Fighting in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 115, 8 October 1914, Page 5

Fighting in France

LEFT FRONT. EXTENDING,

GERMAN ATTACK FAILSj

GENERAL SITUATION UNCHANGED.

Received 7, 9.55 p,m. Paris, Oct. 6 (evening). Official.—Our front on the left is extending more and more.

Very large musses of German cavalry are reported to he in the neighborhood pf Lille, preceeding the forces moving to thje north. of the Turcoing-Armenti-ares line.

The, situation on the right bank of the Sommo is appreciably maintained. Alternate advances and retirements occurred between the Somrae and Oise.

Tha. enemy unsuctessfnlly attempted a heavy attack on Lassigny. . We made a slight advance, with the co-operation of the British, north of Soissons and tlie Somme.

Progress has been made in the Berryandac district, but the position is unchanged elsewhere.

SPIES AND THEIR DEVICES, GERMAN "BLACK MARIA."

A DEMON CANON.

DIGS GRAVES FOR ITS VICTIMS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 7, 6.5 p.m.

Paris, October G.

German spies ate übiquitous in France, and all sorts of devices, including underground telephones, wireless, and car-rier-pigeons have been pressed into service.

Among the cannon employed in iho war, the German "Black Maria" easily takes the palm. Men tell uncanny talcs of the havoe wrought by these great guns in* the Maube district. An airship will notify where a group of officers are motoring, the "Black Maria" speaks and drops a! shelTin front of the car, which completely disappears as if engulfed in a blast The explosion leaves nothing standing within 40 feet, and the hole carved in the road easily swallows tin men and motor.

GERMANS CUT OFF. FRENCH OFFICERS SUFFER. Paris, October 6. British lancers and French troopers' on Monday, on the extreme western wing got between tie German main body and the Imperial Guard, catting off and destroying. ran artillery train and other supplies.

' The casualties, among French officers arc out of all proportion to those among the men. Every German regiment has a small body of sharpshooters specially detailed to pick off. officers. It is controlled by a sergeant, wtfio directs the fire with the aid of field-glasses. The French officer is particularly conspicuous because he has a map-case coverea with a sheet of mica which catches the i rays of the sun, wears a certain type of cape, and by the way he signals to his I men.

A JOURNALIST'S EXPERIENCE.

THROWN INTO A TRENCH,

TERRIBLE EFFECT OF SHELLS.

Tim'«s and BWncy Sun Service, Received 7, 5.5 pjn.

London, October 0,

A member of the staff of the Debats was captured in Joerrc the district ly a (Prussian lieutenant, who said: "You will he shown a fine display of fireworks free of cost." After being handcuffed and taken to where the heavy firing was expected, he was thrown into a trench jwhere there were sis Prussians. The battle tiegan, and tie French ahetls began to fall. Suddenly a shell exploded over the t.rench, and the heads and arms torn from bodies appeared to fly about. The pressman dropped prone, and was thereby raved, all the Germans in tu« trench being killed.

PRUSSIAN* GUARDS SINK IX MUD.

MOWN DOWN IX HUNDREDS,

Received 7, 10.20 p.m. Paris, October 6,

The Prussian Guards met with disaster at St. Goud on September 9. They took up a position overnight, when the I ground was dry and solid, but heavy rains caused a swamp, with the result that the guns and caissons were embedded, and the men and horses sank in the mud. The French guns mowed down the enemy, killing hundreds.

A DESPERATE FIGHT.

FRANCO-BRITISH FORCE SUR

ROUNDED,

NIGHT ATTACK BY GERMANS.

GAME TO THE LAST.

Received 7, 10.43 p.m. Loudon, October 6

A wounded private of the Warwickshires narrates that 800 Franco-British infantry on September 19 were occupying a farm building in the Aisne district, when a German division with cavalry and artillery made a night attack, cut through the British cavalry and outposts, and surrounded the 800, who retreated to the stable of the farmhouse. The German artillery smashed the stable wall, and a battalion o£ infantry sought to rush the place. The defenders fired until their ammunition was exhausted, and the Germans finally faced ft handful of men with their bayonets in the

corner of the stable, whom they shot from the doorway. Meanwhile, 200 of the defenders, who were packed in the farmhouse, tired from the windows until the roof crashed in, burying the survivors, only 20 out of the 600 twing captured unwounded.

GOOD VINTAGE PROSPECTS,

VINEYARDS UNDAMAGED,

Received 7, 5.25 p.m.

Paris, October 0.

There is a prospect of a fine vintije in the Champagne, districts. The Germans have not damaged the vineyards.