THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16166, 31 August 1914, Page 4

THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Specially interesting in the war news which we publish this morning is that relating to an engagement of eight hours' duration between the British and German cruiser and destroyer squadrons in the North. Sea. The British squadron—in which, it will be observed, H.M.S. New Zealand was included—delivered the attack with a result that mist be regarded as highly gratifying. The Germans suffered the loss of two — if not three—cruisers and two destroyers, and many other vessels in their fleet were damaged. One British cruiser and one destroyer were damaged, bat none was lost, and the sacrifice of life was not heavy. The loss of German lives must, have been considerable, and many prisoners were taken by the British. The fresh accounts of the fighting on land are somewhat confused. They plainly imply, however, that the allied lines in France have been withdrawn further south. They have, in fact, abandoned Boulogne to the Germans, who are, moreover, operating as far south as Amiens, and preparations are now being made for the defenoe of Paris. Sheer weight of numbers, it is said, has been carrying the Germans on in their advance. Whether they will long continue to enjoy in France the advantage which their numerical supremacy has given them may be doubtful. For one thing, it would appear tliat the Belgians are operating successfully at the rear of the Germans, and that they have retaken Malines—a town which the Germans captured a few days ago. The effect of this has been that the Germans have found '.t necessary to withdraw some of their troops from France in order to strengthen their forces in Belgium. Moreover, a statement of great significance is contained in our latest news—namely, that 160 trainloads of German soldiers, comprising an army corps, have been sent back through Belgium from the western theatre of operations to join the army upon which resta the responsibility of resisting the invasion by the Russians. In view of the rapidity with which the Russians are advancing, this development cannot be regarded as surprising. An estimate, contained in the High Commissioner's cablegram, of the losses that have been sustained by the Germans may, on the other hand, prove to be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Germans have suffered very heavily. The principle which they adopt of attacking in close formation necessarily exposes them to serious losses. One of our recent cablegrams, it may be remembered, suggested that they would not consider that a loss of 50 per cent, of their men was extrava gant if in the end they attained their objective. They have a success or two credited to them this morning—among others, the capture, after a 24 days' siege, of the fortress of'Longwy, the defence ol which was entrusted to a comparative handful of troops,—but they are also debited with "an unpardonable act of barbarity and vandalism " in the destruction of Louvain, occupied, as this town was, by an unarmed civil population. The Austrians, moreover, are now indicted upon » charge of having been gailty of acts of.

brutality and savagery. Tho specific allegation again.st them is that, before relinquishing Shabatz to the victorious Servians, they massacred all the prisoners whom they had taken. In the amenities of war tho Germans and Austrians would soem to have a good deal to learn from their enemies in tho West of Europe.