THE GREAT FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 4 September 1914, Page 5

THE GREAT FIGHT

German Onrush Stayed Heroic British Work INDOMITABLE PLUCK OP THE INFANTRY. GERMANS LOSE WHOLE DIVISIONS. ENEMY'S RANKS LOSE THEIR VIGOR DEMORALISED BY APPALLING LOSSES. BRITONS DEFY GERMANS' CONCENTRATED WEIGHT. Received 3, D.40 p.m. London, Sept. 2 (evening.). Mr M. Donohue, telegraphing from France, says: "The Fourth German Army Corps suffered appalling losses in attempting to envelop the British. "Monday's fighting was as desperate as Sunday's. Fresh artillery and infantry were sent to support the British, who retired under enormous pressure, but are now defying the enemy's concentrated weight in their new positions. "It has been a merciless combat throughout. The superiority of the British artillery, and the indomitable pluck of the infantry, enabled them to achieve their purpose of delaying the German advance. "A few more such days, and the fourth army will cease to exist. Whole divisions of infantry have disappeared. "The Germans persist in their massed attack,'and demoralisation is increasing in the shattered ranks. The German infantry have lost their clan, and no longer push their attack with vigor. They show marked signs of unsteadiness, and several times fled from Monday's final assaults, despite their officers' efforts to rally them. "The net result of the two days' battle .is that the Germans have gained a few miles at enormous cost. There • was a lull on Tuesday morning."

A FIERCS ENCOUNTER. GERMANS FORCED TO RETIRE. FRENCH ARTILLERY COMES TO LIGHT. ALGEK! \X TROOPS IN* THE HI'XT. ADEPTS AT TAKING COVER. GERMAN' REINFORCEMENTS STILL ARRIVING. London, September 2. Hefivih", censored messages narrate that a great wheel of the Germans to the French left continued on Friday, •Saturday and Sunday, ajid resulted in a fierce encounter. Troops were collected to prolong the Allies' line. The Germans gained a success against the French Territorials, and this was on!y retrieved by the stand made by the long line of artillery occupying the crest of a gently sloping plateau. This finally forced the German skirmishers to fall back in disorder to escape the shrap-

Tin- <iutstanding incident of the battle on Sunday was the attack of the Algerian infantry. As they inarched to til.; firing iine they amused the townsfolk by making the gesture 01 cutting a throat, accompanied hv a flourish of the fist 111 the direction of the firing. When the Algerians reached the front the whole French Army was engaged. Closing to the right, the Algerians, without forming up, were launched against the right llnnk of a German brigade, while a battalion was pushed through to cover the rear of the Algerians from the attacks of the next German column. The Algerians hounded through tinbracken like a pack of hounds, and readied the. edge without showing a man. They did execution with their rifles, but though they gained upon the retiring German infantry they were never close enough for the bayonet charge for which the Algerians longed. Following this, a succession of lines was pushed forward for some distance. Then came ninhi, ami the exhausted men snatched a hasty meal anil sleep, leiving any ircsh troops coining n;> en either side io lontini.e the struggle. A I'.iu'U'L'iii' telegram says there has been iiK'essiiiit lighting since Thursday in tin- Ai-iti. district. Neither side obtained ;mieii advantage, and, after two days' failly even lighting, the French forced the eii' iuy to .retire, leaving beans of dead am! wounded. The French l„ h ses were also heavy. Tin- Germans an- still bringing up huge masses from the kwe to lil! up the trenienduus gaps niade in tile advance line. tIK Fit:lAV CONFIRMATION". IMPORTANT MOVE EXPECTED. HICK COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. Ijondol, Sept. 2 (9.10 p.m.) < Reliable.—The enemy's right wing :s - lit! miles from Paris. The Allies' lines are still unbroken. Taris is arranging for a siege. » There is an al-fience of official news from the front, hut an important movf .1 by the Allies is expected.

IBNEMY MAKES LITTLE PROGRESS.

