British In Action.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 27 August 1914, Page 5

British In Action.

Paris, August H 6. . It is officially stated that the general situation determined the French to withdraw from Donon and Saale, which i arc no longer of the same importance. (\'aiY:y is one of the principal cities of Eastern France; population 110,750; headquarters of XX. Army Corps. Was entered unopposed by the Prussians in I 1-870. On the main line to Strassburg). Frenc.li officers at Bourges describe the duplicity of the Germans in Lorraine. When the French entered villages they were effusively welcomed as saviours by officials wlio, however, indicated their exact positions to the Germans. One mayor accommodated the French with the Mairc Held telephone, but it was connected by a wire with the German headquarters. A schoolmaster corrected the errors of the range of the German guns by moving the hands of the church clock. The French were assured they would iiot meet any resistance at Dieuze, but :ound elaborate concrete built trenches illed with Germans, which the French stormed. A War Office communique shows that iie first French army is attacking through the gap of Stenay, tuwardß the liver Semoy, and Xenfchatcau, northvest of Arlon. The second is attacking from Sedan -owards the River Lesse and advancing 1 in the right bank of the Meusc. The third army passed Cliimay and cached the triangle formed by the Sambre and Meusc. It is supposed that the British force is marching eastward from Mons. The War Office adds that tlie Allies' forces have been grouped on the extreme left to cope with eventualities. The Allies' plan is being carried out methodically. Tho field operations, especially on the right, in the woody country, are difficult. The huge extent of the front and the number of men engaged render it impossible to follow the movements step by step; therefore it is necessary to await t'he result before a conclusion can be arrived at regarding the. first phaso.

ACT UP TO THE TRADITIONS OF THE RAJ£. ! " ADMIRABLE UNDER FIRE." FRENCH APPRECIATION. London, August 25, Tlia French Embassy, describing the battle, says that the British army was admirable under fire and resisted the enemy with its usual coolness.

London, August 20. An eye-witness, writing to London, describes tho British Hussarj suddenly meeting the German Cuirassiers in a small village near Charleroi in a fierce charge. The Germans were fatigued, and the British had a victory. Twenty' seven Germans were killed and twelve taken prisoners. Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons, stated that General French reported that the withdrawal of troops was successfully effected. There were over 2000 casualties. Mr Asquith continued that the troops were hard pressed but shook off the enemv. The British troops, in spite of the opposition, hard marching and fighting, were i*i the best of spirits. Wellington, Aug. 20. Two messages Shave been received from New York, signed Reuter, as follows:

