Operations in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 104, 25 September 1914, Page 5

Operations in France

INTERESTING DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT. HEROIC WORK Of THE "TOMMIES,

FACE DEATH WITH SUPREME COURAGE. „„ . Wellington, Last Niglit. lie Prime Minister has received the lollowing cablegram from the High Commissioner, dated September 22: Official. Tile "following descriptive account from the General Headquarters, dated September 18, supplements and continues the account published on September 18 of the movements of the British forco and the French armies in imme(hate touch with it, and covers the period froiu 14th to 18th, inclusive: On the Htih, the Germans twere making a determined resistance aloiw the j Atone. The opposition was at first thought .to be possibly of a reaiauard nature, not entailimg material delay to our progress, but it has developed and proved more serious than ttnti«pa,tcd. | The (ftrauuia are acting to gain tome j for some strategic operation, and it may not be 'tiheir main stsmd. The lighting is such as to maie it indistinguishable fromi what is known as a pitched Ixittlo, tfiiougtti .t'he> enemy | showed signft of disorganisation during the early days of Uheii retirement. ■Whether it was originally intended by -tilem to defend the position, they took , up as strenuously as fchey have done, j or whether the delay gained for them' 1% the artillery during tiie lath and j 13th has enabled thorn to develop their J resistance and reinforce tiheir line to ; an extent not originally contemplated :■'cannot yet .be said. We are fighting just across the Aisnc River, along-the whole of our front to j the east and west. The struggle is not j confined to the valley of that river, | though it will probably bear its name.

On the 14tli, those of our troops which i had on the previous day crossed the Aisne, after driving in the German rearguards on that evening, found portions of the enemy's forces in prepared de- | fensivo positions on a plateau on the ! right bank, and could do little more than secure a footing north of the river. This, liowever, they maintained in spite of two counter-attacks delivered at dusk and at 10 p.m., in which the fighting was severe. During the 14th strong reinforcements for our troops were passed to the north bank, the troops crossing % ferry, by pontoon bridges, and by the remains of permanent bridges. Close cooperation with the French forces was maintained, and the general progress made was good, although the opposition was vigorous and the state of the roads after heavy rain made the movements slow. One division alone failed to secure the ground expected. The first army corps, after repulsing repeated attacks, captured 600 prisoners and 12 guns. The cavalry also took a number of prisoners. Many of the Germans belong to the reserve and Landwehr formations, which fact appears to indicate that the enemy has been compelled to draw on the older classes of soldiers to fill the gaps in the ranks. There was heavy rain throughout the night of the 14th and 15th. During the 15th the situation of the British forces imdenrcnt no essential change, but it became more evident that the defensive preparations made by the enemy were more extensive than was at first apparent. In order to counterbalance these measures were made by us to economise our troops. To secure protection from the hostile artillery fire, which was very fierce, our men continued to improve their entrenchments. The Germans bombarded our linos nearly all day, •using heavy guns brought from before Maubeuge. All their counter-attacks failed, although in some cases thcy were repeated six times. One made on the 4th Guards' Brigade was repulsed with heavy slaughter. An attempt to advance slightly, made by part of our line, was unsuccessful as regards gain in ground, but led to the withdrawal of part of the enemy's infantry and artillery. A further counterattack made during the night was beaten off. Bain came towards evening and continued intermittently until the evening of the lfith. Besides adding to the discomfort of the. soldiers holding the open trenches in the firing line, the wet •weather hampered the motor transport service, which was also hindered by broken bridges. On the 16th there was little change in the situation. Efforts made by the enemy were less active than •II the previous day, though their bombardment continued throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the defenders off one of the salients of their position, but they returned in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the 3rd Division. On the 17th the position still remained unchanged in essentials. The German heavy artillery fire was more active than on the previous day. The only infantry attacks made by the enemv were on the extreme right of our position, and were repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly by pur field artillery. In order to convey some idea of the fighting along the greater part of the front, it must be explained that the Germans had been driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their infantry are holding strong lines of trenches amongst and along the edges ol tho numerous woods whieh crown those slopes. These trenches arc elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. 11l many cases there are wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit-fencingboth in the woods and in the open carefully aligned, so that they can bo swept by rifie fire and machine-guns which are invisible from our side of tho valley. Tfie ground in front of the infantry trenches is as a rule under crossfire from artillery placed on neighboring features and under high angle fire from pieces placed well back behind the woods on the top of the plateau. The feature of this action is the use made by the enemy of *umcrous heavy howitzers, which are able to direct long-range fire, all over tho valley and right across it. Upon these they place great reliance where our men are holding forward ridges of high ground on the north side. They are now strongly entrenched. They are well fed, and, in spite of the wet weather of last week, cheerful and confident. The bombardment on both sides has been ■very heavy. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, it was practically continuous. In spite of tho general din caused hy the reports of ?.u immense number of heavy guns in action along our front on Wednesday, the arrival of the French forces aetin;; against the German right flank was at once announced on the east of our front some miles away by the conj Millions roar of their qtiickfiring artillery, with which their attack opened. So | far as tho British are concerned, the i greater part ef this week has been j passed in bombardment, then gaining : ground by degr 1 ■■ and beating back sejvrre counter-attacks with heavy slaughter, Our caanailVfi have been severe, I but it is pri'ltah't that those of the enemy were hefmar. Rain caused a great (Jrophrfcnri«njperatnre. On our

