Official Hews.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 97, 19 September 1914, Page 5

Official Hews.

OPERATIONS OP THE BRTIISH, CAPTURE OF GERMAN ARiMY CORPS. GERMAN CASUALTIES FOR H DAYS. OVER 40,000. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tfc« Higk Commissioner cables as follows: London, Sept. 18 (12.35 a.m.) Official.—'Paris reports that no iin. portant change in the position of the armies has occurred, although the enemy is slightly giving way, but is entrenchmg at Montfaucon. A battle is progressing along the whole line. The Allies have repulsed night and day counter attacks. It is estimated that th« Germans have lost three thousand daily for the past fortnight. Rome reports that Germany is hastening troops to meet the advancing Russians, who are now nineteen miles from the fortress of Pregrnvse. Russia's East Prussian columns are also marching to Progmyse. The following cablegram from the High Commissioner came to hand at one •'clock thi» morning:— London, September 17 (1.13 p.m.) Official.—A descriptive account of the operations of uhe British from the 10th to 13th is given. Since the 10th the army has mode steady progress in an endeawr to drive the enemy back into country undulating and covered with patches of tHiick wood, within the area in which they forced the British before the advance commenced to Laon. The chief feature was six rivers running across the direction of the advance, tli3 rivers Marne, Qureci, Vesle, Aisne, Ailette, and Ouse. The enemy held the Marne, which, was crossed l>y out forces on the lttt'h. Our passage of the Qurcq was not contested and the Vesle wan lightly held. Resistance along tho Airne was of a determined character. On the eleventh little opposition was met along any part of the front, and the direction of our idvanee was turned slightly north-oast. The day was spent in pushing forward and gathering hostile detaclvmiente. At nightfall our forces had reached a line n;irth of the Qurcq extending from Oulchyte Chateau to Long Pont. On this day therej waß a general advance on the part of the French along the whole lino which ended in substantial successes, the Grand Duke of Wurteuilberg's fourth army being driven across the Saultu, and a whole corps >of artillery and a German corps captured. On the 12th the enemy were found occupying a formidable position opposite on the north of the Ap'sne at Soisfeoiw. They held both sides of the river, and -were entrenched along the line of hilLs to the north. The road 'bridges and railway bridges over tho Airne had been demolished.

Working from west to east, our third army corps gained the high ground south of the Aisne, overlooking l the Aiwie valley and cast of Soisaons. A long range artillery duel continued during Hie greater part of the day, and did not cease till midnight. The'enemy had a number of heavy howitzer* well concealed. A movement of the army corps was effected with the co-opera-tion of the French 6th army an. our left, which gained the southern half of the town during the riigmt. The second army corps did not cross Aisne._ The First Army Corps got over the river Vesle, south of Aisne, after the crossing had ibeen secured by the. first oavalry division. It then reached a line south of the Aisne, without fighting.

At Braine the first cavalry division inet with considerable opposition f-om infantry and machine-guns folding the town, and guarding the bridge. With aid from some of our infantry it gained possession at mid-day, driving tho enemy north. A hundred prisoners were gained round Braine, where the Germans had thrown their field gun ammunition into the river Vcsle. This day begajv an action along the Aisne, which was fmish'cd and may be the commencement of a battle of a more serious nature.

H rained heavily on Saturday afternoon, and severely handicapped transport. On the 13th an extremely strong resistance was encountered" along the wholo front, .fifteen miles in length. Tho action consisted in long range gun firo by the Germans over a great extent from howitzers in cleverly concealed positions. At night-fall portion* of tho three corps were across the river, tho ficvalry returning to tho south side. By night three ponton bridges had been built, and the troops managed to gob across the river. On the left the French passed on, but were prevented by artillery fire from building a bridge at Soisfc»n9.

During the last four days isolated Germans were discovered hiding in woods hehind our lines. They seemed glad to surrender. At Senlis tho Germans nsrembled tho mayor of the town and five leading citi-

rens,' and forced them to kneel before their graves. A requisition wa3 made for supplies, «ind the six citizens were then shot. Twenty-four people, includ-

ing women and children] were also shot. The town was pillaged and lired before

it was eracuated. It is believed that the cathedra] remains undamaged. There were similar proceedings at Crcil and Crocy. At VHlcts Gottcrete,

ii« mayor behaved judiciously, though supplies far in excess of tlic capabilities of the place wore demanded. Tho town was not seriously damaged. The Germans evacuated the place on the 11th in haste. Reims was occupied by the enemy on

tho 3rd, and re-occupied l.y the French, after considerable fighting, ■mi the 13th. Tho GeTman» had taken the mayor of Ilheims and eighty inhabitants a3 hostages.