Fighting in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 89, 10 September 1914, Page 5

Fighting in France

ALLIES' CONTINUED SUCCESS. GERMAN DEFEAT ON THE MARNE. Paris, September 8. A communique states that on our It ft wing the Allies advanced without meeting with serious resistance. In the i centre, in tile Verdun district, our forces alternately advanced and retired. Tho situation remains unchanged on our right. In the Vosges district we gained several partial successes. The War Minister telegraphed to Maubeuge admiration at its heroic defence. Paris. September 8. The. New York Herald says that on Sunday in the fighting at one point the French defended the passage of the Maine and carried the German entrenchments at the bayonet. The 75 millimetre guns silenced a German battery and (fuicklirers. The Germans constructed a bridge of boats, but it j was destroyed by Bhells in five minutes. London, September 8. The Press Bureau states that General Joffre's plans are being steadily carried out and ihe Allies are acting on the defensive. The .Press Bureau confirms the Bordeaux official statement that the Allies were successful in forcing the Germans' right wing back in a north- J easterly direction. | THE ENEMY RETIRES. BEFORE VIOLENT ATTACK OF* / ALLIES. ANGLO-FRENCH FORCES MAKE ' GOOD PROGRESS. Received 9, 6.15 p.m. Paris, September 8 (9 p.m.). An official communique states that th,c enemy is retiring in the direction of Barne, between Meaux and Sezanne. The Allies captured many prisoners, including an infantry battalion and a quickfirers' company, and caissons. Violent engagements occurred between Ampenoire and Vitry-de-Francois, at the southern extremity of Argonne. The enemy did not succeed anywhere, and fell back on Vitry-de-Franeois. Paris, September 8 (evening). ! It is officially stated that the Allies j are making continuous progress from i the banks of the Ourcq as far as the j region of Montmiral. The. enemy is retreating in, the direction of Maine. An official communique stated that the German divisions attacked the line, C'liateausalins to Nancy, but were repulsed to the north of the Chimpenoux Forest. The Allies have recaptured Mavdrcy, on the crest of the Fourneaux Pass. j OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. '/ HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. The High Commissioner reports: London. September 8. It is officially stated in Paris that the left wing of the Allies, in which the British form the centre, is making progress without much opposition against the Germans, whose right wing has been hurled backward 12 miles. The main battle-line extends from Paris to Verdun, 150 miles. Tho opposing armies consist of two , and a-half million men. Reliable.—The Anglo-French have taken many prisoners, including a battalion of infantry and a mitrailleuse company. The following official war news has been received by the Prime Minister:— London, September 9.

Official—The general position continues to be satisfactory. The Allies are F gaining ground on their left along the line of the Oureq and iPctit Morin. , f The British have here driven the ' enemy back 10 miles. ° Fighting lias been in progress further to the right, along the line Montmirail-LelYtit-Sompuis, neither side gaining any advantage. Further to the right, the enemy * been pressed back in the direction of t Rheims. ' In the vicinity of Luncville, an at- ' tempt of the Germans to advance was ' repulsed. : Pressure against the enemy continues all along the Allies' front. A British force has been engaged all day. The enemy opposed it, but after stubborn resistance retired, and is now crossing to the north of the Marnc. f ( The 6tli French Army advanced with equal success, and reports many captures. The 6th French Army on the Ourcq has been heavily engaged. Here, also, the enemy was driver back. The Hermans suffered severely along each line. The advance everywhere was resolutely pushed home. The British again sustained some casualties, but the number is small in relation to the nature of the lighting. SOLDIERS' STORIES. TRICKS OF THE GERMANS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 9, 'o.Ho p.m. London, September 0. A private in the Royal Irish regiment scys:—"A fair number of our men were captured, owing to the trick the Germans had of continually sounding our 1 I bugle calls. In one of the worst fights | the Germans sounded the retreat. Four of our advanced battalions were then 1 attacked in murderous fashion as they ' deployed across the open. This threw \ the whole line, into confusion, but: we , soon recevercd and drove, off the Germans at the point of the bayonet. Bugle i calls were then abolished, but the GerL.mans 'tumbled to the game,' and com-

i mewed'picking off dispatch riders cara rying orders. In consequence, some of l our troops did not know whether to advance or retreat, and .got cut oil here and there." Wounded Russians report that Cer- . mans are in the habit of raising tile white (lag at the moment of a final Russian cTiarge, thus disconcerting the at- ' tackers, upon whom they pour a volley ; I when at short range. • GERMAN AIRSHIPS OUTCLASSED. Received 9, 10.15 p.m. London, September 9. A soldier's letter states:—"We now seldom see the German airships, for they i have found the French airships mora than a match, and prefer to trust to their army of spies. We never turn a hair when we see this scum shot." ALLIES GAINING GROUND. Received 9, 10 p.m. London, Sept. !) (morning). The Press Bureau confirms the report that the Allies are gaining ground. The British drove the enemy back 10 miles. "UP, GUARDS, AND AT THEM!" IRISH GUARDS IN THE THICK OF IT. A FIERCE ATTACK. Received 10, 12.4,5 a.m. London, September 9 (evening). A wounded Guardsman, describing the seven hours' fight at Compiegne, said: ' "As soon as the German guns and inI fantry rushed into position on the hill ' on the British right, the German cavalry advanced in a huge mass, hoping to ride down the Irish Guards, who were nearest to them. When the shock came it seemed terrific. Tho Irishmen did not recoil, but flung themselves across the Germans' path. We saw German horses impaled on the bayonets of the Guardsmen's front rank, then the whole force cf infantry and cavalry became a mixed and confused heap. Shells from both armies dropped near the tangled mass." COLDSTREAMS USE THE BAYONET. Received 10, 12.45 a.m. London, September 8 (evening). 1 One of the Coldstream Guards de- . I scribes the German soldiers as being "like a crowd at a cup-tie. I was well t entrenched. My rifle was so over-heat-ed that I could'hardly hold it. Our bullets ploughed through the Germans, but they still rolled up. Then we got to bayonet work, and drove them nearly five hundred yards, cutting up every man who did not run away." I HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. The High Commissioner cabled from London yesterday:— There is now little doubt that the Germans axe withdrawing triops from France and Belgium. The people of Liege have been ordered to remain indoors during their transportation.