THE RETREATING GERMANS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4942, 16 September 1914, Page 5

THE RETREATING GERMANS.

DEFENCES ABANDONED. UETIN OF'NANCY EVACUATED London, Last Niglit. Official. —The Germans have been forced to abandon the defence which they prepared between Compiegne and Soissons. The German centre has abandoned a similar position behind Amiens. A detachment posted at Amiens retired to Peroiine and St. Quentin. The Germans in Argonne retreated northwards below the forest at Belnoue and Tiraucort and have totally evacuated the region ol Nancy and the Vosages. , , ~ .- The Press Bureau reports that the French Sixth Army maintained the pressure in the West, while the ritth Army by forced marches reached the line ‘of Chateau Thierry-Dormans on the Marne and captured 1500 prisoners, ten guns and fifty transport waggons The thick woods in this region were full of German stragglers, who surrendered in parties. The Germans were apparently demoralised and did much brutal damage to the villages and ill-treated the inhabitants. The British forced nearly all the crossings of the Aisne on Sunday despite stubborn opposition. .1 he French posted on the British right and left were similarly successful. Manv prisoners were taken. 4he Crown Prince’s army was driven hack and he moved his headquarters from St. Menhould to Montfaucon.

HALF A MILLION IN FLIGHT

RELENTLESSLY PURSUED

Paris, Last Night. Correspondents following the wake of the advancing British and French state that half a million Germans are retreating, and are already half-way up the Aisne valley. The French 7.5 "batteries have wonderful mobility, and are giving the Germans no rest. In three days they have been driven over three rivers and a dozen railway lines. The roads are littered with ammunition carts and convoys. The Germans in Northern France have not destroyed towns for mere lust of cruelty, but many villages Stave only charred and broken walls, JLA farmers’ cottages are shapeless ruins owing to the shell fire. TIE APED WITH GERMAN DEAD. HAVOC BY FRENCH ARTILLERY London, Last Nighty There was very hot fighting at Vareddas, three miles north-west of Meaux, on Thursday. Semi-perman-«nt entrenchments were erected in view' of a definite stand, but the 3in. I and sin. gun were badly placed, and J the French were able to blow the I German batteries to pieces from an j opposing ridge, leaving the German infantry in front of the batteries easy prey, and few of the German infantry escaped. The fields on both sides of * the village were heaped with German (dead, and piles of unexploded shells in wicker baskets were abandoned near the batteries. Trees which the Germans hoped would serve as a sheL ter were torn to pieces by the French artillery. GREAT GERMAN ARMY. BEFORE THE INVASION. London, Last Night. An American correspondent, who -was permitted to examine the German armies as they started off for the invasion of France, says that for five solid hours’ travelling at express train speed he motored between walls of t marching men. This was the Ninth Field Army, composed of the very ■Jr wer of the Empire, including the magnificent Imperial Guard. The men were all young, as keen as razors, and as hard as nails. The horses were splendid. The artillery included five gigantic howitzers, each drawn by sixteen pairs of horses, capable of tearing a city to pieces from a distance of a dozen miles. Fieldkitchens rumbled down the lines, serving steaming soup and coffee to the men without breaking step. Wngigons filled with cobblers were mending soldiers’ boots, and others, apparently in harmless waggons carried machine guns ready for instant action. The Medical Cor;*; was as efficient as a great city hospital. Men on bicycles 1 strung field telephones from tree to tree, enabling the commander to converse with any part of the fifty mile long column. The whole army never ; sleeps. When half are marching the other half are resting. The soldiers are treated as valuable machines and kept at the highest possible efficiency, well fed, shod and clothed and worked as a negro teamster works a mule. ■ CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. TROOPS BRUTALLY TREATED.

London, Last Night. Philip Gibbs, after a tour of the battlefields and many interviews with prisoners, states that the chief cause of failure is that the German private now realises that his officers have utter indifference for the lives of men He heard brutal orders to spill blood like water so long as those who follow may wado to the destined goal. This policy has recoiled >1 [Kiri the authors. Even when captured the officers display an amazing lard of camaraderie and protest violently against sitting in the same waggons with the men, refuse to eat with them and still endeavour to bully the ’man nrivate* who often surrendered gladly in order to escape from intolerable sufferings. In some cases Uhlans’ haversacks were filled with

