Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 22, 14 September 1914, Page 5

Great Britain

CHURCHILL'S METAPHOR ANO THE KAISER.

"THE NOSE OF THE BULL-DOC."

fßy EiißflTSio Telsgkaph—CoPYßiatiJ , [United Press Association.] London, September 12. Mr Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, addressing a recruiting meeting at the London Optra House, said: — "Britain in the next 12 months will build twice as* many battleships as Germany, and will also build four times as many cruisers. Bxitain is prepared to build indefinitely, it needed. "By one of those dispositions of Providence which would appeal to the Kaiser, the nose of the killdog is slanted backward, so it can breathe in comfort without letting go. If we have been successful in maintaining the naval control thus far, there is sound reason to believe that our chance of doing so in the future will increase, anl not diminish. "Thero is also no doubt that if we set ourselves to it, we can place 2-5 army corps in the field early in the summer of 1915, in an finny which will demonstrate its superiority over the docile sheep who sovve the pocious ambitions of the despotic kings of Germany, who have i been the terror and bidly of Europe, the menace of every small State, and a perpetual source of unrest. Whatever we do, we" shall fight for ihe freedom of those races who have been subjected and conquered."

THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT.

(Received 9.0 a.m.) London, September 13

Board of Trade enquiries among the principal manufacturers show that 75 per cent, are little affected by the war. The total reduction in the staffs since the middle of July is only 1.3 per cent. Twenty-five per-cent, of the employers reduced their staffs 27' per cent. The cotton industry is chiefly affected. Owing to the scarcity of khak'i, recruits are receiving a blue serge uniform until they go on active service.

The Government has accepted Saskatchewan's offer of 1500 horses costing a quarter of a million dollars.

GFFICIAL MEWS.

CONFIRMATION OF GERMAN RETREAT UP TO 10th lE«SST.

The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner:— London, September 13.

. The War Office reports on the operations of the British and French last four days to September G: The southward advance of the German right reached its extreme points at Coulommicrs and Provins, cavalry patrols having penetrated south to Nogent-sur-Seine. This movement was covered by a largo flanking force west of the line of the River Ourcq, who were watching the outer Paris defences? and any allied forces that might issue from them. The southward movement ofthe enemy had left his right wing in a dangerous position, as he had Creil, Senlis, and the Compilgne region through which his advance had been pushed. The Allien attacked this exposed wing both in front and on the flank on the Bth. The covering force was assailed by the French army based upon the Paris defences, and brougnt to action on a ( line of Nanteuile-Santauin-Meaux. The main portion of the enemy's right wing was attacked frontal ly by the British army, which had been transferred from the north to the east of Paris, and by the French corps advancing alongside of it on a line of Cricy-Coulommiers-Sezaune. The combined operations have, up to the present, been completely successful. The German outer flank was forced back to the line of the Ourcq, where it made' a strong defence, and executed several vigorous counter attacks, but it was unable to beat off the pressure of the French advance. The main body of the enemy's right wing vainly endeavored defend the line of the Grand Morin river, and then that of Petit Morin, but thoy wore pressed back over both these rivers. Threatened on its right owing to the defeat of the covering force by the Allies' left, the German right wing retreated over the Marne. MANY PRISONERS AND GUNS CAPTURED. London, September 10. The British, with a portion of the French forces on its left, crossed this river below Chateau Thierry, a movement which obliged the enemy's forces, who were west of the Ourcq and already assailed by the French corps forming the extremo left of the Allies, to give way and retreat northeastwards in the direction of Soissons. Since the 10th, the whole German right wing has fallen back considerably in disorder, closely followed Ky the French and [British, and six thousand prisoners and fifteen guns were captured. On the tenth and eleventh, the enemy wore continuing their ro-

tirement rapidly over the Aisne, evacuating the Soissons region. British cavalry was reported to-day at Fismes,

close to Rheinis, wliile the German right wing has thus been driven hack Mid thrown into disorder. The French trrnies further to the f-ast have been' strongly engaged with the German -outre, which had pushed forward to vitry. Between the Bth and 10th, the Allies were unable to make much impression west of ' Vitry. On the I.oth, however, this portion of the German army began to give way, and eventually abandoned Vitry, where the enemy's line of battle was forming a salient under the impulse of French troops between the Upper .Yfarne and the Mense. The French troops ar following" up the enemy and IriVing a portion of his troops northwards towards the Argonne forest country. The third French army reports to-day that it has capture

the: entire artillery of one army corps, probably 160 guns. The enemy is thus in retreat along the whole line west of the Meuse, and has suffered gravely in morale, besides encountering heavy losses in their personnel and material.

SOME SOLDIER STORIES.

BRITISH CAVALRY LIKENED TO AVALANCHE OF STEEL. .

London, September 12

A non-commissioned officer relates that the enemy was driven hack, fighting, for three days, until they came to the river, where they made a desperate stand in an enormous mass, and kept up a terrible rifle fire and machinegun fire. Our infantry advanced .'n short rushes in open order. Shells rained on the enemy, and rifle fire opened great gaps-ki their ranks. Suddenly the cavalry swept on their cavalry, like an avalanche of men in steel. Huge gaps were torn in the enemy's ranks. The whole thing was over in a few\minutes. The German horsemen seemed to vanish into the earth, while the enemy retreated in confusion."

SCENES OF HORROR IN THE BATTLEFIELD

London, September 12

Visitors to the battlefield at Meaux saw hundreds of German bodies, piled in heaps arid covered with straw, burning. Tarpin's terrible explosive was used at Meaux. t A member of the American Red Cross states that he saw the German trenches after the French gunfire. They were filled with dead, but with dead in such posture as though a blight from Heaven had fallen upon them. They stood in line, with rifle at the •houlder. There was no horror or agony in their silent faces; only over them was a film of fine reddish powder. It was as if a deep and sudden sleep had overtaken them, only their ,eyes were open. UHLANS SHOT LIKE RATS FOR SAVAGERY. London, September 12. A private relates that a member of the British Army Service Corps, riding a motor-cycle, was overtaken by a party of Uhlans, who thrust their lances through his neck, hands, back and feet, and threw the body in a haystack, which they fired. He says: "Some, of our cavalry arrived, and took swift vengeance on the savages, who sought the shelter 6f a village. When we fell upon them they sprang about like rats. But we gofc the lot. They bounced about in the air, while others spun round like tops when the bullets .'hit-them."

BATTLE OF THE MAKNE.

"A GREAT DISASTER HAS AVERTAKEN US."

London, September 12. Mr Maxwell (Daily Telegraph) states: "The Germans have lost guns and ammunition columns. They are surrendering in large bodies. A German general was overheard telling bis officers: 'A great disaster has overtaken us.' " He adds: "The Germans undoubtedly suffered a great defeat in the Marne battle.", hf!

GERMANS CAUGHT IN A FOREST.

London, September 12.

During the German advance on the Marne, a body occupied a position in the Forest of Creey. British patrols discovered them and warned the cavalry and infantry, who took up a position at midnight on two sides af the woods. The Germans were incautiously finding their way through . the woods by means of stahle lamps. The British maxims and rifles devastated the wood, and mowed down the Germans. Finally the cavalry charged, yelling and cleared and routed the remnants. Next morning scores of broken lamps were found, and many Germans were taken prisoners, 20 of whom, encouraged by a temporary German advance, attempted' to recover their rifles, but a volley wiped them out. ' FRENCHMEN Af THE GUNS. Bordeaux, September 12. During their attempt to cross the 'Marne the Germans endeavoured to 1 build a bridge of boats. The French artillery reduced them to matchwood I sixteen times.