IN THE FIRING LINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16666, 26 September 1914, Page 9

IN THE FIRING LINE.

WHEN THE LINE BROKE. FIERCE FIGHTING IN CENTRES. TURCOS SHOW THEIR TEETH. By TclegTftph—Press Association—Copyright PARIS, September 24. Details of the harrying of tho Crown Prince’s army state that Chateau Mondement, the shattered headquarters of the German staff, was taken and retaken four times, being subjected to a tornado of shells and rifle fire. The Crown Prince’s army occupied a front from Fere Champenoise to a point eastward of Epernay, hffi advance troops being on the SezanneEpernay Road. Turcos, notwithstanding a withering fire, struggled up to tho German position. The Germans, fighting stubbornly, retreated. No sooner were the French within tho chateau than they came under German shell fire. The German infantry drew closer and an annihilating gun fire drove the blacks out. They reformed in sheltered ground, began a counter charge, and with the yellow Turcos retook the chateau. , . , The enemy next day m larger num-

bers crept up under superbly-gauged gun fire. Gradually the French yielded, and tho Gormans again held the key to the battlefield. Then tho whole- story was repeated. Tho Turcos dashed in under a murderous firo from tho chateau. Supports from tho lino regiments followed, and tho Germans retired. With this final break in the centre, the enemy’s whole line wavered, and the French pressed forward. Tho Germans stumbled through the swa.mps, abandoning forty-two field pieces, before order was restored by a subsequent withdrawal further eastward. GERMAN WOUNDED. TRAIN-LOADS PASS LIEGE. AMSTERDAM. September 24. A telegram from Maastricht states that fifty thousand wounded passed Liege during the last few days en route to Germany. COMMANDEERED HORSES. HOW GERMAN CAVALRY SUFFERED. ANTWERP. September 24. The Germans in East Flanders requisitioned twenty thousand horses. It is estimated that the Germans lost two-thirds of their horses since the beginning of the war owing to an epidemic of glanders having broken out. BARBAROUS GERMANS. DESTRUCTION OF REIMS CATHEDRAL POPE’S PROTEST TO KAISER. By Telegraph—Pre«a Association—Coavright. (Received September 25, 8 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 24. An official statement made at Berlin admits using one mortar shot against Rheims Cathedral becauso field artillery was ineffective to dislodge the observation post. . _» Rome nowspapers state that the Pope telegraphed to the Kaiser deploring tho damage to Rheims Cathedral, saying: “ When you destroy the temples of God you provoke the Divine lire, before which even potent armies lose all their power.*’ GERMAN INFANTRYMEN COURTMARTIALLED. (Received September 26, 1.30 a.m.) ANTWERP, September 24. A Belgian courtmartial convicted a German infantryman of killing a peasant woman with a bayonet and another of having stolen jewellery which was in her possession. Both were executed. BELGIAN REFUGEES. MR HOLMAN’S OFFER. NOT ACCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. ANTWERP, September 24.' The Belgian Government has thanked Mr Holman, Premier of New South Wales, for Ins offer to receive refugees, but is unable to accept it. When the war has ended every man, woman and child will bo needed to repair the awful wastage of war.