BEATEN BACK

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 227, 29 October 1914, Page 7

BEATEN BACK

GERMANS HEAVILY DEFEATED ALUES EXTRICATED FROM CRITICAL POSITION SENSATION IN AFRICA BOERS LEAD REBELLION GERMANS INVADE ANGOLA AND PORTUGAL SENDS WARSHIPS

The latest cables announce very heavy fighting in Belgium. The Germans made substantial; progress in one direction, but subsequently were beaten back, sufferingterrible J The enemy is mounting guns atplaces oh the Belgian coast for the purpose of repelling attacks from the sea,, and are sowing mines with, the •Bame object. .'. ■■■■■ ■ •.-.-. Sensational messages detail another rebellion m South Africa, led *y General be Wet and General Beyers. Opinion in England is that it is perhaps not so serious as might be thought at first glance. General Botha has gone to the front. .- . Fighting in another part of Africa, the Belgians have heavily defeated the Germans, and Portugal is sending warships, owing to the invasion of her territory by the Germans. A graphic description is given of the silencing of a German battery in Belgium by the brilliant Charge of a Scottish regiment. England has agreed to come to the assistance of the Dominions l>y granting them loans on favourable terms during war time. £;_ (trn —,'* —■ -" - ■—...■■»■ '' B'v Cable. — Pre** Asstciatien.—Copyright.

CROSSING THE CANALS. ■ -. ' THE GERMAN ADVANCE. ' CRITICAL TIME FOR, ALLIES. . (Beeeived October 29, 10 a.m.) PARIS, October 28. There are three main canals between Meuport and Dixmude, and the Germans crossed the second channel on Sunday and reached Pervyse on Monwhen the battle"was critical for the Allies. The however, steadily advanced along the dunes to Loin- • ImrtzyUe, Westende. 5 ? TERRIBLE LOSSES. GERMANS HEAVILY DEFEATED. PBI#N BACK TO BBUGES. •.■:•'■".■ (Beceived October 29, .10.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. A Flushing- telegram states that a Jai-ge force of Germans on Sunday ad-, -rokced from Bruges to Thourout. . The Allies remained concealed until - the town was occupied, and then with a irodden attacks' drove the- Germans in confusion back to Bruges, leaving hun : of dead and wounded. The British and French flags are now Hying on the tower of the Thourout church. There [was. heavy fighting on Monday *t Couckelaere, where the Allies held a commanding position to the westward and inflicted terrible losses. Thrice •were German masses flung in unavailing assaults on the position. ENEMY HURLED BACK. DRIVEN OVER THE YSER. VAST NUMBER OF OASUALTIES N \ (Received October 29, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. A ,'/ Daily News'' message states Ibat the Germans have been beaten baek over the Yser Biver. Many were drowned and many others taken prisoners. They have also fallen back at West! ende. Three hundred and eighty-seven | irehicles laden with their wounded/jpassed, through Ostend on Sunday. ATTACKS FROM THE SEA. GERMANS MOUNTING GUNS. ' THE SOWING OF MINES. (Be.ceiv.ed October 29, 10.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 28. German guns have been mounted at faeyst and Zeebrugge for the purpose of meeting attacks from the sea. They fcave also sown mines along the coast, using Ostend tugs and luggers, but many of the mines have broken away and exploded against the groynes on the seashore. ..... SILENCING THE GUNS. ■ ■ ■ ""^sß* BRILLIANT SCOTTISH CHARGE. TO; THE SKIRL OF THE PIPES. (Received October 29, 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, October 28. The Allies on October 16 executed an attack on Hadbourdin. The British . and French columns moved along the? Jjanfc 'of the Lys in a thick ihist, which enabled them to'escape detection until

