THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 33, 25 September 1914, Page 3

THE WAR.

OFFICIAL. The Prime Minister has received a long cablegram from the High Commissioner dealing with the movements of the British and French armies from the 14th to 18th inclusive. Wo make the following extracts:— THE LOYAL FRENCH. As an example of the spirit which is inspiring our Allies, the following translation of an "Order do Jour" (Order of the Day), published on September 9, after tho battle of Montmirail, by the Commander of tho French sth army is given:— "Soldiers, —Upon the memorable fields of Montmirail and Vauchamps, and on Champaubert, which a century ago witnesesd the victories of our ancestors over Blucher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has triumphed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks, his centre la broken. The enemy is now retreating towards the east and north by forc.ed marches. Tho most renowned army corps of Old Prussia, contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover and of Brancenburg, have retired in battle before you. This first success is no more than a prelude. The enemy is shaken but not yet decisively beaten. You. have still to undergo severe hardships, to make long marches, to fight hard battles. May the image of our country, soiled by barbarians, always remain before your eyes. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for her. Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few days, my thoughts turn to you as victors in the next battle. Forward, soldiers, for France!" A WELL-TRAINED FOE. The Germans are formidable, continues the despatch. They are welltrained, long-prepared, and brave. Their soldiers are carrying on the contest with skill and valor. Nevertheless, they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all the rules of fair play. There is, evidence that they do not hej.Vti.fo at anything in order to a j n victory. A large number of tales of their misbehaviour are exaggerations,- and some of the strongest precautions they have taken to guard themselves against tho inhabitants of the areas traversed are possibly justifiable measures in war, but it has been definitely established that they committed atrocities .on many occasions and have been guilty of brutal conduct. GERMAN SOLDIER'S LETTER.

So many lefctdflS and statements of our own wounded soldiers have been published in our newspapers that the following epistle from a German soldier of the 74th infantry to his wife will be interesting:—"l have just been living through days that defy imagination. I should never have thought that man could stand it. Not a second him passed but my life has been in danger, yet not a hair of my head is hurt. -It was horrible; it was ghastly. But I have been saved for you and for our happiness. Take heart again, although I am still terribly unnerved.

"In sth September the enemy were reported to be taking up a position near St. Prin, near Paris. One corps, which had made an astonishingly rapid advance, of course attacked. Steop slopes led up to the heights, which were held by a considerable force. With our weak dotacliments of 74th and 91st regiments, we reached the crest and came under a terrible artillery fire that mowed us down. However, we entered St. Prin. Hardly had we done so than we were met with shell fire and a violent fusilado from the enemy's infantry. Our Colonel was badly wounded. He is the third wo have had. Fourteen men were killed round mo. We got away on a hill without being hit. On the 7th, Bth and 9th we were constantly under shell and shrapnel fire and suffered terrible losses. I was in a house which waa hit several times. Our heavy artillery is being used for the siege of Manbcuge. We wanted it badly, as the enemy had theirs in force and kept lip a furious bombardment. For four days I was under artillery fire. It is like hell, but a thousand times worse. On the night of the 9th the order was given to retreat, as it would have been madness to attempt to hold our position with our few men. The first and third armies had not been able to attack with us, as we advanced too rapidly. Our morale was absolutely broken. In spite of unheard-of sacrifices, we had achieved nothing. I cannot understand how our army, after fighting three great battles and being terribly weakened, was sent against the position which the enemy had prepared for three weeks, but naturally I know nothing of the intentions of our chiefs. They say that nothing has been lost. We retired towards Cormontreail and Itheims by forced marches by day and night. We hear that the three armies are going to get into line, entronch, and rest, and then start afresh our victorious march to Paris. It was not a defeat, but only a strategic retreat. Our first battalion fought with under 194 men." men." A "NEW-CHUM" AVIATOR.

On. 28th August, during a battlo fought along the Oise between La Fere and Guise, the French commander' desired to make an air reconnaissance. It was found, however, that no observer?, were' available. Wishing to help oiu Allies as much as possible, a British officer attached to tins particular French army, got permission to go up and observe. He had never been in an aeroplane, but he made the ascent

and produced a valuable reconnaissance report. Incidentally, he had a duel in the air at an altitude of 6000 ft with the Observer of a German Taube monoplane which had approached. He fired several shots and drove off the hostile aeroplane. His action was much appreciated by the French. THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS. In view of the many statements in the Press as to the use of Zeppelins against us, it is interesting to note that the Royal Flying Corps, who have been out on reconnaissance every day since their arrival in France, have never seen a Zeppelin, though airships of the non-rigid type have been seen on two occasions to stop near the Marne. Late in the evening two such being observed over German forces, aeroplanes were despatched against them, but in the darkness our pilots were uncertain of the airships' nationality and did not attack. It was afterwards made clear that they could not have been French. A week later an officer reconnoitring to the flank saw an airship over the German forces opposite the French. It bore no distinguishing mark, and it was assumed that it belonged to the latter, though it is now known it must have been a German craft. The orders of tW Royal Flying Corps are to attack Zeppelins at once.