grass, which is their only food, ana when they surrendered they beggea piteously for food. The failure at Paris was a demoralising blow ana proof that the plans of the headquarter's’. staff had completely miscarried. All these things put panic fear into the hearts of the Germans and they were unable to withstand the bayonet charges, and made a miserable resistance against the Zouaves in such villages as Bragy and Penchard unless they were protected by mitrailleuses. At Eimtremy and Vierton, one French regiment with bayonets, routed four regiments with ter_ rible slaughter. The Germans lost . their nerve and ran from the trenches screaming and the majority were : stabbed in the back as they fled. The whole retreat was more terrible than at Luleburgas. DREADED BAYONET CHARGES. ENORMOUS CASUALTIES. Loudon, Last Night. The same eorespondent says that long continued artillery duels paved the way for charges at night during the first days of the battle. The French invariably after bayonet charges retired slightly from their advanced position, and when the Germans re-occupied it the French gunners dislodged them in the morning as they knew the exact range for the shells.' The French infantry often rebelled against weary waiting in the trenches and when the order to advance was given there was no attempt to move stealthily, and, frequently charging, their line was severely torn by mitrailleuse fire. The effect of their bayonet charges was over-powering. The long sharp-point-ed French bayonets are fearful weapons in German eyes compared with which the German knife bayonets are mere toys. The German casualties reached enormous figures, but the French losses were very heavy. Since the Germans retreated seven thousand French wounded have passed daily through Orleans alone. Paris is one vast hospital and the hospitals in every town in Central and Southern France are over-crowded with maimed and crippled men. SOME WEAK EXCUSES. Rotterdam, Last Night. The General Staff at Berlin claims that the latest battle was so far favourable, as the French failed to break the centre. It explains the success of the Allies’ left as the falling back of the weak German right, consisting of three Army Corps. The Staff also state that the French were thrown back upon Verdun, whereof the outworks were captured. THROWN INTO THE RIVER. PONTOON BRIDGES SHELLED.

London, Last Night. A field artillery gunner relates the terrible struggle on the 6th. When the Germans tried to cross the river the British guns and picked rifle shots commanded the river. The Germans swarmed to the riverside, and the first party built a pontoon bridge and were rushing across when a shell smashed the bridge and the pontoons with their dead and wounded freight were carried down stream. The same thing kept up all day until the British were sick of the sights and the shrieks. The Germans managed to cross at one point, and the Allies rushed with rare joy, bayonetting them into the river. A whole battalion was captured here. They simply couldn’t face the bayonet and threw up their arms. VALOUR AND DEVOTION. FIGHTING AT THE MARNE. Paris, Last Night. The Evening News’ correspondent states that during the battle of tho Marne there were terrible engagements at small farm-houses, which were several times captured and recaptured, the French endeavouring to capture a Gorman eagle, but they failed. Finally the French flag was hoisted, the Germans retreating. There were terrific encounters for the standards throughout the Littlefield. The French defended their flags with amazing valour and devotion. In one case probably 20 infantry were cut down, but a fresh comrade was always ready to replace tho fallen until succour arrived. Paris, Last Night. It is stated that tho German losses in the Marne fight were five to one of those of the Allies. _ The Cologne Gazette admits that the German ravages in Belgium were shocking.

FIGHTING AT LOUVAIN. BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY. Antwerp, Last Night. Official. Fighting in the Brussels, Louvain and Mahnos triangle lasted four days. The Germans held o strong position, and called up all available reinforcements, including two Army Corps from tho south, abo the Landwe.hr and Landsthurm from tho region southwards of Brussels, and fifteen thousand marines from Brussels had a fierce encounter on Friday arid at night on the ruins of Louvain. The Belgians twice penetrated the centre of the town, but the German concentration on Louvain necessitated the Belgian retirement to Antwerp. Init the Belgians achieved their object by immobilising two Army Corps previously sent Franeewards. Tho losses on both sides were heavy.

CRY OF DISTRESS. Amsterdam, Last Night. During the fighting tho Belgians tapped telegraph messages from Louvain. asking Brussels to send a«astanoe. Brussels replied, “Have no more guns. Advise seek assistance elsewhere.” MYTHICAL RUSSIANS. Wellington, Last Night. A message has been received by the Prime Minister from London in which the Government Press Bureau authorises the press to state that there is uo truth whatever m the rumours that Russian soldiers have landed in or passed through Great Britain on their way to France or Belgium. Statements that Russian troops are on Belgium or French soil should he discredited.