France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 39, 2 October 1914, Page 5

France

THE REGIMENTAL "PET." A DOC'S WONDERFUL SAGACITY fc ■'• ON THE BATTLEFIELD. i Tjuem and Sydney Sun Sbbvioei. (Received 8.0 a.m>) ' • ■ ; . London, October 1. A wounded Frenchman, while lying on the battlefield'at Maine, was "aiirpKsed to feel a wet caress on &s face. This proved to be the action of the regimental pet dog, who is trained to carry the kepis (caps) of the mounded back to headquarters. Be told the dog to bring help ,and, he, teturned : guiding the ambulance.' The dog goes into the firing line, and when the fighting is hot he digs a hole and buries himself. "A MERE PARADE." GERMAN'S WISH TO DRINK BEER ON THE BOULEVARDS! Time* and Sydney Sun Sbbvioei. (Received 8.0 a.m.) . London, October 1. .-JL German Comamndant's letter which was found says: "We are marching gloriously and irresistibly to Paris. We would have preferred resistance in entering Paris as the oonquerors instead of it being a mere parade, but French valor decreed otherwise. In a week's time we will be drinking beer on the boulevards." A. French bullet brought the commandant'i march to an abrupt ending.

SEVERE FIGHTING. PERONNE TAKEN AND RE-TAKEN WITH HEAVY LOSS, United Pkess iAbsooiatiox. London, October 1. A report from Amiens on Sunday states that the French re-took Peronne on the X6th. Severe fighting followed TUitil the 18th. When the French were on i the outskirts of St. Quentin, the Germans, seeing the danger, hurried reinforcements and ordered that the ground lost must be regained at any tost- The cost was heavy, but the French were slowly rolled westward. On the 23rd the Germans retook Peronne. The French concentrated then heavy guns and drove out the Germans, who brought up further artillery, and were able to recapture it on the 26th. The French doggedly fought every inch. The French have found an effective method of disturbing the enemy. Flying columns of heavy cavalry at night time ride straight through the lines at full speed, and charge through tho bivouac, burning convoys of motor oars, and upsetting vast quantities o! oil.

GERMAN BATTERY DESTROYED. Paris, October 1. A eammunique states that during the •fitting at Peronrie three batteries opnwi ire. The first fir* discharges destroyed a complete German battery, and thereafter rendered the positions untenable. , RIGHT WING TURNED. FORTNIGHT OF FUTILE FIGHTING FOR THE ENEMY. London, September 30. fie/ Daily Mail's Paris correspondmt ttfttw tka* tke Germans for c hare been struggling to aroid kaving the right wing turned.

They have kept pushing the front further to the north-west, the Allies always overlapping it. Both sides have brought up very large reinforcements; necessitating long forced marches. French troops again and again marched 20 miles daily. The Germans on Saturday realised that their efforts were in vain, and tried to break the Allies' line at Albert. FRENCH REPORT AN ADVANCE IN THE SOUTH. Paris, October 'l. An official communique states: The general situation is satisfactory, with no perceptible change in the front except in Southern Woevre. There we occupied Seichapprey, and advanced to| the .slopes of Ruptbemad. A BRAVE CYCLIST. COMMANDER'S GRACEFUL RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, October JL. French wounded narrate that during the battle of the-Aisne it became necessary to warn the French reinforcements of an ambush, and two Frenchmen who were signalling were killed. A British cyclist who dashed forward was shot, and another following him was also shot, but a third went at full speed across the inferno and readied the trench untouched. The commander took from his own tunic a medal won for bravery, and, pinning it on the cyclist's tunic, said: "It was given to me for saving one life, but you have saved hundreds!"

ANOTHER PAARDEBURC. GERMANS SURROUNDED AND SHELLED IN RIVER BED. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Paris, October 1. The fight proceeding in one region with the left resembles Paardeburg. 3500 Germans being in the same plight as General Cronje. It was not a river bed like the latter, but quarries. French troops completely surrounded them, shelling them in order to compel them to surrender.

The position of the German Army, if correct as above stated, indicates that the Germans are in an exceedingly awkward position, and that they have been completely outgeneralled by the military tactics of the Allies. General Piet A. Cronje, the Boer General and Commander of the Western Army of tho South African Republicans above referred to, surrendered at Paardeburg to Field-Marshall Lord Roberts, on February 27th, 1900. The surrender was unconditional, with all his forces, and Lord Roberts in telegraphing the news hoped it would be acceptable to His Majesty's Government occurring as it had done on the anniversary of Majuba Day.

MR MAXWELL'S REPORT. GERMANS HOLDING THE FLANK TO SAVE THE CENTRE. "WE HAVE HAD TWO COOD DAYS." London, October 1. Mr Maxwell, telegraphing on Sunday, says:— "It is certain that Germany's second great effort has failed. When the English General, who is incapablo of exaggerations, says: 'We have had two good days,' we may bo sure they were more than .good. I spent two days in a deserted chateau, and the sound of the gunfire made it evident that the Germans were retreating. For 12 hours the Gevmaua' guns to the west did not

return the fire of the Allies' heavy artillery. Even the quarries look deserted. It is rumored that the Germans have evacuated them, owing to the unburied dead poisoning the air. But not all are deserted, lor the French attacked one series of quarries and forts at Leagne under cover of a mist, and killed the defenders like rats in a hole. In another case the Allies set fire to a spinnery, and under cover of the smoke reached a point commanding a quarry. The enemy lied, leaving many dead, It is certain that the enemy has been beaten along the whole line, despite their reinforcements and the desperation with which they fought. They made terrific attacks for two days in overwhelming numbers, but reinforcements arrived at the critical moment. Charges were continuously delivered until the plain was strewn with wounded and dying. The German ranks were shattered and driven back to the trenches. There were similar bayonet attacks and counter-attacks throughout the western flank, but victory ali ways rested with the Allies. The losses were heavy, but the Red Cross officers state that the dead were not nearly so numerous as they expected. There must soon be another retreat to the east and north, but the Germans must hold the western flank to the very last moment in order to save the centre." A BURNING RUIN. GERMANS IN REVENGE FIRE UNDEFENDED TOWN. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, October 1. The Germans on Sunday morning gained ground. Then the French brought up many quickfirers and checked the advance. The enemy kept up the effort gamely, but had clearly failed on Tuesday afternoon. At this time no French was within a mile of Albert, but to the .astonishment of the French gunners the Germans began systematically shelling Albert, which is an open undefended town with 8000 inhabitants. The town collapsed like a house of cards, and was soon a burning ruin. Meanwhile, the roads were crowded with women carrying babies, some of whom being aged and too feeble to walk were trundled in barrows. Thus the German revenge for the reverse was complete.