Western Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 9 December 1914, Page 5

Western Campaign

| ALLIES' MARKED ADVANTAGE. | A FfiENC.II HARASSING FORCE. BELGIANS STARVING. Paris, December 7. A communique states: "We attacked a few trenches on the left bank of the Yser. which are still in tlie enemy's hands. The superiority of our offensive at Armentk'i'cs. Arras, on tlie Oise and Aisne and in the Argonnes has been maintained. Our heavy artillery had a marked advantage in the Champagne district."

The Figaro prints the story of the successful exploits of a band of Frenchmen. Lat-.! in August about 150 French soldiers and officers were cut off and got behind the German lines and succeeded in reaching the forests of Luxemburg. The little army secured 17,000 cartridges on a battlefield and have since defied all the elforts of the Germans to capture them. Working in small parties they have directed their energies to the systematic harassing of the Germans.' In the evening gloom they wreck bridges and railways, intercept staff officers, destroy provisions, and otherwise worry the Germans.

The Bourse has re-opened in Paris. Owing 'to the activity of the Allies' airmen in Belgium the Germans are employing a fleet of armoured motor-cars equipped with anti-aircraft guns. The Belgian Relief Commission says that practically all Belgium is depend-,! ent on the commission for bread.

VIOLATION OF SWISS NEUTRALITY. BY BRITISH AIRMEN. Berne, December 7. Sir Edy.ard Grey, replying to the l 1 odei'a ] Council, states that if airmen' proceeding to passed over Swiss territory tlu3 was contrary io the intention of the British Government. V.'!::ie. regretting the non-observ-ance: 01 instructions, he emphasised that die (xovenunent's orders to airmen must not oe interpreted as a recognition of a sovereignty of the air.

Federal Council replied thanking .-•!r j-j. Grey, and adding that, as international ie.\v does not recognise any limit to the soveignty of the air, the Council mv.st claim sovereignty to the fu:!, extent.

[One side of Lake Constance is in lionjian territory, and the other in .Switzerland. The Rhine, up which the the airmen had to fly, is at one point, entirely in Siviss territory, elsewhere it divides Germany and Switzerland.]

TIIE FEARLESS GURKHAS. ANOTHER EXPLOIT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. "Received 8, 5.10 p.m. London, December 7. An officer, when speaking in crlowin/* icims of the work of the Indian troops, and their cleverness in spying out the enemy, related that, as the result of the •Gurkhas' exploits, the Intelligence Department gained reliable information, contained in a couple of German mailbags. The Indians crept out of the trenches, and. returned in two hours with the hags. It is assumed they settled the German guard,' saluted, and returned to their without ouering any explanation.

Times and 'Sydney Run Services. Received 8, 5.10 p.m. London, December 7. The Times, in a leader, says the simple, formal character of the .King's visit to France, and the quietness of his departure and return, were in exact accordaijce with the feelings of hi 3 subjects, who are engaged in this tremendous struggle. The nation prefers to show its sense of the gravity of the situation by restraint and simplicity on all occasions.

A MARKED ADVANCE. ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODS. DESPERATE FIGHT IN WATER. GERMANS FOILED. Received 8, 0.25 p.m. Paris, December S. Official: The Germans bombarded Oostdunikerke, four kilometres west of Nieuport. There has been a marked advance in the region of Lequeshoy, Ensanterre, and Dunkirk. The Germans, at dawn on the 7th, made another desperate attempt to cross the floods south-east of Ramsehappelle by means of three powerful motorboats, filled with searchlights, towing a number of rafts, each fitted with ma-chine-guns, and each containing fiftv men.

The Belgians were lined up on the edge of the Hoods, but the searchlights daxzled them, and prevented accurate shooting, though they enabled the Germans to maintain a murderous fire from the rafts. As the Germans were landing the Belgians hurried up their, own searchlights, and, in turn, made it difficult for the machine-guns to fire with accuracy. A fantastic battle by searchlights was continued for some time, but gradually the Germans were driven back. Being massed end huddled on their rafts, they made effective targets. A lucky shot brought dow;-. one of the German searchlights. The men on the rafts attached to the motor boat were Hung into the water, and surrendered. Another motorboat was beached.

The Germans, knee-deep in water, fought from tiie shelter of their boat, but tile Belgians rushed into the water) and a fleree struggle ensued. Finally the French 75-centimetre gun got the range, and the first shell forced the motor-boats to fly. Two escaped in a sinking condition.

A DESOLATE REGION. j DELIBERATE INCENDIARISM BY THE GERMANS. Received 0, 12.20 a.m. Paris, December 8. The Government arranged for a visit of journalists to Yerdun. These journalist? report that the whole of the district of Argonne, and particularly on the route of tiie Crown Prince's retreat from the Marr.e, is utterly desolate. Every village has been razed to the, gt-oiuid, the work of deliberate incendiaries, facilitated by light motor-cars, equipped with a petrol pump and hose.