A WEEK’S FIGHTING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1914, Page 7

A WEEK’S FIGHTING

AIDES CONSTANTLY ENCAGED FOUR BATTLES FOUGHT GERMAN DEFEAT AT ARRAS WITH HEAVY LOSS THE PLIGHT OF ANTWERP ITALIAN MINISTERIAL CRISIS THREATENED

During last week the Allies were kept very busy; according to the Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspondent, they fought four battles, the most important being that at Lille, which was begun on the Sunday and ended at dark on Friday last. The enemy had been reinforced by troops from Belgium, but, though outnumbered, the French and British prevailed, the Germans being driven back a dozen miles. In this battle and one fought simultaneously at Lens the enemy, strangely for them, lacked artillery, and, in the light of subsequent events, it is supposed that many of their guns had been sent to assist in the bombardment of Antwerp. Other interesting details of the fighting on the Allies’ left from the 24th of last month up till some days ago show that, despite vigorous work on the part of the Germans, the honours rested with the Franco-British forces. On Friday last, the London Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent reports, a. desperate battle was fought north of Arras, resulting in a brilliant success for the Allies, the enemy being driven back for a distance of thirteen miles, and losing 12,000 in killed and wounded.Further details of the bombardment of Antwerp show that the German attacks were carried out with an utter, disregard for life, in face of mines and all the other means of defence. The story of the sufferings of the citizens of the beleaguered city and the horrors of the flight to Dutch territory is very graphically tolc?> to-day by newspaper correspondents. Dutch sympathy has, it is said, been alienated from Germany, and the Dutch are showing in most practical fashion their charity towards their neighbours who are in such sore straits. From Flushing comes news—as yet unconfirmed—that the Germans have fined Antwerp 1320,000,000.

In Italy a Ministerial crisis is threatened. Culpable negligence in regard to army equipment is charged, against the War Minister, whose resignation is demanded by the press.

LONG DRAWN OUT ALLIES FIGHT FOUR BATTLES IN A WEEK GERMAN LOSSES MUCH THE HEAVIER (By Telegraph.—Press Association.-—Copyright.) (Received October 13, 8.20 a.m.) . LONDON, 12th October. The Daily Chronicle Paris correspondent states that during the week the Allies fought four battles, the most important being that at Lille, which began OH Sunday and ended at nightfall On Friday. • At the outset the Germans were reinforced by a strong force from Belgium, mainly cavalry, but the French were not caught napping. The German line stretched from Armentieres to Roubaix and across the outskirts of Lille, where there was heavy fighting at close quarters, the Germans sometimes entering the suburbs. The fight was renewed on Tuesday, when the Germans were reinforced. Though now outnumbered, the Allies had a preponderance of artillery. It is believed that many of the German guns were sent to Antwerp. Further reinforcements enabled the Germans to continue the battle well into the night, hut by dawn the result was certain. By Friday the Germans had been thrown back a dozen miles / Meanwhile, a battle was being fought at Lens, where the Germans also lacked artillery, and showed no desire to await the bayonet attacks. Their losses were much greater than those of the French. These fights made a gap in the German lines which extended to within ten miles of St. Omer, and cleared a stretch of country reaching to St. Maur, over the Belgian frontier, necessitating preparations for a retreat along the valleys of the Scheldt and the Lys. [Armentieres is nine miles west-north-west of Lille, close to the Belgian frontier, and Roubaix, also quite close to Belgium, is six miles north-east. These relative positions are due to the fact that there is' a big re-entrant curve in the Belgian frontier, Lille being about the Centre of the arc. Lens is fifteen miles south-west of Lille. St. Omer is about thirty miles north west of Lens, and St. Maur is a village on the outskirts of lournai, sixteen miles eastward oi Lille, and between five and six miles into Belgium.] ATTACKS AND COUNTER-ATTACKS

Reuter’s Paris agent states that provincial newspapers give details of the Operations at Roye and Lassigny from the 24th. The German right rested Successively at Reronne, Albert, Bapaume, and Arras. It was impossible to go beyond owing to the plain in lower Flanders leaving no hills or valleys to provide natural defences. The Germans, on the 28th, accordingly commenced numerous counter-attacks, in the hope of piercing the Allies’ line, the heaviest fighting being between Amiens and Peronne. On j the Ist October the French from Roye junctioned at Mericourt with the British reinforcements, the Allies forming three divisions, and having a large quantity of artillery to cover their crossing of the Somme. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Germans was awaiting the Allies before Bray. The Allies decided to attempt a crossing on a three-and-a-half miles front, between Vaire Afld Mericourt, where the ground is swampy and wooded and easy to defend. The Germans, however, did not believe that the Allies would cross at this point, and neglected to fortify the position, and massed on the road. VIGOROUS ARTILLERY FIRE

