Germans Defeated

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 92, 14 September 1914, Page 5

Germans Defeated

Allies', Great Victory. British do Splendid Work. CLEVER AND RAPID MOVEMENT. SUMMARY FROM BORDEAUX. THE BATTLE OF MARNE. THE WHOLE SITUATION CHANGED. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 11 (evening). A communique states that at the very outset of operations the derma,, ri<-h't wing, which on Sunday was north%f Provinß-(r>o miles south-east of Paris) was obliged to fall hack because of the danger of envelopment. The enemy, hy a clever and rapid movement, escaped the Allies' grip The greater part of its forces threw itself on our enveloping wing north of the-' Marne and west of the Ourcq; hut the frenchmen, aided bravely hy the British, inflicted considerable Tosses and gamed necessary time to allow the offensive to make progress elsewhere The enemy is now retreating towards the line of the Oise. >

Meantime, the Anglo-French south of tin: Marne continued the offensive, and opened out. some from the south of Crecy Foi,-xt, others from north of Provms and south of Esternav. General von Muck's and General von liiielow's armies fal.ing back before the Allies. The most desperate fighting occurred between the plateau to the north of .Sezanne and Vitry-le-Francois, where the left of General von Bin-low's Saxon army and part of General Wnrteniburg's arniy w«-re engaged. The Germans, despite repeated and violent attacks, failed to break our centre. , Our success on the plateau north of Sezanne enabled js in turn to take the offensive, and in the course of Thursday night the enemy stopped fighting o ii the front between St. Gond and the Sommesons district, and fell back to the west of Vitry-le-Francois. Fighting continues on the Ernain River, between Argonne and the Meusc, where the Crown Prince's army and another portion of General Wurtembtirg's army are opcraV mg, with alternative advance and retreat, without any great change. Thus the first phase of the battle of Marne ended in our favor, since the German right wing and centre are retreating. There is no notable change in "the Vosges, around Xaney. which the Germans tried to bombard with lon"-ran"e guns. t ° The general situation has been completely transformed in the last few da vs. both strategically and tactically. Not only have we stopped what looked like a victorious German march, but they have fallen back at nearly every point.''

GREAT QUANTITIES OF MUNITIONS I ABANDONED. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 12 (morning). *, Official—The German right abandoned great quantities of munitions. The centre has given way along the entire front from Sezanne to Revjgn.-. ISRIEF, BUT TELLING. GERMAN'S RUNNING SHORT OF SUPPLIES. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, September 11. . The following wireless to Berlin was .intercepted: "We badly need horses and I supplies.' 1 GREATER ALLIED SUCCESS. FURTHER CAPTURE OF GUNS. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, September 12. An official communique states:—"The success of the Allies' left wing is more , marked. The advance continues north of the Maine, and far toward Soissons and Compiegne. The British captured 11 Runs. The Germans have not fallen back at Argonne. The position is unchanged in Lorraine and Vosges." DEFEATED AND DEMORALISED. GERMAN'S FAIRLY ON THE RUN. Received 13, 5. sp.m. / < London, Sept. 12 (morning). Mr 'Maxwell telegraphs to the Daily Telegraph: --"The Germans are fairly oil the run, utterly rorrted, the centre defeated and demoralised, and both flanks retreating along the roads over which they marched in triumph a week ago. The remnant of their cavalry has been destroyed." MAGNIFICENT ARTILLERY FIRE. THE FRENCHMEN'S FEAT. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. v Bordeaux, September 12. During their attempt to cross the Marne, the Hermans endeavored to build a bridge of boats. The French artillery reduced them to matchwood sixteen times.

lIMTISII IN FULL PURSUIT. FRENCH HAUL OK GERMAN ARTILLERY. Received 13, fi.3 p.m. London, Sept. 12 (morning). The Press Bureau states that) the British crossed the Ourcq, and ara moving in rapid pursuit of the enemy. Today they captured 200 prisoners. The Allies' cavalry has been in the neighborhood of Soissons and Pismes. Tli» enemy is retreating north of Vitry, The Third French. Army captured one corps of artillery. British aeroplanes import that the retreat is very rapid. WAR CASUALTIES. ONLY TWO PER CENT. MORTAL. Received 12. 7 p.m. Paris, September 12. French military doctors report tiiat only i per cent, of tho war casualties we killed oulriyut.

