France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 14 December 1914, Page 5

France & Flanders

ALLIES GAINING GROUND. GERMAN DESERTIONS INCREASE. BREACH OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION. ' Paris, December 11. A communique states that continued progress has been made towards the enemy's lines in the Ypres region. Several German attacks have been repulsed. Though in one instance they reached our trenches they were again 'pushed back. Several trenches have been moved forward in the Argonnes and in the Le Pretrc wood. London, December 11. The Daily Chronicle states that the recapture of Passchcndaele, cabled on December 8, was the result of a vigorous night attack. The village was strongly held and fortified with many trenches and entanglements. During the day the British artillery silenced the German guns, and it was decided to make an .attempt to carry the town. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 11, Dutch reports state that many Germans, including, naval men, arc deserting and crossing the Dutch borders. The sentries, when suspicious, order them to return to the front. The Berlin authorities have forced two escaped officers to return to the internment camp j from Bergen, under threat of drastic punishment for breaking parole. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 11. It transpires that President Poincare visited Hazebrouek on Sunday and left suddenly in the evening. A Taube dropped bombs on the town next morning. London, December 11. The Press Bureau eye-witness, describing the operations at the front, says that a pleasing side of the joint operations is the fact that there never has been any I sort of friction between the allied troops. J This is remarkable,-when it is remembered how many have been thrown together often in the most trying circumstances and that wine is the com : mon drink of the country. The war is hound to increase the mutual knowledge and respect of French and British. Berne reports that the obstinate German refusal to release British surgeons and ambulance men in accordance with the Geneva Convention is causing indignation. Over a thousand Red Cross men have returned from France to Germany. JAPS IN CALIFORNIA. STRAINED RELATIONS. New York, December 11. Professor Matthews, of Chicago University, and the Rev. Sidney Guriek, of New York, the committee appointed to study anti-Japanese sentiment in California, reported to the Federal Council of Chtfrches of Christ Convention, that additional anti-Japanese legislation was contemplated in California. The psychological conditions in the United States and Japan were approaching a state when some really trivial action might bring appalling consequences. The Chindra-Bryan correspondence in no way reassured the Japanese that America was not trying to get the issue raised in California. The jingo press in both countries were doing much to foment illfeeling. THE POSITION IN FRANCE. GREAT IMPROVEMENT SINCE THE MARNE BATTLE. Paris, December 11. The Journal Eclair, comparing the situation before the battle of Marne with that of to-day, shows that the Allies have recovered half the territory once occupied by the Germans. THE WAR: ITS GREATEST LESSON. SHORT-DISTANCE FIGHTING A SURPRISE. London, December 11. An American journalist interviewed General Von Wild, chief quartermaster of the German army in France. He said it had always "been reckoned that in modern warfare the fighting would tnke place at from eight hundred to a thousand yards, instead of which, to the surprise of experts, it mostly occured at from seventy-live to a hundred and fifty yards. With modern magazine rifles and machine guns it was possible to allow an enemy to approach within a short distance, and then open a terrific and deadly fire. He considered that the greatest factor and the most important lesson in the war. VIOLENT ATTACK REPULSED* Received 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, December 12. Official: A very violent German attack in the region of Ypres was repulsed. We retook a trench in the same region previously reached by the Germans. A GERMAN EVACUATION. ENEMY BATTERIES SILENCED. , A FAVORABLE VIEW. Received 13, (i p.m. Paris, December 12. Official. —The enemy has completely evacuated the right bank of the Yser Canal, north of the ferryman's house. We occupied the bank. Our batteries silenced the enemy's in the region of Nampoel. Our heavy artillery silenced the field batteries and destroyed a howitzer in the region of the Aisnc. Artillery duels and \-nfantry engagements at Bois de la Gourie, north-east of Vailly, resulted to our advantage. Our artillery destroyed a blockhouse and several trrenehes of a heavy antiaeroplane battery at Deuxnoudi, west of Vigneulleslesh a-nd Conehatel. A RIFT IN THE LUTE. RIOT AMONGST THE KAISER'S TROOPS. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, December 12. The Daily Telegraph's Amsterdam correspondent reports that- violent riots between Prussians and Bavarians and the Landwehr occurred in Antwerp barracks. Several were killed, and many wounded. The Bavarians have been sent to the south-east of Belgium. "MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE," CAN GERMANY DO IT? Received 13, 6 p.m. London, December 11. A Berlin wireless says that much remains to be done ■ before the Russian resistance is broken at Lodz. If the

