BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 99, 22 September 1914, Page 5

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

THE FIERCE TURCOS. LEAK, STARVED WOLVES. MOVING LIKE PAXTIIERS. Received 21, 7 p.m. Lomlon, Sept. 20 (evening). Captain Harding Davis describes the Tureos and Senegalese as the fiercest fighters of all. In the trenches taken from the German Guards and Death's Head Hussars, the Germans showed no bullet wounds, their assailants using only the butts of their rifles and their bayonets. Man for man, no white man drugged for years with meat and alcohol is a physical match for these Tureos, fed on dates and water. They are lean, starved wolves, who move like panthers, being all muscles and nerves.

The French commanders almost in> variably use them ta lead the charges.

SAW-EDGED BAYONETS. MORE GERMAN ATROCITIES. NO VENGEANCE TOO HARSH. Received 21, 8.15 p.m. London, September 20. Captain Davis found in the trenches at Soissons German bayonets with sawedges, though they are forbidden by the laws of war. The) bore the Government stamp, and the word ''Erfurt." A Frenchman states that while lying wounded on the battlefield, a German sergeant pointed a revolver at him. The Frenchman shielded his eyes with his hands, but the German fired through the man's fingers and put out his eyes. A Frenchman was attending three wouided comrades when a German held the Frenchman's hand in front of his rifle and blow it off.

It is stated that the young Germans display the greatest heartlessuess, the older being sympathetic. Gabriel Dannanzio, who visited the battlefields of the Marne and Aisne, says that, the tilings he saw were so terrible that no vengeance on the Germans would be too harsh.

ALLIES' POSITION FAVORABLE.

PRUSSIAN GUARDS CUT UP.

Paris, September 20.

The latest commanique reports the capture of numerous German prisoners. The fighting continues, and the general position of the Allies is favorable. The German killed include General von Sehank. Bordeaux, September 20. Captured German officers state that nearly all the companies of the Prussian Guard and of the 10th Corps are reduced from 250 to 70. The first battalion of Guards is commanded by volunteers, hecause all the officers have been lost. The Guards, during their retreat, abandoned a general, a colonel, eight officers and 800 men. In another Guards regiment only five officers out of sixty re'main. Tha first battalion has lost nil | its officers.

Paris, Sept. 20. It is reported that French prisoners in Munich are exhibited, at twopence admission, to immense crowds. Prisoners state that Cerman aeroplanes are not flying over the French lines, owing to luck of petrol. A French aviator destroyed the permanent way and held up ten trainloads of Germans. Another destroyed two food trains. It is stated that British airmen have destroyed seventeen German aeroplanes. Oslend, September 20.

The Germans admit losing fourteen thousand killed and wounded at Maubeuge.

London, September 20. The German losses at Maubeuge are estimated at over 00,000 men.

ON THE ALLIES' LEFT

SLOW ADVANCE THROUGH STIFF COUNTRY.

London, September 20.

The Times' Bordeaux correspondent stated that the Allies' left is slowly working round the difficult country where Napoleon flung back Bluchev. The Germans, who are strongly entrenched, have received reinforcements from Belgium. It is not likely they will make another advance, owing to demands from East Prussia.

London, September 20.

When tlie French re-entered Chalons they found many Germans dead drunk, with the contents of jewellers' shops bulging in their pockets. It is reported that early in the waT 1200 Uhlans were dispatched in twos and throes to ascertain whether British troops were landing. They were promised, if they returned, that they would be awarded the Iron Cross. The report adds significantly that none will return. It is reported that I'rince Friedrieh Karl, the Kaiser's brother-in-law, is seriously wounded. THE TRAIL OF TIIB GERMANS. CARGO OF BOMBS CAPTURED. Received '2O, 8.2 op.m. Taris, September '2O. During the Germans' twenty days' occupation of Ijuneville, twenty townsmen were killed and over a hundred houses destroyed. A contribution of 830,000 francs was leticd on the town. A party of German engineer automobiles, laden with bombs, intended to destroy the railways, was captured on the outskirts of Rouen.

