NEW PHASE OF WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15750, 27 October 1914, Page 9

NEW PHASE OF WAR.

ANTWERP BEING AVENGED.

ALLIES' STRIKING PROGRESS.

GERMAN'S LOSE HEART.

The London Daily Chronicle representative in France telegraphs that the allies have made striking progress since the fall of Antwerp. The Germans abandoned C'ourtrai, and were literally flung back in a crowded mass on the lines of communication, relinquishing ground for which they had sacrificed hundreds of lives.

I During the recent fighting French Black Country territorials in one locality held the trenches with evident difficulty, being unequal to their German antagonists. The French general decided on a quick change, and during tho night substituted several companies of regular soldiers. The Germans daringly advanced with the bayonet, but, instead of the territorials, swarthy figures suddenly leapt from the trenches, assailing the eifbmy with savage ferocity. The carnage was dreadful, and but few Germans escaped. Exhaustion, more than death, is weakening the enemy. German prisoners seem miserable, sick, starved, and weary of life. Enteric is making a horror of the trenches. Preparing to Retire. A London Times correspondent, who lias been on the outskirts of the operations in the north of France, finds it difficult to get to know what is going on. He writes:"The great German army which for months has been trampling over Northern France and Belgium is preparing to retire. Typhoid is rife in the German trenches. " The biter has been bitten, in that his heavy guns, which wrought such havoc at the beginning of the campaign, are now immovable in the mire. The grand army has not strength to advance. It must fall back. The necessity for the German centre to bold on while the prolonged battle running tip through Rove, Lassigny, and Anas makes good its position, has been responsible for furious fighting at Rove, where the line turns northward. It is the German object to retreat over as wide a front as possible. The preliminary attack at Hazebrouck was a feeler to widen their western front. It is an important railway centre. A party of Bavarians stormed the railway station, and killed the sentry. A French military motorcyclist single banded shot one German and captured four more. Before withdrawing, the enemy's patrol shot one old woman and a child, who were fleeing in terror. Later on one of the prisoners was recognised as an engineer who was formerly employed at Hawbrour-k. and the esci.rt had much difficulty in prolectI ing him from the fury of the inhabitants. Two Sorts of Prisoners. j "The German prisoners are generally remarkable for their arrogance and insolence even in adversity, and this makes the Frenchmen hate them more. The prisoners do not appear to have washed or to have removed their clothes since the beginning of the war. 'Ihey tell of the cruelty of the Lilians, who drive them into the enemy's lines to get information, and many express positive relief when they are able to give themselves up. is no bitterness between the Fren.h and the wounded Germans. The nights are cold now, and "hen a train halts at a wayside station the generous peasants run along the side with baskets of bread and apnles. The enemy's soldiers make a wild rush for the windows. Everywhere the French regard the British soldier with gratitude. They declare that he has got a heart, of gold, and they treasure souvenirs such a-' buttons and badges, and even match-boxes. The French soldiers have an enormous admiration for the British equipment, particularly for the guns and horses. They also appreciate the invisibililv and practical usefulness of khaki, but sentimentally prefer their brilliant red uniforms. Fine Veterinary Work. " The excellent condition of the British horses is duo to the Royal Veterinary Corps, which has been established since the Boer war. The members of this corps collect the wounded horses of both friends and enemies. The Germans have stripped the country of horses useful for chargers. and every Lilian and French cavalryman is estimated to have had three horses so far. Many German horses have been lost from glandeis and other diseases brought on !>y feeding on raw beetroot and green corn. One always knew which was a French horse by the fact that its ribs were countable. It had not been fed on green stuff, but. had literally been ridden to death. The British veterinarians are working on the principle that one horse saved now is Worth six later on." hearted Attacks. • Tile Times' military correspondent says; —" Field-Marshal Sir .John French's despatches should inspire us with confidence in the result of the war. We cannot discover that (iA-mau shot and shell have accomplished anything dining the last two months except the destruction of a few forts bv heavy guns. The Germans have not sustained their reputation. The allied forces will now have no difficulty in repulsing them. The hopelessness of the strugjjlo is beginning to dawn oil the German soldiers in the field. While- they are making half-hearted attacks, the old spiritseems to have been knocked nut of them, and the loss 'if officers and the appearance of second rate troops is exercising a disintegrating effect."