Western Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 14 November 1914, Page 5

Western Campaign

GERMANS BEATEN BACK. OUR OCCUPATION OF OSTEND. Received 14, 12.35 a.m. Paris, November 13.

Official: We held our ground in all positions. The enemy, by a night attack, attempted to debouch from Dixmtinde, but were repulsed. The enemy was also thrown back everywhere over the Yser, except 300 yards on the left bank.

Received 14, 1 a.m. Amsterdam, November 13. People who have crossed the frontier state that the Allies have entered Ostend, which the Germans abandoned.

TAKING OF DIXMUNDE CONFIRMED. A RED CROSS OFFICER MURDERED BY GERMANS. London, November 12. The Daily Chronicle states that the Germans' onslaughts from Dixmunde to Arras during the week were terrible. They progressed in places, only to be driven back next day. Artillery dominates the position so effectively that substantial and continual advances by either side are impossible. As the

Germans are unable to make any impression on our lines, they confine themselves to relentlessly bombarding Yprcs, | Arras, and Metlnme. For the first time the Germans brought an armored train into action against a British train. The enemy's train carried C-inch guns, and threatened to become a formidable rival. i At last our aviators detected it crawlI ing steadily towards our lines, and the British train steamed out of the fire zone. When the enemy's train stopped four gigantic shells exploded over it, and laid a portion in ruins. The shells I came from the British 9.2 naval guns, installed six miles away. German engineers courageously worked under continuous firo to remove the damaged part from the rails, but they lost many lives, and the shells did much damage, but failed to destroy the engine, which dragged the remains away at nightfall. Amsterdam, November 12.

An official Berlin message reports that Dixmunde was stormed, and over 600 prisoners and machine-guns captured. Paris, November 12.

The newspapers point out that Dixmunde is merely a heap of smouldering ruins. The (Allies retired a few yards, and strongly hold the line of the Yser. The enemy continued his effort without result. The enemy's counter-attack on Lombartzyde was repulsed. The enemy vainly attempted to debouch from Dixmunde on the left bank of the Yser.

London, November 12. A despatch rider states that Dr. McNab was bayonetted before the eyes of the London Scottish, whilo bandaging two wounded men. It was bright moonlight. Dr. McNab was unarmed, and wearing a blue tunic with the red cross on his arm. When the London Scottish saw the foul deed orders were given to take no prisoners, and they drove back the Germans, giving no quarter, and receiving none. Amsterdam, November 12.

Three German 17-inch guns, damaged by the British artillery, have been brought to Liege. The Germans are unable to repair the Liege forts, and have abandoned the. work. It is reported that a hundred thousand Germans passed Ghent, proceeding towards Brussels.

Paris, November 12. A communique states that a violent action continues on the left wing, with unimportant and alternate advances and retreats. The battle-front, which Tuns through Lomb'ai't/.ydc, Nieuport, Ypres, Zonnaboke, to the east of Armentieres, lias been generally unchanged since the evening of the 10th. The British repelled attacks, especially those of the Prussian Guards.

We held the ground over the remainder of the lino. We silenced the German Rvtillery near Craonne, and slightly progressed around Bery-au-lluc.

It is estimated that France has four million men under arms, and has lost four hundred thousand killed, wounded, or prisoners; Britain has 1,500,000 men under arms, and has lost fifty thoilsand.

London, November 12. An observer with the Indians gives an example of German slimncss. A figure silhouetted in the moonlight, wearing a Gurkha uniform, approached the end of a trench and said: "The Gurkhas are to move further up, as another Gurkha contingent is advancing in support." The officer, puzzled, asked, "Who are you?" The answer, in good English, was a repetition of the order. The officer, still suspicious, said, "If you are a GuAha, by what boat did you cross?" The figure instantly turned and fled, and- within a few yards was riddled with bullets. The Germans were ready to swarm into the trendies, hud the ruse succeeded.

The Germans shot the Mayor of Handkaerne for defending his daughter from the assaults of soldiers.

The new German trench mortars, instead of decimating the Allies, buried the shells in deep holes, giving the 'soldiers mud-baths and wounding none. a bavarian braggart. talks of the enemy's arrogan;:;?.