the French cavalry debouched on a great paved road running parallel with the railway from La Bassee to Lille. A German battery enfiladed the road and the railway, while the great peat bogs on either side were commanded by German entrenchments. % The latter were insufficient to stop the cavalry and the infantry, which left the roadway and advanced by pathways over the marshes. The artillery, however, were unable to follow. . The British general, for the .honour of silencing the German guns, chose a Scottish regiment. The Scotsmen made short- using the ditches, which crossed the marshes every, hundred yards, as cover. When within charging distance they fixed bayonets and charged to the skirl of the bagpipes. They bayoneted the artillerymen at their guns, despite the barbed wire entanglements and a murderous fire from machine guns. The Scotsmen then broke the breeches of the guns. All was over in ten minutes, and the; Scotsmen retired 5 to the main, body, enabling the French guns to gallop on the road safely. MODERN WARFARE, % THE FRENCH COMMANDER. ; INTERESTING CHARACTER SKETCH. "Times" and "Sydney Sim" Services. (Received October 29, 8 a.m.) . LONDON, October 28. " The Times " correspondent in Franee precedes a character sketch of General Joffre by a comparison of the Napoleonic wars with the present wars. He says:— The aeroplane has robbed the war of the tactical interest attaching to the old time wars, and war now consists in a series of parallel movements. The" armies turn about each other like boxers in the preliminary stages of a contest, "pivoting clumsily to catch each other at a disadvantage. That is practically all the art of •modern war, and the rest is just ding dong battle, resistance, marching, and countermarching. General Joffre is rarely seen on horseback, but: spends hours daily in a motor car, and wears out two chauffeurs daily. He also spends long hours in an unpretentious room with a telephone at his ear. His chief characteristic is his calmness —the resuit of calmness in himself which gives confidence to others. His staff never for a moment doubts his capacity to win, and that conviction has percolated through .to.the masses of the troops, and has made him popular, though he eschews and is modest and unassuming. His readi- ; ness to accept suggestions has! foster-' i / ed the belief that he is an..adopter J and organiser rather than a strategist, but the campaign" has shown that he is a soldier, au engineer, and an or-' I ganiser. His great maxim is that nothing can be improvised, and that I everything must be thought out. He ! takes that infinite trouble which ..is i necessary to secure' successes, and has i brought together the .best military brains in Fiance, co-ordinated them, and' controlled their efforts. He has 1 exorcised politics, as the greatest bane, from the French army. Himself a Republican and a Freemason, ' he is surrounded by Catholics who are perhaps disposed to cavil at the present Constitution, but as a result of his -firmness and singleness of purpose, he commands the greatest fight-

ing machine in the world, from which : every consideration, other than ef- ] ficieney, has been obliterated. General Joffre understands what to expect from the common soldier, and how to extend him on an occasion. This war of science and anonymity accords with General Joffre's genius. It is a German-made scientific war, as opposed to the artistic war, and General Joffre has become master of a new system which he did not invent. CHOLERA IN VIENNA. DANUBE WATERS INFECTED. GERMANS AT CONSTANTINOPLE. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received October 29, 8 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. .An .analysis of the waters of the Danube shows the presence of cholera microbes. Hundreds of cases are reported in Vienna daily. Prom Rome it is reported that Constantinople is crowded with German infantry and artillery, and that the fortifications of;the Dardanelles are under German command. ' i DOMINION'S FINANCE. HELP FROM MOTHERLAND. . '■; A SCHEME AG REED ON. (Received .October"-20, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. The Hon. T. Mackenzie has formulated a scheme, to secure the Imperial Government's financial assistance for Dominions during war-time. He has arranged for a deputation to the Bight Hon. Lloyd George, Chancellor' of the Exchequer, in which South Africa and Canada joined, but in which Australia did not participate. After discussion with Mr Lloyd George and the Governor of the Bank of England, the Chancellor agreed to meet the deputation's Wishes, and the Government agreed , to guarantee the Bank of England for any money required by Canada, South Africa, or New Zealand. An amount to be included in the next Imperial war loan scheme secures the money, and the rate of interest is to be not exceeding 4£ per cent. South Africa lias received

£7,000,000, and it is understood New Zealand has received £2,000,000. Canada has also received assistance. . POSITION OF AUSTRALIA. A MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. (Received October 20, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 29. The Assembly has passed a month's Supply. Mr Cann, in explaining, Baid that all the States and the Commonwealth were negotiating for loans in Londbn, and there were fair average prospects of success. They might reasonably expect the same treatment as the other dependencies. JAPAN ANDMTHE WAR. THE ANTAGONISTIC INFLUENCE. A CONSUL-GENERAL'S PLEA. (Received October 29, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 29. The Japanese Consul-Gcneral, speaking at the Master Builders' Picnic, referring to the Japanese action in the war, said it was evident from the cables that there had been some influence antagonistic to Japan at work. Her motives had. been misrepresented, but the cables disclosed that Japan's action had been taken in full accord and agreement with Britain. He trusted that any - suspicion's which might "have 'existed would be dispelled. • If further rumours, gained currency he hoped they -would not be seriously regarded by the thinks ing population. - a fresh"terror. NEW BRITISH GUN. TAUBE AEROPLANE DESTROYED. LONDON, October 27. A new British gun has provided a fresh terror for German airmen. A Taube aeroplane flew* over the headquarters of the British General Staff, scattering bombs promiscuously. A shot from one of the new guns brought the machine to the ground. Another Taube machine tried to make amends for this failure, but before it could begin to throw bombs gun-fire made it withdraw hastily.

