GERMANS' POSITION DESPERATE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 5

GERMANS' POSITION DESPERATE

LATEST MOVE IN FRANCE VIOLENT ATTACK CHECKED BY THE ALLIES ByTeleEWph-Press Association-Copyileht ' ■ _ Paris, October 2. 'A. communique states that there is nothing particular to report except in ■ tho Roye district (twenty miles north of Oompiegne), where, a violent engagement fortunately turned out in, the Allies' favour, and in the Argonne, where they made some further progress. The general situation is satisfactory. ■ '' \ VON KLUOK'S "ATTEMPT ON FRENCH LEFT. London, October 2. Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett (war correspondent), writing from Paris, says that ell indications point to the fact thai German commanders and the troops realise for tho first'time that tbey are in a desperato position. The latest attacks were haphazard all along the line. _ Their latest plan seems to have been a reversion to General von Kluck's original scheme,for a general advance via Nayon, Compiegne, and Senlis. General von Kluck has been attempting to crush the French loft, thus onabling General von Bulow, tho Duke of Wurtemburg, and tho Crown Prince to co-operate and march on Paris. An intercepted wireless message from General von Kluck on Tuesday said: ''The forward movement of my . troops has been checked, the enemy developing forces of quite unexpected strength." Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett adds that the French force? are now in Peronne, and unless their progress is checked the Germans will be faced with the problem of withdrawing huge masses of disheartened weary troops to Germany. .VIOLENT ATTACKS BY THE ENEMY, (Eec. Ootober 4, 4.10 p.m.) ■ . . ' Paris,-Friday, midnight. Official.—A violent battle continues on the left, especially between Roye and Lassingay, where the Germans had concentrated in largo numbers, and delivered violent attacks which were shattered.. The enemy attempted .to build 'a bridge over the Meuse, near Saint Mihiel, but the French artillery destroyed it. if is reported that in the vicinity of Saint Mihiel thero are no Germans any longer on the left bank of the Mouse. , A French detachment debouching from Arras has fallen back slightly. The French are progressing before Albert, and progress continues in the Woevre. Elsowhere the situation is quiet. •''THE DEBACLE HAS NOW COMMENCED." (Rec. October 4, 4.10 a.m.) London, October 3. A British correspondent, telegraphing from Calais on Wednesday, after a tour of the country north of tho Allies' left wing, declares that there is no longer room for misgivings as to the ultimato outcome of the battle. The German wing between Lassigny and Caulnes is in extreme danger, due to the fact that above Chaulnes tho linos which, a few days ago faced the -, west, are now facing north-west, and have been bent back on the lino from Chaulnes to Cambrai and Valenciennes. The. German General Staff's action iri crowding reinforcements upon General von Kluck from the centre and tie loft ias" made the position- on the enomy's richt more preoarious,

■ The condition of the" prisoners captured by the Allies snows that the failure of the enemy's commissariat las begun to materialise. The Germans staked overything on holding the position at Noyon. The debacle has now commenced. .WHOLE GERMAN REGIMENTS DROWNED, (Rec. October 4, 11.25 p.m.) London, October 3. The Central News Agency at Rome reports that whole German regiments were drowned in rotreatiug across the Niemen. The Kaiser escaped with difficulty'. THE LATEST: GERMANS FORGED BACK. (Rec. October 4, 11.25 p.m.) Paris, October 3, evening. • Official. —The violent action on the Left Wing continues, especially at floye (about sixty miles N.N.E. of Paris), where the Germans have been-fur-ther reinforced from the Centre. The Allies have repulsed- many day and night attacks. The Allies have progressed slightly between Argonne and the Meuse. The Germans in Argonne tried to slip through, but were driven back. Otherwise there has been no noteworthy development. LULL IN FIGHTING EXPLAINED. ' (Reo. October 4, 4.10 p.m.) London, October 8. A "Daily News" message from the Aisne battlefront attributes the recent lull in the fierceness of the struggle to the great changes then in progress on both sides, French reinforcements hurrying round to their left wing, while the Germans were pouring reinforcements and an army from the Vosges on the line of Oise towards Peronno. It was the mass oft those troops and the rapidity of their swing across the inner lines that enabled the Germans to anticipate the Allies' move, temporarily pushing them back at certain points at Lassingny, Chaulnes, and Pennine, north of Roye,, between Amiens and St. Quentin. > REPORTED MOVE OF THE GERMAN WAR STAFF., (Reo. October 4, 4.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 3. It is reported that the German General Staff has left Luxemburg for Mayence (about 105 miles cast-north-east of the town of Luxemburg, into German territory). PREPARING THE PUBLIC FOR DEFEAT GERMAN PRESS "EXPLAINS" THE SITUATION. . > Amsterdam, October 2. v German residents here are aghast at the tone of the latest Berlin newspapers, which are preparing the Soman people for defeat. Official messages admit that the German troops may be compelled to abandon certain positions,but ask for suspension of judgment until tho result'of the combined operations is known. The "Berliner Tageblatt" says: "The announcement_ of an oxtensivo attack against the German flank is not-calculated to relieve the anxiety, but wo know that the .German lines are protected by broad echelons. . Even if fresh French and British troops .allvaiice north-eastward, they are bound to encounter echelons which the German commanders have withheld in the expectation of such advances. Tho influence of the British reinforcements is showing itself more and more. They have been effective to impede, though the results may not be lasting. Why not admit this? Because victory must be ours. Tho niore it is difficult the greater the honour."All around Verdun a decisive movement is approaching. Wo foroed our way ■ through the outworks, but found oh the heights westward of the Meuse a very strong position prepared s by. the enemy. The French are experts in building a position. Their obstinacy in defence and attack deserves recognition. It has taught a lesson to all who expected an easy time." NEWSPAPER'S REMARKABLE ADMISSION. (Rec. October 4, 10 a.m.) Copenhagen, October 3. The "Berliner Tageblatt," in a remarkable article, says: "The Germans, far from having won, are in a difficult position. The English are working as though to force their masses, and don't stop either." .