GERMANS RETIRING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 169, 23 December 1914, Page 5

GERMANS RETIRING.

ALLIES' MARCH UNOPPOSED. MANY TOWNS RE-TAKEN. YPRES STILL A STORM-CENTRE. London, December 21. The Sluis correspondent of the news, paper Tyd states that the Allies, assisted by the licet and the British artillery, occupied, unopposed, Lomlnicrtzyde, Saint Georges, and Wcstcnde, also Bixschoote, Langeninar, Paschendaal, and Morelcde. The British are patrolling the village of Westrooscbeekte, near Paschendaal, but definite occupation of the village depends on the issue of the fighting in the woods in the south-west. The Germans are now concentrating as many men as possible to regain the territory lost north-east of. Ypres. The Allies arc steadily advancing towards Roulers, on the Menin railway. The German communications arc seriously endangered, owing to the British occupation of Morslede. The Sluis correspondent of the Ilandelsbad states that the English squadron bombarded the coast of Zeebrugge and Huyst to.day. The Germans did not respond. BRAVE FRENCHMEN. HEROES GO TO DEATH. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 22, 5.20 p.m. London, December 22. A correspondent records the following incident at Epernay:—The German artillery compelled the French to retire to a section of their trenches. The commander called for two volunteers to locate the German guns. 'These men, armed with portable telephones, made their way to an abandoned farm, climbed to the loft, noted the situation of the Germans, and telephoned the information. The French found the range, and smashed several guns. The Germans then advanced through a wood towards the farm where the French officers were hidden, and established their guns within thirty yards of the building. The telephone informed the commander of every movement. Still the men refused to attempt to escape, and finally announced that the Germans were about to open fire. The last message concluded: "Don't mind jis, but fire!" The brave men were taken at their word, and the French guns sent a hail of shells, which destroyed the farmhouse, and swept away friend and foe in a common ruin. THE BELGIAN TRIBUTE. ■MONEY TO BE ADVANCED. Received 22, 10.2(5 p.m. London, December 22. Renter's Amsterdam correspondent states that, under German pressure, n;r.e provincial representatives met at Brussels, and held a special Landtag session, asserting that the Diet had agreed to issue Treasury bonds. A group of bankers undertook to advance nineteen millions sterling, payable in twelve monthly instalments. The German Governor promised that all goods would be paid for in cash if these instalments were promptly forthcoming.