ANOTHER REBELLION. SENSATION IN AFRICA. "DE WET AND BEYERS HEAD A RISING. LONDON, October 28. It is officially stated that General Christian de Wet and General Beyers have headed a rebellion in the northern part of the Orange Free State and the Western Transvaal. They seized Government officials at Heilbron and kept them prisoners.

A train was stopped, and Reitz, an officer, of. the Defence Force, was taken from it and disarmed. The Government is taking drastic measures to deal with the rebellion. BOTHA GOES TO THE FRONT. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT ON SITUATION. PRETORIA, October 28. Official: General Botha has gone to the front. (Received October 29, 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. The "Morning Post" is optimistic as to General Botha's ability to speed,ily suppress the outbreak. The "Chronicle 5 ' deprecates the civil war, which it likens to that in the .United States fifty years ago. "The Times" says that the rebellion is in nowise so serious as it may seem at the first glance. Apart from General Botha's enormous personal influence,the weight of Dutch opinion is solidly against the rebels, and if the latter are relying on German aid they will be rudely disillusioned.

GERMANS DEFEATED. WIN FOE THE BELGIANS. (Received October 29, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. It is officially reported that the Belgians completely defeated the Germans on the shores of Lake Tanganyika/the extreme eastern boundary of the .Congo Free State and the western boiindary of German East Africa. ANGOLA INVADED. PORTUGAL SENDING WARSHIPS. (Received Ortober 29, 10.20 a.m.) - , LISBON, October 28. 1 German troops have invaded Angola. Portugal'is sending warships immediately. DEFEAT OF MARITZ. FURTHER LARGE SURRENDERS-, CAPE TOWN, October 27. It is ofticiallj' stated that the enemy at Kakamas comprised - Germans and German Boers. AJaritz was wounded in the leg, but the wound is not danger- . ous. The.South African losses., were seven wounded. Many rebels surrendered at Kakamas, including several wounded; JMaritz retreatPd to Schni drift, abandoning his camp stoics and a waggonload of ammunition. - LONDON, October 27. .' A further 124 of Maritz's rebels, including live officers, have surrendered. Both Christian de.Wet and Christian Beyers, belonged to the irreconcilable part)', of which Hertzog is the political head and front, and both were opposed to the peace of Yereeniging, desiring to continue the war "io the bitter etui." Evidently the ''bitter-enders," as the irrec.oneilables are called, are still in - some force in the back-veldt districts; < and'a leader of the brilliancy of dc Wet is certain to gain a following, for though his independence of action made * him unpopular-amongst the other Dutch i leaders, his s-kill in guerrilla warfare, < his dash and his successful actions made ' him the most admired of generals, even though his stern discipline made 'him more respected than loved by his com 1 l mandos. General de Wet was born in . 1854, and was practising as a barrister when the South African war com-/ merieed. He was appointed a field cor- 1 net of the Heidellwig district in the = Boer war of .1881, and was present at the battle of Majuba. In 1885 he became a member of the Transvaal Yolks l raad, and was a member of the Orange Free State Volksraad from 1885 to , 1897. With the opening of the last '-, South African war he was appointed , Commander-in-Chief of the Orange Free \ State forces, and it was largely owing . to his skilful generalship that the war t was so prolonged. He was a master of \ guerrilla tactics, and may. be- said to j have inaugurated the system of surprise , attacks and quick retreats, which caused « the British forces so much trouble in | the last stages of the war. frequent successes and the dexterity with < which his commandos escaped capture, <