At 10 o’clock the French field guns opened fire from Mericourt. The 'Germans replied vigorously, but the Allies’ infantry, swerving westward, ds-.

scended on the. Somme towards Cortice. At midday the troops, wading through bogs and marshes, began the crossing by means of rafts and frail canvas boats. One regiment crossed by means of a rope stretched between the two banks. The cavalry crossed by a ford at Sailly. Three divisions crossed in forty minutes. Before the enemy discovered them the Allies were in battle formation, marching to assault Bray. While th© infantry attacked in the west, the cavalry captured the enemy’s eastern positions, the artillery at Mericourt continuing the cannonade. Finally, in response to trumpet calls, the whole line of infantry, with colours flying, advanced to. the assault. There was a great shout as the tricolour flags were seen waving from the crest of The hill. The Germans retreated northwards. The French cavalry, near Albert, changed, and the enemy was obliged to abandon its guns. The retreat was not checked until Bapaume was reached. NOTHING FRESH TO REPORT PARIS, 12th October. A communique issued at midnight states that there is nothing fresh to report except that a flag was captured at Lassigny. The general operations of the day were satisfactory. PENDING A GENERAL ADVANCE LONDON, 12th October. The Press Bureau reports :—"A communication from,French headquarters mentions that there is a lull in the operations on our immediate front pending a general advance. At Arras the Germans are well supplied with artillery and were particularly violent on Tuesday and Wednesday, but met with.no success. The only place where they gained ground was near Roye, where the gains were, not worth a tithe of the cost in men and material. The towns on the battleline are now scenes of black destruction. Arras is wrecked, Albert has no existence, and Douai is half burned down.” ALLIES’ BRILLIANT SUCCESS LONDON, 12th October. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent reports that a desperate battle was fought on Friday north of Arras, resulting in a brilliant success for the Allies. The Germans were driven back thirteen miles, losing twelve thousand in killed and wounded. The Allied cavalry was grea'tly hampered. by miles of hop gardens. [The successive positions of Peronne, Albert, Bapaume, and Arras represent’ a general northward movement., peronne is about thirty miles east of Amiens. Roye, whence the French proceeded, is about twenty miles south-south-west of Peronne, and Bray is on the north bank of the Somme, ten miles west of Peronne. Mericourt is not shown on the available maps, but the message indicates that it must be on the south side of the Somme, close to Bray, while Vaire is a few miles west of it. Cortice, towards which the Allies’ infantry swerved before attacking, is probably Corbie, which is about eight miles west of Bray. Sailly is also undiscoverable, but is probably a short distance east of Bray, between that town and Peronne. Albert, from which the French cavalry charged, is about five miles north-west, of Bray. Bapaume is nearly fifteen miles north-east of Bray.] GERMAN ATTACKS ON ANTWERP UTTER DISREGARD FOR LIFE MANY WOUNDED (Received October 13, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. Correspondents agree that the German attacks between the outer and inner forts of Antwerp were carried out with utter disregard for life, in the face of mines and all the other means of defence. Long after their entry the Germans, fearing mines, continued firing upon and around the ruins of the blown-up forts. Five trainloads of Germans, wounded around Antwerp, have been sent to Aix-la-Chapelle. THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH TROOPS (Received October 13, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. Antwerp messages despatched prior to the capture of the city record the demonstrations following the arrival of the British troops. The whole popula- - tion was raised from extreme depression to exultation; the Belgian soldiers for the first time sang triumphant marching songs, and afterwards fought with dogged, careless/gallantry. They were new men. The British troops occupied the advanced trenches, near the River Nethe, where they were exposed to a continuous galling shrapnel fire, without any choice, but to return the fire with their rifles. Accordingly, the men were brought back half a mile from the river, to better-constructed trenches. During the night of the sth the Germans crossed the river, but were beaten back by the fire of the British marines. . Belgian officers have spoken with the deepest emotion of the gallantry of the British. On the 6th British guns were mounted in the inner ring of forts, but it became increasingly evident on the 7th that the Germans were only awaiting an opportunity to bombard the city, and that there was no hope of saving the town. RETREAT OF THE GARRISON OSTEND, 12th October. With a view to reaching Ostend by forced marches, six hundred motorcars were used to convey various contingents of the retreating garrison