Fighting In France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 109, 1 October 1914, Page 5

Fighting In France

ATTACKS ON OUR LEFT.

REPULSED BY THE ALLIES.

FRENCH ADVANCE ALONG THE

ATEUSE,

Received 30, 9.20 p.m. Paris, September 29,

■A communiqua states: "VV-; repulsed several day and night attacks on our left, north of tho Sowmc and Vi.*\ Tho situation north of the Aisne is unchanged. In tho centre and east of Argonne the enemy lias confined operations to heavy cannonades.

Between the Argonne and the Mcuse we havo progressed slightly against strongly-prepared positions. . There is no change about Wocvrc and the right wing. ALLIES PUSHING FORWARD. ENEMY'S UNAVAILING ATTACKS. ENORMOUS DOSSES OF GERMANS. THE COST OF THE WAR IN MILLIONS. CROWN PRINCE DISCREDITED.

London, September 29.

Tho Timers' military correspondent says: —"Our entrenched lines are gradually approaching the German position. This accounts for the nervous anxiety of tho enemy which keeps the Allies at arm's length. At one point the Germans made 22 attacks, six with great force, but they were nearly all smashed to pieces within 430 yards of the English rifles. Only one came within 150 yards." Tho Times' military correspondent states that good judges reckon that the Herman casualties in France are 500,000. A Geneva paper states that a great quantity of straw and tins of petrol were found in the top towers of the Kheinis Cathedral, indicating an intention to burn the building. The French worked a successful ruse in one portioa of the battle front. The irfantry supporting the batteries were placed on the edge of a wood to draw the German fire. The soldiers const rue ted a dummy cannon from a handcart and the trunk of a tree, the fore part of which wis hollowed and lilled with .powder. A German Taube aeroplane reconnoitred. . Puffs of smoke completed the illusion. The Germans opened a furious cannonade and finally overturned the tree.

Paris, September 29. The German attack eastward of Rheims has been renewed with unavailing violence. Two battalions of Prussian Guards wero wiped out on Monday. The loiwes of the Guards' corps are tremendous. Some of the regiments have lost all their officers. There lias been a failure to advance, accompanied (by severe loss in killed, wounded, prisoners ami guns.

Le Figaro, summing up the opinion of German experts, states that their n<timat<-d expenditure for the six weeks to tho dits uf thg first decisive battle was sixty million sterling. This was met by taking the credits voted for public works. There is another sixty millions in the war chests at Spandan and two hundred millions were voted bv the Reichstag. This should give enough to support the war for a year, the daily expenses of the three million men mobilised being £900,000, or £528.450.000 a year. French economists, however, believe that the cost is ten francs (8s) per man daily, which would make 440 millions for a year's war. Germanv, however, will be compelled to mobilise six million men. Lo Journal des Delbats states that during the Grown Prince's stay at tbe Champaubert Chateau he look jewels, medals and ikons, pillaged the famous archaeological eolleftion, and ordered the furniture, pictures and tapestries to be destroyed.

Bordeaux, September 29,

Official. —All tho roofing of Rheims Cathedral has been burned and many stained glass windows broken. Tin? upper part of the northern tower is seriously damaged. The damage to the Bculptural decorations and statues is irreparable. The stonework inside in generally damaged.

A TREMENDOUS FIGHTING FRONT.

Received 30, 8.15 p.m. Paris, September 29. An official communique indicates that the French left extends to Allert and Combles.

PLAN THAT FAILED. GERMAN INVASION OF FRANCE. HELGLYNS AND BRITISH CAUSE DISLOCATION. " MANY ALTERATIONS NECESSARY." Received 1, 2.5 a.m. London, September 30. The publishc* an article by well-known publicist of a uetitn.l (.oil'' try wlio was !i\ Germany when war lorokc out, ami was since with the, German »rmy in Bolgiiuu. The writer stilt en thai Germany's Tilan of the invasion of France divided the forces into an army of invasion and am army of occupation. The form;'!", com,posed entirely of first jine troops, and the most modern light artillery, was to prepare tho way for th" heavy howitzers and guns intended for the reduction of the Paris forts and other fortified cities.

The army of occupation, composed of the Landwern and tlu\ Landstnwn, was to occupy the cities, garrison the fortriKses, and guard the communications. The Belgians' fierce opposition and •the speedy arrival of the British force niadu alterations necessary. The modern artillery destined for France has been diverted to the Landsturm, whose Mauser rifles were 13 years old and artillery much older. From garrison guards men between 35 and 45 years, and older, have now been turned into offensive fighting units. Belgian forays from Antwerp, between September 9th and 14th, 'inflicted great losses of killed and wounded, and resulted in capturing 2000 to 3000 Germans.

The Belgian activity lias necessitated the maintaining of tho last reserve at Liege, wlicrc there lias been a great congestion of troops. Hoccntly 100.000 men destined for the Aisne were held up, living in the railway trains, or encamped oil the hills surrounding the railway yards. They could not be sent ahead of the supplies and munitions. It is reported that sickness is spreading among these waiting troops. Two or three divisions with heavy siege guns, intended for the Aisne, have been diverted to Antwerp. Even the German infantry regiment has 10 or 12 machine-guns concealed in light regimental transport. They are carried by hand, and can quickly be moved to the firing line. These are the guns that have changed tho German infantry tactics. The accuracy of individual fire has been subordinated to the showered shrapnel and levelled volleys of musketry. Trusting to clearing a way in this fashion, the infantry moved forward in great masses. In the early fighting the ■ commanders did not mind these losses, but the great mortality began to tell on the morale of the men. At Liege some of the regiments lost CO per cent., and whole companies were left without officers.

Profiting from the lesson, the weg3 of Namur was an artillery duel throughout, the 42-centimctre guns being tested for the first time. Each was fired every quarter of an hour. The dust from tlie impact of the shell could be seen from hix or seven miles away, forming a geyser of dust 300 or 400 feet high. The Germans' sole advantage at) present is the possession of the great guns and the (preponderance of machine-guns and individual rifle fire and cannon, compared with the accuracy and elliciciioy of the British. The transport of the Landwehr and Landeturin is of the nuke-shift order, including furniture vans and many wagf.ong commandeered in Belgium," while the horses are very inferior.

OX THE GERMAN RIGIIT. A SENSATIONAL SUCCESS REPORTED. HUT AS YET UNCONFIRMED. Received 30, 8.15 p.m. London, September 20. The Newi? Exchange correspondent at Taris, telefrraphing at midnight, sent an unconfirmed report that the, German right had been broken, and that all automobiles had been requisitioned for the purpose of pursuit. (The unreliable ueiva of the surrender of General von Kluck's army emanated from this source.) ADVANCE BY THE ALLIES. GERMANS SURROUNDED. IN THE SOMME DEPARTMENT. Received 1, 12.20 a.m. Paris, September 29. The official communiquo unmistakably demonstrates that the French surroundfd the Germans in the Somine Department. An Exchange correspondent states that Peronne was re-captured.