though pursued by almost every British general across every part of the country, gave the British troops a great respect for him. He was never captured, and though the Union of South Africa was formed with autonomous government, de Wet would have none of its politics. He had a passionate regard for his nationality, and a hatred of the British, and in his book, "Three Years' (War," he shows his detestation of those Dutch Africanders who joined the British forces and were known as National Scouts. His bitterness against those who made peace, and against those leaders who submitted, was so great that it is alleged that his brother, Piet de Wet, surrendered, he ordered his men to shoot him whenever met with. There is another story told of how he once ordered this - same brother, who was acting undeivhim, to be sjamboked for having dared to suggest an honourable surrender when his commando was i in a tight corner. Of General Christian there ' is little to. say,.other than that he rose from a private to be a very capable as-1 sistant Commandant-General of the | Northern District of .the Transvaal during the war. He- -too; was a solicitor I before he became a soldier. He was born jit... Stellenbosch, Transvaal, in 1869, and his chief exploit was the capture of the British camp at Nooitgedacht. At the conclusion of the war he was appointed chairman ' of 'the Verceniging- Peace Conference, and with the granting of autonomy to the Transvaal and Orange. Free State, he became Speaker of the Transvaal Legislative. Assembly; member of the Legislative Assembly of the Union Parliament, and Commandant-General, of the Citizen Forces "of the Union. It will be remembered that he was riding within a motor car with General de la Rey when -that famous leader was < shot on September 16, and.that a cable message received immediately after . stated that he had resigned his command of the foi'ces. Angola is the geneal name of Portuguese West, Africa. It has an area of about 484,000 square miles, and is bounded on the north by the Belgian Congo district and on . the south by German South-west Africa. It is mountainous country in the west, and its climate varies greatly, being very unhealthy near the coast, where there are extensive mangrove swamps, but much healthier on the inland plateaus. The principal products are rubber, coffee, cotton, sugar, tobacco, .and copal gum. It also"exports a small amount of ivory, and possesses iron deposits which are believed to be extensive, but which have never been properly worked. Angola possesses extensive railway lines connecting the coast with the interior, right as far inland as the Tanganyika Company's concessions. The, annual value of the imports is over £1,000,000 and the exports (of which 70 per cent, is rubber) amount to about £850,000 in, annual A-alue. The population is estimated at over 4,000,000, including 11,000 whites. The : capital is Loanda, and the principal ports are Benguela and Mossamedes.. Portugal considers her colonies an integral part of the nation, and therefore Angola sends two deputies to the Portugal Parliament/ IN THE COMMONWEALTH. MERCHANTS AND INTERNED .STEAMERS. MORE EXPORT ". PROHIBITION. SYDNEY, October 28. A meeting of merchants interested in eargoes on German steamers sheltering in Java and adjacent ports, considered the point whether the Dutch Government had power under clauses of York-Antwerp rules, to compel masters to discharge the, cargoes. The meeting resolved., to obtain a legal opinion as to-whether action in the Dutch Courts was likely to prove successful, also to ascertain, the-'result of action taken by Nestles and the Anglo-Swiss Milk Companies in the Dutch Courts: , ,; MELBOURNE, October 28. A proclamation prohibits" the export pf hides and skins. SAFETY OF THE COUNTRY. STRINGENT MEASURE PASSED. October 2f>,; IL4O aim.) MELBOURNE, October 29. Th 3 House has 'passed'in all_ its stagesthe Bill providing;for. the', safdty of the Commonwealth during the war, and giving extensive powfe to the .naval and military authorities for dealing with aliens, ( the import or export \>f goods, and other offences;' "fixing heavy penalties. . Amongst other provisions, they may deport aliens,whether naturalised or ■ unnaturalised. .<.''• ' I Mr J oKeph Cook said he thought the Bill forecasted martial, law.' He was not .prepared to place such- powers in the hands of the Naval .'• and Military Boards. Though he did not like many of the provisions, he would not oppose . the Bill. . UNGRATEFUL GERMANS. £ DISTURBANCE IN NEW SOUTH \ WALES. i (Received October 20th, .11 a.m.) * SYDNEY, October 29. * After the outbreak of war the Government placed 85 "hard-up" Germans in a camp at Windsor, providing them with food and clothing, in return for their work. A section of the men caused trouble by refusing to work without pay. The police were called, and they removed the malcontents, but the balance of the men then struck, and r marched out in a body, with an im- j provised band playing national airs. ,