GERMAN "GINGER" LACKING. ATTACK NOT NEARLY SO DETERMINED. Received 4, 12.15 a.m. Havre, September 3 (morning). The British rested on Sunday, though the French, on the British Tight, were fiercely attacked throughout, particularly before -—— -, where tin Germans Were in much superior strength. The French accordingly retreated beyond , where the Germans renewed the attack, but two desperate onslaughts failed to make any impression. There was severe lighting on Monday all along the line, but, except at treme left, the Germans fnade no progress. The troops state that the Germans' striking power is weakening. The terrible rushes noticeable at Mons, Charleroi, fAid St. Quentin were lacking, and the frontal attacks on Sunday and Monday were not nearly so determined. (Where the blank appears, the censor has deleted the name of the place referred to.) A FEIGNED RETREAT. ENEMY TRAPPED AND SLAUGHTERED. Received 4, 12.30 a.m. London, September 3 (morning). On Monday a mixed British and i French force, by a feigned retreat, drew j forward a considerable German force to the La Fere region, which had been entrenched. Riflemen and Maxims punished the Gerinans severely, and the Germans retreated, leaving 600 killed and wounded.

By constant feints and skirmishes and alarms, the Allies seek to keep the Germans alert day and night, the Belgians, French, and English taking turns to prevent the Germans from sleeping. There was a lull on Tuesday, possibly due to the German expenditure of rifle and artillery ammunition. The Germans have insufficient aa'mal and motor transport.

Still falling back. AIIMES AVOIDING DECISIVE BiTTLE. Received 3, 11.40 p.m. Paris, September 3. It is officially reported that on Tuesday, at mi.inight, the Allies' left wing had fallen back towards the southwest, in consequence of the continuation of the German enveloping movement. The retreat was due to the necessity rof avoiding the accepting of a decisive action., in which they might have been eugag*! under unfavorable conditions. ' GERMAN CASUALTIES. A WHOLE REGIMENT LOST. Received 3, 11.40 p.m. Copenhagen, September 3. A German casualty list shows that a whole infantry regiment stationed Zaltern was lost, while more than 20,000 Mecklenburg troops were lost. A FRESII NOTE. APPRECIATION OF GERMAN BRAVERY. Received 4, 1.40 a.m. London, September 3.

Among soldiers' experiences is the story of a Fusilier, who says: "The Germans gave us not much time to think. We had 110 time either, for we were busy picking off the enemy. The last sight I had of the Germans was of a squadron of Lancers caught in the open. All the horses were shot, but they lay behind the rampart of dead mean and horses, using their carbines. Our artillery and infantry were pouring a hail of lead into them. "One of our men who was holding a water-bottle to a wounded German, was shot dead. Another, when lighting a cigirette, had his lingers shot oil. hear awful stories of the German treatment of our wounded, but we are not inclined to believe them all."

FRENCH TERRITORIALS BEATEN. BRTTfSnEKS AIIIUVE Ot'I'ORTUNKI.Y FIGHTING IN TIUCK FOG. Received 4, 1.30 u.m. 'Paris, September 3. While the Allies were lighting as Hiipaumc. a French Territorial division, supported l.y four batteries of Regular artillery, were atacked by Germans on Thursday night. The Territorials ietircd in disorder. The Germans on Friday brought up many machine-guns in a dense fog, and mx hours' engagement was fought. Th. Territorials had suffered severely, w'.eu a lVritisli force came up uuexpeet,',iu and occupied the French positions, blowing the wen vied Territorials to esThe Encbsh fought, a brilliant reaiir.iard action. hi thi! same fog two f r.-aeli biitteri-s on each other at the same time. OALLANT GUNN'EK

Received 12.30 a.m. London, September X Dnrinii the figging <m Tuesday a British ' runner in charge ot «. Maxim found himscM fating a firman front"- 1 ' attack, the foremost and second Ihus, consisting of nine hundred men Everyone got something, but frmi the flanks f>thpira closed hip, an<t iw last the Brit-

, A FRENCH REPORT. GERMANS BAIL TO PIERCE THE DEFENCE. Washington, September 2. The French Ambassador announces that a battle has continued for three days in the Ham and Verviers district, with alternate progresses and retrogressions. The French left yielded somewhat, but remained unbroken. In the Vosges, the French continue to gain ground.

