FURIOUS FIGHTING

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 194, 21 September 1914, Page 5

FURIOUS FIGHTING

GREAT BATTLE OF THE AISNE' FAMOUS BRITISH REGIMENTS SUFFER SEVERELY ENEMY IN STRONG POSITIONS. AUSTRIAN DREADNOUGHT BADLY DAMAGED. RUSSIANS OVERWHELM GERMANS AND AUSTRIANS.

The cables to-day contain graphic descriptions of the furious, fighting at the battle of the Aisne, which is regarded as the most important of the campaign, and in which several famous British regiments suffered severely in pushing the Germans back. , All along the whole front the .Germans are said to be strongly entrenched.

One of Austria's best fighting ships is said to liave suffered great damage in the Adriatic, and to have had a miraculous escape from pursuing ships.

Gruesome details of German atrocities continue to come to hand, and announcement is made of the capture of more valuable German ships. The Russians, according to late messages, appear to be having a series of successes over the German and Austrian forces in the east, and have been capturing many prisoners and munitions of war. The Japanese are becoming more aggressive in the Far East, where their operations have met with success.

A stirring speech by the Et. Hon. D. Lloyd George is cabled, and the St. Hon. Winston Churchill is reported to_ have said that Britain will need to'have one million fighters in the line if the war is to -be finished as it should be finished.

By" Cable.—Press A.

-SSociation.—Gopyrighl,

IN DIFFICULT COUNTRY.

OFFICERS WIPED OUT.

WITH THE ALLIES ' LEFT. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS FROM BELGIUM. (Received September 21, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. ' 1 The Times'' Bordeaux correspondent states that the Allies' left is slowly working round the difficult country where Napoleon was flung back, by Blucher. The Qermans are strongly entrenched, and have received reinforcements from' Belgium. They are not likely to make another advance, owing to the demands of IJast Prussia.

GERMANS SUFFER HEAVILY. GUARDS LED BY VOLUNTEERS. (Received September 21, 9.15 a.m.) , BORDEAUX? September 20. