FRENCH SERGEANT'S STORY OF THE GERMAN RETREAT GERMANS RETREATING TO THE BELGIAN FRONTIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15711, 11 September 1914, Page 5

FRENCH SERGEANT'S STORY OF THE GERMAN RETREAT

GERMANS RETREATING TO THE BELGIAN FRONTIER.

■ENEMY PURSUED WITH DECIMATING FIRE.

TERRIBLE LOSSES SUSTAINED BY THE GERMANS. Paris, September 9.

Three hundred Germans were captured in the last engagements in the vicinity of the Ourcq and Grand Morin Rivers. A trench sergeant, wounded at Meaux. says:— We pursued in force, for 19 miles two German regiments, which were supported by cavalry and artillery. During a hurried retreat the Germans did not fire a shot, while the French maintained a violent decimating fire. We succeeded in isolating part of this German column, and raptured seven guns, two machine guns, and many prisoners. One of these was an infantry sergeant, who admitted that the men had nearly exhausted their ammunition and were ordered to spare it. A French infantry officer, also wounded at Meaux, declared that the German troops repulsed in that district after two days' heavy lighting comprise two army corps. They sustained terrible losses. lie counted TOO bodies in one trench. He also corroborated the lack of German ammunition, and said that the Germans seemed very tired

EXPERIENCING SUFFERINGS BORNE BY ALLi'ES.

BRITISH FAST ON THEIR FLANK.

London, September 0.

Mr. Martin H. Donohoe, the London Daily Chronicle's war cor respondent, says that the right wing of the German Army has been considerably battered during the last few days, and is no.v falling back, with the British fast on its flank. Everything points nmr * to a definite retirement than to a temporary retreat. Far in the *ear of the Germans the driving movement of the allies is making itself felt. German patrols on the left bank of the Somme, particularly around Amiens, suddenly withdrew, while the greater part of the enemy holding Amiens also withdrew in sOiVe disorder early on Tuesday. Most of their wounded were sent to Arras, but those too seriously injured to be moved remain at Amiens. PRESSURE OF THE ENGLISH TOO GREAT. The allies' left wing is giving the enemy very little respite, the British cavalry being particularly active. The allies are seeking to detach the harried and sorely-pressed German right from the main body to annihilate it. The retreating Germans arc directing their rearwards march upon C'ambrai, 22 miles from the Belgian frontier, where the British made a stand during their retirement, and Tournai, in Belgium, ~h miles from tne frontier. The German right made repeated futile efforts to hold its own, but the pressure of the English was too great. " The vast German mass is in motion," says Mr. Donohoe. " Ita pace is slow enough at the moment, but each hour the rearguard rate is gaining momentum, and will, if it runs, bring upon itself inevitable disaster. ENEMY SHORT OF MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES. " It is now experiencing some of the sufferings nobly borne by the allies in (heir retirement from Belgium. A wounded French officer informed me that the German right entirely exhausted itself during the rapid march on Paris, and is now short of munitions and supplies. This moment was chosen for the allies' counter-attack. " For three days the British fought with the valour and heroism which characterised them at Mons. On Monday and Tuesday the retreating Germans repeatedly halted and delivered fierce counterattacks upon their relentless pursuers. The German onslaughts lacked determination, however, and during the retreat they abandoned waggons, stores, and guns."