through Zefzaete. The soldiers Were relieved of their knapsacks, which were placed” in vans, while London motor-buses carried footsore troops who had fallen to the rear. Then came the dogs drawing columns of machine guns, next were the artillery, and after them the rearguard. The flight of the procession was continued for two days. . ( ( TRIBUTE TO LATEST ACT OF BELGIAN HEROISM PARIS, 12th October. The. newspapers pay a tribute to the latest act of Belgian heroism and self-sacrifice, and point out the small value off fixed fortifications in the .face of the terrific power of modern siege artillery' The capture of the town is considered to be a sterile victory, and is an attempt to counterbalance in the eyes of the German people the coming evacuation of French territory., GERMAN ATTACK ON THE REARGUARD OSTEND, 12th October The first party of the British marines and bluejackets on Sunday, 4th October, hurried to Antwerp. During Monday and Tuesday a large proportion of the Belgians marched westward for the purpose of ensuring the line of retreat. A large additional force of marines arrived at Antwerp on Tuesday morning. An Amsterdam telegram states that the Germans attacked' the rearguard of the retreating garrison near , St. Nicholas, using heavy field artillery from a great distance. The Belgian and British troops crossed the frontier at different places, mostly around Putten, east of the Scheldt, and Sas van Gent, west of the river. All were taken by boat to Flushing* thence to a concentration camp at Gasterland. * HOLLAND’S INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th OctoberMany consider Antwerp far beyond the limit of Herr Bethmann-Hollweg’s (German Chancellor) statement regarding the necessity of invading Belgium for the purpose of entering France. The seizure of Antwerp is regarded. as the prelude of the annexation of Belgium, threatening Holland’s integrity and independence. The Dutch realise that Germany will not be content that Holland should provide her with an outlet to the sea, and that her commercial prosperity, founded on the river and canal traffic, would vanish. - The populace has now an intimate knowledge of the barbarities perpetrated in Belgium. ROTTERDAM, 12th October. The bombardment of Antwerp has alienated Dutch sympathy/ from Germany. / . LONDON, 12th October. At Flushing it is stated that the Germans fined Antwerp i)20,000,000. CITY ON FIRE IN SEVERAL PLACES GERMAN GUNS CLEVERLY CONCEALED BELGIAN TROOPS WORN OUT LONDON, 12th October. The British correspondents at Antwerp who have reached Flushing and Amsterdam, narrate that Antwerp was on fire in eight places on Wednesday night, and it was impossible to put out the fires, as the Germans had destroyed' the water supply on Tuesday near Fort Waelhem, and shellfire prevented all efforts to repair the waterworks. The German guns were sb cleverly concealed that th© Belgians were urtable to locate them, and .their artillery fire was quite ineffective. While the Germans were advancing big guns to the southeast of Antwerp, another German corps, which was not suspected, in force, attacked the line of the Scheldt from Grimberghen to Wetteren, with the object of attacking Antwerp from the west. Thirty thousand were engaged in this movement. They forced the passage of the Scheldt near Schoonaerde by means of pontoon bridges. The Belgians had been in the trenches for four days, and the men Were worn out and incapable'of withstanding the attacks of large bodies of men, but they pluckily held their ground for some time. Finally the Germans advanced on Lokeren. " VISION OF HELL.” Meanwhile a panorama of the city from the tower of the Cathedral resembled Gustave Dore’s ‘‘Vision of Hell.” The southern portion of the city was. a desolate ruin, whole streets were ablaze, and thick black smoke from blazing oil tanks, accompanied by occasional great tongues of fire, made the scene one of appalling grandeur. Four miles from tire city was a line of the enemy’s guns, 'throughout Wednesday and Thursday morning the civilians in Antwerp endeavoured to escape over the pontoon bridge leading to St. Nicholas, hoping to reach Ghent. The greater part of the second line of forts fell on midday of Thursday. The authorities then claimed the pontoon bridge for military purposes, and used it to transport the garrison until all were south of the Scheldt, when the bridge was blown up. The last of the Belgians loft early on Friday and maintained a heavy gunfire to the last moment, in order to gain time for an orderly retreat j then they blew up the remaining forts and withdrew. The Germans entered by the Malines gate at noon. They told the few citizens remaining that if the war refugees did not return within two days their homes would be used for the troops and the furniture taken from them. There was heavy fighting on Friday afternoon between .the retreating garrison and the Germans across the Scheldt, who were advancing upon the western side Of Antwerp. Two hundred German Uhlans Cornered a Belgian patrol at Nazareth on Wednesday. Alter the fight twenty-one Belgians were missing;

five were discovered wounded, hidden in a ditch, and sixteen dead in the open, of whom ten had their heads smashed in with the butt-ends of Germans’ rifles. PANIC AMONG THE POPULATION DURING THE BOMBARDMENT. A panic commenced among the population during the bombardment on Wednesday night, and fifteen thousand failed to secure passages by the Ostend steamers, and there was a desperate struggle to get aboard the dozen tug-boats going to Dutch ports. Several persons fell into the river and some were drowned. It is estimated that 300,000 people fled. A correspondent seeking refuge from shells in a cellar in an Antwerp hotel encountered some Australians, including Miss Louise Mack, th© representative of the London Evening News, and Mr. Frank Fox, representative of the Morning Post. ' There were extraordinary scenes at Flushing, on the Dutch side of the estuary of the Scheldt. The refugees camped in th© streets, in sheds, and at the barracks. When a box of bread was carried to the field the refugees made a wild rush, men and women fighting for a portion, and it was some time before they could be persuaded to await further supplies. GENEROUS DUTCH PEOPLE. The majority of the refugees went to Esschen and Rosendaal, where on the roads there was a ceaseless pilgrimage of women and children and aged men seeking a sanctuary in Holland. Here and there was a luxurious motorcar with a lady heavily wrapped in rich furs; other refugees were wheeling barrows with their few belongings, but 70 per cent, were destitute. A number of children were born on the roadsides during the flight, and aged women, terrorised and hunger-stricken, died on the pathways. The Dutch sent motor-cars to scour the country in search of the aged, sick, and stragglers. In some cases small babies were separated from their mothers. There were hundreds of cases where small children arrived in Holland without parents. Dutch families have already arranged to adopt them if their parents cannot be traced. In one case a woman’s husband was killed by a German shell during the flight, and she lost two children in the turmoil, only the baby remaining. While thousands were traversing the road to Esschen a rumour got afloat that the Germans were homing. This caused a panic, and the stampede was only quelled when the parish priest ascended the church tower and scanned the countryside, and assured the refugees the rumour was not true. > VALUE OF ANTWERP TO GERMANY IF SHE ADOPTS A DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) ’ . LONDON, 12th October. The Times, id a leader, says : ‘‘The seizure of Antwerp will only become of appreciable value to the enemy if they make Belgium the theatre of a defensive campaign in the west. Should they be driven out of France, Antwerp would considerably strengthen their chance of fighting in Belgium rather than in their own country. By holding Belgium they would compel the Allies to fight on a long front, extending from Antwerp to Belfort, but the chief scene of operations would still be Belgium.” SHOULD GERMANS VIOLATE DUTCH NEUTRALITY ANTWERP AS A BASE FOR NAVAL OPERATIONS (Received October 13, 11 a.m.) . . ' , LONDON, 12th October. The naval correspondent of The Times says : “While Germany respects neutral rights and international law, Antwerp cannot be used as a base for naval operations against ourselves. On the other hand, should the Germans violate the neutrality of Hollandj our hands would be united. There is nothing whatever in the changed situation florn the naval aspect to cause apprehension.”

