FRENCH ADVANCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 69, 11 August 1914, Page 5

FRENCH ADVANCE

FIGHTING IN ALSACE. A VICTORY CLAIMED-AND DEFIED. j Paris, August 9. The French carried earthworks at Altkirch (in Alsace) after tierce fighting witih. bayonets, and the; Germans fled. French cavalry reached Mulhauscn. , Altkirtih was defended with strong earth works. The French and Germans were about equal in numbers. The French carried the breastworks after a fierce bayonet fight, the Germans breaking and retreating in disorder and abandoning the trenches round the town. The French dragoons followed them and inflicted great losses. Paris, August 0. M. Hanotaux, in the Figaro, appeals to neutral Powers to form a committee of enquiry to watch the violatioa of international law, to protest against in•en'diirism, pillaging and assassinations. He suggests that the committee includePresident Wilson and Messrs Bryan, Carnegie and Root. Berlin, August 9. It is announced that the French from Belfort attacked a frontier guard and appeared in Alsaee. The incursion was stopped near Altkirch. The enemy retreated to Belfort.

Brussels, August 9. A skirmish occurred between French and German cavalry in Belgium. In Luxemburg the Germans were defeated and lost a number of prisoners. The Frnch Army is reported to be well up to Belgium.

FIERCE BAYONET FIGHTING. GERMANS RETREAT IN DISORDER. PARIS DELIRIOUS WITH JOY. ] Received 10, 0.55 p.m. ! Paris, August 9. The French crossed the Alsatian fronI tier after fierce fighting, and are puri suing the enemy; The Alsatians were ' delirious with joy, welcoming them. jThey tore up the German boundary i marks. M. Poincare telegraphed to the King of the Belgians that the Government had decided to decorate the valiant city of Liege with the Legion of Honor and the J brave defenders and the whole Belgian I army, with which the French army had been shedding its blood on the battlefield since morning. M. Poincare's last phrase refers to the fighting at Marbehan, in Belgian Luxemburg, where, a Brussels report states, the Bavarian troops were defeated. The official report of the fighting at Altkireh states that at nightfall on Friday the French advance gjiard arrived at Altkireh, which was defended by strong earthworks, and occupied by a German brigade. The French and Germans were in about equal numbers. The French carried the breastwork after a fieree bayonet fight, the Germans breaking and retreating in disorder, and abandoning the trenches and the town regiment. The French Dragoons followed, inflicting great losses, and reached Mulhausen at five o'clock on Saturday morning. Malwyn states that the French losses at Altkireh were far less serious than was generally believed. As the result of the brilliant victory, Paris looked its happiest. A JOYFUL PROCLAMATION. | " LONG LIVE ALSACE!"

Received 10, 10 p.m. Paris, August 9. General Joffre, in a proclamation, after the occupation of Mulhausen, said: "Children, after forty-one years of sorrowful waiting, French soldiers once more tread upon the soil of your noble country. They are the pioneers of a great work of revenge. With what emotion and pride they will complete the work! The Frcndh nation unanimously urges them on, and on the folds of her flag are inscribed the magic words, 'Right and liberty.' Long live Alsace! Long live France!" ENTHUSIASM IN BRUSSELS. Received 10, 8.30 p.m. Brussels, August 9. The official announcement of the French capture of Mulhausen aroused tremendous enthusiasm. LUXEMBURG EVACUATED. London, August 9. Router's 'correspondent states, that the Germp- " "'cuiited Luxemburg •wing to the French advance.