The German Forces

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 81, 31 August 1914, Page 5

The German Forces

Advancing in Four Armies

GREAT TURNING MOVEMENT

ATTEMPTED

Received 30, 5.5 p.m,

Paris, August 29. Iho Germans are now advancing in lour columns. The first is in the gap of Stenay, 12 miles west of Longwy, where they hope to strike the Meuse and accomplish the turning movement against Verdun. The Montaedy fortress and the deep valleys of the Meuse should make it possible for the French to counter this army,

The second army i 9 striking between Montmedy and Meziercs, despite the forests which the French occupy. There is a small fort at Cliarlemont perched 700 ft high on a lock.

The third anny is forcing a passage between the Mease and the Sambre. The chief natural obstacles are the forects. The largest army is following the valley of the Sambre, where they will meet | the fortifications at Maubeuge. •Hie I 23,000-acrc forest of Mormal serves as' a defensive screen for the French. There are no great natural obstacles in the 1 ) direction of Lille. Hero a British force ' is lending aid. I

On Sunday last tho British were brought to Mons, after forced marches, to prevent the Germans turning the French army's left,

BATTLES NEAR OAMBRAI.

BRITISH FORGES OVERWHELMED.

'.SOME DESPERATE FIGHTING.

TERRIBLE LOSSES.

Received 30, 5.5 p.m.

Boulogne, August 29 (morning). Seven hundred British, with two giuis, took up a position behind Cambrai on Wednesday morning. The guns at first had a splendid range, and did wholesale execution, but lost the range under the steady German advance.

I The positi&n was critical at one, o'clock in the afternoon, but the British held their own, expecting assistance. Suddenly Uhlans, estimated at 5000, galloped upon the guns. The last officer stood to his gun, shooting a dozen Uhlans with his revolver.

The infantry resisted for an hour, when the three hundred survivors, the majority of whom were wounded, began to fall back on- GunUrai. which was reached in good order at nightfall.

Elsewhere 3000 British bivouacked in the early morning- in a strong position after a, forced march of 17 miles. Through lack of airscouts they misjudged the position of a superior force of Germans.

An hour later, the Germans, with the Uhlana leading, swarmed upon the British, reaching within 50yds of the ma-chine-guns. The British readily repulsed ; numerous attacks, the Germans leaving a wall of dead. .

The British reached a safe, base, five miles distant. Their losses were inconsiderable. FURTHER DETAILS. TERRITORIALS FIGHT GALLANTLY. BUT OVERWHELMED BY NUMBERS.

Received 30, 5.5 p.m. London, August 29,

. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent nt Arras stak's that the defence of the frontier from Lille to Valenciennes was recently entrusted to Territorials, but they were no match for the German cavalry division, supported by a battalion of infantry, artillery and machineguns. The Territorials, without artillery or machine-guiis, were, ordered to hold Cambrai at any cost. They fought for three hours, but were then compelled to retreat on Arras, followed by a body oi cavalry, whose niach'uie-guns were decimating the ranks. The ca.val?y made desperate rushes, hut failed to get home. Finally the. French regulars arrived, just in time to cover the remainder of the retreat.

Now a strong and sufficient force is ready, to oppose the advance Fpon lictlinno and Arras.

THE ALLIES' LINES EXTENDED.

' Keceived 30. 5.5 p.m. Lo,ld(,n ' An S ,,st 20 Xt 1s Mim ' a tlult olfi Ca " l,,rai ,i,,fi hM lwn vxt<>n(lMl to fl " ht thro,, « n Nwl ™ n WMI ™™n to th " Rav, ' v Sl "'- nioun-e, which unites with tlie -Mouse at ■ lleziercs. (Hirson and Chimay are many miles westward of the Mons-Pliillipville-Diiiant line, -which about a week afro was said to l)c the Allies hasp. Chimay is in Belfrim" to tlii! eastward of Hirson. between ('.!.■ Sambre, and Mouse, rivers.)

