Fighting in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 90, 11 September 1914, Page 5

Fighting in France

Germans in Retreat BATTERING THE RIGHT WING. BRITISH FAST OX THE FLANK. ENEMY GETS NO RESPITE. THE TABLES EFFECTIVELY TURNED. GERMANS ABANDONING TRANSPORT AND GUNS. By cable.—Press Association.-—Copyright London, September !). Mr. Donohoe, the war correspondent, says the right wing of the German Army has been considerably battered during the last few days and has been falling back with the British fast on its flank. Everywhere points more to a definite retirement than a temporary retreat, for in the rear of the Germans the driving movement of the Allies is making itself felt. The German patrols on the left bank of the Somnie, particularly around Amiens, were suddenly withdrawn and the greater part of the enemy who were holding Amiens withdrew in some, disorder early on Tuesday. Most of their wounded were sent to Arras (40 miles north). Those too seriously injured have been abandoned at Amiens.

The Allies' left wing is giving the I enemy little respite, the British cavalry being particularly active. The Allies , are seeking to detach the harried and sorely-pressed German right from the I main body and annihilate it. The retreating Germans are directing their rearwards inarch to Cambrai and Tournay. The German right made repeated futile efforts to hold its own, hut the pressure of the English was too great. The vast German mass is in motion. Its pace is slow enough at the moment, but each hour the rearguard rate is

gaining momentum and will if it runs bring upon itself inevitable disaster. It is now experiencing some of the sufferings borne by the Allies in their retirement from Belgium. A wounded French officer informed mc that the German right entirely exhausted itself in the rapid march on Paris and is now short of munitions and supplies. This was the moment chosen for the Allies' counter-attack.

For three, days the British f fought ■with the valor and heroism which characterised them at Mons. On -Monday and Tuesday the retreating Germans repeatedly baited and delivered fierce counter-attacks on their relentless pursuers. The German onslaught lacked determination, and they abandoned waggons, stores and guns.

THE MAX FOR THE MOMENT AND THE .MOMENT FOR THE MAN. Antwerp, September 9. A communique quotes General Joffre's order informing the troops that the time had now come to attack and drive hack the enemy. The troops at Verdun made a fiortie and captured a number of supply convoys destined for the sth German Army. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES. Bordeaux, September 9. It is officially stated that the Germans, having in a retreating movement ciossed the Relit Morin, with a view to protecting their communications, made violent Ult unavailing attacks against our troops, who occupied the right bank of the Ourcq. The British are continuing the offensive in the direction of Marne, on the plateau northward of Setignne. Our troops are progressing, though with .lillicurty. On our centre a violent battle is in progress. On our right wing the situation is good, before Nancy and the Vosges.

GERMANY IN SORE STRAITS. ONE BIG DEFEAT SPELLS FAILURE. THE WOULD AGAINST' HER. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 9, fi p.m. ' London, September 9. The Times, in a leader, says that a battle which may decide Germany's fate, and which must decide for the. time the fate of the North of France, is now raging The Allies can face defeats, but a | Hing le German defeat in a battle on a «ran.l wale must mean final failure. She fUts with everv civilised nation praying for her downfall and the obliteration of the perverse ambitions which led her to plunge the world into strife. GERMANS IN ALSACE. RETIRING MOVEMENT REPORTED. London, September 9. An unconfirmed statement from Basic is to the effect that the Germans ar, evacuating Upper Alsace. GERMANS' "PRECIPITATE DEPARTURE."' Received 10, 11.45 p.m. . Undon, Sept. 10 (morning). An infantry sergeant belonging to the French left wing describes the 20-m.le chase, cutting up a detachment, and the capture of seven guns and two qmek- ( firers The interiors of houses through--7 out the villages where the Germans slept showed signs of precipitate departure.

THE ENEMY TRAPPED.

CAUGHT AS IN A VICE. ALLIES CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS AND GUNS. PREVENTING GERMAN CONCENTRATION. Received 10, 11..55 p.m. London, Sept. 10 (morning). The result of the last four davs' figlit- >■)£ shows that the southern division of the Germans' army of invasion is being caught between two fires. The French army on lh e west and north is delivering heavy blows from Mareuil-sur-Ourcq, forcing the Germans to the south. On the other hand the British, supported to the right and left, are receiving the enemy thus pushed southward at Montmiril, and taking many prisonerg. From Montmiril the enemy, in his attempt to escape out of the vice, is pouring into the level plains of Lafereche ' Champenoise, where they are met by a superior French force. The hitter on Sunday stood their, ground like a wall of steel, while the Gorman right is ceaselessly harried, General Joffre seeking to prevent concentration in the cast of France, where it was intended to effect a junction of all the enemy's armies.

FOUR DAYS' TERRIFIC BATTLE. GENERAL FRi;XOIf«YERY SATISFIED." Received 10, 11.45 p.m. Paris, Sept. 0 (evening). British officers from the front describe the four days' battle as terrific. ' The Germans arc surrendering in groups of 50 and GO. The British are also capturing many guns and ammunition wagons. General French seemed very satisfied as lie walked through the ranks smoking cigarettes. CLIMAX OF THE ALLIES' PLANS. GERM AX S SHORT OF FOOD AXD AMMUNITION. THE ENEMY EXHAUSTED. AX UNTIRING AXD HARASSING DRIVING MOVEMENT. London, September 9. The Press Bureau says the pressure against the enemy continues on the whole of the Allies' front. The British Were engaged all day, and "the enemy opposing them retired after a stubborn resistance and is now crossing to the north of the Marne. The 'sth French Army advanced equally successfully and reports that many Germans were captured. The Gth French Army suffered severely, but along:' the • whole line the advance was everywhere resolutely pushed home. i The British sustained, some casualties ; but the number was small in relation to the nature of the fighting. The two \ days' operations were very satisfactory.

