THE WAR.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12931, 30 October 1914, Page 2

THE WAR.

AFRICA. By Electric Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright. PRETORIA, Oct. 28. Official—General Botha has gone to the front. LONDON, Oct. 28. The Morning Post is optimistic of General Botha's ability early to suppress the outbreak. The Cnronicle is deprecatory of civil war, which it likens to that of the United States of fifty years ago. The Times says the rebellion is nowise so serious as it may seem at the first glance. Apart fom General Botha's enormous personal influence, the weight of Dutch opinion is solidly against the rebels. If the latter are relying on German aid they will be rudely disillusioned. Johannesburg reports state that owing to many cricketers voulnteering all fixtures are postponed. It is officially reported that the Belgians completely defeated the Germans on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa. LISBON, Oct. 28.

The German troops invaded Angola (which adjoins German South-West Africa). Portugal is sending warships immediately.

LONDON, Oct. 28

General Beyers visited England in 1912 and spoke in public of the deep appreciation of the Boers at the confidence reposed in them by the Imperial Government, and said they were certain to prove worthy of such confidence. 'i

He attended the German war manoeuvres as the Kaiser's guest and studied German army methods. He was well known in Soutn Africa.

Strong opposition existed to taking the offensive against German Southwest Africa, not only among the Hertzogites, but among the Burghers supporting the Government, particularly in the western district of the Transvaal, and some of the Cape districts. This section declared they would fight to the last if the Germans invaded the Union territory, but saw no reason for taking the field themselves.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 29

The Prime Minister has received the following f»om the High Commissioner, dated London, October 27: —

The Governov-General of South Africa has informed the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Union Government has issued the following announcement:—

The Government announces with deep regret that, at the instigation of certain prominent individuals, a number of Burghers in the Northern Orange State and Western districts of the Transvaal, are being misguided enough to defy the authority of the Government and make preparations for armed resistance and rebellion. The Government, although they have been for some days aware of these rebellious preparations and have been taking steps to deal with the situation have scared no efforts to preserve peace without bloodshed. / Now, however, the Government learns that the Northern Orange Free State Burghers' military requirements are being commandeered under the authority of General Christian De Wet, and those of the Western Transvaal under the authority of General Beyers. Armed rebellious commandos are already in existence and the town of Heilbron has been seized. Government officials have been made prisoners. The train has been stopped at Litz and an armed citizens defence force taken therefrom and disarmed, j In these circumstances the duty of the Government is clear. They are detei mined to deal with the matter with a firm hand and are taking all the necessary steps to this end. The very great majority of citizens of every province of the' Union a' v thoroughly loyal and. detest the very idea of rebellion. When aware of the situation they will undoubtedly give the Government every assistance in restoring order, and will be careful to abstain from giving the rebellion movement any encouragement or support. All loyal citizens of the Union must, therefore, be specially alert and prepared to give the Government all information when called upon and every assistance in their power. Citizens who have been guilty of under the Defence Act need not fear any action against them on that ground on the part of the Government, so long as they remain quietly at home and abstain from acts of violence or hostility against the authority of the Government.

DELAYED CABLES.

LONDON, Oct. 22

Beports from Calais state that hundreds of refugees are crowding the railway station platforms waiting for strains.

The residents of Calais a week ago were themselves wondering whether they should flee. The French taking the offensive resulted in calming Calais. This was a gallant feat of

The Prussians held the right bank of the river Lys in force, and played searcnlights and mitrailleuses upon tho, only fords. Under cover of night the French cavalry massed on the left -bonk at a point where the current was slow, and the water deeper. The Germans apparently regarded this part as unfoTdable. A French trooper, an expert swimmer, stripped and dived in, carrying a light line. He reached the opposite bank and hauled across a heavier rope. The cavalry immediately crossed, and at dawn faced the Uhlans,who seeing themselves outflanked and outnumbered, retired. The Germans have a happy knack of combination, which suggests that they faave entered into a compact with 'Time himself. Antwerp fell just at the moment that the advance westward began.

