Western Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 149, 19 November 1914, Page 5

Western Campaign

A TERRIFIC COMBAT. PRUSSIAN GUARDS REAPPEAR. BUT PUT TO FLIGHT. GERMAN STUBBORNNESS. THE FALSE AND THE TRUE. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. London, November 17. The Times' military correspondent says that the Prussian Guards, the Kaiser's pride, who were defeated by the French at Charieroi, and again on the Marne. I

and have not been, mentioned for two months, reappeared, attacking the British on the 11th inst. They were fresh after their Test, and presented a magnificent appearance when paraded before the Kaiser at his recent western visit. The British, since October 20th, have held out against superior numbers. The German higher command was able. to make an impression with the new formation of called-up Guards. With the hope of giving a finishing blow, they attacked the British with conspicuous gallantry, and, despite heavy punishment, penetrated our advanced line. Our war-worn regiments immediately counter-attacked, and put the Guards to flight, so there cannot be much left of these historic Prussians. An eye-witness at the British Headquarters Staff, giving instances of the | stubbornness of the Germans, says that during the fighting at Ypres a company of infantry was enfiladed by our ma-chine-guns, jail being killed except six, who crawled away wounded after nightr fall. Another company of Germans dug I themselves in on a line where the bodies of their comrades lay in rows. Again some of the enemy's cavalry at dusk charged the French trenches. As every I horse was killed, the dismounted riders continued to charge afoot, the last survivors being slain on the very parapet of the trenches. Whatever deteriorating material is being drafted into the ranks, it- roust be admitted that the Prussian war machine obtained the most remark- ( able result in being able to make good its losses and continue to deliver repeated I blows with fresh men when they were required, and concentrate large forces I in different directions. I A Berlin report states that at Langmarck the Germans occupied the Allies' trenches, and captured 2000 prisoners, but the real facts are that the Germans, who advanced in overwhelming force, were allowed to approach within range. A murderous fire mowed down the first line, then the second, and ploughed great gaps in the third, yet a fourth line attacked and reached the trenches, but the Allies refused to budge, and engaged in . a hand-to-hand conflict. The Gordon Highlanders suppprted a stirring charge, and the Germans were repulsed with heavy losses. INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.

THE FLOWER OF THE KAISER'S •ARMY. TRAPPED BY THE BRITISH. 1000 KILLED; 3000 WOUNDED. Received IS, 12.30 a.m. Paris, November 18. The smashing of the Prussian Guards at Zonnebeke was beautifully timed. The Germans shelled our trenches with lyddite and shrapnel for eight hour 3. It was impossible to relieve our troops until nightfall. The Germans massed the Prussian Guards, and drove us back by sheer weight of numbers trench by rrencli, which were stubbornly defended, until they came within sixty yards of where our artillery were hidden.

Suddenly the British lines dispersed on either side, leaving a huge gap, through which the Guards poured, wildly cheering. Into the jaws of death came the finest of the Kaiser's troops, to wltenn fifty yards of our field guns, which then belched hell .point-blank. The Black Watch savagely charged for a mile. A thousand of the enemy were killed, and three thousand wounded. The artillery followed them up, and shelled the enemy's line for a mile further away. ALLIES' ARTILLERY DEADLY. 100,000 GERMANS IN FOUR DAYS. London, November 17.

The Daily Mail states that the Germans lost nearly 100,000 men in four days at Ypres. An eye-witness at headquarters mentions the splendid accuracy and destructiveness of the British howitzers, and the terrific effect of the French 75-mm. gun. British and French airmen blew up two old forts at Lille, used by the Germans as magazines. ALLIES MAKE PROGRESS. Received 18, 11.25 p.m. Parrs, November 17 (Midnight). Official: The enemy renewed attacks eastward and southward of Ypres, but without modifying the situation. During the last two days we made more or less marked progress at every point we attacked on the Yser to the Meuse.

