France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 58, 24 October 1914, Page 5

France

1 A GERMAN VIEW. PITIFUL TALE OF THE TROOPS AT ROYE. United Press Association. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, October 23. A German officer participating in the fighting at Rove and Noyon, adds: "We had to dig up the soil of a whole forest to bury our dead. The voice of conscience is chocked and the finer sentiment of humanity suppressed when we come across a house where nothing remains inside. It was thought that the trenches were impregnable, but we were forced to retreat. The Moroccan ti'oops are a terror to our men. No sooner have we taken shelter in a wood than a hail of bullets come from the branches, where the Moroccans have climbed. The Seventeenth Division has neither ammunition nor food. Our leaders seem quite incompetent. Many of the men are dying of fatigue, and ill-fed horses drop at an appalling rate. NEW FORCE OF HALF A MILLION (Received 8.50 a.m.) Paris, October 23. This year's recruits, who, after two months' training, are now ready to go to the front, are to be joined by a section of the reserve not yet called to the colors. The new force represents half a million men. CARE OF THE WOUNDED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Receiver 8.0 a.m.) London, October 23. The transfer of British wounded from Aisne by rail, road, and sea, is being strongly condemned. The Times' 'medical correspondent says the journey occupies a day and a night, and the men live in a feverish nightmare of jars and jolts. The wounded, he says, are in need of a Zola to do justice to the horror, and he urges that much of the work performed in England should bo done in France.

GENERAL.

London, October 23.

A correspondent says that the recent movements of the Allies resulted in a pronounced modification of the German programme. After the great movement on the Aisne the German plan was,undoubtedly to drive a wedge, hoping to take the Allies unawares, but the movement was too slow to prevent the Allies from selecting a position to establish themselves. During the past week the German line has daily undergone totally undesigned variations. It is only fair to say that the Germans behaved well in most places recently visited. In one place the fine imposed on the inhabitants was returned when the town was evacuated, in.appreciation of the hospitality shown to the Germans. Paris, October 23. , The concensus of British atid FrenA military opinion regarding the repeated violent German attacks along the whole front of the German command daily is that it shows greatly signs of powerless exasperation. The closing of the Thyssen mines and furnaces revealed gun emplacements overlooking Caen, also parts of guns that had been shipped to the French. Thyssen subscribed a portion of the capital of a smelting company at Caen, which was "pounded" directly and indirectly by Germans, with a view of enabling Krupps' to open a branch. Moreover, the Dielette mine was in dangerous proximity to Fort Cherburg. Paris, October 23. The business quarter of Lille, be-. tween the railway station and the Town Hall, was destroyed by shellfire on the 13th.

The Germans re-occupied Lille on Tuesday, but commenced withdrawing under General Von Kluck on Wednesday.

London, October 22. It is estimated that the wounded in France total neraly half a million. Berlin states that Dunkirk is strongly occupied by French troops, but the Germans will soon enter.

OFFICIAL.

Paris, October 'J2

Official: The Allies' repulsed considerable German forces' violent attacks, particularly about Dixmunde, Warueton, Armentieres, Radinghein, and L». Bassee. In other parts of the front the enemy delivered only isolated attacks, and all were repulsed. We have progressed slightly in the Argonne and Southern Woevre districts. This has been a glorious week of heroic deeds against big odds. A few !days ago Belgium was wholly German. Now even the most pessimistic ivre counting the days till the enemy's crumpled forces are hurled back into their own country. An official statement at midnight on 'the 22nd states that the enemy's activity to-day continued with undiminished violence at Bassee. The Germans were unable to force back the Belgians or the Franco-British. Similarly between Arras and Oise the 'enemy's great efforts wero nowhere successful. ! We progressed in Argonne, and gained ground at Haument and Brabant, northward of Verdun, and in Woevre we repulsed attacks at Champion.