FRENCH CARRY WAR INTO ENEMY'S TERRITORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 8

FRENCH CARRY WAR INTO ENEMY'S TERRITORY.

SUCCESS GAINED OVER GERMAN ARMS IN ALSACE. DIVISION ADVANCES WELL INTO ENEMY'S COUNTRY. EVACUATION OF LUXEMBURG REPORTED. « Paris, August 9. A French cavalry brigade advanced into Alsace to-day and • attacked Altkirch, 12 miles from the French frontier. The town was defended by a force of Germans about equal to the French force. The French carried the breastworks after a fierce bayonet fight, the Germans breaking and retreating in disorder and abandoning their trenches. The French Dragoons followed up their victory and inflicted great losses on the enemy. The division then advanced to Mulhausen, 10 miles to the northeast and seven from tho Baden boundary. This important ccntre was captured without opposition. General Joffre, French Commander-in-Chief, in a proclamation after the occupation of Mulhausen, said: "Children, after 41 years oi sorrowful waiting, the French soldiers once more tread tho soil of your noble country. They arc tho pioneers of the great work of revenge. With what emotion and pride will they complete their work." An official report states that the Germans at Mulhausen showed the same want of dash as at Liege. When their officers were killed the men became a helpless rabble, and fled sheep-liko. 0 The Alsatians were delirious with joy. In welcoming the French troops they tore up the German boundary marks. It is announced in Berlin that French from Belforfc attacked the frontier guard in Upper Alsace. Their incursion was stopped near Altkirch and the enemy returned to Belfort.

French cavalry captured a German patrol at Nomeney, a small frontier town due south of Metz, and 14 miles north-east of Nancy. A party of infantry captured another patrol, seven Germans being killed.

French cavalry have occupied a small town on the German side of

the frontier.

A skirmish occurred between French and Gorman cavalry in Belgium, on .tho borders of Luxemburg. The Germans were defeated and lost a number, who were taken prisoners.

The French Army is reported to be well up to the Belgian border. It is reported that the Germans have evacuated Luxemburg owing to the French advance upon that territory. ,

"Mulhausen is an important commercial and manufacturing town, and the contre of cotton-spinning in Western Germany. Formerly a French town, it was ceded to Germany, with Alsace, in 1871. It has a population of 94,000. Altkirch, ton , miles away from Mulhausen, is a smaller manufacturing town with a population of 3000. """■ 1