Fighting in France

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 125, 20 October 1914, Page 5

Fighting in France

GERMAN ATTACK FOILED. SUCCESS OF BRITISH TACTICS. By cable. Association.—-Copyright Paris, October 18. During the recent fighting southward f 'Arras, ihe British posted 011 the deli vity of a hi;l were suddenly exposed 0 a murderous artillery and rille fire rom Germans concealed on the opposite illsidc. The British were ordered to (■tire, and thereupon a strong body ol Jerman infantry advanced against iriti.ih. The latter's reserves emerged rom cover, and moved diagonally across he valley. Simultaneously the cavalry dvanced, and the two forces converged, he infantrymen holding the leathers I'ne cavalrymen's stirrups. Both charge;! the Germans, and swept beyond the ionß they bad been holding. The Briish artillery compelled the German:) to [abandon the caves on tile hillsides, where their guns had been cleverly hidden. The guns were abandoned after hey had been made useless. Examintion showed that the guns were mountd on concrete platforms, which lia.l cen constructed at least eighteen months.

GERMAN VIEWS. " FRANCE WILL BE OUR GRAVE." London, October 18. An extract from a pocket-book, found cn a dead German soldier early in October, 6ays: "At Nomefty the French opened a liellisli fire and created a panic. Everybody gave orders, but nobody thought to tell' us to He down. It ■was a shocking mess. We were shot £t by friend and foe. The burning of l!ethel wan dreadful vandalism, and a isgraee to tho German army, the damage amounting to millions of marks. Our losses at Lauterrc were enormous. The 78th Regiment alone lost 1700 wounded, besides those killed. It was practlcni"without an ofiicer. Everybody thinks he situation critical. T'la French beat sin using cover. This country wifl e our grave." Paris, October 18. A communique states that tho Bolians vigorously repulsed several ataeks on the crossing places of the Yser River. We havo occupied the front Given-ehiles-Fromelle and re-taken Arrnentieres. We have appreciably advance'! 'north of Arras, and slightly progressed Jnt certain points between Arras and the Oise. RECREATION IN TIIE TRENCHES. SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, October 18. correspondent says that sometimes he combatants in the trenches agree to

truce for rest, when the French sleep nd play cards and the Germans enjoy lueic and singing. A correspondent supplies a vivid picture of the sufferings of the wounded vho were, sheltering in a farmhouse rlien the German artillery was concentrated on it. French and German uniforms were mixed anyhow. A sufferer flaked for drink and lilted himself. A ■bullet etnick him through the heart. Suddenly the plaster ceiling cracked, reealing the head of a shell, and a terrific explosion followed; the house was vreckcd and everybody lialf-sufTocated vrith dust and gas from the shells. The rounded were carried into a cellar. The Germans g-.ive rein to exasperation. Tliev l.ad not eaten for three days, and were herefore exhausted and lost patience. They asked why must the war continue when it was costing *0 many lives. S;n"e defeat was inevitable they desired defeat nther than victory as a national deliverance. During four terrible hour? the wounded wore kept suffocatim.,' in a

jcellar with shells constantly falling and men dying all around. Eventually they wero removed when the house was a smoking ruin.

G ERMAN R EIN FORCEMENTS. Faria, October 18. Large bodies of reinforcements have been rushed to the German right flank during the week. A force which ivaa recently at the depots at Dresden is now in nortli-wi st Trance, with as its oh joctive til*- coast line from Ostend to Boulogne. CAVEITL 01' GERMANS. DISLODGED 11Y ALGERIANS. Paris, October IS. The I' rench for several days made n unsuccessful attempt to dislodge SOQ Germans who were hidden in a cave i;t Soisscns. Eventually 121)0 Algerian harpshooters, with their bayonets between their teeth, crawled from the. renches at night and hurled themselves «n tho Germans. Only eight Germans escaped alive.

iIORE BOMI'-DROPPING. AVIATORS' JOKES. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 10, 5.50 p.m. London, October IS. A German aviator dropped a flag on iancy, with a message bidding "Gooday'' to the inhabitants, who would soon be German," adding: "We apologiso for this eccentric method of introduction by powder, but will soon become jbetter acquainted." | Another message dropped in Taris I stated that certain prisoners, French [captains, were well. "As for the bombs, I am sorry about them, but war's war! Au revoir!"

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. OVER 30 MILES. Received 19, 8.25 p.m. London,"October 18 (evening). The Press Bureau states that the Allies lave driven back the enemy over 30 milts in the northern area. GERMANS REPULSED. WITH HEAVY "LOSSES. Received 19, 10.25 p.m. Paris, October 8 (midnight). Official. —The Germans attempted two 'iolent attacks east of St. Die, but the ttacks were repulsed with serious loss. GERMANS SHORT OF EQUIPMENT. EFFECT OF RAIN. ALLIES PRESS ENEMY BACK. INCKEDIBLK BRUTALITY. SPIES TO BE SHOT. Received ID, 10.30 p.m. Paris, October H). The Germans recently threatened the orthern French coast. Besides suffering heavily, they are now short of a:nlunition and stores. Heavy rain for the past few days has endured parts of the zone between the wo armies a morass.

The Allies' 6trong progress on the left ompelled the Germans to retreat, and he re-occupation of Eotares forced the Germans hurriedly to vacate the plain of liever, .Hazelrock, and Lille. Tlie Germans have withdrawn to the uplands to .the Bouth and south-east.

The Germane are occupying Warncton. They burned half-a-d. z.u ho.i-es oil t'.ie pretext that civilian? tired upon tSif.r troops. They ordered a levy, but, were not satisfied with the sum raised, though t largely exceeded the official demand. Whereupon they tied M. Godscbalk, t:ie septuagenarian Burgomaster, to the learn of a charred house and riddled him with bullets.

Incredible violence is reported from all tho villages near Lille. Ready-made concrete platforms were discovered in former German houses, which wore destroyed. Two German otiicers, disguised as ivilians, were court-martialled and ordered to be shot.

ALLIES MAKE GREAT PROGRESS GEEMAMS HURLED BACK. BY DIRE STRAITS. EXTEKIC PUAYS HAVOC. Received 20, 1.30 a.m. London, October 19. Mr Gibbs, war correspondent, telegraphs that the Allies have made atrikng progress since tho fall of Antwerp. The Germans have abandoned Courtai, being literally tlun,; tack in a crowdd mass, and in dire etraits on their mes of communication. They ajrc rr'nquishing ground for which they sacnced thousands of lives.

| During the recent fighting in the 'rench black country, the Territorials in ne locality held the trenches with evicnt dilliculty, being unequal to their German antagonists.

The French general decided on a quick hance, and during the night substituted everal companies of soldiers. The Gcraans daringly advanced with the bayoet, and, instead of Territorials, swarthy gures suddenly leaped from the trench-

es, assailing the enemy with such savage ferocity and dreadful carnage that ut few Germans escaped. Exhaustion, more than death, is weakning the enemy. The German prisonrs aro miserable, sick, starved, and reary of life. Enteric is making a horor in the trenches.