New Zealand.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 28, 19 September 1914, Page 6

New Zealand.

MAORI ENTHUSIASM IN VOLUNTEERING. {Pie Prebi Association.! Wairoa, September 19. The news that the Government has accepted a contingent of Maori warriors caused unbounded satisfaction in this district. The Tairawhiti district is allocated 180, and the leading chiefs are now meeting at Wairoa, where 60 volunteered in one hour.

INSPECTION AT AUCKLAND

INSPIRITING ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE.

Auckland, September 19

The Hon. J. Allen Inspected the Auckland section of the expeditionary force at the camp this morning. The weather was beautifully fine. The Minister inspected every arm of the force thoroughly, after which the troops marched past. They then formed a hollow square, and were , addressed by the' Minister. Mr Allen said he had now seen practically the whole of the troops going away. He was highly gratified at the status they had attained. They,: were going to fight for the Motherland and her glorious 'traditions, and for their own country. He hoped they would earn honor and glory, future generations of New Zealanders would read of what the Dominion had done in this time of trial, and of our Empire’s need. The Government had more than fulfilled its bargain with the Mother Country. Roa’ising it was their duty, they were pending the forces away more fully equipped than anticipated. They had doubled the eighteen-pounders, and wore sending a brigade of artillery fully equipped, well manned, as well as Maxims. Furthermore, they were sending the best of their officers, be-1 cause they were assured they .should j not entrust the lives of their men | to any but those, most capable to lead them. BELGIAN RELIEF FUND, The good people of Ngaere have made a special effort in support of the Belgian Relief Fund, and to-day Mr T. Harry Penn, to whom the amount i Coll-cted has boon, handed, i" able to

forward to the Belgian Consul at Wellington a cheque for £65 6s 9d. The credit of gathering in the money is due to a large number of ladies who worked in the promotion of a garden party, a concert, and a euchre party, also a sum collected at the annual meeting of the Midhirst Dairy Co., which is included in the above total. The details are: Concert £22 10s 6d, ladies garden party £ls 14s, collected at the factory £9 10s, euchre party £4 6s 3d, personal subscriptions: Mr G. Coleman £3 3s, Mr J. Beedio £3, Mr W. Phillips £2 3s, Messrs Ferguson, J. Thompson and J. Pennington £1 Is each, two friends (10s each) £l, a Friend 7s, a Friend ss, C. W. llubic ss.

In addition to the amounts above stated which are for the Belgian Relief Fund, the Midhirst Dairy Factory people have subscribed £l2 towards the Red Cross Fund.

CLOTHING FOR DISTRESSED POOR. This afternoon Mr T. Harry Penn has sent two cases of clothing which are to-day going to London for disposal there by the High Commissioner as he may deem fit. The Minister for Railways has consented to carry the goods free to Wellington, and the Minister for Defence will carry them free to London, thanks to the efforts of Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., who has obtained these concessions. OFFICIAL. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. The High Commissioner cabled as follows; London, September 18 (12.35 a.m.. Official.—Paris reports that no important change in the position of the armies has occurred, although the enemy is slightly giving way, but is entrenching at Montfaucon.- A battle is progressing along the whole line. The Allies have repulsed night and day counter attacks. It is estimated that the Germans have lost three thousand daily for the past fortnight. Rome reports that Germany is hastening troops to meet the advancing Russians, who are now nineteen miles from the fortress Przemysl. Russia’s East Prussian columns are'also marching to Przemysl. The following cablegram .from the High Commissioner came to hand at one o’clock this morning : London, September 17 (1.15 p.m.) Officiaf. —A descriptive account of the operations of the British from the 10th to 13th is given. Since the 10th the army has made steady progress in an endeavour to drive the enemy back into country undulating and covered with patches of thick wood, within the area in which they forced the British before the advance commenced to Laon. The chief feature was six rivers running across the direction of the advance, the rivers Marne, Qurcq, Veslo, Aisne, Ailette, and Ouse. The enemy held the Marne, which was crossed by our forces on the 10th. Our passage of the Qurcq was not contested and the Vesle was lightly held. Resistance along the Aisne' was of a determined character.

On the eleventh little opposition was met along any part of the front, and the direction of our advance was turned slightly north-east. The day was spent in pushing forward and gathering hostile detachments. At nightfall our forces had reached a line north ot the Qurcq extending from Oulchyle Chateau to Long Pont. On this day there was a general advance on the part of the French along the whole line which ended in substantial snccesess, the Grand Duke of Wurtemherg’s fourth army being driven across the Sanltu, and a whole corps of artillery and a Gorman corps captured. On the 12th the enemy were found occupying a formidable position opposite on the north of the Aisne at Soissons. They held both sides of the river, and were entrenched along the line of hills to the north. The road bridges and railway bridges over the Airne had been demolished.

Working from west to east, our third army corps gained the high ground south of the Aisne, overlooking the Aisne Valley and east of Soussons. A long range artillery duel continued during the greater part of the day, and did not cease till taidnight. The enemy had a number of heavy howitzers well concealed. A movement of the army corps was effected with the co-operation of the French 6th army on our left, which gained the southern half of the town during the night. •The second army corps did not cross the Aisne. The first army corps got over the river Vesle, south of Aisne, after the crossing had been secured by the first cavalry division. It then reached a line south of the Aisne, without fighting. At Braine the first cavalry division met with considerable opposition from infantry and machine-guns holding the town, and guarding the bridge. With aid from some of our infantry it gained possession at mid-day, driving the enemy north.

A hundred prisoners were gained round Braine, where the Germans had thrown their field gun ammunition into the river Vesle. This day began an action along the Aisne, which was finished and may he the commencement of a battle of a more serious nature.

It i .J ’•' ! heavily on Saturday afternoon, and severely handicapped transport. On Hi* V!3th an extremely strong ref.istirwas encountered along the whole r "ont, fifteen miles in length. The ' n consisted in long range gun fire by the Germans over a great extent fro n howitzers in cleverly concealed posi&vo is. At night-fall portions of the three dorps were across the river, the cavalry returning to the south side, p • nigh; throe pontoon bridges had Ik ■ built, and Pie troops managed to oet across the river. On the left the French passed on, hut were prevented hr -■ tiller,v tire from building a bridge

During the last four days isolated Germans were discovered hiding in woods behind our lines. They seemed glad to surrender. At Senlis the Germans assembled the mayor of the town and live leading citizens, and forced them to kneel before their graves, A requisition was made for supplies, and the six citizens were than shot. Twenty-four people, including women and children, wore also shot. The town was pillaged and fired before it was evacuated. It is believed that the cathedral remains undamaged. There were similar proceedings at Creil and Crecy. At Villers Gotterets, the mayor behaved judiciously, though supplies far in excess of the capabilities of the place were demanded. The town was not seriously damaged. The Germans evacuated tins place on the 11th in haste.

Reims was occupied by the enemy on the 3rd,and re-occupied by the French, after considerable fighting, on the 13th. The Germans had taken the mayor of Rheims and eighty inhabitants as hostages.