IN ITALY MINISTERIAL CRISIS THREATENED. PRESS ATTACKS ON WAR MINISTERS. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. A Ministerial crisis in? Italy is threatened. Th© press is attacking the Minister for War for culpable negligence regarding army equipment, and is demanding his resignation. [lt was stated a few days ago that Signor Grandi, the Italian War Minister, had. resigned.] MINES IN THE ADRIATIC ITALIAN SERVICES TO AUSTRIA SUSPENDED. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) ROME, 12th October. Owing to the discovery of more mines in the Adriatic, the Italian Admiralty has suspended services to the Austrian ports, excepting between Venice and Trieste. PORTUGAL GERMANY EXPECTS A DECLARATION OF WAR. • (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. Semi-official.—The German News Bureau announces that Berlin momentarily expects a declaration of war by Portugal against Germany. [Portugal is the oldest, and was until 1905 the only, ally of Great Britain. According to the treaties af alliance, neither party will help another nation in attacking either of the contracting Powers, or give asylum to the 'enemies of the other, except to political fugitives or exiles. In case of war or invasion, both Powers agree to assist each other with arms, men, and ammunition*when required, .and will also assist in the protection of each other’s colonies by sending troops or warshins.] (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE BELGIANS. (Received October 13, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. The Daily Telegraph has opened a shilling fund for a Christmas gift to King Albert for the Belgians. IF TRUE A REMARKABLE PRODUCTION. PROCLAMATION BY THE KAISER. LONDON, 11th October. The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says a Warsaw newspaper contains the text of the Kaiser’s latest proclamation, addressed to his Eastern Army. It is as follows : — “Remember you are the chosen people. The spirit of the Lord has descended upon me, because I am the Emperor of Germany. I am His Sword and Representative, therefore death and destruction be to all resisting my will and doubting my mission. So perish all the enemies of the German people ! God demands their destruction. God, by my mouth, commands you to execute His Will.” MONTENEGRINS’ SUCCESS THEIR BIGGEST TO DATE. AUSTRIANS SURPRISED. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) CETTINJE, 11th October. The Montenegrins on 7th October secured their biggest success in the war. Twenty thousand Austrians attempted to cut oS a large body of Montenegrins near Serajevo. The Montenegrins

learned of the plan and surprised the Austrians in column, inflicting a loss of fifteen hundred. On Bth October the Austrians fell back on Kalinovik, losing another five hundred, besides many prisoners and a large quantity of stores. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE INSURANCES EFFECTED IN LONDON. LONDON, 11th October. Insurances effected on Thursday against possible aircraft damage -in London totalled £1,000,000. A GERMAN DODGE NURSES ARE KEPT VERY BUSY. LONDON, 11th October. A lieutenant in the Guards writes: — ‘‘A German dodge of keeping us awake is to drive cattle to graze in the danger zone, and so alarm the jumpy sentries. We managed to entice three bullocks into our lines, thus making a red letter day with fresh roast beef. My shirt has just been washed for the first time since we left England.” A nurse describes how she is being whisked to various parts at the front. There is no time to change clothes. She carries a blanket, mackintosh, comb and sponge, and has acquired the habit of sleeping in a mackintosh instead of a nightdress. IRONY OF WAR. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. It is the irony of war that Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, brother-in-law of the Queen of the Belgians, commanded the besiegers of Antwerp. FIRST SOLDIER TO ENTER ANTWERP KAISER’S REWARD. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. It is stated that the Kaiser promised to reward the first soldier who entered Antwerp with Elie Iron Cross and £lOOO. RUSSIA’S ARMIES (GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN THE CAUCASUS. POLISH NOBLEMEN TN THE RANKS. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. Native Princes and tribes in the Caucasus are showing great enthusiasm over the war, and are raising large bodies of fine horsemen. The Princes are contributing tens of thousands to the war fund, and are content to serve as plain troopers. • One crack Guard Regiment has been formed, two whole companies of which are entirely composed of Polish noblemen. FpR THE WINTER WARMER CLOTHIixG FOR BRITISH TROOPS. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) , (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 13th October. It is hoped the soldiers at the front will receive by the end of the month a pair of woollen socks and a woollen bodybelt each, gifts from the Queen and women of the Empire. EAGER TO FIGHT the Indian troops in France. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. The Indians are generally popular in France. They show great eagerness to reach the front. A feature of their equipment is the great number of batteries of mountain guns and Maxims

carried on muleback. There are hundreds of goats in the Sikh lines. In camp each race observes its own customs. Food has been brought from India. UNGARNERED CROPS GENERAL JOFFRE SPEAKS OUT. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. General Joffre, French Commander-in-Chief, has circularised the Prefects in the war zone, stressing the neglect of harvest operations. He says he has been struck by the numbers, of strdng men, from 36 years of age, chattering and loitering in the villages whilst a considerable quantity of crops remain ungarnered. It is not admissible that foodstuffs, needed for the continuation of the war, can be allowed to rot in the fields. COSSACK DESPATCH RIDER SURPRISED. BUT ESCAPES UNHURT. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. The Army Gazette’s Petrograd correspondent reports that a Cossack carrying despatches was surprised by a Hungarian. Hussar patrol, who shot his horse. The Cossack shot two of the enemy, mounted one of their horses, and escaped unhurt. MUCH DISCUSSION IN . RUMANIA i (RUSSIAN ADVANCE INTO TRANSYLVANIA. BUCHAREST, 12th October. The Russian advance into Transylvania has aroused intense discussion in Rumania; [Transylvania, formerly an Austrian principality, has, since 1868, been been an integral part of Hungary. It is fenced by the Carpathians from Galicia and Rumania. The population, now about 2,800,7500, consists of Rumanians (nearly 1,300,000, members of the Greek Church), Hungarians and Azeklers, and Saxons or Germans.] PAPER CLOTHING OFFER BY THE JAPANESE GOV- . ERNMENT. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICER.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 12th October. The Japanese Government has offered to provide the British and French Armies with a special kind of paper convertible into warm winter clothing, which is worn by the Japanese soldiers with satisfactory results. GERMAN STORES OF CEMENT FOUND AT MALINES. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) , OSTEND, 12th October. Huge stores of cement were found in German houses in Malines. It must have been there a. long time, and intended for foundations for siege guns. BOMBS TN PARIS ONE FALLS ON NOTRE DAME. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) PARIS, 12th October. Four people were killed and twenty wounded by the bomb-dropping on Sunday. An aviator dropped a flag bearing the words : We have taken Antwerp. Your turn will come soon.” At the Cathedral of Notre Dame a bomb set fire to a beam, which was extinguished. WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND MEN UNFIT FOR SERVICE. BRITAIN AND AUSTRIA AGREE TO EXCHANGE. CHMEB AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. Britain and Austria have agreed to exchange women and childfen, and men who are outside the military age, and those unfit for service. . PUBLIC OPINION IN UNITED STATES KAISER’S ENDEAVOUR TO ENLIGHTEN IT. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 11th October. The Berliner Tageblatt explains > that the Kaiser’s cable message to President Wilsor of the United States was not intended to influence the judgment of America, but only to enlighten public opinion in the United Stales. MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The towns of Bulb’ and Lismore report mysterious lights in the sky at night. As both towns command extensive sga views various surmises are suggested. GERMAN CONVOY CAPTURED EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY MACHINE GUNS. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON,. 12th October. The Central News Agency reports that Anglo French cavalry captured a German convoy and 850 macnine guns. COMMONWEALTH AND COPPER SUGGESTION -CONSIDERED IMPRACTICABLE. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Imperial Government, considers it impracticable to adopt the Commonwealth Government suggestion that all copper imported into Britain and France th time of war should be secured from Australia, the chief ground being that the Supply is insufficient for the demand. A meeting of manufacturers decided to form a Protectionist Association with the object of giving effective preference to British manufacturer PRICE OF WHEAT IN N.S.W. STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF FOOD COMMISSION. SYDNEY, 12th October. In reply to queries respecting the .price of the incoming wheat crop, the

president of the Food Commission stated : —“ We cannot fix the price until the supply and demand are known. In any case, we have no power to fix the price outside of New South Wales, although I don’t see why we should neglect the interest of the whole of Australia and New Zealand. The Commission will respect bona fide transactions if wheat is bought at a higher price than that fixed later. The Commission does not contemplate the seizure of wheat or holding it at a declared price.

AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DOINGS AT NEW GUINEA. CAPTURE OF STORES, ARMS, AND SPECIE. (Received October 13, 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Further reports of the New Guinea expedition show that the Force, including an Anglo-French naval contingent and half a battalion of the Australian military contingent, reached the capital of Freidrich Wilhelmshaven on the mom-’ ing of 25th September and demanded its surrender by noon, under threat of bombardment. No attempt had been made at defence, and no resistance was offered. After a little parleying the capital surrendered unconditionally, a force landed, the German flag was hauled down, and the Union Jack hoisted. A wireless plant was taken ashore and means thus secured of keeping in touch with the outside world. One correspondent estimates the population at two hundred whites and five hundred mixed coloured nationalities, besides aborigines. The latter showed gladness to see the visitors and readily assisted in the landing of stores. Reports from Rabaul, the capital of New Britain, to 27th September, indicate that parties visited Toma, where Germans had‘established the capital after the capture of Rabaul, and secured and brought in stores collected at the various bases and numbers Of prisoners. This concluded, the general surrender Was signed by Dr. Hader, Acting-Governor. The work of penetrating the interior was rough and tedious, but everything’ passed off peaceably. Besides quantities of arms and ammunition and general, stores 480,000 marks (£23,500) in specie, buried in chests, was unearthed. In one place a company was pleasantly surprised when informed that the tent where they slept was pitched over forty cases of bullion, which was duly secured. WHERE GERMAN WARSHIPS GOT COAL JAPANESE DISCOVER THE SECRET. . (TIMES *ND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 13, 8.30 a.m.) I LONDON, 12th October. The Japanese Navy has located the source whence German warships have obtained coal, enabling them to keep on raiding in the Pacific. GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN STEVEDORES PLIGHT OF NATURALISED SUBde,v£S. (Received October 13, 10.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. ’Hie Government is taking steps to relieve a number of naturalised German and Austrian stevedores, alongside whom the members of the Stevedores’ Association refuse to work. OFFICIAL NEWS ALLIES HOLD THEIR POSITIONS □MBS DROPPED IN PARIS. LONDON,' 12th Oct., 6.45 p.m. Official.—A further lengthy report has been issued by the General Headquarters Staff describing the country where the British have been fighting afong the riyer. The Admiralty have issued an official description of the action between tho Carmania and the Cap Trafalgar, on 14th September, when the latter was sunk. . Paris reports that the Allies have held their positions everywhere. Between Arras and the Oise the enemy made vigorous, attacks on the right bank at Anore without progress. Between the Oise and Reims the Allies made progress north of the Aisne, and especially near Soissons. Night attacks by the enemy between Craonne and Reims were repulsed. There is nothing doing from Reims to the Meuse. The Germans violently attacked at Apremont, east of St. Mihiel. Apremont was taken and retaken, and it is now held by the Allies. On the left wing the German cavalry seized the passages of the Lys, east of Aire, [jut were driven off yesterday The* Germans droped bombs on Paris on Sunday. There were several fatalities. “MADE IN GERMANY” SOME INTERESTING CANARDS (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, 27th August., How Germany regards the war is officially circulated through the German wireless stations and picked up by tho Marconi Company. According to Berlin, abnormal conditions continue to reign in the English money market. Notwith standing the intervention of the Government and of the Bank of England, even the leading houses are refusing to meet bills of exchange in London as well as bills of lading and confirmed credit. The Pester Lloyd states that the efforts of the British Government to raise an emergency army of half a million have failed completely, only 2000 men haying reported themselves for military service. OCCUPATION OF BRUSSELS. Hysterical rejoicings took place in the German capital on the publication of the news, that German troops had entered Brussels. The occupation of this unfortified city is represented as a tremendous triumph. Many German newspapers de clare that those portions ot Belgium which are overrun by the German army will be permanently incorporated into the German Empire. The Taglische Runds chau and other journals of similar political tendencies declare boastfully that surely Belgium will bitterly rue the day when she dared to oppose her mighty neighbour, and that Great Britain, too. will pay dearly for her “interference*’ in this war by seeing the permanent establishment of a German naval base on the coast of Belgium. REBELLION IN ENGLAND. Berlin, too, was pleased to hear from Turkish students returning to Constantinople that- the situation in England was bad. Opposition to the war was growing, and a rebellion was feared among the working-classes. The Kaiser has sent the following tele-

gram to the King -of Wurtemburg: “With God’s gracious assistance, Duke Albrecht and his splendid army have gained a glorious victory. You will join me in thanking the Almighty. I have bestowed on Albrecht the Iron Cross of the first and second class.-* Wilhelm?'

