LORD KITCHENER’S CONGRATULATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 28

LORD KITCHENER’S CONGRATULATIONS.

LONDON, October 1. Lord Kitchener, in a message tn Sir John French, says: “My warmest com gratuiations to you and your troops upon the substantial success achieved. Best wishes for progress in your im» portent operations.” GERMAN PRISONERS. LONDON, September 30. The Times correspondent in Northern France, describing the German prisoners, says the curious point is that the majority are of the Slav type, clearly drawn from the fringes of Germany’s ill-assorted empire, and uninspired by any virulent antipathy to their opponents. Germany, in order to succeed, must not only keep her armies at full strength, but must preserve at white heat the whole of her fanatical, unyielding spirit. If Germany still has numbers of men, it is doubtful if they are of the right kind. Her stalwarts of the first line nre mostly to he found in the craves of Flanders, the Champagne, and far-away Poland. LIEGE RESIDENTS MOVED. LONDON. September 30. An aviator flew over Liege and dropped French papers, flags, and proclamations announcing that the allied armies were advancing The people of Liege were

' deeply moved by this first air visit since j the occupation of the town by the Gerj mans. I GERMAN PRESS ADMISSIONS. AMSTERDAM, September 50. Nineteen-year-old Germans in Holland and Scandinavia have been called to the ; colours. There are indications of anxiety j and uneasiness in Germany. | The Frankfurter Zeitung says: “It was | impossible to resist a bombardment lasting I three days and nights, followed by an ; attack of brave troops.” i A writer in the Berlingske Tidende ■ (Denmark) says that a definite result on | the west front might decide the whole : war. LONDON, September 30. I The Kolnische Zeitung states that extra- ; ordinary severe fighting took place on the ; centre front at East Anhreville. The French attacked under protection of their j heaviest artillery, the fire surpassing that ' of the battle on September 25, but they i were repulsed with severe loss. The weather is had, hut is clearing up. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. AMSTERDAM, September 30, | The Telegraaf states that apparently inex’ an tible trainloads of Germans are ; arriving in Belgium, where the greatest ! activity prevails. All available vehicles | have been requisitioned for bringing up i materials and conveying the wounded, i Six Zeppelins passed Aerschot going westward. APPALLING SLAUGHTER. NEW YORK, September 50. An American newspaper correspondent i states that 30,000 Germans fell along a j 16-mile front. The retreat was swift and j costly, especially northward of Bean ; Sejour. The slaughter on the hill above ; the Dormiese River was appalling. The j Frenchmen’s impetuosity drove the enemy i from the crest of the hill into the river, i The victors’ shouts mingled with the j screams of the fugitives as, plunging into I the swift current, they were swept off, clutching one another in a death grip. At certain points the stream was fordable over the piled bodies. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. BERLIN, September 30. A communiciue states: Tire enemy conI tinned their efforts on Wednesday to break | through in Champagne. We blew up a | position occupied by two British com- ' panics south of the Ypres-Menin road, j Out counter-attack north of Loos pro- ; gre-sed slowly. The French penetrated htwo small sections of our lines south of : Souchez, where fighting continues. We re- : pul ed a French attack south of Arras. 1 Bitter battles are occurring between : Rheims and the Argonne. An enemy brigade south of St. Mariepy broke our ■ outer line of trenches, and encountered our ■ reserves, who captured 800 men and exI terminated the remainder. Other French I atta-ks on the Sommepy-Souain road were i repulsed after bitter hand-to-hand fighting. 'We lost Hill 191, north of Messignes, ■ which was badly exposed to the enemy’s i flanking fire. j -■ VALUE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES. LONDON, September 30. i The Times Paris correspondent states i that the French losses were less than was i expected. The particularly small proporj tion of killed to wounded and the high i proportion of slight wounds are probably the result of the energy and money expended in improving the heavy artillery and the enormous stocks of shells. KAISER CONSULTS WITH HIS GENERALS. LONDON, September 30. The New York World’s Paris correspondent states that the Kaiser continues in consultation with his generals, seeking means to stop the French advance in the Champagne, where the Germans fear an overwhelming disaster. The shells used included tens of thousands more powerful than any previously used by the Allies. MAJOR-GENERAL CAPPER KILLED. LONDON, October 1. Major-general Thompson Capper lias been killed in France. Major-general Capper, who had a d’stinguished military career in Cln’trnl. Soudan (mentioned in despatches), and South Africa (D.S.O. and despatches), was commandant of the Indian Staff College from 1806 to 1911. and Inspector of Infantry since 1914, to which position he was promoted from the command of the 13th Infantry Brigade. GERMAN WOUNDED. AMSTERDAM, October 1. A great number of wounded from Os- : tend and Elanket-Berghe have been conveyed to Gerniany.