GERMAN NIGHT ATTACK FAILS. A SUCCESS NEAR LILLE. FRENCH MAKING PROGRESS. Received 14, 1.5 a.m. I Pari b, December 12. A fi«rce skirmish occurred on the, night of the 10th amid the ruins of Dixmude. The Germans advanced, shouting loudly for the purpose of concentrating attention on themselves while an enfilading movement in another direction developed. Both attacks were repulsed with heavy slaughter. The Germans, bewildered by the darkness, fired on their own troops in the belief that they were French infantry. British howitzers recently out-ranged the Germans, and silenced the batteries west of Lille. The Germans have withdrawn to a position south-east of La Basse, as the I result of the capture of Vermelles. Stubborn resistance continues at Arras, but the French are progressing towards Douai and Cambrai. Every advance is difficult. The Ger- ' mans constantly leave men concealed in • pits, haystacks, and trees, working ] machine-guns, or snipers willing to'go i to any risk for the sake of killing a few i of the enemy. [ FRENCH ATTACK REPULSED. i ACCORDING TO GERMAN ADVICES. 1 Received 14, 12.35 a.m. : Amsterdam, December 12. Official messages from Berlin claim ' that a French attack eastward of Langemarck was repulsed, 340 being taken ' prisoners and two hundred killed. The 1 message adds: "The Germans captured a •' point du support on the outskirts of the ' Argonne forest. The enemy buffered ' severe casualties, and two hundred ! prisoners were taken. ■ BRITISH BOMBARDMENT OF ' BELGIAN COST. j Received 13, 5.5 p.m. ( Copenhagen, December 12. I A _ message from Berlin ,states that < British cruisers on Thursday violently bombarded the coast for the purpose of stopping the advance in the region of Nicuport. THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE FAILS. GERMANY WOULD WELCOME A REST. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. London, December 12. A Berlin wireless states that Germany ' immediately assented to the Pope's sug- ( gestion of a Christmas truce. The de- i: cision of other belligerents is unknown. Russia declined the Christmas truce. GERMAN BOOTY SEIZED IN HOLLAND. Received 13 ,6 p.m. i Amsterdam, December 2. ] The Telegraf states that the authorities seized at Hansweerm fifteen 1 boats carrying grain and various goods, apparently booty, which the ] were trying to transport across the. Scheldt. The Germans declare that they i arc private property. 1 THE GALLANT BELGIAN KING. f STANDS UP TO THE KAISER. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. ] London, December 12. The Daily Mail's diplomatic correspondent, describing King Albert's interview with the Kaiser cabled on Ist December, states that the Kaiser finally said: "Some day you will remember you are a Coburg." ■ .« . King Albert replied: "Certainly. I j am also an Orleanist, but above all lam ' a Belgian." - 1 . WHY VON MOLTKE RESIGNED. j HIS ADVICE IGNORED BY THE KAISER .; • ■ . Received 14, 12.35 a.m. Amsterdam, December 13. The newspaper Handelsblad states that General Von Moltke. some time back wished to make an attack concentrated . on Verdun, combined with an advance northwards, with a view of separating the British and French armies, whereas the Kaiser wanted Calais at all costs. Van Falkenheyn, the Kaiser's favorite, profited by Von Moltke's alleged illness to work out the Kaiser's plan between Dixmude and Ypres, with disastrous results. Von Moltke, believing his policy to be correct, resigned. The Dutch state that only Von Hider- , burg is strong enough to escape the influence of the Kaiser and his entourage. .