ALLIES' PROGRESS SLOW, BUT SURE

GERM AX ONSLAUGHTS REPULSED. EHEIMS CATHEDRAL IN FLAMES. Received 20, 9.20 p.m. Paris, Sept. 20 (afternoon). Official.—Our left has made furthai slight progress on the banks of tho Oise. The. Algerian division captured sisother standard. All attempts of the Germans to break our front between Craonne and Rheims were repulsed. Tlio Germans furiously bombarded Rheims Cathedral, which is in flames. We have taken the village of Souvaiii, with a thousand prisoners. In Lorraine the enemy has fallen back beyond our frontier, which is evacuated to Avrieourt. In the Voages, the enemy tried unsuccessfully to resume the offensive. Our progress there is slow, owing to bad weather and the defensive works.

TIIREATEXIXG THE GERMAN RIGHT

THE FRENCH I CRSUIT AT TERRIFIC

SPEED.

GERMAN FLANK EXPOSED.

Received 22, 1 a.m. Paris, Sept. 21 (morning)

Tin 6th French army corps, under General Mamoury, threatens the German right flank. The latter's halfhearted counter-attacks have failed signally. Many prisoners captured have been living on raw turnips and poiatoes.

The speed with which the French followed fugitives was terrific. In some places thirty hours' start was overtaken. When tho Freueh entered Creey and Envalvis, the Germans weie surprised i» packing shells, of which the French exploded five thousand.

Tho French advanco on tho left is highly important, as General von Yeek's (lank is now exposed.

HEAVY CANNON,

FLENCII RUSHING ARTILLERY TO TIIE FRONT. BRITISH CAPTURE BIG GUNS. GERMANS SO FAR SUPERIOR.

Received 22, 1.18 a.m. Paris, September 21.

A lieutenant of the 26th artillery Tegiment'said that the 10th army corps has been constantly fighting since the beginning of the campaign, and almost ail the horses have been killed.

The Germans are fighting daily from five o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in the evening without eating or drinking. So far the Germans have had the mlI vantage of heavy artillery, but the British have captured or destroyed three 111-inch guns mounted on concrete emplacements, and French guns of heavy calibre are hurrying to tho front. t The bulk of the fighting along General French's command has been done in enclosed country, consequently for the mcst part it has been an artillery battle. The gun fire on both sides lias been appalling. The Germans' attempt to break our front where it stretches from east to west along the Aisne failed. The enemy's loss was enormous, estimated at live to one.

ENEMY'S NIGHT ATTACK.

DURING HEAVY RAIN'.

BRITISH PUT THE ISSUE BEYOXD

DOUBT.

Received 22, 1.30 a.m. Lonlon, September 21

The ground in front of the British trendies is strewn with (lead. Each at. tack strengthens the lesson of the folly of attempting to rush the entrenched British.

The enemy's nifi-ht attack in the effort lo pierce the line covering Soissons was made during tremendous rain. It was Impossible to see more than a yard or two ahead. The British were asleep, but the outposts gnvo timely warning, and a hot fire, thinned the advancing line. The bayonet put the issuo beyond doubt.

GERMANS' STRONG POSITION,

CAN BE HELD FOR THREE MONTHS.

UNASSAILABLE FROM THE FRONT

Received 22, 1.15 a.m.

, Paris, September 21,

The Germans declare that they can hold the Aisne position for threo months. There is a natural fortress of hills, woods and quarries, and they liavo had time tn strengthen these about Soissonu. The enemy's position is practically unavailable from the front, hut | (heir communications arc by no means secure.

FIGIITJXG "WAIST-DEEP IN WATER,

GERMANS BRING UP RIGGER GUXS.

Received 22, 1.10 a.m. Paris, September 21,

The Allied troops at Aisne were fighting waist-deep in water ill the flooded tivnelirs.

