Fighting in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 2 October 1914, Page 5

Fighting in France

A FORTNIGHT'S FUTILE FIGHTING,

GERMAN LEFT WING OUTMANOEUVRED.

Received 1, 11.5 p.m. London, September 30.

The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent Btates that the Germans for a fortnight have been struggling to avoid having the right wing turned. They have kept pushing the front further to the northwest, the Allies always overlapping it. Both sides have brought up very large reinforcements, necessitating long forced marches. French troops again and again marched 20 mile fl daily. The Germans on Saturday realised that their efforts were in vain, altered their plan, and tried to break the Allies' line at Albert.

GERMAN.BANKS SHATTERED AND DRIVEN BACK". BEATEN ALONG THE WHOLE LINE. BRITISH COMMANDER RETORTS "TWO GOOD DAYS." GERMANS MOST RETREAT AGAIN.

Received 2, 1.5 a.m. London, October 1. Mr Maxwell, telegraphing on Sunday, Bays:—

"It is certain that Germanv's second great effort has failed. When the English General,.who is incapaTile of cxng- I gerations, says 'Wu have had two good ' days,' we may he mire they were more J than good. "1 spent two days in a deserted chat- ' eau, and the Hound of the gunfire made it evident that the Germans wsre retreating. Tor 12 hours the Germans' guns to the west did not return the (ire of the Allies' heavy artillery. "Even the quarries look deserted. It is rumored that the Germans have evaetiowing to the unburied dead .poisoning the air. But not all are deserted, for ths French attacked one lieries of quarries and forts at Laegnc under cover of a mist, and killed the defenders like rats in a hole. In another ease the Allies set tire to a spinney, and under cover of the smoke reached a point commanding a quarry. The enemy fled, leaving many dead. "It is certain that the enemy has been beaten along the whole line", despite their reinforce merits and the desperation with which tiny fought. They made terrific attacks for two days in numbers, but reinforcements arrived at the critical moment. Charges were continuously deliv- 1 cred until tho plain was strewn with S wounded and dying. The German ranks ' were shattered and driven back to the trenches. ''There were similar bayonet attacks arid counter-attacks throughout the western Hank, but victory always rested with the Allies. The losses were heavy, but the Red Gross officers state that the dead were not nearly so numerous as they expected. ''There must soon be another retreat to the east and north, but the Germans must hold the western Hank to the- very last moment in order to save the centre." | FIGHTING HOUND PHRONXE. TOWN TAKEN AND KE-TAKEN. , HEAVY -LOSSES Off Tlffl HNEMY. I Received 2, 12.40 a..m. I London, October 1. | A report from Amiens on Sunday j etatc» that the French re-took -Pcronm'e on the Kith. Severe -fighting followed until the lSi.li. When, the French were on the outskirts of St. Quoiiitin, the; Gernuins, seeing the ' danger, hurried reinforcements and or- j dared that the ground lost must 'be regained at any cost. The cost was heavy, hut the French •were «lowly rolled \vestwsxd. ! On the 23rd the Germans retook Per<nne. The French concentrated their heavy guns aitd drove out the Germans, who brought up furthiir artillery, anil wero able to recapture it on the 2UUi. The French doggedly fought every inch. The. French have found an effective method of disturbing the enemy. Flying columns of heavy cavalry at nigf.it time ride straight through the lines at full speed, and ciharge through the bivouac, burning convoys of motor-caxs, and upsetting vast quantities of oil. Received 2, 1.10 a.m. Parts, October 1. (A Communiqtre states that during the, fighting; at I'cioniie three 'batteries suddenly opened fire. The first five discharges destroyed a> compete German batusry, and thereafter rendered t!ie f csHiong untenable. AILUES ADVANCE IN THE SOUTH. Received 2, 1.10 a.m. Paris, October 1. Am official communique .states: Tin f.eneral situation is satisfactory, with i.o perceptible change in the front ex'ctpt in Southern Wocvre.. There we occupied Bcicha-pprcy, and advanced to the slopes of Rupkbnniad. OUR LEFT IRRESISTIW.E. ADVANCING AT SHVERAiL POINTS. GOOD NEWS ON THE WING. ENEMY RETIRING ON OUR RIGHT. London, September 30. A German wireless message admits that the- Gorintiiis arc unable L> arrest I he advance, of tin:. AUW left, also that the t Uice have advanced at several points. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent, writing at midnight, says that 11 ere has been a long wait for good news, but extraordinary relief has come. It is evident officials believe the wor.it is over and that the best may be hoped for. A Nancy telcgrara Btale* tint the Allies lave retaken St. Mihiel. It is also reported that the Prince of liavaria «ii« nmde iprisoncir at Nomeny and (hat die Germans aro vi^oroiwly'a.s«inlting Vomeny with (he abject of i eleusinir him. A soldier from the front between Ihinncourt and St Miliiel slates thai one German army corps u in full rein Mt, also that the 1/ith Army Corps has •I ad very severe losses. Although the Germans claim that tai l'Voneih right on the Aims is imperilled it is standing firm. The Germans aro usingthe subterranean fjallerici* in the ouorries for storing {(Teat quantities of provisions and ammunition, thus reliev--1 ing the probleaii of Jggjfo. ; Thq French

French reports of the recent fighting comment that the Germans are realism;: that the stories that the French shot their captives is a mistake Their twfc. rifled supplicating attitude is disappearing and they are now voluntarily sur-lende-ring when etvape is impassible. The, Times correspondent says that the Germans have a. vast army of autonebileg. and motorcycles. The army of occupation includes a largo mmiiber of Boy Scouts from 10 toi 17 yearn of age mounted on bicycles, also 6000 marines with floating mines and torpedoes for the destruction-of the Antwerp docks.

The Germans have enlisted citizens as railway police. Those patrol lines under guard and are hostages for the safety of the railway, fto far the main l'nes have not been damaged. Owimr to the prodigal expenditure the interruption of the railways, oven for a day I or two, would spell disaster. j Rome, September "A. A Berlin message states that Prince Oscar has been invalided owing to heart ! tiouWe, and Prince Joachim, who was I wounded, is convalescent. The other | sens arc at the front. Paris, September! 30. German officers lotted silverware .ind jewels at Coinpiegne and loaded them '.'ii , TT.ggoiiß on which they hoisted the Red Cross.