Western Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 30 October 1914, Page 5

Western Campaign

A RUSE THAT FAILED. BRITISH ENTRENCHMENTS ATTACKED BY NIGHT. PETROLEUM-SOAKED BUSHES TO SHOW THE WAY. ENEMY SUSTAINS HEAVY LOSSES. THEN FLEES FROM THE BAYONET. Paris, October 2S. After the Germans uad Been repulsed at Ypres canal on Friday, the British advanced through tlie open fields, driving the enemy east and north, and capturing Langsmarch, where they entrenched during the night. Suddenly a shrill whistle sounded. Bushes which had been soaked with petroleum broke into flames, and masses of men sprang from the beet crops a few hundred yards in advance. The British hurriedly manned the trenches and opened fire. Machine-guns poured volley after volley and the Germans replied, "Hoch, hoch," they yelled as they rushed on. Thev fell in hundreds, but were withing thirty yards of the British position when the whistle sounded the retreat.

Then the British sprang out of the trenches with bayonets fixed. Hand to hand encounters took place in the dim glare of the burning bushes. Many of the enemy threw down their arms, but no quarter was given. The Germans were driven back to Roulers.

The British captured thousands of prisoners, including a general, and captured a battery and several machineguns. SCOTS CHARGE THE GUNS. "ALL OVER IN TEN MINUTES." STERN FIGHTING IN BELGIUM. GERMANS SUCCESSFULLY AMBUSHED. MINES TO OBSTRUCT THE MONITORS. ENEMY DRIVEN FROM TIIOURONT. London, October 28. A Daily News message stale 9 that the Germans have been beaten back over the Yser River, many having been drowned and many taken prisoners. They have also fallen back at Westende. Three hundred and eighty-seven vehicles, laden with wounded, passed Ostend on Sunday.

The Allies on the 16th executed an attack on Haubourdin. British and French columns moved along the bank of the Lys. A thick mist enabled them to escape detection until the French cavalry debouched on the great paved road running parallel to the railway from La Bassee to Lille. A German battery enfiladed the road and railway, while the peat bogs on either side were commanded by the German entrenchments. The latter were insufficient to stop the cavalry and infantry, which left the roadway and advanced along pathways through the marshes. The artillery, however, was unable to follow. The British general, for the honour of silencing the German guns, choose ttie Scottish regiment. The Scotsmen made short rushes, using the ditches, which crossed the marshes every hundred yards, as cover. When within charging distance they fixe' ! ayonets, charged to the skirl of the and lavunetteil the artiileryn'ni at thr jraa-t, despite barbed wire nn'rVicnits and ih« jimr-d'-rons Are of {ln traebinc frnn«s. TV Scotsmen thia l.riik. the bsveehes of lac guns. Ail was over within ten minutes, and the -Scotsmen retired to the main body, enabling the French guns to gallop on the road safely. There are three main canals between Nieuport and Dixmunde. The 'Germans crossed the second canal on Sunday and reach Pervyso on Monday, when the battle was critical for th» Allies. The French, however, steadily advanced along tho dunes to Lombartzydc and Westende.

A Flushing telegram states that a large, force of Germans on Sunday advanced from Bruges to Thourout. The Allies remained concealed until the town was occupied and then, by a sudden attack, drove the. Cermans in confusion to Bruges, leaving hundreds of dead and wounded. The British, and French fi«igs are now flying on the tower of Thourout church. There was heavy lighting on Monday I at Couchelaere, where the Allies held a commandiri:r position to ths westward nuil inflicted terrible losses. Three times the German masses were flung in unavailing assaults on the position. German guns have been mounted at Ilevsl and Zrebrugge fur the purpose of meeting attack from the sea. The Germans have also sown mines along the coast, using Ostend tugs and luggers, but many broke away and exploded against the groynes on the shore. A GERMAN FORECAST. PART OF AVHICII MAY FROVE INCORRECT. Received '2O. <1.15 p.m. London, October 2S. A Berlin report says that a definite result of the battle proceeding among the dunes on the lielgian coast is hourly expected, anil it is considered that the Allies will retire. The investment of Belfort is expected to last a long time, as the garrison is very strong, and the French have shown themselves masters in part of building field fortifications. COSTLY STRIFE IN BELGIUM. TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION AND CARNAGE. Received 2!), fi.ls p.m. London, October 28. A correspondent at Amsterdam says the severity of loss of life in Flanders exceeds that of the battles on the Meuse and the Nethe. Shells from the sea fly here and there, searching the trendies, scattering columns, and annihilating •bridges. The German shells also bring death and destruction. The carnage is enormous. Germans have filled the monasteries with wounded and fresh German troops continue to arrive.