I London, August 25.—Lord Kitchener, addressing the Houso of Lords, said that if the war outlasted their term of three' years others would take their places and see the matter through. Mr Asquith told the liouse of Commons that he was informed the losses of the British contingent were 2000. BRITISH SOLDIERS' GALLANTRY. LORD KITCHENER GIVES WARM PRAISE. "WE ARE ALL PROUD OP TIIEM," ■London, August 2Ti. Lord Kitchener, in the House of ' Lords, said that the troops at Mons ■ were, for 36 hours, in contact with a 1 superior force, and maintained the tradi- ' tions of the British soldiers with the ] utmost gallantry. The movements de- i nianded great steadiness in the soldiers - and skill in their commander*. 1 Lord Kitchener telegraphed to Gene- j ral Sir John French to congratulate the troops on their splendid work, and added. "We are all proud of them." Lord Kitchener continued that lia 1 knew how deeply France appreciated the prompt assistance of Britain at the very outset of the war. Britain's moral and material support must prove a factor of high military significance, in re- 1 striding the sphere and determining the j duration of hostilities. Had the conditions of l-Vjcry per- ' mitted, everyone in Britaii wuuld have rejoiced to see us ranged niongside the gallant Belgian army in her superb struggle against desperate odds. 1 SECOND ARMY PRACTICALLY COM- 8 PLF.TED. 1 c GREATER SACRIFICES MAY BE ' NEEDED. ( REFERENCE TO THE DOMINIONS' ' HELP. ] Received 2G, 5.5 p.m. I London, August it!. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, said that Belgium knew of our sym- j FRENCH PLANS CU.UI'UiJ&UKIbX pathv and indignation, and in the end , RE-ARRANGED. their sacrifices would not he unavailing. Countries under conscription had ( TPnm>« TIMYSI'TRRED TO brought their full resources into the , T 1,001 S rKANSI 1 .11" L) 1U ]i;ul a vagt roSprve m tne j BELGIUM. Mother Country and the overseas Do- ( ■r, i non minions. The latter's response had Received 2b. 9.0« p.». abundant! v proved that we had not , Puns, August 2o (evening). lo thoBC sources. , The War OfTico announces that the j n (j ml t Britain, 70 battalions oE Ter iermans seem to have resumed the ot- . ]g j ia(l volunteered for eiisive where action was gervicc> The SOC ond army of ;erday, hut are being held by the 1 lentil ]fl()ono wag nll . ea(ly practically secured, ind British forces. Behind these were reserved the speOlhcial communiques show that the ri , spm . and the national reserve, nass of the French troops never reached • . t h« national de. he Sanilire. The greater part of the , , " we wm . creat- ' reach forces was originally in rr V rise within the next six igainst Alsace and m * ltllß to 30 divisions (500,100 men), i„w been iieeessan lo tiansfu then n[ were protra( , t ed and fortlu' ,lortlu tunes varied, or if there were adverse FIERCE HANIVTO-UAXD FIGHTING. I'IU'SSIAN GCAI!OS CALLED TO TIIF he was sure they would FRONT. not denied to the extreme needs of FRENCH-AFRICAN TROOPS 'BEATEN (Olieevs.) BACK. —— THE BRITISH REINFORCEMENT Received 2(i. D.30 p.m. PLAN. Paris. August 2(i (morning), i Details published in Paris show that I y|>_ .KITCHENER PREPARING IHE the three. French armies between Cliarle- [ NATION. roi and Ixingwv, in addition to the Britis U and African Zouaves and Tirailleurs, FURTHER SACRIFICES. occupied tlie front line. .. „ _ \f nnp time thev were masters ot tno situation west of ihe Meuse, and broke Received 20, 10.10 p.™. the. German line, forcing thru, to sum- London, August B men up the Prussian Guards. X. on l Kitchener added: Ph. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting followed ' itll w ], om wc are at war talUd The AiVican troops, weakened by heavy to th(! eolors almost the entire male losses, retired upon their commander - popu i ilt ion. Ibe principle tlutOicat rders but the Prussian Guards were j (r j t . lin is observing is that tnlhlc th» decimated. , enemies' maximum force undergoes ton It appears that tlie French took the stallt diminution, reinforcements that I "ACROSS THE FRENCH FRONTIER. j BRITONS CI l ECK FURTHER J*^uiml,rvwhal ■\DVANCE. ! rasuves.nav eventually be ncces- | , sary to supply and maintain them. j Vans, August 2G. ——— ■ Received 27. 12.55 a.m. BRITISH LOSSES. | It is ofliciallv stated that Genua) j cavalry patrols have been seen in th. INFORMATION YET. Douai region, but are unable to aiivanc Further owiim' to fear of falling into th . . „ m English lines; which the French are no! l,cmvc< nst 2C . r0 :;t r t"»oral situation is excellent, d« General Frenc-1, tUt lie is ««• spite fatigue and _ aide yet to (l)ouai, or Donay, is a ' r( ' n , it] u , eiiivlition of thi •>0 miles south of Lille, and about - the operations llu „n." w«t Of the frontier. It is a gre , troops is ... oven %vaj military town, strongly for coi - a; ZTTm* Of' musket, ('^, lildrel , s Hacking Cough at night, Cuktion 30,000.) • I. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/0,