right and left the French have turn lighting fiercdy, gradually gaining One village has already during this battle been captured and recaptured twice by each side. At the time of writing it remains in tr.i hands of the German*. Fighting lias Ken close, and in moiit quarters of a desperate nature. The streets of the villages are filled with tbo dead of both sides.

example cf the spirit whidh, is) inspiring our Aliies, the following translation of an "Ordre de Jour" (Order o! the Day), published on September 9, ®fter the 'battle of Montniirail, by the Commander of the Trench sth army, is given:—

"Soldiers, —Upon the memorable fields on Montmirail and Vauchamps, and oa Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed the victories of our ancestors over Blucher's 'Prussians, your vigorous offensive has triunipihed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks, his centre is broken. The enemy is now retreating towards the east and north by forced marches. The most renowned army corps of Old Prussia, contingents ot the Westphalia, of Hanover, and of RrMK .nburg, have rai/jred ia battle be fore you. This first success is no more than a prelude. The enemy is shaken but not yet decisively beaten. You havo to undergo Bevero hardships to make long marches, to light hard battles. May the image of our country, soiled by barbarians, always remain before your eyes. 2\ ever was it more necessary to sacrifice all for her. Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few days, my thoughts turn to you m victors in the next battle. Forward soldiers, for France!"

The Germans are formidable, continues the despatch. Tlioy are well-trained, long-prepared, and brave. Their soldiers arc carrying on the contest with skill and valor. Nevertheless, they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all the rules of fair play. There is evidence that they do not hesitate at anything in order to gain victory. A large lumber of tales of their misbehaviour arc exaggerations, and somo of the strongest precautions they have taken to guard themselves against the inhabitants of the areas traversed are possibly justifiable measures in war, but it lias been definitely established that they committed atrocities on many occasions and have been guilty of brutal conduct.' So many letters and statements of our own wounded soldiers have been published in our newspapers that the following epistle from a German soldier of the 74th infantry to his wife will be isteresting:—"l have just been living through days that defy imagination. I should never have thought that man could stand it. Not a second lias passed but my life has been in danger, yet not a hair of my head is hurt. It was horrible; it was ghastly. But I have bees saved for you and for our happiness. Take heart again, although I am etill terribly unnerved."