GERMAX ADMIHATIOK fIF THE EXGUSH. Received 2f», fi.ls p.m. London, October 28. A llergen paper publisher an interview with a nninliev of tlm German general stalT who commented on the Englishmen's cool indifference to danger and to the dispensations of providence. lie also made reference to the magnificent shooting.

allies make good progress : IN BELGIUM, Received 30, 1.10 a.m. Paris, October 29. Official.—The enemy's two night. attacks in the Dixmunde district wererepulsed. Hie enemy's efforts on the N;euj.orfc and Dixmunde front are apparently moderating. The Allies' offensive continues northwards of Ypres. Slight progress has been made on our part between La Bassee and Lens.

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE YSER CANAL. Received 20, 9.50 p.m. London, October 28. The Daily Mail's Rotterdam corres-. pondent states that on Monday, when the Germans were driven back over the Yser river by bayonet charges, the Allies destroyed pontoons at Jesty. The monitors slaughtered the German ranks. Amsterdam. October 28.

Recent fighting on the Yser Cana.l was very severe. Many places were taken and re-taken repeatedly. The Germans crossed many times, but were always repulsed with heavy losses. At some points their bodies blocked the canal. GERMAN BATTERY SILENCED. FRENCH GUNS WORK FEARFUL HAVOC.

Received 29, 9.50 p.m.

Paris, October 2S. .Details of the destruction of three German batteries north of the Aisno show that a Uhlan patrol discovered a French convoy and posted three batteries commanding the road. The French discovered the trap, and sent two batteries of 75-centimetre guns which silenced the German guns in a few minutes, wreaking terrible havoc. The guns were blown to fragments, and two hundred dead lay around them. THE SOUTHERN AREA OF CONFLICT. GERMAN INVESTMENT OF BELFORT. THE FORT STRENGTHENED. Received 29, 10.40 p.m. London, October 28. ( I The Times' Berne correspondent reports that the Germans have been largely reinforced in Alsace, and the French have strengthened the surroundings of Belfort. OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROGRESS. Received 29, 10.40 p.m. Paris, October 28. A communique states: — "The German attacks between Nieuport and Arras were much less vigorous on Tuesday, and our position was everywhere maintained. "We progressed north and east of Ypres, and also between Cambrai, near Labassee, and Arras. "The Germans attempted a very violent night offensive in the Craonne region, but were repulsed. "We continued our advance in Woevre, between Apremont and Saint Michiel; also into Lcpretre wood. GERMAN LOSSES TWENTY TO FRENCH ONE. Received 30, 12.5 a.m. Paris, October 2S. The German losses at Craonne, mentioned in to-day's communique, were •2000 killed and wounded. The French casualties were only a hundred'. FRENCH AIRMEN IN DANGER. A 'PLUCKY ENCOUNTER. Received 20. 5.25 p.m. j Paris, October 2R.

Paulhan;, from a height of eight thousand foot, traversed the Gorman lines towards Amiens with mitrailleuses, and destroyed a German aeroplane. The enemy's bullets hit the motor, and Paulham descended near a French force. Uhlans appeared. Paulham's mechanic worked the mitrailleuse in co-operation with the infantry, and the enemy was driven off. NOTABLE ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH TROOPS. Received 29, 8.20 p.m. Paris, October 2S. Official.—The English have advance* to Passchendaele. SOME RESTRAINT AT LAST.