Received 13, 10.5 p.m. London, November 12. The Bavarian Crown Prince has addressed a general order to the troops, in which he says:—"Soldiers, the eyes of the world are upon von and vnnr nro.

weakening, numerous officers and privates of the enemy having voluntarily surrendered. A great and decisive blow remains to be struck. Don't let the enemy slip between your teeth. We must conquer."

KAISER VISITS THE TRENCHES. URGES HIS SOLDIERS ONWARD. Received 13, 6 p.m. London, November 12. According to Amsterdam reports, the Kaiser last week visited the trenches within 600 yards of the Allies, and urged the men to defeat the enemy. The soldiers cheered him.

GERMANS HANGED FOR IIANGIXG BACK. Received 13, 6 p.m. London, November 12. The Figaro states that the /Allies liaye found numerous bodies of Germans in the vicinity of Ypres, executed and tied to trees because they refused to advance.

INCONCEIVABLE MISERY IN THE TRENCHES. DEADLY FEAR BY NiIGHT OF SENEGALESE. Received 13, 6 p.m. London, November 12.

A Swiss doctor serving with the Germans near Craonnc declares that the misery in the trenches is inconceivable. There is no fire or warm food or drinkable water. Night is dreaded, for fear of the Senegalese gliding in the dark over, ramparts of unburied dead. They often leap from the glacis like cats, and cut the throats of the sentinels.

,TEERIBLE TIMES IN THE AISNE VALLEY, Received 13, 6 p.m. London, November 12.

A correspondent says that the valley of the Aisne has been banged and battered in the most terrible way. Village after village has been "knocked into a cocked hat." The normal population of Soissons is 15,000, but now there are only 1500. The inhabitants of the valley exhibit unquenchable optimism.

THE STRUGGLE IN BELGIUM. POSITIONS HELD AGAINST GREAT ODDS. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. Wellington, November 13. The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner under date London, November 12:— Official: An eye-witness with the Headquarters Staff reports as follows: — Before the chronological record of the course of events is resumed, a short description is given of the part in the J battle played on October 31 by the | London Scottish. Reference has already been made to the action, and the Com-mander-in-Chief's message to the Officer , Commanding has been quoted, but no details of what happened have been given. The event marks an epoch in the military history of the British Empire. For the first time a complete unit of the Territorial Army has been thrown into the fight alongside sister units of the regulars. Briefly, what happened is this:

On Saturday, being ordered to take up a section of the firing line in support of our cavalry, and having advanced to the position under heavy fire from field guns, howitzers, and machine-guns, the battalion reached a point where further movement forward was impossible, and there maintained itself nntil dusk, when it proceeded to entrench. From 9 o'clock at night till 2 o'clock on Sunday the Germans made numerous attacks on the Scottish line, but all were repulsed by rifle fire. At 2 o'clock they Made a great effort, and assaulted the front and left of the position in great force. A considerable number succeeded, by a detour, in getting round the flank of the regiment. A large proportion of these were engaged by the companies in support and reserve, but others, penetrating between the first and " second line of trenches, assailed the firing lino from the rear while fighting with rifle and bayonet on both fronts immediately behind the firing line. A reserve company still further behind made bayonet charges against the enemy, who had got round, and so prevented entire envelop? ment. The battalion at dawn discovered large numbers of the enemy had, according to their custom, worked round the flanks with machine-guns, and a retirement was carried out. This was effected under a cross-fire from machine-guns. Naturally, in an encounter of this nature

the battalion suffered heavy loss, and, j •although unable to maintain .the posi-1 tion, acquitted itself gallantly and with coolness, and, in a situation of peculiar difficulty, inflicted far more damage on the enemy than it received. ■On Sunday the full violence of the enemy's attack fell on our left. Their main efforts were directed slightly south of Ypres. 'Such was the force of the onslaught and the weight of the artillery supporting it that our line was temporarily driven hack. It was soon readjusted, however, and, by evening, the ■ situation in this quarter was the same I as it had been twenty-four hours earlier. ] That night shells were thrown into j Ypres. Farther south the Germans, dur- : ing the previous night, had retaken the, : village of Messines, and captured Ryth- i chatetc. By 11 o'clock our cavalry,; working in co-operation with the French,', drove them from the latter place by a : brilliant bayonet charge, but did not ; occupy it. A few prisoners were taken.! They were only 17 years old, and they had had practice'ly no training, and had j had little food. Some had never fired ' a rifle. The fact that Messines was still : j retained in hostile hands necessitated a ; slight adjustment of our front and '. centre. Apart from this there was no ; i change in this quarter, the bombard- I I ment continuing all day. I During the action round these villages I the Germans moving across the front ; suffered greatly from the massed fire of | our horse artillery at short range. ! Though they fell literally in heaps, they ' ; still came on with admirable dctermina- ! tion. South of the Lys, the trenches, : j which had been lost the previous night, ; . were recaptured. Otherwise the situation i

