INCENDIARY MADNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1918, Page 7

INCENDIARY MADNESS.

—■ ■«» ENEMY DESTSUCTIYENJS3S. BLAZING TRAIL OF DEFEAT. London, Oct. 13. Reuter's correspondent at French head-quarters says that the northern horizon is a. sea o£ smoke and names. Every town and village for miies behind the enemy's lines is burning. Vouziers is ablaze from end to end. Router's correspondent at British headquarters says that everywhere on the lino of their retreat fires continue to light up the horizon. The Germans are concentrating upon destroying all places of commercial value, and the household effects of the inhabitants. They mean to ruin all prospects of future prosperity, still bclioving that fi ightfulness will stimulate an anxiety to grant an ijnnistice. Renter's correspondent in Tans says that, a semi-official message states that the enemy, in his retreat continues to display veritable incendiary madness, destroying everything with utter rathlossness. Mr, Arthur Lynch, M-P., in.an interview with Le' Matin, tells, how, Prince Max's proposal became known, be was with the Australians, to whom he recalled the terrible atrocities of the enemy—how they treated prisoners, violated young women, destroyed monuments, and endeavored to scatter terror broadcast by the most fiendish meansMr. Lynch said he repeated these stories because, they reminded us of the difference between the Germnns in victory and the Germans in retreat. How the enemy, during a victorious progress, paid no respect for anything save force. "We should reply to the demand for an armistice." he added "by redoubling our blows " A New York message says that the fact that the American Ambassador, Mr. Sharp, is making a personal investigation of the havoe wrought by the> Germans in their forced retirement from Belgian territory, has led to the belief that it is the purpose of the State Department of the United States to support fully the enormous claims for damages which Germany must meet as a condition of peace. So far the American Government has ,i>ot indicated a disposition to join with the Fihtente Allies in conveying to Germany the threat to destroy a, German city or town jn retaliation for every such community dej stroyed bv the Germans in France and Belgium, but Mr. Sharp'.- 5 investisations might be regarded as also indicating the purpose of the United States to join in such recommendations, should the facts ascertained sustain the'press reports of the extent of the German atrocities.