THREATENING ENEMY'S LINES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 5

THREATENING ENEMY'S LINES

GERMANY'S TERRIFIC LOSSES. PRUSSIAN GUARDS WIPED OUT. RUSSIA'S SIX MILLIONS MOBILISATION COMPLETE. — / GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS.

The war cablegrams published to*day show that the German invaders of France are still on the defensive, while the allied forces are conducting active offensive operations. The retreating Germans have now succeeded in strongly entrenching themselves with concealed machinc guns in posi* tions which have been elaborately prepared to resist attack. On account of the strength of these positions the allies are moving at reduced speed, and it is indicated that their main efforts may, for a time, be directed to cutting the German lines of communication. On the northern edge of the Argonne the French are slowly pushing a bold, somewhat dangerous, advance intended to isolate the Crown army.

All the recent fighting has resulted in favour of the allies. At the battle of the Aisne the Germans, in a desperate effort to stay their onward march, hurled masses of troops on the French lines, but, as in the early stages of the campaign, this method of attack resulted in terrific loss of life. An American army officer, who saw the fighting, estimates the dead in one locality at from 15,000 to 20,000. All accounts agree that the famous Prussian Guards Corps was practically wiped out at the battles of the Marne and Aisne. In spite of their heavy sacrifice of life at the battle of Aisne, the Germans had to evacuate Soissons, and fall further back.

In the British section of the line there has been furious fighting, and some famous regiments suffered severely. The men fought unflinchingly, and captured some of the advanced German positions, but at great cost. Russia has completed the mobilisation of her armies, totalling six million men. Half a million are operating in East Prussia, half a million in Galicia, 900,000 are advancing into Posen, and two millions are hurrying westward from Siberia, Turkestan, and Caucasia. The remainder are reserves. Reuter's representative at Washington reports that the German Ambassador to the United States has declared that Germany is willing to make peace on the basis that European Germany shall not be dismembered.

All the Russian newspapers are urging Itaiy to abandon her neutrality, and suggest that by aiding the Triple Entente Italy can gain territory and secure commercial concessions from Russia. '