At Ynliines an aeroplane destroyed with a mitrailleuse a Taube aeroplane which was (lying over the French lines. From the sound of the cannonading, it is c\ident that the Germans have brought up heavier guns, which tliey have established in position against the old forts at Conde-sur-Aisne, which are defended by up-to-date artillery.

MAGNIFICENT BRITISH INFANTRY

EXACT PUXISHING TOLL FROM THE GERMANS.

COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED,

Received 22, 1.15 a.m.

Paris, September 21

A British cavalry officer declares that the fighting at Aisne was desperate, especially in the neighborhood of llaon (?Laon), where the Germans concentrated their main effort against the British, The hitter's infantry was magnificent. The Germans, in great force, made nine counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed. The British losses were heavy, but the German losses ten times as heavy. So enormous were they that she can have few fresh troops to replace them. The French captured eighty officers and men of the German Guard, all dead drunk in a village.

"THE TIME ILAS ARRIVED"

FOR AN ALLIES' VICTORY

Received 21, 11.40 p.m. London, September 21

Tho Times' military correspondent says: "Tho battle sways backwards and forwards. The Allies will not be content with a drawn battle, but they must cleanse the soil of France from the in-' vader. The time has arrived when it is expected that General Joffre will concentrate all available troops in a serious operation on one Hank or other, even depleting the front, in order to order to secure a victory on the wing."

STARTLIXG REVELATIONS.

OERMAXS' PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. PRANCE THE PRINCIPAL ADVERSARY. DOCUMENT OF QUESTIONABLE ORIGIN. Received 22, 12.50 a.m. Paris, September 21. A newspaper has obtained possession of a document revealing Germany's plan of campaign It was found in a railway carriage five months ago by a French officer, who handed it to the authorities. It shows that Germany recognised that she would have to fight France, Russia and England, without placing reliance on effective aid from Austria, and ' doubted whether England's fear of inI vasion would allow her to place an active army at the Allies' disposal. Tile plan regarded France as the principal adversary, the opinion being expressed that Russia's slow concentration would enablo Germany to smash France in three or four weeks. Germany anticipated that she would achieve such a victory in the sccomj week as would ensure Italy's co-operation with the Triple Alliance, and then finish up with Russia on the Breßlau-Danzig line, or on the Oder. The document hinted at the violation of treaties, but asks, "Who is to enforce respect for neutrals' rights, 'or all the great Powers will be involved ?"

MORE VANDALISM.

RHEIMS CATHEDRAL RAZED.

Received 21, 11.40 p.m. Paris, September 21

The Rheims Cathedral was razed to tke ground. The Government is protouting to the Powers concerning the German vandalism.

Large numbers of Germans detached from their regiments are sheltering in the woods on the line of retreat. Battues are arranged daily to catch them. Many have been without food for live days, excepting beetroot.

A RISKY MANOEUVRE.

BRAVE GERMAN SOLDIERS,

Received 22, 12.50 a.m. London, September 21

It is reported that three Germans crept close to the British gun positions on the battlefield. 1A sergeant shot two, and the third surrendered. The men were in the act of telephoning the length of the wire paid out, to givo the enemy the range.

IS MAUBEUGE DEFUNCT?

NO OFFICIAL NEWS.

Received 22, 1.10 a.m. Paris, September 21

The French Government lias received no confirmation of the surrender of those Maubeuge forts which were not destroyed, Official. —The Saxon army has been broken up, and General Von Hansen relieved of the command, which is now being reorganised. PEACE OVERTURES. CRITICISED f.Y 'THE TIMES.

THE WIIINE OF A HALF-CHASTISED BULLY.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 21, 5.35 p.m. London, September 20.

The Times, in a le:uler on the peace overtures at New York, says the Ambassador at Washington turns with the whine of a half-chastised bully and declares that "live and let live'' is the policy which Germany wishes the enemy to observe, but tlieir irrevocable resolve is not to stay their hands until German militarism, its causes and effects, arc destroyed once and for all.