ALLIES IX ALMOST IMPREGNABLE POSITION. BRITISH HUSSARS RISKY EXPLOIT. London, August 28. The Daily Graphio describes the entrenched lines held fcy the allies within ■ iho ■Fr»n«l.,frrint,ier/as little less than,

,ing immense force below IPomerania. [The hammer is well poised, and if the anvil stands firm the Germans must be crushed.

London, August 28. Mr Asquibh -informed the House of Commons that General French reported that in Wednesday's fighting the British were exposed to the attack of five German corps, two cavalry divisions, and a reserve corps. Our second corps bore the brunt of the cavalry attack and ou» first corps inflicted very heavy loss on the enemy.

Paris, August 28.

Those killed at Charlcroi include M. Xavier Castclnau, the twenty-year-old son of General Castelnau, Chief of the General Stair. The lad died at his j father's side, but General Castclnau continued to direct the fight. | Trince Ernest of Saxe-Memingm was j seriously wounded, and is in hospital at Maubcuge. At BoulagTie, it is asserted that the German cavalry broke the French line at Arras, but the French moved rapidly and have the situation well in hand. Soldiers who have returned to Amiens relate that the British Hussars galloped through the German lines, and when they pulled up found themselves in the enemy's- rear. The regiment reformed and cut it way back to its o-rti lines.

LAST OF A DIVISION.

ONLY FORTY MEN. • Received 29, 7.25 p.m. Paris, August 29,

Among the German prisoners arriving was a German officer, who, pointing to forty soldiers, said: "That's all th.it remain of a whole division!" (A German division of infantry numbers 16,500).

ZEPPELIN BOMB-THROWING.

A VIOLATION OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION.

London, August 28.

A man who has returned from the Continent states that tho Zeppelins hover over the objective out of the range, of guns and lower, in a steel cage attached to a wire rope two or three thousand feet long, a man who drops the bombs. Rifle lire is ineffective, and the big runs are unable to hit tin' dirigible, because of its smallness and constant movement. Rotterdam, August 2S.

The Minister, of France," Russia and England met the Belgian foreign Minister at Antwerp and discussed the vio-i latioii of The Hague Convention by the Zeppelin dropping Iwnibs in Antwerp.

long wy; S URREN D ERS. AFTER LONG BOMBARDMENT. Paris, August 28. Longwy, with its garrison, surrendered after 24 dr.y-.' Nmi'-arduu-nt. Over half the garrison w, >v ,;'.;icd and wounded. (Longwyt is a,' rather old-fashioned fortress at the point where Luxemburg touches France and Lorraine).

TOMMIES A TOUGH PROPOSITION'

BATTLING AGAINST KXOKMOTJS ODDS.

Received 30, 5.5 p.m. London, August 2fl.

After retiring on Maubctigc on Monday, Uio British were ordered to retire on the Caanhrai lines.

The German commanders thought the British beaten, and that it was possible •to repeat the Sedan incident. They sent 300/100 cavalry and infantry to envelop I the two British corps and one division of cavalry.

Throughout Wednesday the British were marching to the south, battling against tremendous odds.

■MORE BRITISH TROOPS ACROSS THE CHANNEL.

Ostend. August 28,

The British fleet arrived on Saturday and the Admiral offered to land sufficient, men to defend the town against marauding Uhlans. The town councillors declined, fearing to scare visitors. After the. fight with Uhlans on Tuesday the council changed its mind, and a strong force of marines was landed.

Received 30, 3.5 p.m. London, .August 29.

Ostend has been transformed into a military camp. British warships and transports arc pouring marines into the town. Some are foeiiif.' housed in the barrack?, and other* billeted in the villages.

ALLIES MUST ATTACK.

A ERENOII GENERALS SCHEME.

"KEEP THE (JERMANS BUSY."

Received 30, S p.m. Paris, August 29.

General La Croix, .smmnsu ising the situation, says the Allies must keep the Germans busy to prevent their transferrins troops eastward. Therefore, the Allies must not be. content to remain on the defensive. Attack must follow retreat, and thus discover when the Germans have withdrawn troops.

The Uhlans are threatening that they may sever telegraphic communication.