BRITISH CAVALRY ATTACK. CAPTURE ENEMY'S GUNS. Received 4, 1.30 a.m. Paris, .September 3. An official report states that the German cavalry on Tuesday marched upon the Forest of Compiegne, the British capturing their guns. The High Commissioner reports:— London, September 2 (12.50 a.m.) Official.—Continuous fighting is in progress along the whole line of battle. The British cavalry engaged with distinction the cavalry of the enemy, and pushed them back, capturing ten guns. IRISH BATTALION SURPRISED. GERMAN CAVALRY DISTURBS THEIR BREAKFAST. A GALLANT DEFENCE. [ London, September 2. The Daily Chronicle states that an I Irish battalion reached a place, not stated, on Wednesday after a haTd night's marching. When they were breakfasting, the German cavalry suddenly appeared. The men took cover in perfect order, but were forced to retire after three times repulsing a greatly superior force. The British cavalry gallantly drove the enemy from an excellent position.

"THE IRON VICE." GERMANY'S ULTIMATE PATE. FRENCH WRITER'S VIEW. ALLIES BIDE THEIR TIME. Received 3, 11.20 p.m. Paris, September 3. > ■M. Clemenccau, writing in liHomme Libre, says that all the lighting heretofore has been intended to harass the invaders and to defend every inch of ground. Much time and suffering will be needed before Germany is caught in the iron vice of France, ■ England, and ! Russia. In the words of a Japanese 'General, the final victory will :be for him who is able to sull'er for a quarter of an hour longer than his adversary. The enemy's offensive.is doubtless very formidable, 'but they fipd everywhere an unrelenting defence, ready to become offensive in turn. Paris has at her disposal a very mobile force which 'may choose its hour for delivering !i.:v blow."

THE KITCHENER SPIRIT. 1 NO HITCH OCCURS. WIIV GERMAN"iUFLE FIRE FAILS. ■London, September 2. A wounded lancer, in a letter to friends, says that the Germans attach a lot of importance to massed artillery (Ire. For hours all the guns seemed to play on one little spot, until the din and noise of the screeching shells overhead was "terrible, and was apparently intended to shatter their nerves. Most of thorn stuffed their cars with •otton wool. • Noise seemed to count a lot with the Germans. The cavalry had a trick o£ thundering along so that their horses' hoofs made the most awful din, giving the impression that th-i whole earth is sinking, added to whicti are wild and uncanny shouts. Newspaper correspondents state that the spirit of Kitchener pervades the whole expeditionary force. Ammunition is supplied without "■ hitch, and of a thousand motor vehicles only one traction engine bus been lost. The Germans are ttrisig with their rifles underneath the shoulder, relying on the volume of lead rather than accurate shootinp.

-TOMMY IX THE TRENCHES." A COOL CUSTOMER. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, September i. French ofliccrs are lost in admiration of the cool drollery of the British Tommy." One says: "Three of your soldiers , in the lighting line would argue about the merits of Gunboat Smith, then they would stop and fire steadily, laughing when the 'cease lire' sound.*! and resume the argument. 1 said to one, 'We shall beat the Germans nearer Pans and finally rout them.' Ho replied,' Why no, do it lifere and save us walking all that distance to Berlin'''' SOLDIERS LOST AND FOUND. SOME OF THE "MISSING" TURN UP. Received 3. 11.40 London. September » (monuiw). A number *if British soldiers have reached Folkestone •who were cut od from their regiment at Mons. ilu.J .wandered i:,fo the German lines and wi»ro fo i'J to terry thei* «"»« • in '! their uniforms. [Hiding by day aim walking by night, they reached the ■coast in six dSiys. (>\D RIFLE PRACTICE/ OF GERMANS.

"Received 4, IJ> a.m London, fcisptamfow 3 (morning). Correspondents state that _ the. Lritisii troops are, now almost luduleu'iit Or-mum rifle flm The ami- doc-