THE GERMAN LEVIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1316, 27 October 1914, Page 4

THE GERMAN LEVIES.

A newspaper correspondent' gives the following details of the advance of the Germans through Northern France before they were repulsed. The department ot the Aisne suffered heavily, especially in the northern part,'where violent engagements took pla’ce at Hirson, Wassigny, Bohain, and Vernins. Guise was entirely devastated. It was shelled for the first time by Germans and was occupied, but it wasre-taken by the Allies after another bombardment, and was finally re-taken by the Germans. During the three attacks, x 2,000 shells fell in Guise. St. Quentin was also heavily shelled, and part of the town destroyed. The museum was saved. The Germans made the following levies during their march southwards £ Brussels 8,000,000 Liege Province 2,000,000 Liege City 400,000 Louvain 4,000 Brabant Province 18,000,000 Lille 280,000 Armentieres 20,000 Amiens 40,000 (and xoo.ooo cigars) Lens 40,000 BOjabaiz and Turcoing 40,000 Termonde 40,000 Ghent: 100,000 cigars, 2,200 gallons petrol, 220 gallons mineral waters, 150 tons of oats, 100 bicycles, 10 motor-cycles, etc. Total cash ,£28,852,000 It is one thing to make a levy, another to enforce it. Brussels has, as yet, only paid about ,£140,000 of the blackmail, and Germany is now likely to get very little more.