DRIVING THEM BACK. '% ALLIES PRESS THE GERMANS. PARTICULARLY FIERCE STRUGGLE. PARIS, Oetober 27. The following official statement has '■ • been issued:— "A particularly fierce struggle con-. tinues between the mouth of the Yser and the Lens district. The Allies iave retired nowhere on this line, and have progressed between Ypres and Roulers, also at Soissons. "We had a successful artillery encounter at Berry-au-bac, and destroyed several German batteries. We assumed the offeusive east of Nauck, between the forest of Beyance N and Pirroy, driving the enemy across the frontier." "? AGAINST LONG ODDS. . BRITISH STAND AT YPRES. A MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT. - PARIS, October 27. An account." of the fighting' at Ypres states that the. Germans outnumbered the British by four to one. " They advanced at dawn by short rushes, and British volleys mowed them down at 150 j-ards. . The Germans re- r tired, were - reinforced, and again charged. They got to within "fifty . yards of the trenches by sheer weight... of numbers, but were ' again driven " back. . . ; At the third charge the British fixed - - bayonets, but the" British artillery opened fire and-the Germans fled. • ~. French officers declare that the British stand 'at Ypres was even' more, magnificent than the retreat from Mons. NAVAL BOMBARDMENT. MONITORS' DEADLY WORK. * BIG STRETCH OF RUIN. LONDON, October 27. The naval gunners had a "fair pie- ■-. nic'' on the Belgian coast. Those on " the monitors watched a German big gun taking position, waited until tfeo ' range was found, an'd then smashed the gun and its men to pieces with the first ;' shot. Destroyers with' six-inch guns .went • up the river to Nieuport, fired a broadside at the Germans, turned round and let drive with the other broadside, and fired the stern gun as a parting salute. -. A thousand of the enemy were - dead on the field. It is stated that ' ,- one brigade, marching along the coast " between Nieupoirt and Middlekerke, was " s completely wiped out by the magnifi-* . eently directed fire of the monitors and . other vessels. <■ ■>- A correspondent who was in the captive balloon with the observation officer, i seeking the position of German batteries, had a bird's-eye view of the ( battle between Nieuport and Dixmude. He saw Ostend and the* ruins of several' coastal villages, including Middlekerke - and Lombardyde. Not a wall remains standing in Westkerke, Slype, and Novie. This damage has been all caused by the effective fire of British '• which .ultimately dislodged the Germans. Wanton destruction continues around ■ Roulers, which has been fined £IO,OOO. POWERS OF ENDURANCE: ; FRENCH EXPEL GERMANS. * . THE KAISER AT :COBLENZ. • - "XiMeit" «nd l '&Vsri*9 &»rt" n Sert>ict«, f PARIB, Oetober 27/ X Eminent physicians declare that the /*-?; French soldiers'ability to bear fatigue ■'*' is six per cent, greater than the Ger- " - •' man's. The immense efforts demanded - .' of the Germans poison th* blood •by -\- fatigue poisons, and when the soldiers „ ; 'I die their bodies ftimediately decompose. v ■' A correspondent of the "Matin" sajw; • -> the Kaiser at Coblenz. He says everybody "rushed to the door when the Kaiser passed to inspect the forts in the * suburbs. "Commanding trumpetcalls rent the air, and then a whitemotor car appears with a black eagle, resembling a monstrous butterfly, painted on the side. The Kaiser wears a double-peaked army cap and the time-honoured cape of bright-blue. His eyes seem buried in the folds of his eyelids, and his- moustache is only slightly twisted up. With him. is an officer with a helmet too small for his • broad face and very pale. • Because Hie Kaiser seems angry, the - iratch silently and subdued. The Em- - peror has been robbed of the heart of : the people by the Crown Prince." OFF THE IRISH COAST. GERSIAN MINES LAID. WARNING FROM ADMIRALTY. -: LONDON, Oetober 27. It "is officially stated that German *-■ nines laid on the north coast of Ireand sank the steamer Manchester Com* -i nerce, a vessel of 5363 tons, owned by J; ,he Manchester Liners, Ltd. - ;" Fourteen were drowned. A trawler -: .; •escued thirty survivors. It is stated that a mine-field has been "■- aid twenty miles north of Tory Island. ' Z The Admiralty notifies that it is un- %,

