France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 178, 6 January 1915, Page 5

France & Flanders

"YARD EY YARD." i BELGIUM. T;'WARDS THE DUTCH FRONTIER. Received 0, 1*2.35 a.m. London, January 6. Yar.* by yard the Germans arc being forced towards the Dutch frontier. A large force of German marines is constructing defence works two and a half miles from the frontier. Fifteen houses at ileyst were demolished to clear the way for guns commanding Zeebrugge.

BELGIANS TO FIGHT FOR THE KAISER. BOMBS AT BRUSSELS. BELGIAN BURGOMASTERS PLAY THE GAME. STEIXBACH'S FALL ADMITTED. FRENCH ADVAXCK IX ALSACE. Amsterdam, January 4. The German commandant of the village of Overpelt lias summoned the Belgians of the 1014, 1<)15, and 1910 levies for incorporation in the German army. The Germans have taken the wellknown bronze gates at Antwerp railway station for cannon.

French aviators dropped bombs and partially destroyed the new dirigible sheds at Brussels on Saturday. Several German soldiers were killed. Amsterdam advices state that a meeting of Burgomasters at Ghent discussed tl-e raising of the war levy of 480 million francs ( C! 0,200,000) made by Germany. The Belgian Governor of East Flanders presided. There was extraordinary enthusiasm, as he declared that the meeting was held under the sovereignity of their King and Queen, and that the Belgians were more than ever united. ' It was resolved that the demand should be met by a general levy «,n individuals.

Shiy.-. reports sta'e that the road from M(.r.sterze!!» Ghent is mined every tiiiy metres. This is intended to 'lumper the advance of the Allies' artillery. The Zeppelin sheds and aviator hangars are being increased at Bruges. Paris, January 4. The expulsion of the Germans from •Steinbach was largely due to tin- Frencli •'i in. guns. The Germans abandoned 230' i dead and wounded.

A communique states: "We seized several points of vantage at Perthes-les-Hurlus, and made further progress in the Le Petre wood, also at Steinbach. We carried important heights in the west of Germany. There were arti/hry duels at many points." A German communique, after denying the capture of Steinbach, admits that the French have taken the town. It J (Ids the French captured German 1 ositions on the heights west of Sennhrim which the Germans have since retaken. I our German spies, including a bogus priest, have been arrested at Bellort.

VIOLENT FIGHTING. 'ERMANS BEATEN AT STEINIUCH. Received ,5, 7 p.m. I'ari?, January 5. Oliicial: \ ioli iit lighting continues in the region of Ceniay. Last night we lost Intt then recaptured a church and a juarter of Stcinbach. To-day vre captured the entire village, and also lost :md regained, after a violent counterattack, German works west of Ceniay. There are no reports from other parts )f the front.

YPRES—A GIFT FOR THE KAISER. GERMAN" GENERAL'S SPUR TO TIIE TROOPS. THE PRESENTATION' DELAYED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 5.20 p.m. London, January 5. T.e Temps says that on Boxing Day General You Jiissing delivered a long harangue to the Germans, urging them t.) capture Ypns at all cost, in order offer it to the Kaiser for a New Year's gift.

BRISK FIGHTS IN ALSACE. FULNCH UIAUUE THF OFKMAX lit: Run .s. CUT OFF FKOJU SITI'OKTS. 110W KTEIXUACII FFLL. JleCoived (ij 1 1'.0.j a.m. Taris, January 0. The lighting at Ceriiny was formidable, and tin; roar of the guns unceasing fur three days. The valle\s wen: filled with tin; bodies of cattle and tin' debris of ruined villages. When the French drove the (.iermuus H'otii Thann, the French attempted to throw a bridge over tlie Thur river, west of Cernay. ! 'it December 'J!)tb the tieru.'au gums forced them to retreat. The French crossed early on the uOth_, three miles higher, and opposite Thann. The Herman batteries cut to pieces the I'reni V guarding the bridge, and destroyed the pontoons, thus separating the French troops from tiie right bank. Before the I'reneh gun-, eo'.iM reply, the f'ermans di-i'pp'rred in(:> the forest-, and prepared (o i-!inib !,i] 1 s dominating the Frnch portion. 'j'he French were in grave danger, '! heri beg.in a r:r- for the i«ei"hK The Cl,:,:i r < , !•••„ glacis and a banieao- e,f e! i e-lroc!.-, ui't« r a rougu-aiid-tuiui/lu wiiU LtijNjiiutd aiid fifle-butts.

The Chasseurs made a brilliant charge t'.rcc mile::, uphill. The Germans, advancing, saw the ! iv'.i:h in v,option, and tried to turn I *.jt ;l -.vxt I, o lute. The French U'"iis u;,, lied on !' ,'ir flanks at' a tliou- •' '"•'*>. «s»l l'< r<; s an.l drivers were Thus was St'.'iiii.a. VARIOUS SMALL TALK. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, January 4. 'I he eye-witness ai headquarters says that sometimes when new ground is broken by the entrenching spade it turns up the long-buried dead and ghastly relics of former battles. The surface is I everywhere ploughed and furrowed by shells, bombs and mines. There is something grotesquely incongruous in the appearance of the Algerians in flowing Oriental robes amidst driving sleet and seas of mud. The Indians are ming newspapers as turbans. The .French cuirassiers, with red rust upon their cuirasses, give an old-world touch. One of our men, who was unarmed, v/ae searching the straw in a farm building when he. was surprised by two Germans. Hi pulled out his wire-cutter and presented it like a revolver, and the Germans surrendered. During the re-bom-bardment of Furness a shell hit u shed where soldiers were being innoculutcJ against typhoid. Ten Here killed and two doctors were wounded.