! On sth September the enemy were ret to be taikvng up a position near ■St. Prin, near Paris. One corps, which Lad made an, astonishingly rapid artrafflce, of com® attacked. Steep slopes led up to the heights, which were held by a considerable force. With our weak detachments of 74th and 91st regitaients, we reached the crest and came under a terrible artillery first that (mowed ua down. However, we entered St. Prin. Hardly had we done ?o tham we wero met with shell fire and n violent fusilad from the enemy's infantry. Our Colonel was badly wounded. He is the third we have had. Fourteen' men were killed round me. We got away on a ■kill without being hit. On C.. \ S-ii and' Still September we were - under shell and shrapnel fire anid suffered terribfe losses. I was in a house which was hit several times. Our heavy artillery is being used for the siege of Mawbenge. We wanted it Ibadly, as the enemy had tfheirs in force and kept up a furious bombardknent. For four days I was under artillery fire,

It is like Ml, but a thousand limes worse. On (the night of the Cth too order was given to retreat, as it wouM Jiave 'been madness to attompt to hoild our position wih our few men. Tho ArjJ and third armies had not been able to attack wdt'h us, as we advanced too raoidly. Our morale wa s absolutely iroken. Ia spite of unheard-of sacrifices, we had .achieved nothing. I «innot understand how our army, n. r lighting three great battles and iterriWy weakened was sunt against tho position which the enemy had prepared for three weeks, but naturally I know nothing of the intentions of our chui'.s. They say that nothing has .been lose. We retired towards Connoutrea.il and [Reims by farced marches by day and night. We 'hear that the three anii!« are going to get into l'inc, entrench, au(i irest, and then, start afresh our victorious march on Paris. It wag not a defeat, but only a strategic retreat. Our first battalioli, wliicii fought with 0b>194 men.''

During a counter attack by tua Ger'man 53rd Regiment one portion of the Northampton aiul Queen's regiments -n the 17 th, a foree of .400 of the enemy were allowed to approach right up it> the troich occupied .by a platoon oi iil: ■: former regiment, owiiig to the favt that they had held up their hands and male gestures intenpireted aa signs that t.':.jy 'wished to stop. When tJiey were actually on t'he parapet of the trench held by Me NortJiamptons they opened lire on our men at point blank range. Unluckily for the enemy, (liuikiing them, and only 400 yards away, there happened to 'be- a machine gun, manned! by a detachment of the Qneeofe This «Tt * .once opened fire, cutting a lauo through their mass, which fell bock to tlu-ir own trendh with great lose. Shortly afterwards they were driven further back witfli add'bioaial loss by a battalion of the Caiards, which came up in support. Oft 28th August, diu'ing a battle fought along the Oise between La Fere and Guise, the French commander desired in make an air reconnaii.saiKt. It v,

found, however, that no observers were available. Wishing to help our Allies as much as possible, a British officer attached to this particular lfreneb army, observe. He had never been n, en aeroplane, but he made the ascent and. produced a valuable reconnaissance report. Incidentally, he nod a duel in Um Air at an altitudb of 6000 ft. with the oln server of a German Taiibc monoplanewhich 'had approached. lie lired w.>'*nd shots and drove off the hostilu aeroplane. His action was much njjD:related by tile French.

In view of the many statements in the Press as to the use 0 » ..eppeiins ajjainst ; us, it is interesting to note t : :i;it- tJiii; Koyal Mying Corps, who have been out on recoainadssance evert day since- tiww. arrival in Franco, iml-< never s-.-.a a* Zeppelin, though airships of the n>mrigid type have been Keen on fe\u> owusions to si op near the AJarae. i ;vto in the I'uii.iis; two su. »r'':iK over German forces, aeroplane •; were- ; despatched against them, but- in tli» ; darkness our pilots were nncen.wu of ! the airships' nationally and not. I attack, it was afterwards ma xr I tf'n-t I'ie.r <'tnrid nut -.w> been Jl ;'A week later an office w(the flank saw an airship over thy German forces opposite l'ti« •;!. it | bore no distinguishing mart, an . , »w j assumed that it belonged to toiv. iavter,. | Oscogii it is now known it mni»t !».*«•• i been a German waft. The c* „m; j Royal Flying Coup* are to slftwk; jgnas at ones.