FOUR DAYS' FIGHTING SUMMUt--ISED. GERMANS LOSE IN .MORALE, MEN AND MATERIAL. '' FRENCH AND ENGLISH DRIVE HOME THE ATTACK. Received 13, midnight. ti, .i, ~ London, September 12. ifto;Presa Bureau, summarising the operations of the .inglo-Freneh forces dunng the last four da°s, says .csuited ,n the capture of 0000 and 180 guns. Tu e enemy i s retreating along the whole line west of the Mens* sullermg grcat.y in morale, uu d heavy losses in personnel and material.

/wr • • ~, raris ' September 12. 01 ic.al -The Germans have evacuated St. Die (m the Vosges, near the frontier). Received 14, 12.5 a.m. London, Sept. 13 (morning). On September 6th the southward advance of the German right reached its' extreme point at Couloinmiers and Promis. Cavalry patrols penetrated as tar south as Nogen-sur-Seine. This movement was covered by a large nankin-* force west of lire ami the river Ourcq° watching the outer Paris defences, and any Allied force from these. The enemy's southward movement left the right wmg in a dangerous position, having evacuated the Creil-Senlis-Conipiegne region, through which the advance iiad been pushed. The Allies attacked this exposed wing both from front and Hank. On the Sth September the covering force was assailed by the French. The army from the bases of Paris defences was brought into action on the line Nan-teiiil-Chaudouin-Aleauxmain. A portion of the enemy's right wing was attacked by the British army, which had been transferred from the north to the east of Paris, and by a French corps advancing alongsidi en the line Crecy-Coulonimiers-Sezanne. TJia combined operations up to the present have been completely successful. The German outer flank has been forced back us ar as Ourcq. The line there made a strong defence, and c.xe-Vited Several vigorous counter-attacks, but were unable to beat off the pressure of the French advance. The main body of the enemy's right wing vainly endeavored to defend the lines at Grand Morin and Petit Morin, but were, pressed 'jack aver these rivers. Threatened on the right, owing to the J defeat of the covering force by the Al- [ lies' left, the Gel man right wing re- j treated over the Marne.

On the 10th, the British Array, with a portion of the French forces on its left, crossed the river below Chateau Thierry, the movement obliging the enemy's forc-rs westward of the Ourcq—already assailed by the French corps forming the Allies' extreme left—to give way and retreat to the north-west corner towards Soissons.

Since the 10th, the whole German right wing has fallen back in considerable disorder, closely followed by the French and British troops, and continuing the retreat rapidly over the Aisne, evacuating the Saissona region. The British cavalry to-day reached Fismes. The German right wing has thus been driven back and thrown into disorder. The French armies further cast have been strongly engaged with the German centre, which they had pushed to Vitry. Between the" Bth and 10th the Allies were unable to make much impression west of Vitry. On the I.lth, however, this portion of the German army began to'yield under the impulse of the French" troops between the Upper Marnc and the Mouse. The enemy ventually abandond Vitry, where the line of battle was forming a salient. The French troops are pursuing'the enemy and driving a portion of the troops northwards towards the Argonne forest country. The Third French Army reports today the capture of the entire artillery of the hostile army corps, probably representing 160 guns.

ENEMY'S CAVALRY EXHAUSTED AXD ENFEEBLED. ABANDONING POSITIONS AXD MUNmoxs. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, September 12. A communique states that "On our h'ft tli« Germans are in general retreat between the Oisc and thy Maine. His cavalry is exhausted ami resists feebly. On our centre and right the Germans have evacuated a fortified position at Vitry-le-Francois, on the course of the liiver Saulx. At Senna ize and Reviguy thov nave abandoned much material,and are retreating from Argonne northward by Bellcnoue Forest.'' EXEMY SURRENDERS IX LARGE BODIES. UNDOUBTEDLY A GREAT DISASTER. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept, 12 (morning). Mr Maxwell (Daily Telegraph) states: "The Germans have, lost guns and ammunition column*. They are surrendering in large bodies. A German general was overheard telling his officers: 'A great disaster has overtaken us/'" He adds: "The Germans undoubtedly sulTered a great defeat in the Maine battle."