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A MISHAP THAT SCORED. BRITISH TROOPS PUZZLE j BAVARIANS. Received 18, 7.50 p.m. Paris, November 17. During the fighting southward of Yprei on the 11th hist, eighty of the Britisl infantry became isolated, and were un able to rejoin the main body. They tool refuge for the night in a wood, and ai dawn found a German column driver towards them by the Allies. They waitec till the column drew near, and thei charged with .the bayonet, 400 Germans being taken prisoners or lost. Amsterdam, November 17. German deserters report that the Gcr mans' great difficulty is in moving theii guns, thus being unable to carry out swift and sudden concentrations at selected .points. The Bavarians on the Yser were struck with the remarkable physical fitness of the British troops, but were puzzled by the (British battle-cries, apparently consisting of football slang, the Germans being shot and bayoneted to cries of "On the ball!" and "Here's for the goal!" They cannot understand why nothing can withstand the British charge. : -^M'

WHAT DOES IT PORTEND? GREAT MOVEMENT OF GERMANS IN PROGRESS. Received 19, 1 a.m. Amstcrdiuii, November IS. Direct communication between Holland and Berlin has been suddenly interrupted. It is interpreted that a great movement of the German troops is in progress. \ A -SPY'S STATEMENT. 1 GERMANS ABOUT. TO RETREAT. Received 19, 1 a.m. Paris, November 18. A German spy was about to be executed at Arras, when he offered information if his life was spared. This was promised if the information was correct. He as'serted that the Germans had planned a retreat during the next four days. ALLIES COUNTER-ATTACK. A ZEPPELIN DESTROYED. Paris, (November 17. A Rotterdam message states that at Maastricht a Zeppelin fell, and was wrecked. I

Paris, November 17. The Allies' counter-attack in the Dixmunde district is progressing. Fresh French troops have been strengthening some weak points, and some of the Belgian troops, all of whom have been fighting heroically, luive been sent to 'Paris, and French troops substituted. It is semi-officially stated that the fighting in the Argonnes has not appreciably varied for the past two months. Some of the trenches are only fifty yards apart, and all the expedients of siege warfare are practised. The German losses greatly exceed those of the French. We occupy the district around Verdun, and generally have advanced five to ten kilometres (three to six miles) beyond the line held a month ago. Replying to a question, Mr. afeKemm stated that Baron .Bruno voa Schroder, the banker, was naturalised on August 7. Mr. Julius Rittershausen, a prominent member of Schroder's firm, was naturalised on September 28. Mr. Mclvenna was satisfied it was advantageous to the .public to grant them certificates. Paris, November 17. A communique state that the Germans violently bombarded Nieuport, Dixmundc, and Ypres. Artillery prevented the Germans completing works south of Dixmunde, to prevent the inundation of the trenches. They became flooded, and the Germans evacuated them. German attacks south of Bixschote and Ypres failed. We progressed between Zixschote and the Yser Canal. The artillery contest from Armenticres to La Bassee was particularly violent. The Germans endeavoring to cross the Aisne, near Vailly, were destroyed or repulsed. In the Argonnes, we exploded a number of German trenches by means of mines, and advanced at several points. South of Verdun we seized a .portion of Chauvoncourt, which is the sole point of support held by the Germans on the left bank of the Mouse in this region.

GERMAN CASUALTIES. NEARLY A MILLION. Received 19, 2 a.m. Copenhagen, November 18. Official lists of German casualties give the number as 549,24-7. This is exclusive of the losses of the Bavarian, Saxon, and Wurtemburg armies, which are estimated at over 400,000. CULPRITS ARRESTED. PRUSSIAN GUARDS MADE PRISONERS. Received 19, 1.40 a.m. Paris, November 18. Two officers in a motor-car, flying the Red Cross, with a pass bearing' General Millerand's signature, traversed the villages of the Aisne. When arrested they proved to be German spies, who had attempted to inspect the Allies' lincse. Many hundreds of the Prussian Guards were taken prisoners at Zonnebeke, with four heavy cannon, 27 machine-guns, besides some motor machine-guns. .. WISE MOTHERS. Mothers can administer Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery to the youngest .child without fear of as it is' absolutely-free from! all 'opiates and narcotics. ' Wise mothers will always keep I a bottle of this remedy in the house, to t use at.tfot-gsst sign of a <™.-* m-