Western Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 147, 16 November 1914, Page 5

Western Campaign

GEBMAX9 REINFORCED BY BAVARIANS, APPALLING LOSSES OB MEN AND OFFICERS. ALLIES' SUPERIOR ARTILLERY. Amsterdam, November 13. Tke Teldgraaf states that the Bavarians reinforced the Germans near Ypres. The garrisons in central Belgium have been decreased in order to reinforce the front.

Many hostages arc held in Belgian towns.

One Belgian regiment made seven bayonet attacks in one night between Nieuport and Dixmunde, Of 240 men only 50 survived.

One submarine has been put together at Zeebrugge. London, November 13. The fighting in Belgium and northern France is really for vantage points or some detail of ground sucli as a wood or quarry, which enables a battery or two to become an unassailable position iu order to organise attacks behind it.

The German losses southward of Dixmunde are appalling. One body of troops was flung back three times aid finally allowed within twenty yards, when the French fired and cut down every man. Three thousand Germans were killed in ten minutes.

Captured German officers state that half-a-million Germans are fighting in the Yser district. They estimate the losses at 90,000. One regiment which was originally 1800 strong lias now 80 men. The losses include five generals,

Paris, November 13. fe. communique states that tlie action from the Lys to the sea is less severe, pcrman efforts to cross the Yser Canal failed. German attacks north-east and south-east of Ypres were repulsed. We have gradually advanced during the Jast few days on the line Annentieres to tilt! Disc, and are now within three hundred and fifty metres of the German wire entanglements. - -,. t- t '..;

We captured Traey-le-Val and progressed slightly at other points north of the Aisne.

We repulsed German counter-attacks at Chavonnc and Sclipir, also at Bery-au-buc. There was some progress' elsewhere.

'The Germans are pouring an avalanche 1 of shells on Ypres, but the Allies' ar- | tillcry is even more formidable and is j inflicting terrible carnage. It has dc- j molished the underground galleries in / which the Germans were taking refuse i and numbers have been entombed. BATTLE OF THE AISNE. ALLIES RECOVER LOST GROUXD. I GALLANT CHARGE OF BRITISH LANCERS.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. | London, November TS. I 'The Times correspondent says the battle on the Aisne is like the smilp J on the Cheshire eat; it is continually fading away and reappearing, presenting its broadest grin. The supply of heavy artillery and airmen is greater than in September. This may not portend the recrudescence of violence, but both sides arc engaged in firm sparring. The fighting in this district has an immense influence on the left wing. The Allies' prospects of turning the German position above Soissons have ] materially improved. The ground lost at Vailly was quickly recovered. The Germans dislodged the Allies by unexpectedly dragging up heavy artillery and assembly a superior force of infantry. They outnumbered and outranged the

French and compelled them to retire. Their guns were immovable, but they held out to the last until finally only one was in action. 'A gunner vowed he would (stick to his poet til! he had fired the whole of the ammunition. He poured shell after shell on the stcadilv advancing enemy, hut though he swept away line after line he failed wholly to cheek them. He still had twelve shells when the Germans were three hundred yards away and fired the last when they were only a hundred yards away. Then he coolly removed the' breach and | escaped, having killed six hundred. One momentary retreat was marked l).v a gallant charge of the English lancers. They were fully exposed to the enemy's fire and had to choose between retreating or remaining under fire without a chance of reply. Neither alternative suited their kidney; so they charged the German batteries a mile away, two thousand strong. In less than ten minutes all the German artillerymen were sabred.

PROTECTING BRUGES. GERMANS PREPARING WORKS. Times Sydney Sun Service. Received 14, 8 p.m. Rotterdam, November 1-1. Rotterdam reports that the Germans are preparing defensive works on a large wale in the environs of Bruges and coastal regions, replacing the bridges they previously destroyed. ■A PROTEST!' FROM SPAIN. REPARATION DEMANDED FOR .JUSSAI'RE AT LIEGE. Received ]."], 5.5 p.m. Madrid, November 14. i 1 Spam strongly protested against inebriated German soldiers massacring certain 'Spaniard:; at Liege with mitrailleuses in the Place de la I'niversite, and demanded reparation to the families." Germany replied tiiat if the accusation against the soldiers was proved, the Government was deposed to apologise and afford reparation.