GERMAN" SOLDIERS IX ANTWERP. Received 2!), 8.20 p.m. Amsterdam, October 28. A proclamation at Antwerp forbids soldiers to pillage. There must be no requisitioning without a written order, and soldiers must pay cash for everything. MORE SAVAGERY. Received 23, 8.23 p.m. Paris, October 28. The Germans occupied the Prince of Monaco's Chateau ])ei:iare!iis, near Rlieims. and threatened to blow it up unless they were paid 2'/ 2 million francs. HUMANITY'S CALL. REACHES EVEN* THE GERMAN'S. Received 2!), 5.20 p.m. London, October 28. Britain and Germany have arranged, through the American and Spunish Ambassadors, for provisioning Belgium.

GERMAN* TROOPS WINTER IN BERLIN. | FINE EXAMPLK OF MENDACITY, j Received "0, 12.4.) a.m. Paris, October 2fl. The latest example of Gorman mendacity is a proclamation 'placarded in three languages in Brussels, as follows: "Pari,* being infected with cholera, the Kaiser ha.-. withdrawn liis troops and permitted t.lioni' to winter in Berlin, whore, they will enjoy their repose so nobly earned. - ' ANGLOPHOBIA RUN MAD. A REMAP,KAIiLE DIATRIBE. BRITAIN XIIII GREATEST OBSTACLE TO PEACE. Received "0, 12.4") a.m. Amsterdam, October 20. Prince Ruppreeht of Bavaria, commanding the sixth army corps, issued an order of tiie day: ''We are fortunate in being opposed'by (hp English-troops, representing the people whose envy has been at work for years to surround us with enemies in order to strangle us,

and to whom we owe the {irWent bloody war. Therefore now that we are facing the enemies who are the greatest obstacle to peace, we will take reprisals for the enemy's cunning and for all our sacrifices, and show them that it is not so easy to wipe out the Germans." 'A NEW ZEALANDER KILLED. Received 30, 1.30 a.m. London, October 2'). Lieutenant Robert Gee, of the AViltehiro Regiment, the eldest son of Mr Gee, of Wellington, was wounded in France, and died at Nctlcy. GENERAL JOFFRE. AN APPRECIATION OF THE CHIEF. London, October 28. The London Times correspondent in France precedes a character sketch of General Joffre, by a comparison of the .Napoleonic wars 'with the present war. He savs tliat the aeroplane has robbed war of the tactical interest attaching to old time wars. War now consists of a series of parallel movements. The armies turn about each other like boxers in (he preliminary stages pivoting clumsily to catch each other at a disadvantage. That is practically all the art. 1 in modern, war. The. Test is a dingdong battle of resistance, marching awl countermarching. General Joffre is rarely seen on horseback, and he spends hours daily in a motor-car. He w?av<j out two chauffeurs daily. ITe alio spfnuS long hours hi ar. unpretentious room with a telephone to his ear. His chief characteristic is in calmness. As a result of confidence iu himself he has given confidence to others on his sisiir. He never for a moment doubts his capacity to win and that conviction has percolated the masses of troops and made him popular, though he eschews popularity. lie is modest and unassuming and his readiness 1 to accept suggestions lias fostered the belief that lie" "is an adopter and organiser, rather than a strategist. The campaign has shown that lie is a soldier engineer arid organiser. His great maxim is that nothing can be improvised. Everything must be thought out. He takes the infinite "trouble necessary to secure successes. He lias brought together tihe best mili-. tary brains in France and has co-ordi-nated and controlled their efforts. He has exorcised politics, its greatest bane, from the French army. Himself a Republican and Freemason, he is surrounded by the Catholics disposed to cavil at the present constitution. As the result of his firmness and singleness of purpose die commands the greatest fighting machine in the worid from which every consideration other than efficiency has been obliterated.

General Joffre is just a plain soldier, but modern and scientific, with a mass of theoretical knowledge backed by a high sense of the practical. He understands what to expect of the common soldier and how to extend him on occasion. ThiV war of silence and anonymity accords with General Joffre's genius. It is a German-made scientific war, as opposed to an artistic war. General Joffre has become a master of the new system which he did not invent.