The Kaiser has granted 5000 marks towards the municipal fund for the relief of Berlin unemployed. Twelve guns, together with gun carriages and ammunition carts, captured by Bavarian troops from the French, have been brought,' td Karlsruhe and placed in the palace yard. The German and Austro-Hungarian Consuls in Tangier were' ordered to leave by the French Government on 19th August. The German Consul was, without previous warning, forcibly placed on board, the French crtiiset Cassard. together with the entire Consular staff, and transported to Palermo. It is cleat that this premeditated act of violence iwas carried through with the permission of England, and is a breach of the Algcrciras Convention, to which that country is signatory. The Italian steamer Ancona, sailing from New York to Italy, was held up near Gibraltar. There were about seventy German conscripts op board,, and these were removed and taken to Gibraltar as prisoners. ' THREAT TO ITALY. According to German papers received recently in England, the Berliner Zeitung am Mittag wrote, on 13th August: • "The arrival of the armoured cruiser Goeben and the small cruiser Erosion may have been enlightening for Italy, these vessels having, on sth August, entered the neutral harbour of Messina, - and in the evening of 6th August broken out of Messina and gained the high seas, ft is not unthinkable that England should expostulate with Italy on account of this proceeding. But Italy knows very well what the game demands if it should forsake the standpoint of benevolent neutrality towards its allies in order to give to this neutrality a lukewarm or even a passive character. If Italy, indeed, took the alternative of the other side, its whole existence would be called in question. In these latter days it has had a good understanding with Austria, and, in spite of the Montenegrin influences in the Italian Court, has maintained a prudent and far-sighted appreciation of the requirement in its own interests of the maintenance of the most friendly, unity ■ with Austria. Its whole existence •as a State depends upon a single card—whether it would surrender the hitherto correct attitude which it has ■' maintained towards its allies for a weak-, ening of its benevolent neutrality?’ ENGLAND’S “ INDELIBLE SHAME.” Professor Ernst Hackel and Professor Rudolf Bucken, of Jena, says the Vossische Zeitung of 20th August, have published a protest, in which they give expression to their indignation at the present behaviour of England. In tho course of their protest they say : — “What is happening to-day will be inscribed in thq annals of history as an indelible shame to England. England fights to please a half-Asiatic Power against Germanism. She fights not only on the side of barbarism, but also of, moral ‘injustice, for . it is not to be forgotten that Russia began the war because it was not willing that there should be a thorough expiation of a wretched murder. It is the fault of England that the pre l sent war is extended to a world war, and that all culture, is thereby endangered. And why all this? Because she was envious of Germany’s greatness, because she wished ,at all costs to hinder a fur--ther extension of this greatness. She was, only waiting for a favourable opportunity to break out to the detriment of Germany, and she therefore seized most promptly on the necessary German advance through Belgium as a pretext in order to cloak her brutal national selfishness with a mantle of respectability?’., THE KAISER’S TELEGRAM. The Germans, under the Crown Prince, defeated the French near Longwy. in Lorraine, and the Kaiser sent the follow- . ing telegram to, the Crown Princess:— “My most sincere thanks, my dear child, I rejoice with you in Wilhelm’s first victory. How magnificently God supported, him I Thanks and honour be to Him. I bestow upon Wilhelm the Iron Cross of the First qnd Second Class. Oscar is also said to have fought brilliantly with his Grenadiers. He has received the Iron Cross of the Second Class. Inform Ina. Marie (the Countess whom Princo Oscar manned on the eve of the war). May God protect and continue to help the boys and be with you and all tho women.”

The Cologne Gazette of 241 h August publishes an official announcement from Berlin stating that on 22nd August north of Metz, the German Crown Prince, advancing with his army on both sides of. Longwy, victoriously repulsed the enemy. The news created the greatest enthusiasm in Berlin, where large crowds marched before the Crown Prince's palace. The previous evening there were moving scenes outside the Palace. Great crowds insistently demanded that the Empress should appear. She appeared twice. Later the Crown Princess came on to the balcony and "a fresh message ol victory" was read to the crowd. A. scene of indescribable enthusiasm followed, during which the Empress, with tears rushing down her face, embraced the Crown Princess. FEARS OF RUSSIA IN BERLIN.

Reports of the defeat of tho German troops in East Prussia were published in Berlin a few days ago and caused excitement. The Berlin newspapers admit that the defeat has been serious, but explain that the unfortunate position of East Prussia, the south of which is bounded by Russian soil, made the retreat necessary, quite apart from the fact that they were attacked, by a strongly superior force. One newspaper says that the population is fleeing the country, and a relief committee has therefore been formed at Berlin. The Vorwaerts admits the Germans are in a dangerous position, but hopes that soon they will be able to stop the Russian advance. The German Socialist papers publish daily extremely patriotic articles. The Vorwaerts says it must be every Socialist’s duty to fight to the last drop of blood for Germany’s existence. Many of the Socialist leaders have joined the army as volunteers.

EVERYTHING ENGLISH HATED. The present hatred of everything English in Germany is by no means favourable to the German trade-faker, who for years has sold German-made hats with "best quality” stamped inside, and German leather goods marked “guaranteed best English.” The Berliner Tageblatt reports from Bremen that a firm which for years has been selling “ Sheffield steel ” in. Germany has just sent a circular to its clients announcing that since th e war it-has broken off all relations with the manufacturer 6T the steel in Sheffield. The circular naively added that the Bremen firm could go on delivering the " Sheffield steel ” as, in ' point of fact, the steel had always come from Westphalia and had only bean "accounted” as coming from Sheffield. AH French, Russian, and British names and inscriptions have been altered in Germany. The. English Worcester cause is not now obtainable in restaurants, and English porter haa been given & Gorman • name.