WANTON DESTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1918, Page 5

WANTON DESTRUCTION.

REPRISALS SUGGESTED. Received Sept. 11, 7.30 p.m. London, Sept. 10. The enemy's wanton devastation of the evacuated territory and historic buildings is evoking many Anglo-French demands for retaliation. It is suggested that the Allies announce that for every j. town or village sacked or burned a German town or village will be treated e similarly; that Berlin be responsible for Brussels; Hamburg for Antwerp; Cologne for Ghent, and Frankfort for e Bruges.—United Service. i NEW ZEALANDERS. 6 i SIILL MAKING HISTORY. " w DETAILS OF THEIR DAILY e DOINGB. . * d 8 ~—~ j> (From Captafn Malcolm Rosa, Official '' War Correspondent with the.New s Zealand Forces in the Field.) e tl September C. i Starting from their outpost positions, - Won as the result of yesterday's advance, the New Zealanders to-day continued their forward march. This morning they mopped up numbers of Gennans . remaining in shell-holes in front of last night's objective, and took fifty more prisoners. Patrols then pushed on south of Havrincourt Wood to Metzen Coutre village. Havrincourt Wood, where we expected stiff fighting, was evacuated by the enemy. September 7 To-day the New Zealanders have continued their advance east of Havrincourt Wood and the village of Metzen Coutre, and have pushed patrols right into Gougeaucourt Wood, which the enemy has cut down for timber. We are well beyond the Canal du Nord, which we passed where it is tunnelled. To the '• south-west the enemy has blown up the { railway, and away in the north-east we J can see fires burning in Ribecourt, FlesJ quaires, and Epinoy. We are moving 1 eastward almost parallel to the Hinden--3 burg line. But what i 3 of more import--3 ance than ground gained is the undoubted deterioration of the enemy morale. Some ' prisoners who were captured yesterday J accused another unit of running away, J and yet another lot complained that E the troops detailed to relieve them did ■ not come up. There is increasing reluctance to fight to a finish, and even offi- '' cers admit that Germany cannot win, i and that, generally, they are very tired • of the war. 5 One officer stated that we were in 1 possession of Kemmel, and when told we got it without fighting was more scornful still. The enemy has blown great, craters in the roads near Metz. A sodawater plant captured is now ready to supply two of our divisions, and thousands of bottlesful have been discoveredTwo German tanks lie stranded in the ground New Zealanders have won. One wood we occupied contained almost luxurious headquarters undestroyed. The enemy had evtacntly settled there for fhe winter There were numerous huts witli excellent I>eds, and almost each had a safe dug-out to which the occupants 1 could retire in case of shelling. Flowers ■ were growing in window-hoxes. Tw« days ago German gunners began to savr ngely shell this cam]), and we found his * dug-outs useful. One hut was set 1 afire, and some men climbing to tile roof ■> piuckilv heat out the fires while the ' shelling continued- Returning, our car raced through a barrage of five-nines, |j splinters of which pierced our mud- ' guards. Everything goes to show that the enemy is greatly annoyed, though , powerless to stay our advance- He is resisting; with machine-guns and fire from the south of Gouzeaucourt Wood and Trf-scau.lt Ridge. AUSTROGERMANY. AUSTRIAN TROOPS FOR THE ' WEST. "_ Received Sept. 11, 7.30 p.m. » London, Sept. 10. 0 The populace of Austria-Hungary is uneasy at the recent despatch of troops tt from Vienna to the west front, which '_ provoked a riot. Thousands of women e raided Ihe railway station, protesting ' against the departures.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received Sept. 11, 7.30 p.m. London, Sept. 10. Zurich reports that large numbers of Austrians are leaving Ttaly for the west front. This is regarded as meaning that Hie Italian front has definitely become a secondary issue. The Allies' successes on the west are profoundly impressing the enemy leaders. ANOTHER WAR LOAN. London, Sept. 10. Germany will issue her ninth war " loan on the- 23rd. The stock is issued '' at 1)8 and pays fi per cent. —Aus. N.Z. " Cable Assoc. i- ; PRINCE EUPPREOTIT. y Received Sept. 12, 1 a.m. Amsterdam, Sept- 11. The engagement of Prince Rupprechi 'f to Antoinette, sister of the Grand Dnch- '' ess of Luxembourg, had a bitter recep- '* tion in Luxembourg, where Prince Ruppreeht is known as the "Luxembourg hangman." The Parliamentary Opposition insisted on questioning the Government and the Chamber supported the interpellation by 20 to 21. The Government has resigned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.