WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1919, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BUILDING UP DEVASTATED

DISTRICTS.

FRENCH WILL WELCOME AID BY

AMERICANS,

Received Jan. 6, 7.40 p.m.

New York, Jan. 5. A United Press message from Mete states that General Petain declared that Prance will welcome any American soldiers wishing to remain and build up the devastated districts.—United Press.

GERMAN MURDERS.

ARREST OF GENERAL.

London, Dec. 15. The papers feature the arrest of 'the first German murderer to be taken. General von Tesny is now imprisoned in Metz. Belgian officials reporting his atroi/fies say that 111 persons were publicly shot by his orders at Aelon. and that Efctio and were virtually burned to the |ground. Three hundred of the residents of these places were shot and 500 untraced. The commission suggests that their systematic destruction may have been ordered by the general superiors. PLAIN SPEAKING. INCIDENT AT MAYENCE. London, Dec. 17. Router'? correspondent at Mayenue ptates that a large and silent crowd watched the entry into that town of Generals Fayolle and Mangin at the head of the French troops.

When the march past had ended, (Generals Fayollo and Margin rode to the palace of the Duke of Hesse, where they received 20 of tho leading inhabitants, including two ecclesiastics.

The deputation was ranged in a semicircle in the great hall of the palace. Three of the leading townsmen stepped forward and delivered short speeches. After their speeches had been translated General Fayollo said: "I am going' to say to you frankly what is in ray mind." Then, for perhaps the first time iu the course cf tho ivar, a uistinguishe i Fi'enehman, talking faeo to face with the enemy, gave an. incisive and candid review of their actions in war time, and of the world's opinion of them. "You need not fear for your perajns or goods if'you loyally accept General Mangin's orders," he concluded. "Think yourselves happy, to have in front of you a people who have been faithful to tho principles of justice." General Fayolla spoke in French, which was interpreted.