukewarm regarding the campaign in German South West Africa.