CAUGHT IN' A FOREST. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF GERMANS BY NIGHT. ' Received 13. 7 p.m. London, September 12. Dining Ilio German advance <m the Marnc, a body occupied a position in. the Forest of Crecy. British patrols discovered them and" warned the cavalry iuul infantry, who took up a position at midnight on two sides of the woods. The Oriiians were incautiously finding their wav through tin: woods hy mean's of s'.alile lamps/ Tlie British Maxims and rifles devastated the wood, and mowed down the Germans. Finally the cavalry eharired, yelling, and cleared and routed the remnants. Next morning scorts of broken lamps were found, and mans- Germans were taken prisoners, 20 of whom, encouraged hy a temporary .German advance, attempted to recover their lilies, but a volley wiped ih«in out. "DIED LIKE A HERO.'' AX IXUIJEXT OK THE BRITISH RETREAT. London, September 11. Throughout the whole of the British retreat from .Mods the cavalry foiled every German ell'ort to capture the rctivatinjr transport, thus stamping the operations as one of Hie most successful in the history of the liritish Army. General Allenhy, in sympathising with Lady dc Crepigny on the death of lier son, says: ''On the. Queen's Bays fell the brunt of the fighting on. September 1. Your son held an important tactical position, and died like a hero, lie held the position till every roan was killed, ot wouu&wL 1 *

GENERAL iPAU RE-APPEARS.

CONVERT GERMAN AMMUNITIQV INTO FIREWORKS. A BIG FACTOR IN THE ATTACK'. Received 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 12 (morning). The Battle of Meaux resulted in clearing the Ourcq Valley of Germans. The ! right wing composed some of the finest Imperial troops. General Pau, operating on the British left, scored a tremendous advantage by capturing an ammunition column seven kilometres (over four miles) in length. This ho destroyed, leaving the German right v.?ry short of ammunition. "A VERITABLE HELL UPON EARTH!"* MOROCCANS FIGHT LIKE DEMONS. . ZOUAVES IN A HOT CORNER. BRITISH ARTILLERY ROUTS THE ENEMY. . ! Received 13.' 5.5 p.m. Paris, September 12. A Zouave officer states: "For four days previous to September 7th the I Zouaves were engaged in clearing the .Germans from all the villages on the left bank of the Ourcq. Unfortunate]-.", I the heavy English artillery, which would I have smashed the enemy, had not yet arrived. However, we were equal to the preliminary task, and were heartened by Gneral Pau's conversion of the enemy's big ammunition convoy into a fireworks display. We fought from village to village, hand to hand, and the Moroccans fought like demons with their bayonet work. The Germans fired villages, and the rolling columns of smoke and pillars of fire made a veritable- hell upon earth. Our gunners were shelling the Germans from pillar to post, strewing the ground with dead. Across and among these dead bodies we had to charge. They lay about in heaps of bleeding flesh. "The enemy's quickfirers were marvellous. They manoeuvred them cleverly, end we hadn't all our own' way. It was almost impossible to stand against it, and we had to retire after every rush for about 251 metres. Then, quick as lightning, the Germans got the mitrailleuses across the ground we bad yielded, and waited our next rush. The Zouaves were steady, in spite of heavy losses, but the enemy's quickfirers were more effective than ours. Presently the enemy's aeroplane began to drop bombs, and guided the German shell fire. We were without water for four davs, and troops and horses suffered greatly. Under cover of darkness the Germans collected their dead, covered them with straw and paraffin, and incincerated the bodies.

"At midday on the 7th the, English artillery came up. They handled their •guns a? if on the parade ground, though the German shell fire was hot. The screams of dying horses and men, joined with the shrieks of the shells, were like an inferno. Gradually the German right rolled back, exhausted and demoralised." BIUTOXS/ BULL'DOG TEXACITY. IX THE LEADIXG ROLE.

Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, September 12. The Daily Express' Paris correspondent states that during the fighting with the Prussian Guard on Wednesday the British completely wiped out the Jaeger Regiment of SOOO. Renter rays the British played the leading role. They drove back General von Muck's army, and-, then advanced to meet the Germans by forced marches. They took a few hours' sleep, aW pursued the enemy up the 'Marue Valley with bull dog tenacity.

AMOXG THE DEAD. BURNING IX HEAPS OX THE BATTLEFIELD, ! 'SCENES IK THE TRENCHES. ' Received 13, 5.5 p.m. liOiulon, September 12. Visitors to the battlefield at Meaux saw hundreds of German bodies, piled in heaps and covered with straw, burning. Tarpin's terrible explosive was used at Meaux. A member of the American Red Cross ■states that he saw the German trenches after the French gunfire. They were filled with dead, but with dead in snch posture as though a blight from Heaven had fallen upon them. They stood in line, with rifle at the shoulder. There was no horror or agony in their silent faces; only over them was a film of hue | reddish powder. It was as if a deep and sudden sleep had overtaken them, only their eyes were op an.

