IMPRESSION IN ITALY, GERMANY, AND RUSSIA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13491, 21 September 1914, Page 3

IMPRESSION IN ITALY, GERMANY, AND RUSSIA.

ROME, Sept. 18. Tlie impression m diplomatic circles ds that Germany has realised the impossibility of extensive operations m France, and that she will probably evacuate Belgium shortly and concentrate her second line along the BelgianFrench frontier, and push all her available forces against the Russians threaten, ing the almost undefended Austxo-Ger-rnan frontier. ANOTHER BATTLE AT TERMONDE. THE TOWN LOOTED AND FIRED. LONDON, Sept. 18. Ghent reports that a third fierce battle has been fought at Termonde. and th© Germans, singing and shouting, wrecked the town. Th© chief featua'e of the struggle was an attack on a bridge, which a German regiment, attempted to rush m close 'formation. The Belgians mowed them down with machine guns, and then tired the bridge. When the last rafter fell the surviving Belgians plunged into the Scheldt, .and many, while' battling for their lives m the water, wci© shot, a, few escaping. Next day the Germans forced a passage m boats, but were unable to maintain the landing, and finally evacuated the town, leaving four guns. During th© fight the Germane mounted a machine gun m the tower of the cathedral, compelling the Belgians to shell the building. They seriously damaged th© tower. The Germans set fire -to the fifteenth cenj.ury town before retreating. The retreating Germans systematically looted the town and fired the houses and destroyed all booty which they were unable- to carry off, the officers taking the pick and the men the rest.