OFFICIAL NEWS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 52, 29 August 1914, Page 8

OFFICIAL NEWS

MESSAGES RECEIVED BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

The Prime Minister yesterday received the following cablegrams from the High Commissioner :—: — LONDON. 27t,ti August, "10.15 a.m. Official. — Five ships, including Danish, Norwegian, and two British trawlers, were mined thirty miles off the Uritish coast. Five British were killed. r Admiral Jellicoe, on behalf' of the British Fleet, congratulated FieldMarshal French on the troops' magnificent stand. Reliable. — As a result of the Navy clearing the trade routes, Siberian butter, eggs, and tiniber, usually sent to Germany, are coming to England. The Anglo-French lines have been slightly withdrawn from the frontier. The German advance is being resisted. Engagements are proceeding on the Cambrai and Gateau fiont. The gen- [ eral impression is favourable. I The Russians are advancing in East Prussia with converging forces. The advance in GaJicia is rapid. The Au&trians have been driven beyond the Lipa. LONDON, 28tb August, 1.10 a.m. Official. — 'The French operations in the war, extending over 250 miles, necessitated changing position. The British troops now occupy a strong line, supported by the French on both flanks, to meet the German advance. Ilia morale of both armies is good. The following cablegram to the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) was dated London, ' 28th August, 8.45 p.m. : — "Official.— Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons reports on Wednesday's fight between Cambrai and La Chateau that five German Army corps, two cavalry divisions— reserve corps, guard cavalry and second cavalry divisions — about 300,000, attacked British foices. Our second army coips bore brunt of cavalry attack. First army corps attacked on right. Inflicted tremendous losses on enemy. British casualties heavy;, numbers unknown. Behaviour admirable. French commander coiigiatulates British tiopps for the piotection they gave to the French Hank.

"Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, announces that two divisions of cavalry and other troops are being sent from India. The first division is on its way. "The Marquis of Crewe explains that the Indian soldiers were insistent that native troops should be included in the Expeditionary Force. "There is great enthusiasm here concerning the Commonwealth Force. "The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs reports that on Tuesday the Gernians, as act of revenge, drove 46,000 inhabitants from Louvain and fired the town which is now a heap of ashes." GENERAL DA VIES ENGAGED IN THE ACTION AT MONS. The Berkshire Regiment mentioned in the cable messages as engaged in the action at Mons is one of the infantry battalions comprising the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division, commanded by General R. H. Davies, C.8., formerly of New Zealand. It is therefore presumed that General Davies, as commander of the brigade, was engaged in the action. BRITISH ARMY COMMISSIONS SEVEN NEW ZEALANDERS PASS. At an examination held at the Victoria College, Wellington, on 24th and 25th August, the following candidates qualified for direct commissions in the Bri; tish Regular Army: — I. M. Macdonald', E. F. J. Reeves (Wellington District), 2rfd Lieutenant A. C. Clayton (unattached list B Auckland district), T. Godfray. H. M. Lepper, 2nd Lieutenant W. J. Clachan (unattached list B), and A. L. Campbell (all of Wellington district). As clearly stated in the conditions circulated prior to the examination, qualification Dy examination does not necessarily guarantee a commission. That is in the hands of the War Office, London. SUPPLEMENTARY FORCE UPWARDS OF 50,000 MEN. A considerable amount of interest attaches to Lord Kitchener's announcement that supplementary British Forces are being despatched to the Continent. It is worth explaining, therefore, that an infantry division comprises 598 officers and 18,077 other ranks, and a cavalry division 485 officers and ' 9412 other ranks. The English divisions mentioned by Lord Kitchener consequently approximate 50)000 officers and men, which force is being supplemented by troops from India, including two divisions of Indian natives.