Official news states that the Germans attacked the French north of Nancy, but were repulsed with heavy losses. London, August 25. Paris messages states that on Saturday afternoon the Germans from Egbezee placed heavy siege guns in position befere a Namur fort, which replied with such a murderous and accurate fire that in less than an hour the German battery was silenced and half the guns demolished. The Daily Chronicle opines that it is impossible fcr Xnimir to be rushed. The Allies' lin<-- uCi.-r at Charleroi or near Dinant hu> ■ rendered it impossible to keep troops between the forts at Namur. (A previous cablegram stated that Namur had fallen, but tihe report was not generally believed.) The French Embassy states that two army corps attacked and drew a murderous lire, but held their ground until the counter-attack of the Prussian guards compelled them to retreat after the French had inflicted enormous losses, in which the Ccnmiu corps de-elite were seriously tried. The. French east of the Meuse advanced through very difficult country, where they were vigorously attacked in the outskirts of the forest and forced to retire south of the river. General Joll'rc then ordered the French and British to retire upon their covering lines, which were only left because of the brave Belgian effort. The cuvalry did not suffer. The French artillery proved its superiority. GERMANY RESUMES THE OFFEN-

j ACCURATE ARTILLERY FIRE. GERMANS REFUSE TO, FACE IT. BRITISH GUNNERS ON THEIR METTLE. Received 20, 10.10 p.m. Ostendj August 2G .(morning), Ihe British artillery shooting was magnificently accurate, forcing the O'ermans to beat a hasty retreat. The phy. sique and athletic qualities of the British troops produced an immense impression in Belgium, where the soldiers aro generally small. Every increase in Lord Kitchener s army, and every offer from tne British colonies, is chronicled in large type in the Belgian newspapers. Received 20, 8.30 p.m. London, August 26. hevere censorship is exercised in con- i nection witli the operations at Hons and Charleroi.

Mr Maxwell, Daily Telegraph correspondent, who readied Mons on Friday states that Majoi'-General Allanby's cavalry division marched to the north, covering Mons, Fontaine and Leveque west of Charleroi, threatening t'lie left flank of the advancing Germans. The British Army advanced on Mons on Saturday night, but did not attempt to make any defensive works. ' There were few of the Allies beyond Valenciennes, but [Prussian patrols swarmed over the country. Received 210, 10.10 p.m. Paris, August 26 (morning). OiFlccts from the front state that the shooting of the British infantry was wonderful. Every time a German's head showed above the trenches the shooting was as cool and calculated as of a prize rifleman at a disappearing target. Received 26, 10.10 p.m. Paris, August 26 (morning). An eye-witness states that the British artillery wrought terrible loss amongst the massed Germans. The lattfcr's gunnery was badly directed, and rarely hit the mark.

CLEARING THE WAY. METHODICAL WORK OP THE BRITISH. GERMANS /ATTACK EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED. Received 27, 12.5 a.m. London, August 20 (morning). On taking up their position in the vicinity of Mons, tlie British blew up the churches and the railway station at Jitappes, which were in the'line of fire: also the canal bridges. They fired the Bandour Forest, adjacjnt to the canal, and established a wireless station behind Qnievrain. The German approach was apparently earlier than had been expected. The inhabitants of all the villages were roused by the tocsin. All the men, and many of the women, were engaged in throwing up trenches behind Qnievrain along the canal, and also round Mons and Valenciennes. The workers were paid in English gold. Thereafter, the civilian;) were ordered to retire. When German aeroplanes appeared, British aeroplanes chased them away.

STAGCURING THE GERMANS. UHLANS GET "SURPRISE OP THEIR LIVES." Received 28, .10.10 p.m. Paris, August 20 (morning). A German officer, who was taken prisoner, said:. "We never evne-ted anything like it. wns <-f " ; '"f when the cavalry c! "" *: d. Lilians had the surprise of t'leu lives." A CARDINAL'S BLESSING. Received 20, 10.10 p.m. Paris, August 20 (morning). While Cardinal Casquet was travelling to Rome, lie chanced to get next a train containing a regiment in which were, .many Irish Catholics. The Cardinal, wearing his crimson robes, leaned out of a window and said, "God bless you, mv children!" Instantly every Catholic in the open trucks of the troop train dropped to his knees. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLEGRAM. Wellington, Last Night. The. Prime Minister lias received the following cablegram from the. High Commisioner:— London, 20th (>12.5 a.m.).—Official: General French reports that no further engagement has taken place and that the condition of the troops is satisfacGermany orders boys of 10 to 19 to undergo military training, with retired officers as instructors.