SEEKING THE KAISER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15750, 27 October 1914, Page 8

SEEKING THE KAISER.

CHARGE OF THE HUSSARS.

THROUGH THE GERMAN LINES

Tlio war correspondent of a London newspaper expresses the opinion that in the early weeks of the war the Germans deliberately planned to crush the British Army for "moral effect. He writes: "The Germans saw a golden opportunity to overwhelm and to crush the, comparatively small British wing They sent their hosts of men and their deluge of shrapnel against them. With deadly precision th* British used their rifles and their guns. They mowed swathes through the German infantry. They cut wide avenues through the cavalry, hut always these openings were instantly filled by reserves. The Germans doublet! the pressure, and made superhuman onslaughts. The moral effect throughout Europe of the slaughter of a British Army was worth almost any price. They paid the price recklessly. It is one of the laws of war that when a force has been cruelly punished, it can surrender without loss of honour. The Germans full-- expected that Sir John French would hoist tho white flag when the battle front became a shambles. But the British met shock with shock, killing Germans until their defence became a ghastly butchery, and retired foot by foot, mile by mile, without the Germans ever being able to get them on the run, to pierce their formation, or to overwhelm them. Glorious as the achievements of the British arms have been, there has been nothing to equn! the imperishable courago of our soldiers at, Mons.

Well rainht the French burst into paeans of praise. If that British force had failed. Uhlans would have been riding in the streets of Paris within 24 hours ; France would have been brought t<> her knees. Only the dauntless bravery i:f our men saved her. The Kaiser now perhaps realises that with all his hosts he cannot subdue a British Army, and he has more reasons than the fighting to convince him of this. Published accounts of the four days' battle unite in Riving special prominence to a whirlwind charge by the Hussars. They rod" straight against the Potsdam Guards, the proudest and finest aliment in the German Army. They sabred their way through with headlong fury, and, pulling tip. found that they were right on the other side of the German lines. Nut one bit daunted, they re-formed and cut their way back again. That in itself was a feat which will never be forgotten. When it is stated that their object was to capture, the Kaiser, who was believed to be just at the rear of his famous, and supposedly invincible, Guards. it appears an even greater achievement than the bald statement convoys. THE QUEEN'S THANKS. CnOTHIXr. FOR THE troops. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington - , Monday. In reply to Her Excellency's cablegram, announcing the composition and despatch of the first consignment of contri—clothing for soldiers Queen .Mary's Fund, Her Majesty liar, sent, tlrocgh the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the following message:— "Her Majesty the Qnee) sends her sincere thanks for the generous lesponec to her appeal." MOBILITY OF THE FRENCH. REINFORCEMENTS BY MOTOR. Several sharp affairs have occurred along the lino of righting in France recently. The. (k-rmans are paying special attention to wooded heights, and find the ranges with varving fortune. There are times when the Germans seem to be making ground, but. finally things remain pretty much as (hey were. This is due to the mobility of the French army, which improves as the war progresses, and the continuous practice which the transport service has had. One night 1000 infantry were, rushed round from one wing to the other in order to panv a German attack which seemed to be making headway. The reinforcements were raced through in big speedy motor-vans, each carrying 50 men. Sometimes the men in the trenches agree, to leave off for a rest. During these |>eriods the French sleep or play curds, while the Germans play music and sing. RETREAT FROM ANTWERP. A stirring - story of adventures is told by Sergeant ''-iles who was with tin; British force at Antwerp. He relates that. some fire barges tilled with burning oil were set adrift in the river by the Germans with the idea of destroying the pontoon bridge from Antwerp, over which the British marines were, retreating. When the danger was realised, an officer and five men boarded the blazing barges and put the file out. This officer's great coolness was the? means of saving a, number of lives. 'I he same officer heard that three men of the force had been left behind when the rest retreated at Harurch Quay, and he walked ten miles after midnight and rescued them News has also been received of a German attack on a train carrying British marines from Antwerp tc Osteud. The driver hecame frightened, and stopped the eugine, but two marines promptly boarded the en-' gine and sent it full speed for Osteud, which they reached safely.