France & Flanders

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 187, 16 January 1915, Page 5

France & Flanders

KAISER AT THE FRONT. | GERMAN SUCCESS AT SOISSONS. 1 HELVVY REINFORCEMENTS SENT. VON KLI'CK IN COMMAND. Paris, January 14 (jcneral Von Kluck is commanding in the neighborhood of Soissons, The attack on the north-east of Soissons was of considerable magnitude. Apparently the. recent French attacks menaced the railway junction at Anizy and Lw Cateau, for (iencral Von Kluck successfully appealed for strong reinforcements, and was enabled to press a coun-ter-attack vehemently. A Gorman wireless message states that our troops north-east of Soissons attacked the heights of Vregny, ami cleared an elevated plain. Trench after trench was stormed until after dark, despite the pouring rain and deeply sodden clay. The Kaiser witnessed the brilliant capture of fourteen French oliicers, 1300 men, four cannon, four ma-chine-guns, and one searchlight. A communique states that mist hampered the artillery in Belgium. There was a violent cannonade around Nieuport and Yprcs. The Belgians blew up an ammunition depot at Stuyvenskerke. The artillery ell'eetively bombarded the enemy near l.ens. There has been heavy fighting north of Soissons. We have progressed slightly north-west of Crony, and maintained positions there, despite fierce attacks, but were forced, to give ground before Vregny. Floods in the Aisne carried away several bridges, endangering communications. We. therefore, established positions south of the river, between C'rouv and Missy. We blew up German sapheads north of Beauscjour. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, January 14. The Kaiser visited the region of Longwy in September, and was photographed in the village of Bazeilles, standing beside a pretty French girl. He asked her what she would like, and she replied: "That Bazeilles be spared, I your Majesty.'' The Kaiser left a note, I ordering tliat the village be not harmed, and the troops obeyed the order.

AIRMEN ACTIVE IX BELGIUM. THE CER MAN'S ALARMED. SACRILEGE TO SECURE COPPER. Received 10, I'i.oO a.m. Rotterdam, January 10. The battle in Flanders is confined to the artillery and aircraft. Fields liavc been converted into lakes, and the trendies into deep ditches, and the infantry are unable to keep in their liring positions. Despite tin; rain-storms, airmen on both sides make daily raids. The Germans have issued ollieial warning against air raids at Aix-la-hCap-pelle, Cologne, Brussels, and Antwerp. Fierco battles in the air are expected when the weather is favorable. The Germans removed the famous group, "The Day of the Cross," from the Church of the Sacred Heart at Turvhout. They are also removing electric light cables in some German cities to obtain copper, acetylene lighting being substituted.

SUDDEN FRENCH ATTACK. CAPTURE OF U'IRMAN TRENCHES. LILLE STILL HELD. Received lfi, 12.30 a.m. Paris, January 15. Official: The French troops, by a sudden coup, destroyed recently-constructed German trenches north-west of Touguescourt, and north-west of Roye. The Gaulois states that the Germans are prepared to defend Lille street by street. Cement trenches have been constructed, and four naval guns placed in commanding positions.

GERMAN'S' TROUBJ.ES. MUD ROADS AND EPIDEMICS. Received 10, 12.30 a.m. Rotterdam, January 15. The Germans' attempt to move new guns to the coast had to be abandoned. The guns sank to the breech-blocks in the mud. An epidemic of fever is causing the Germans anxiety. Attempts to isolate the patients interfere with the movements oi troops. THE MERCIER INCIDENT CLOSED. Received 10, 12.40 a.m. London, January 15. The Daily Telegraph's Havre correspondent says the Pope's reply to King Albert was most cordial. He stated that he did not regard the M'ercier incident as grave, and considered it closed. The correspondent adds: Cardinal Mercier is still under arrest, guards being posted at the doors of his palace.

TOO STRICT CENSORSHIP. Received 15, !).10 p.m. Paris. January 15. The Parliamentary Socialist party is tabling a resolution demanding a less rigid censorship of news.

the Germans - success. FRENCH RETIRE NEAR KOISSONS. AN UNIMPORTANT REVERSE. Kcceivcd 15, lU") p.m. Paris. Jmiliary 15. Official.—The enemy's attacks northward of Soissons have been checked. A damaged bridge compelled us to disable and abandon sonic guns. The Germans took soini) pvisoners. notably wounded whom in rfVreat, it was impossilili: to remove. We captured a number of unwounded members of seven different regiments. The enemy scored a partial success, which cannot affect the general operations.

COAL FOR GERMANY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 15. (> p.m. London, January 15. Coal won by forty thousand miners at Mons, T.iege, and Cliarleroi is beini sent to Germany.