i*'-.- iafe to approach within fifty miles of J- ; - TorylsJaadj which is a few miles off the S'lCi "Jioftit-Vest coast of Ireland. *v>, \ - .-■>*.*- IP? IN THE FAR EAST. |§C ' F "" * BRITISH AND GERMANS AT GRIPS. CHINA'S DEMAND TO JAPAN. PEKING,-October 27. Letters received from British soldiers lit Tsing-tau relate how they recently got to grips with the Germans,' who asked for an armistice to bury their dead. This was refused, and the British then chased the Germans to the innermost -defences. The British casualties were slight. , PEKING, October 27. China has demanded the surrender of * . the Japanese torpedo boat and her crew, which recently entered Chinese territorial waters and attempted to tow off the wrecked German destroyer S9O, and substituted the Japanese flag for the Chinese ensign which was flying. HELP FOR THE ENEMY. BRITAIN'S NOTE TO AMERICA. A PROTEST IN ITALY. WASHINGTON, October 27. Sir Edward Grey has notified America that Great Britain possesses proof that : - much American oil useful "for aircraft and submarines, has been exported to neutrals and been re-exported to bel-; ligerentsl. Sir Edward Grey warns ship-! pers that their papers must show that shipments are destined for neutrals. ROME, October 27. The Milan paper "Seccolo" protests against Italy being transformed into a vast field of supplies of grain, meat, vegetables, motor cars and chemicals ..for making explosives for Austria-Hun- . gary. - . • THE ALLIES' OPERATIONS. A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. GENERAL HEADQUARTEBS REPORT. Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 28. 1 The Prime Minister has received the following*cable message from the High Commissioner:— > LONDON, October 27. The following descriptive account, communicated by an eyewitness present with the General Headquarters, continues; and supplements the «narrar. tive, published on the 24th, of of the British forces and -the French armies in immediate touch with them. When .the arrival of reinforcements - enabled the; British,:^ the extension northwards of the Allies' line, the enemy in this area had advanced from the north-east and east, and was holding a front extending from high ground about Mont des Cats, through Meter&h to Estaires, on the X River Lys, with advanced bodies of cavalry and other troops thrown out some distance in front. South of the Lys his line continued, due south from • Estaires, through intricate country, for about three miles, when it turned •lightly south-east, passing three miles east of JBethune to Vermelles. The Allies encountered some resistance on the 12th from the enemy's advance and on the 13th there was fighting all along the line between our advance guards-' and the Germans, Who, at some points, made determined counter-attacks. As a result of two p minor engagements at- Mont des Cats and Meteren, on the 13th, the enemy's right fell back in considerable haste, making use of the darkness to evade pursuit. Bailleul, which had been occupied for eight days, was abandoned without a shot being fired. On the 14th . the advance was continued by our left wing, the enemy being driven back so far that the rest of line became endangered, as we have learnt from Germans captured during the operations. These state that the right of the line having been forced to withdraw, the left was compelled to conform to the , movement. The latter's withdrawal - left us by the night of the 15th in possession of all the country on the left bank of the Lys, to a point five miles below Armentieres, and of all bridges above Armentieres. On the 16th the enemy retired from that town after a few shells had been fired at a barricade. The bridges to within a short distance of Frelinghein fell into our hands. At Armentieres, the enemy left teiiind fifty wounded, rifles, and ammunition, and motor cars. Our right Wing south of the Lys was able to make little progress until the 15th. The resistance to its advance was of a most determined character. The fighting resolved itself into a series of fiercely contested encounters. In an attack on some villages, all the efforts of the infantry were unavailing, until our'' howitzers had reduced the houses to ruins. Other villages would be taken fend re-taken three times before they were finally secured. On this front the French cavalry gave our infantry support. By the night of the 16th the resistance was overcome, and the enemy had fallen back five miles to the eastWard. During the 17th, 18th, and 19th our right encountered strong opposition j from the enemy about La Bassee," where he was established behind' embankments, and well provided with machine guns. The advance was slow - in the centre, but on the left better progress was made, although the Germans were everywhere entrenched, and Still continued to hold some villages on tie Lys, in spite of bombardment. At \ the close of each of the three days a -\ was delivered against our

