FRANCE AND FLANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 175, 2 January 1915, Page 6

FRANCE AND FLANDERS.

UNHAPPY SOISSONS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, December 30. |A| correspondent behind the Allies says that Soissons has been repeatedly bombarded and shells are damaging the cathedral and hospital. The inhabitants, who cling to their homes, are reduced to an unhappy plight of poverty. They have consolation in the fact that the Germans who have inflicted the mis- ■ ery are unpleasantly situated, and that , their food supplies are indifferent. The German soldiers highly prize bread made of potatoes, and many are reduced to utilising boot grease to fry bread, which | Is then sprinkled with sugar. ' I HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. I Wellington, Dec. 30. ' } The High Commissioner reports under ; date, September 30 (G p.m.):— j Paris reports that in Belgium the , Allies gained a little ground in tho 'region of Nieuport in spite of attacks j north of Lombartzyde. Tho enemy violently bombarded St. Georges, which the Allies put in a state of defence. In the valley of the Aisne and the Argonnes the enemy showed, renewed activity, with a violent bombardment. An effective reply was given by the French artillery. In the Vosges a severe attack by the enemy was repelled. BRUNQ GARIBALDI'S DEATH. Paris, December 30. Brun Garibalid's grandson was killed while gallantly leading his men when storming the German trenches in the Argonnes. Garibaldi was wounded in the head I during the thick of a fight. Blinded by blood, he was compelled to retire. While it was being bandaged, he exhorted his men to continue the struggle, and returned shortly to the head of his troops. He again fell and exclaimed: "Go ahead, boys; vivo Italia." He then expired. The troops pressed on, cap- \ turing the trenches at the bayonet point, i His mother telegraphed to her five other! sons attached to the Foreign Legion, j urging them to emulate Bruno. j OFFICIAL REPORT. Paris December 30. A communique states:—We progress- I cd in the Nieuport region. The enemy , violently bombarded St. Georges, where J; we carried a point of support bet vcen ] Zonncbeke and Becclacre. There v-rs a > recrudescence of German activity in the . Aisne Valley. We progressed in the . Le Four de Paris region. There were [violent cannonades on the whole of the '/Argonne and Moselle front, especially I on the heights of the Meuse. We repulsed attacks at Tete-dc-Faux, Our heavy artillery silenced the mortars which were bombarding Upper Ospach. GERMAN OUTRAGES. Paris, December 30. The Belgian Commission's latest report gives long lists of German outrages, such as butchering a French high officer, priests, and Red Cross men, burning wounded men alive, burying civilians alive, massacring and torturing children. The Germans have pillaged pedigree stock in Northern France, and 125 valuable horses and a number of selected sheep have been sold by auction in j

Germany.