like Napoleon, the Kaiser .lias given an order for the "miserable little British Army to be driven int( the sea/' The defences of Calais are not artificial. Towards the south vthere is low-lying, marshy ground, the French would not hesitate to flood if the Germans came too close. It isn't an uncommon thing in nor■mal times to see peasants going about Vtheir business in boats. Such a method of defence must confine the advance to one or two which could be easily covered by artillery. The new Creuzot 10.5 centimetre field guns, which were made for a foreign Power, but were presented to France by the Cruezot firm at thQ

commencement of the war, have proved of enormous value. They have a great range and can be trundled about as they are light. They can reach any but the heaviest German artillery, and are flexible for the purposes of laying and sighting—unlike the German heavy guns, for which the mud churnel up on the roads presents insuperable difficulties. Mr Powell, the correspondent of the New York World, took possession of the United States Consulate at Antwerp after the Consul had fled, and watchel from a balcony the arrival of the Germans. "As the great fighting machine swung past," he says, "I could not but marvel and wonder how-the chivalrous and courageous but ill-prepared little Belgian Army had held it back so long." According to Mr Powell, the field batteries trotted tnrough the city and threw shrapnel on the retreating Belgian rearguard. x The rattle of the drums, the music of the military bands, and the lighted street lamps reminded him of an election night parade at home. He sent a colleague to the German commander and notified him that he was taking charge of United States and British interests. The messenger did not remove his hat when passing a German infantry officer, who struck him twice with the flat of his sword. The man pulled the American flag out of his pocket, and the officer then desisted. The commander apologised and promised that the officer should be punished.

VARIOUS.

LONDON, Oct, 28

Bomb insurances in London are easier. Half-acrown per cent, is being charged. A prominent German officer, disgusted with the devastation of his countrymen in Poland, has handsomely contributed to the relief of Polish refugees in London.

The British order not to a rjest enemy reservists in neutral vessels on the high seas has been rescinded. It is reported that the Kaiser has undertaken the leadership of the Austro-German armies. He is in good health and spirits, and is thoroughly enjoying his position as War Lord. SYDNEY, Oct. 29.

After the outbreak of the war the Government placed 85 hard-up Germans in a camp at Windsor, providing food and clothing in return for work. A section caused trouble by refusing to work without pay. The police were called in and removed tents. The balance then struck and marched out in a body, an improvised band playing National airs. MELBOURNE, Oct. 29.

The House passed through all stages a Bill providing for the safety of the Commonwealth during the war by giving extensive powers to naval and military authorities, dealing with aliens importing or exporting goods and guilty of other offences, and fixing heavy penalties. Amongst other provisions aliens may be deported wbether naturalised or unnaturalised. Mr Cook, Lpader of the Opposition, vthought the Bill forecasted martial law. He was not prepared to place duck powers in the hands of naval and military boards, but though he did not VJilce many of the provisions he would not oppose the Bill.

FRANCE.

By Elestric Telegraph*—Press Asbo- j ciation—Copyright. (Times. —Sydney Sun Service.) LONDON, Oct. 28. The Times' correspondent in France precedes a character sketch of General Joffre by a comparison of the Napoleonic wars with the present. He says the aeroplane has robbed fighting 'of the tactical interest attaching to old-time wars. War now consists of a series of parallel movements. The armies turn about each other like borers in the preliminary stages, pivoting clumsily to catch each other at a disadvantage. That is practically all thp art of modern war. The rest is ding-dong battle, resistance, marching and counter-marching. General Joffre is rarely seen on horseback. He spends hours daily in his motor car and wears out two chauffeurs daily. He also spends long hours in an unpretentious room with i a telephone to his ear. His chief characteristic is calmness, and the result of this confidence in himself has given confidence to others. His staff never for a moment doubts his capacity to win. That conviction has percolated through the masses of the troops and has made him- popular, though he eschews popularity. He is modest and unassuming. His readiness to accept suggestions has fostered the belief that he is an adopter and organiser rather than a strategist. The campaign has shown that he is soldier, engineer and organiser.

His great maxim is: "Nothing can be improvised. Everything must be thought out." He takes infinite trouble, which is necessary to ,ccure successes. He has brought together the best military brains in France and coordinated and controlled their efforts. He has exorcised politics, its greatest bane, from the French army. Himself a Republican and a Freemason he is surrounded by Catholics who were at first disposed to cavil at the present Constitution. As a result of his firmness and singleness of purpose Joffre commands the greatest fighting machine in the world wherefrom every consideration other than efficiency is obliterated. ♦Toffre is just a plain soldier, modern and scientific, with a mass of theoretical knowledge backed by a high sense of the practical. i He understands what to expect from the common soldier and how to extend him on occasion. This war of

silence and anonymity accords w:th Joffre's genius. It is a German-made scientific war as opposed to the artistic, and Joffre has become the master of a new system which he did not invent.

BELGIUM.

LONDON, Oct. 28.

A Daily News message states that the Germans have been beaten back over the Yser river. Many were drowned and many taken prisoners. .They have also_ fallen back at Westende.

