ALLIES PRESSING ON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15807, 2 January 1915, Page 5

ALLIES PRESSING ON.

USEFUL POSITIONS WON. THE FIGHT FOR POLAND. RUSSIANS PROVE SUPERIOR. SOUTH AFRICA DETERMINED. ARMY TO BE INCREASED. The renewed vigour being shown by the allies in the western theatre, is indicated by advances at various points. The recapture of Saint Georges, in Flanders, affords the allies valuable artillery positions, and they are now able to build bridges over the Yser, east of Nieuport. Half of Steinbach, in Upper Alsace, has been carried, house by house, and on the Aisne the allies are more than holding their own. A wireless message from Berlin admits that the Russians on the extreme left wing are proving superior to the Germans. From Petrograd comes an estimate placing the German losses in the eastern theatre, during the past three weeks, at 300,000 out of the 1,250,000 engaged. Another Russian estimate of the German casualties in Poland and East Prussia since November 9, is 600,000. The Government of the Union of South Africa appears deter, mined to carry on vigorous operations against the Germans and rebels. It announces its intention of using the powers conferred on it by the Defence Act of 1912, under which all male citizens are liable for military service. Union troops have reoccupied Walfish Bay, South-west Africa. In an address to the Australian troops at Cairo, Sir George Reid said they would be sent to the front directly they were fit. The latest report of the Belgian Commission states that French soldiers captured at Aerschot were tortured by having their hands plunged into boiling water and mutilated. i ALLIES PRESS THE OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS. ST. GEORGES PROVES AN IMPORTANT GAIN. GERMANS SITUATED BETWEEN TWO FIHES. By Telegraph —Copyright. (Received January 1. 11 p.m.) London, January 1. The Daily Chronicle's Dunkirk correspondent states that the capture of St. Georges affords the allies valuable artillery positions. The Germans at Westende are now between two fires. Many German companies at St. Georges surrendered, after losing all their officers. The allies are now able to build bridges over the Yse:- east of Nieuport. HOW THE BELGIANS CAPTURED ST. GEORGES. MARINES RUN GAUNTLET OF GERMAN FIRE. Paris, December 31. A German force recently captured St. Georges, which was nearly surrounded by floods. During the recapture a Belgian battalion became stranded on a strip of land in a critical position. Six marines volunteered to take a 75-millimetre gun in a wherry, via the canal which runs alongside the village. The enemy opened a vigorous fire, and wounded the steersman. Another replaced him, but was also wounded, and this continued until five were hors de combat. The sixth had almost reached the islet when he was shot, but the Belgians succeeded in landing the gun, and fired, destroying the houses sheltering the Germans, who fled. Many were killed, and many were drowned.