War Notes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 105, 26 September 1914, Page 3

War Notes.

GENERAL FRENCH'S MESSAGE TO THE ARMY.

The following special order hag been issued to the troops:—"Once more 1 have to express my deep appreciation of the splendid behaviour of the officers and men of the army under my command throughout the great battle of the Aisne, which has been in progress since the livening of the 12th. The battle of the Marne, which lasted from the morning of the 6th to the evening of the 10th, had hardly ended in the precipitate flight of the enemy, when we

were brought face to face with a position of extraordinary strength, carefully entrenched and prepared for defence by an army and stair which are 1 thorough adepts at such work. Throughout the 13th and 14th, that position was most gallantly attacked by the British, and the passage of the Aisne effected. This is the third day that the troops have been gallantly holding the position. They have gained against the most desperate counter-attacks and hail of heavy artillery. I am unable to find adequate words to express the admiration I feel for their magnificent conduct. The French armies on our right are making good progress. I feel sure we have only to hold on with tenacity to the ground wo have won for a very short time. longer, when the Allies will be again in full pursuit of a beaten enemy. The self-sacrificing devotion and splendid spirit of the British army in France will carry all before it. —French, Field-Mar-y shal."

CITY OF WEEPING WOMEN. - PARIS AFTER MOBILISATION ORDERS.

!An American lady and Jier daughter who managed to cross the Continent after war had broken out had exciting experiences in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Warsaw, Tiny were dead beat when they arrived in Paris, and it was by great luck that they had managed to get away. Their tickets ended at Pari*, where they had intended to stay. "But one sight of the. city," said the elder lady, "was sufficient to convince me that the sooner we were out of it thu better. Paris, when we left it, was a city of weeping women. Otherwise it was quiet enough; hut the sight of those tears was heart-wringing. What it all means, Clod knows. I was never so moved in all my life—and I've seen a lot. "What to do to get out of it? We had no tickets—we could get none for \ love or money. I would have given dolj Jars and dollars for one of those little • yellow slips. In sheer desperation, I bought at a kiosk two packets of Maryland cigarettes, tore off the yellow paper, gave one half to my daughter, and together we ran through the barriers, waving those pious frauds in the faces ot the gendarmes—and here, thank the Lord, we are!"

The. significance of the situation came home to one vividly at Dover. Dover was very quiet, but very alert. The booms were ready to be flung across the harbor, and when we left, in the teetli ot a howling gale, we were told that by the evening that highway would be closed to sea-going traffic, and that only l-'olkestonu would bo available.

Troops with fixed bayonets were guardiug the railway, and there was a little camp of soldiery under Shakespeare's Cliff, with rifles stacked outsjde the tents and khaki-clad Tommies lying on the sands watching the sea tlirougn binoculars. Ready —aye, ready! Tin; harbor tugs, too, had abandoned their pacific duties, and were busy crossing round to hold up and examine any craft tliey had a mind to suspect. Armed men were aboard.

r cannot say, of course, how far it is inn' in all this welter of rumors and alarms, but many of the passengers on the afternoon express out of Paris for Calais assured mo that this would he the last train out. One of them said: "An official at the Care du Xord told me this afternoon that there would he no more trains running after this evening, as they had all been commandeered by the military authorities for the transport of troops." lie added: "There will be no morn news out of Paris after tonigat, and no more passengers, save on IhoKC 0:1 oflicial business."

DAVID I'ACIXG GOLIATH. Tliers was n great scene of enthusiasm in the liclgiau Parliament when King Albert entered to address the united Chambers after Belgium had announced her determination to resist the German Tiolation of her neutrality. flis Majesty, who was cheered to the echo, said:

"We Rre. determined on the greatest sacrificed to defend our beloved country. David has faced Goliath. In the last 2t hours we have blown up and destroyed bridges, tunnels and private property to the value of £40,000,000 to fetop the advance of the cowardly aggressors wliO sought to make us, Jjijy peaee at the price of our honor. We are doing t'n.) duty imposed upon us by international obligations. Will England delay to do hers until P.elgium is turned into a gigantic cemetery in which will lie buried our dead and her national honor; and while I through this Chamber, make this supreme appeal to the great British nation and to the whole of the ISritish Empire, Liege and her sister forts are keeping the Jlag of our ■ aliona] honor flying? Now, and in view of every eventuality, our valiant youth is ready. In the name of lite nation I address to them a fraternal salutation.

Jjiit Dm; (!iiU' is theirs—an obstinate resist anee. Thi' moment is now for deeds.'' Au indescribable ovation greeted this declaration, which was made in firm and derisive tones. The, Socialist leaders joined in the tempests of applause. After the departure of the King and Queen the Premier, llnron de Kroipieville. made the following statement:—"By accepting the German demands we would sacrifice the Honor-of the nation. (Jermany informed us at six o'clock this morning that .lie sees herself compelled to carry •out military- plans oven with the use of force. Wo can bo conquered, but not crushed, find never reduced to submission." By 10-r prompt action in declaring war on Cermany Britain showed to tli* world that she did not intend to delay in supporting the small nation against Uk aggressor.