ALLIES BUILD PONTOONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 5

ALLIES BUILD PONTOONS.

! UNDER GERMAN FIRE. i I _ - j "' | ITALY GROWiG RESTLESS. 1 j ! SOUTH AFRICA'S PART. I SOUTH AFRICA'S PART. i TO OCCUPY GERMAN TERRITORY.

To-day's war cablegrams show that heavy rains, resulting in swollen rivers, assisted the German retreat and retarded the pursuit of the allies. To cross the Aisue the allies had to build pontoons at Soissons and half-dozen other points, the bridges having been destroyed during the retreat of a fortnight ago- The pontoons were built under a withering fire from the Germans, who had already crossed the river. Under the protection of their own guns the allies were eventually able to cross the river and win the heights, but the retreating Germans had by this time gained a 12=hours' respite. The High Commissioner for New Zealand reports that the rout of the Austrian Army in Galicia is complete. Since the taking of Lemberg the Austrians have lost 250,000 killed and wounded, and 100,000 prisoners. Sixty thousand wounded have reached Vienna. Two Slav regiments have deserted from the Austrian Army to the Servians. They assisted the Servians to capture Semlin.

The agitation in Italy for intervention in the war against Austria is growing in strength. The Ministry is being urged to take action lest they lose the opportunity of extending national boundaries. Public feeling is decidedly favourable to Britain.

Turkey has, it is stated, finally decided to remain neutral. The South African Government has decided to accede to the request of the Imperial Government to occupy a certain part of German South=West Africa for strategical reasons.