General Jofl'rc has thanked Lord Kittlioner for the constant support given by the British during the whole operations. That support at the present moment was most valuable, and was manifested in a very energetic manner. Three hundred Germans were captured in the last engagements in the vicinity of the Oourcq and Grand Morin Rivers.

A French sergeant, who was wounded at Meaux, says: "We pursued in force for nineteen miles two German regiments, which were.supported by cavalry and artillery. During the hurried retreat the Germans did not fire a shot, whereas the French maintained a violent and decimating fire and succeeded in isolating part of this German column and captured seven guns, two machine guns and many prisoners. One of these was an infantry sergeant, who admitted that the men had nearly exhausted their ammunition and were ordered to spare it."

A French infantry officer, also wounded at Meaux, declared that the German troops who were repulsed in that district, after two days' heavy fighting, comprised two army corps, which sustained terrible losses. , He counted seven hundred bodies in one trench. He corroborated the lack of : German ammunition. The Germans ■ seemed very tired. A German aeroplane dropped a bomb • in Nancy without harm to life, but many windows were smashed and shattered. The Germans have evacuated the hills around Lunoville. London, September 9 (later). Nearly two millions are. engaged in the battle, which is still raging. The latest news indicates that the Allies are pursuing the offensive. A DASH FOR THE GUNS. A STIRRING ACCOUNT. London Sept. 9. The wounded Guardsman continuing his story (the first portion of which was , printed yesterday), said the German horsemen got clear and fled. Some who were unhorsed were bayonettcd where they stood. Then the Guards contimied the advance. The Coldstreaans were now leading, with the Scots in reserve and the Irish in support. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the fight between the cavalry and infantry, the German artillery, from a now position, maintained a deadly fire from twelve guns. Our infantry and cavalry ad- I vanced simultaneously against, the new I position, carrying it in the face of a I galling fire, 'and captured ten guns. The German infantry and cavalry supporting the guns did not await our onslaught, but bolted and wore pursued and decimated by heavy- infantry and artillery fire. When our men secured the guns there was hardly a CSerman left alive wfco was not wauffitei

BRITISH CROSS THE MARXE,

GERMAN CfIL'XTCR. ATTACKS FOILED. Received 10. 11.43 p.m. Taris, Sept. 10 (morning). Official news states that on the left wing all the Germans' attempts to break through the Allies on the right bank ot the Ourcq failed, and the British crossed tile Marne. The enemy has fallen hack 40 kilometres (about 23 miles). The situation is unchanged at the centre of the fighting. J GERMANS REINFORCED. OX THE RIGHT WING. SEVERE REVERSES REPORTED. Receives! 10, 11.4.5 p.m. Paris, September 10. Ostend reports that the Germans arc [proceeding by forced marches towards the Xorth of France. The, third corps of reservists passed'through Oudenarde and Granmont for the purpose of reinforcing the German right wing, which suffered an important check and appears to liave been driven in the direction of Dunkirk.

It is estimated that (10,000 reinforcements are advancing into France. P.ErjGIAN ROADS MADE UNSAFE. "Received 11, 12,30 a.m. Osteiid, September 10. • Sixty thousand Germans in Belgium have been hurriedly . despatched to France in three columns. The Germans are extensively mining the ISelgium mid*. RETIRING ALONG THE WHOLE FRONT. j ENEMY'S COMMISSARIAT FAILS. Received 11, 12.30 a.m. Bordeaux, September 10. i An official communique says there are indications that the Germans are retirinj: along the whole front. The strategical situation of the French troops appears to he improved, but it is well not to anticipate the final result of a battle extending over a front of several hundred kilometres. The Germans seem to lie experiencing some difficulty in supplying their troops with necessaries.

| ANOTHER SET BACK. MAUBEUGE UPSETS GERMAN | CALCULATIONS. Received 11, 12.5U a.m. /_ Paris, September 10. Owing to the spirited defence of Manbeugo monster 34-centime-tre mortars, transported by rail through Belgium, communications between fthe enemy's armies in North France by way of Belgium are seriously impeded. The Germans had reckoned upon the fall of Maubcugc to enable them to utilise, the siege artillery at the crucial moment when the armies came into touch with the Paris forts.

HUGE PREPONDERANCE.OF GERMANS. Fetrograd, September 10. A newspaper's official message states that the Germans originally, attacked the Allies with a preponderance of seven army corps. FURTHER CONFIRMATION. Received 10, 5.35 p.m. Paris, Sept. 9 (afternoon). A communique states that the Allies' advance on the German centre is slow, but general, and there lias been no action by the enemy against them at Grand Courenuc and Nancy. There is ncchange in the Vosges and Alsace. The situation of the Allies' left wing remains satisfactory despite German reinforcements, the enemy falling back before the British. A HIGHLANDER'S STORY. London, Sept. 9. A Gordon Highlander says:— "Y oat must not ran away with the idea that we stand shivering and cowering under hell lire. We go about our business in the usual way. I got my wound in the leg because I got too excited arguing with wee Georgie Ferris about the 'Spurs (Tottenham Hotspurs) this season."