: remained unchanged. No attacks were : delivered against us, and tlie enemy con- ; tented himself with bombarding the \ trenches with a. heavy battery, which I was knocked out by our artillery lire. ■ One prisoner who was captured on ! the first day he entered the field stated

that, in his opinion, Germany realised that she had failed in her object, and was only fighting to obtain good terms. During the afternoon a German aero-

plane was captured quite uninjured. On Monday, on our left, the pressure was kept up inwards Ypres. Our line was forced bt|k, but restored towards evening-by-,a.|ijgov - ouß advance, carried

wedge between the towns of North Armentiercs and South Armentieres. The bombardment of our positions in this quarter was especially heavy, though well replied to by the concentric fire of our guns and those of the French. The French counter-attacked in the direction of Rythchatete, which remained disputed ground, fiercely blazing amidst the hail of shell from both sides.

On tho south the enemy advanced in force, but was checked farther towards our right. A hostile attack in the neighborhood of lArmcntieres met the same fate. On the, extreme right several assaults were repulsed, though at one or two points the Germans gained ground slightly, obtaining possession of Neuve Chapellc. Tho inundation at Nieuport reached the enemy's trenches, and it is stated that two heavy guns and field artillery were abandoned.

Tuesday was comparatively an uneventful day, and this enabled our troops to have a much-needed rest. In front of Ypres the German infantry attacks ceased, but south, in the neighborhood of Rythchatete and Hollcbeke, they made unsuccessful attempts at a forward movement, effective counter-attacks being delivered by the French and British in this quarter. The fighting was severe south of the river. Minor attacks against our trenches were Beaten off. It seemed that the violence of the German efforts was abating, even the cannonade being less heavy.

NIGHT ATTACK REPULSED. GERMANS THROWN INTO DISORDER, Received 13, 8.20 p.m. London, November 12.

The Daily Chronicle's Calais correspondent states that Germans made a determined night attack on La Bassee on Tuesday. The British allowed the infantry to pierce their lines, and get well on the road to Bethune. Then they halted on the slope of the hill, and opened a terrifying rifle and artillery fire, which overturned the German guncarriages, and reduced the infantrymen to a panic-stricken mob. The Germans abandoned two 18-inch and one KP/o-inch howitzers.

A GHASTLY AFFAIR. GERMANS SLAUGHTER THEIR OWN WOUNDED. Received 13, 8.20 p.m. (London, November 12. During tho bombardment of Ypres on Tuesday, the Germans shelled the railway station, hoping to blow up an armored train. At the time a special train was at the station, conveying a thousand German prisoners to France. Only 284 escaped unscathed, 161 were seriously injured, and the rest were killed. They lie unburied at the station.

STORIES OF GERMAN WOUNDED. HOW TRENCHES ARE STARTED UNDER FIRE. GERMAN WOUNDED STRIPPED BY COMRADES. ONLY OFFICERS SUCCOURED BY OWN RED CROSS. Received 13, 0.50 p.m. London, November 12.

The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent writes: "Interviews with German wounded reveal that the following method of beginning trenches under fire is common in the German army. First, an officer selects a man, and oiders him to divest himself of his rifle and heavy pack, take up a spade, and march from cover some paces to the front. If he hesitates the officer puts a revolver at the man's head, and covers him until ho has turned the first sod. The man seldom survives longer than that. Then a second is sent out, and a third, and fourth, until the beginning of the trench is deep enough to cover a man, when another is sent forward with an armorplated shield, which is set up. The hole previously made enables the rest to work in comparative safety. On an average fifteen are shot down before the beginning of the trench is effected. "Many of the German wounded have been brought to the French hospitals naked, their comrades having stripped them, and sent the clothes to Germany for the drafts. "One wounded German said the German Red Cross had orders to pick up officers only unless there was ample room for the men. Several times he had seen several wounded shot as they lay on the field, and stripped of uniforms and accoutrements "before the bodies were cold."