On Sunday 387 vehicles laden with wounded passed through Ostend. PARIS, Oct. 28. There are three main canals between Nieuport and Dixmude. The Germans crossed the second canal on Sunday and reached Pervyse on Menday, when the battle was critical for the Allies. The French, however, steadily advanced along the dunes to Lombartzyde and Westende. A Flushing telegram states that a large force of Germans on Sunday advanced from Bruges to Thourout (halfway to Dixmude). The Allies remained concealed until the town was occupied, and then by a sudden attack drove the Germans in confusion to Bruges, leaving hundreds of dead and wounded. The British and French flags are now flying on the tower of Thourout church.

. There was heavy fighting on Monday at Couckelaere, where the Allies held a commanding position to the westward. They inflicted terrible losses. Thrice the German masses were flung in unavailing assaults on the position.

German guns have been mounted at* Heyst and Zeebrugge, north-east of, Ostend, for the purpose of meeting attacks by sea. They have also sown mines along the coast, using Ostend tugs and luggers, but many broke away and exploded against the groynes on the seashore. The Allies on the 16th executed an attack on Haubourden. The British and French columns moved along the bank of the Lys in a thiek mist which enabled them to escape detection until the French cavalry debouched on the great paved road running 1 parallel with the railway from La Bassee to Lille.

The German battery enfiladed the road and railway while the peat bogs on either side were commanded by German entrenchments. The latter were insufficient to stop the cavalry and infantry, which left the roadway and advanced along the pathways of the marshes.

The artillery, however, were unable

to follow, and the British General, for the honour of silencing the German guns, chose the Scottish regiment. The Scotsmen made short rushes, 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 the guns despite the barbed wire and the murderous fire of - the machine guns. The | Scotsmen then broke the breeches of

the guns. It was all over in ten minutes and then they retired on the main body. Their feat enabled the French guns to gallop on the road safely. PARIS, Oct. 28. After the Germans were repulsed at Ypres canal on Friday, the British advanced through the open fields, driving the enemy east and north and capturing Langsmarck, where they entrenched. During the night a shrill whistle suddenly sounded and bushes souked in petroleum broke into flames. Masses of men sprang from the beet crops a few hundred yards in advance of the British position. The British hurriedly manned the trenches and opened fire. The machine guns poured volley after volley into the advancing Germans, who, shouting "Hoch! hoch!" rushed on and fell in hundreds. They were, however, within

thirty yards of the trenches when the whistle sounded the retreat. Then the British sprang out of the trenches and with the bayonets engaged in hand-to-hand encounters by the dim glare of the burning bushes. Many of the enemy threw down their arms, but no quarter was given. The Germans were driven back to Roulers and the British took thousands of prisoners, including a general and they captured a battery and several machine guns. TURKE" ROME, Oct. 28. It is reported tiiat Constantinople is crowded with German infantry and artillery, and that the fortifications in the Dardanelles are under German command.

LONDON, Oct. 28

Reuter's Rome correspondent reports that Italy's aotion in Valona (Albania) is due to the FrancoBritish warning that the Young Turks in Smyrna are organising an expedition to annex Albania to Turkey.

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 28

Advices from Berlin state that the Amir of Afghanistan gave audience to an influential member of the Turkish Committee of Union and Progress, sent on a special mission as envoy from Constantinople, • •

JAPAN.

SYDNEY, Oct. 29.

. The Japanese Consul-General, at th' 3 master builders' picnic, referring to Japan's 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 was taken in full accord and agreement with Britain. He trusted the suspicions which might have existed had been dispelled. If further rumours gained currency he hoped they would not be seriously regarded by th"> thinking population.

AUSTRIA.

LONDON, Oct. 28

An analysis of the waters of the Danube shows the presence of cholera microbes. Hundreds of cases are reported in Vienna daily.

RUSSIA.

PETROGRAD, Oct. 28,

Official.—Fighting has recommenced in East Prussia where the Russians repulsed desperate German attacks at Nakalarzevo.

The fighting on the Vistula extends from Kunto to the mouth of the Hzanka river, and particularly at Jerzow and Rawa, where part of the enemy's positions have been carried. The Russians forced the Germans to retreat at Altandrano, on the Vistula, south' of Ivangorod, taking prisoner fifty officers and three thousand Germans, and capturing machine guns and eight cannon. A telegram from Warsaw states I that heavy columns of Russian cavalry | occupied Lmedte on Tuesday. There is excitement at Petrograd, as this threatens the whole line of German communications.

A German girl spy has been courtmartialled and shot near Petrograd. Her clothes were lined with admirably executed plans of the Kronstadt and Methe defences.

MANAWATU PATRIOTIC FUND.

Amount previously acknowledged, £1194 3s 4d; Clark and Thompson \(jercentage on cash sales), £2 7s 3d; P. L. Sim (audit fee on same), 10s 6d; total, £1197 Is Id.