France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 174, 31 December 1914, Page 5

France & Flanders

"A MERRY CHRISTMAS." p:.v:.i pudding in plenty for the troops. Germany starving the belGUNS. FRENCH STILL ADVANCING. London, December 29. A correspondent in the north of France says that Christmas Day brought a hard frost and heavy winter mist. The weather did its best to produce a Christmas atmosphere, but the combatants did not take the hint, and guns boomed on the Yser early in the morning, showing that there was no truce. The British front was quieter, and the men ate their Christmas dinner in peace. Plum pudding was served out to all the troops, including those in the trenches. Suck was the generosity of the people at home that many had six puddings. Stories of the orgies are likely to become legendary. The army spent a Merry Christmas. Paris, December 29. Monday night's communique states that a violent storm throughout Monday prevented operations on most of the front, but we ■ progressed in the Argonnes. London, December 29. The Evening News' Hague correspondent states that while ostensibly welcoming American food supplies in Belgium, the Germans are steadily increasing the difficulties in the way of distribution. They have also stopped the importation of bread from Dutch bakeries at Eyndhoven, which have hitherto supplied most of Northern Belgium. Paris, December 29. , A communique states: "The enemy; violently bombarded the position from ] the Lys to the Somme. We progressed j between the Somme and the Argonnes, I repuhwd several counter-attacks on the ] heights of the Meuse, and re-captured : trenches and a redoubt at Bois Brule, after three successive counter-attacks, i We are closely investing Steinbach, and, . fo"owng a violent action, seized the | ruins of a chateau north-wes'; of Stein- J bath. i ! PRISONERS SHOT DEAD. AN ASTOUNDING GERMAN ORDER. ) "NO LIVING MAN MUST BE LEFT." Times and Sydney Sun Services. I London, December 29. j The eye-witness at headquarters states j that in one place the mud was so bad that neither the French nor Germans were able to fire their rifles, and fought with picks and shovels. An order issued by a German general commanding the Baden infantry discloses that he instructed them to take no prisoners, and to kill the wounded. London, December 29. The Daily Express publishes an army order of General Joffre, dated December ! 17, which says:—"We have proof that the lieutenant commanding the 7th Company of the 112 th Bavarian Infantry Regiment communicated to his men the following order by the General Commanding the 58th Brigade and 14th ) Bavarian Corps.— " 'Henceforth no prisoners are to be ( made. All prisoners are to be put to j death, and the wounded, with or with- I cut urji.-, are to be put to death. Prisoners, Lven when taken in large bodies, are to be put to death. No iiving men must be left behind us.'" •■ eneral .ic-fire adds: "This or-Jcr has » been tani,,d out. Interrogation of Getman prisoners rjv.-.ves th>t numbers ol I"relish ]>ri-.oners have been bhot dead •' RHEIMS BOMBARDED. WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED. Received 31, 12.55 a.m. Paris, December 30. Le Matin says the Germans again bombarded Rheims. Many houses were destroyed, and children playing in gardens were killed and wounded. Twentyfive, mostly women and children were killed. FIGHT AT FESTUBERT. ALLIES STAND SEVEREST TE&T. FIGHTING WITH KNIFE AND BAYONET. Received 30, 9.55 p.m. Paris, December 30. A further account of the fighting at Festubert and Givenchy states that the Indians held trenches between two villages, the German trenches in places being less than fifty yards distant. The Germans attacked, using bayonets and grenades. The Indians resisted for hours with bayonets and knives, until ordered to withdraw. Meanwhile the hand-to-hand fight spread to the villages. Every street and house was hotly contested, and the Germans gained possession of Gwcnchy. At the most critical moment two regiments of French Territorials arrived, and were spread over the whole line. The French, English, and Indians fought desperately side by side in a confused line, regardless of nationality or regiments, with bayonets, knives, and bombs. Hardly a shot was fired. Believing the day won, the Germans had quitted the trenches, and, amazed at the onslaught, they vainly took refuge now in the trenches. The Allies turned them out of every line of trenches, saps, and traverses. The German dead lay in heaps. At dawn the Allies regained possession of Givenehy. AN AIRMAN IN DIFFICULTIES. T.'r.ics and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 29. 'lhc Fiets Bureau states that a bomb dropped by an airman caught a string and ltinai'urd suspended a few feet lielow his machine. It was impossible to . land, iiif! the aviator 1 ' : " 1 '~ 1 "'