ADMIRABLE BED CROSS SCHEME. LABORATORY AT BOULOGNE. FAVORS OPF.X-ATII TREATMENT OF WOUXDS. Received 15, 5.3 p.m. London, November 14. The Times" medical correspondent at Paris says the arrangements for the British wounded are now admirable. An excellent hospital train, with kitchens and an operating room, bring the wounded to Boulogne. Sir Almroth Wright has established a bacteriological laboratory in Boulogne. Researches have already shown that gangrene and septic conditions are due to a micro-organism, which only flourished when removed from the atmosnherc. The surgeons are now keeping all the . wounded in the open, to allow the air ( to reach them, and they heal excellently, i . .... a

ALLIES RECAPTURE DIXMUDE. GERMANS WILL FLOOD THE LAND. ENEMY BEGINS TO BEHAVE DECENTLY,

Received 15, 5.5 p.m. London, November 14. The Allies recaptured Dixmude early on, Wednesday morning. Amsterdam, November 14. An aviator dropped two bombs, and set fire to the Bruges petrol tanks. The Germans are preparing to blow up a culvert under the Bruges sluice canal, thereby inundating a stretch of country. There are signs that Germans have been instructed to refrain from outrages against Belgians. Several soldiers demanded money from a farmer. He informed the authorities, with the result that three or four men were sentenced to death. 'A FIGHT FOR THE DYKES. INFANTRY FIGHTING IN THE WATER. GERMAN ATTACKERS DECIMATED. ENEMY EXPELLED. Received 15, 5.5 p.m.

f 'Paris, November 14. An army corps commander ordered the Germans not to return alive if they failed to take Dixmude.

The conflict proved a fight for the dykes. It was impossible to use the heavy guns, owing to a morass. The Germans cleverly surmounted the difficulties, carrying machine-guns in the inundated areas.

During the battle both sides fought in the water. The earliest German onslaught resulted in the slaughter of 80 per cent, of the attackrrs, who were unable to cross the flooded fields speedily. Finally the corpses formed a footway for the infantry, who followed. Many of the. German wounded were drowned. Some, realising that there was no chance of rescue, begged their comrades to klii them. After the capture of Dixmude the Germans attempted to cross the Yser to the right and left of the town, but were repulsed, and their communications with Dixmude wore endangered.

The Allies then shelled Dixinurle with shrapnel and high explosive shells till the Germans were threatened with extermination. A bayonet charge enabled the French marines to recapture the greater part of the town. The Germans have been holding a number of isolated farms amid the flooded region around Nienport. The Allies' infantry were unable to reach them, but the artillery finally forced the Germans to fly from the burning buildings and pitiless shell-fire.

GERMAN STANDARDS CAPTURED BY BRITISH. Received 15. 5.5 p.m. Paris, November 14. General .TofTre sent to General Frencli two Grrntti standards found in the trenches &f it red by the British.

A PLUCKY STATIONMASTER. COMMANDEERS A GERMAN ARMORED TRAIN. Received 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris, November 14. A German armored train, whieb bad been left momentarily unguarded at Chaulenes. was brought to the. French lines by the stationmaster, although it was fired on as it was quitting the station.

HEAVY LOSSES OF BELGIAN'S. ■Received 15. 5.5 p.m. Berlin, November 14. The Lokal Anzciger estimates that the Belgian losses on Wednesday were 0000 killed and 8000 wounded. FOOD FOR BELGIAN'S. COUNTRY POPULATION NEARLY STARVING. Received 15, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, November 11.

It is reported that the Kaiser's son-in-law recovered four tugs, and manned them with Dutch. A thousand tons of food have reached the American Minister at Brussels, under General Von der Goltz's safe conduct. Eighty per cent, of the inhabitants in the country districts are existing on green vegetables. FINANCING THE SMALLER ALLIES. ADVANCES FROM BRITAIX. Received 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Xovember 14. i It is officially announced that Britain has advanced '£2,010,000 to Belgium, and £BOOO to Servia.

FREXCH OFFICIAL RETORT. GERMAN ADVAXCR CHECKED. Received 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Xovember 14. Official: The Cerman attack between Lys and the sea is less keen. The Allies at some points have resumed the offensive. > The Cerman attack on Xieuport failed, and attempts to advance to the southeast and east of Ypres were checked. The Prussian Guards' attack south of Ypres was repulsed. We advanced a kilometre eastwards at Bixschoote, and made progress between the La Bassee Canal and Arras. i The struggle in Argoune has been fiercely renewed. The German attacks failed. German attacks at various points in the Lassigny region and the Aisne valley were unsuccessful.

A GOOD DAY. GERMANS GENERALLY REPULSED IN FRANCE. Received 10, 12.5 a.m. Paris, November 15 (Morning). Official: We had a good dav from the j sea to the north of Lille. We repulsed , German attacks north, of Zonnabeke, , south of Ypres, where the enemv lost heavily. The enemy unsuccessfully attempted to advance between the La Basse? Canal and the Arras and Libons district.

JMPROYE THE WORKING! FORCE OF YOUR BU=UXE < W Our seiuce for customs, canvmg and delivering noik intensifies* the work-