line at night. All were repulsed without difficulty. On the 20th, determined but unsuccessful attacks were made against practically the whole of our line. At one point where one of our brigades made a counter-attack, 11,000 (1100?) German dead were found in the trenches, and 40 prisoners were taken. Among the prisoners captured by the Belgians was a hunchback, who had had no training before August 19 last. He said many of the men of his regiment were between 17 and 18 years of age. There were signs that from many villages there had been a hurried retirement. In one a great quantity of lances and ammunition was abandoned. En another the Staff left their dinner behind. In the operations armoured motor cars, equipped with machine guns, were most successful in dealing with small parties of German mounted troops. In their employment Belgians ran fighting with us, acquitting themselves nobly They have shown themselves experts. They appear to regard Uhlan hunting as a form of sport. Groups display the utmost dash and skill in this form of warfare. They often go out miles ahead of their own advance troops, and seldom fail to return loaded with spoils in the shape of lancers' caps, busbies, helmets, lances, rifles, and other trophies, which they distribute as souvenirs to crowds in the market place. Although the struggle in the northern area materially attracts more attention than that on the Aisne, the latter continues. Though there is no alteration in the general situation, the enemy has made certain changes in the position of his heavy artillery, with the result that one or two places, which were formerly safe quarters, are now subject to bombardment, while others which were only approachable at night, or by crawling on the hands and knees, now serve as recreation grounds. The recent official casualty lists captured show that the losses of the Germans continue to be heavy. One infantry company in'a single list reports 139 killed and wounded, and other companies suffered as heavily. " THE TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR." The London '' Times'' announces that it will publish an adequate history of the great war of all the centuries in a set of finely illustrated volumes under the general title of '' The Times History of the War." It is fitting that this greatest of all newspapers should set out to publish this history of the greatest world-conflict in a form worthy of the subject. " 'The Times History of the War,' " writes "The Times" itself, ''tis destined to take its place as the most accurate, and authoritative record of the gigantic European struggle nowdn progress;; Being the product of the unique organisation of ' The Times,' this history will constitute a work of permanent importance and value —a work ,wiieh./eyjQsy British citizen should read and''.preserve if he is intelligently to understand the causes and issues of this titanic conflict.'' ■ In spite of the enormous demand in England for the volumes of "The Times History of the War," the proprietors have arranged to,ship a generous number of sets to Australia and New Zealand, and have placed the sole control of these volumes in the hands of the Australian publisher, Mr. T. Shaw Fitchett, Swanston Street, Melbourne. BELGIANS FOR DOMINION. DOMESTIC SEEVIOB. Press Association. DUNEDIN, October 29. The secretary of the Otago Expansion League has decided to approach Minister of Internal Affairs suggesting that arrangements should be made to bring out Belgian women for domestic service. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr T. Sedgwick, the league's representative in: Glasgow,' on the. subject. RABBITS FOR BELGIUM. WAIKATO CAMPAIGN. HAMILTON* Oetober 29. A proposal emanating from Mr F. E. Smith, ex-president of the Waikato Winter Show, to forward to distressed Belgians between 50,000 and 100,000 rabbits, has found favour with the Government, who are taking steps to carry out the suggestion. The whole of the Waikato is being organised for a rab-bit-trapping campaign. BELGIUM RELIEF FUND. . ADDITIONAL DONATIONS. Mr Cyril J. Ward, acting-Consul for Belgium at Christchurch, begs to acknowledge receipt of the following contributions towards the Belgium Belief Fund: —Proceeds of concert given by Timaru Choral and Orchestral Society (per N. D. Mango 3, secretary), £167 13/6; Tennyson Street Congregational Church, half amount special collection for relief, £3 15/-; total received to date, £1194 18/-. THE LIVERPOOL FUND. The Mayoress, Mrs Holland, desires to acknowledge with thankß the following: —The South African War Patriotic Fund, £64 19/2; anonymous, 1 balaclava; Patriotic, Charteris Bay, 2 pair socks. QUEEN MARY FUND. Contributions from the Blenheim Branch of the Liverpool Fund, to defray the cost of socks and belts, £25; Dr Volckman, Leeston, 1; Miss Volckman, £1 Miss M. Volckman, £1; Mrs H. Cornwall, 10/-; Dr Volckman also enclosed 5/- from Mrs Blair and 5/- from Mrs J. Cooper for the Poor in Britain and Belgium Fund. Mrs B. Wright, 2 pairs socks; A.8., 3 pairs socks, 1 cap. THE UNEMPLOYED. The following additional donations towards the Unemployment Fund have been .received: — £ s. d. City Council employees — Central Ward .. .. .. 6 16 0 Linwood Ward 1 10 9 St. Albans Ward .. .. 19 0 Christchurch Tramway Employees xi a* .&• ft* 15 iQ ft