SWIFT VEXGEANCE. GERMAN SAVAGES SLAUGHTERED. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, September 12. A private relates that a member of the British Army Service Corps, riding a motor-cycle, was overtaken by a party of Uhlans, who thrust their lanced through his neck, hands, back and feet, and threw the body in a haystack, which they fired. 9 "Some of our cavalry arrived, and took swift vengeance on the savages, who sought the shelter of a village. When we fell upon them they sprang about like rats. Tut we got-the lot. Tney hounded about in the air, while others spun round Eke tops whec the bullets liit them."

RETIRING RAPIDLY. DISORDER AND DEMORALISATION APPARENT. PURSUIT VIGOROUSLY PRESSED. London, Sept. 12 (evening). The Pr"ss Bureau states that the enemy's general retreat continued yesterday. The British captured 1500 men, with several guns and Maxims and much transport. The enemy is retiring very rapidly east of Soissons, in some disorder. Considerable bodies of infantry have been found hiding in the woods, left behind by the rapidity of the retreat. They surrendered at sight. This, and the rifling of villages and evidences of drunkenness, point to demoralisation. The pursuit is being vigorously pressed.

THE USUAL GERMAN TRAIL. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris. September 12. The German army corps reported yesterday to have been cut off in the Senlis triangle sacked deserted liourscs at SanseuU, vut also iua»y viiuiges.

GERMAN REGIMENT ANNIHILATED.

RUNNING OUT OF PETROL. Received 13, midnight. London, September 12. Count Bernstoril' Oildensteiii has written to his family, stating tiiat all his Mecklenburg cavalry regiment, except lour, have been killed in the North of France. ; The Chronicle's Bordeaux correspondent reports that the Germans have exhausted their petrol, causing the shortage of ammunition. •• CAVALRY AM BUSI I ED. TREMENDOUS LOSS OF THE BRITISH London, September 11, Details of tlie charge of the llth I.an eers at German siege guns which were posted in a wood .show that the. Lancers went into action singing and shouting like schoolboys. The artillery fire emptied only a few saddles and the guns seemed within reach when the' leaders suddenly came to a tragedy.' Full in the face of the oncoming cavalry, the. Germans opened a murderous (ire from 20 concealed machine-guns, at a distance of not more than 130 yds. Vicomte de Vaiivineux, who rode with the brigade as interpreter, was instantly killed, while the bulk of the brigade swerved- to the right for a hundred yards across the face of the guns. A few rode desperately" on, bearing-charmed lives; but only for a few yards. Wire entanglements were buried in the grass 30yds in front'of the guns. Riding full into'these the riders fell and were taken prisoners. Three regiments of the best British cavalry went into the charge, and at the end only 22!) mustered out of the Lancers' regiment. The 18th Hussars and 4th Dragoons also suffered severely, but not to the. same extent.

'A BRUTISH SOLDIER'S-ACCOUNT. OUR HtnESISTIBLE CAVALRY. Received 13, 5..J p.m. London, September 12. A non-commissioned officer relates tbat^tlu 1 enemy was driven hack, fightin", for tliree days, until they fame to the river, where they made a desperate stand in an enormous mass, and kept no a terrible rifle fire and machine-gun lire. Our infantry advanced in short rushes in open oril;>r. Shells rained on the enemy, and rifle lire opened great gaps in their ranks. Suddenly the cavalry swept on their cavalry, like an avalanche of men in steel. Huge gaps were torn in the enemy's ranks. The whole thing was over in a few minutes. The Herman Horsemen seemed to vanish into the earth, while the enemy retreated in confusion.'' ; THE ACTIOX COXTIXUES. Paris, September 11. On the. left wing the Anglo-French force crossed the Marne, pursuing the retreating enemy. The British captured many prisoners and machine-guns durtlie riders fell and were taken prisoners, this area have advanced upwards of GO kilometres (37 miles). . The army of the centre repulsed the Prussian Guards. The action continues with great violence. SOISSOXS RE-TAKEX. Received 1.4, 12.43 a.m. Pans, September 13. It is reported that the French occupied Soissons on Saturday evening.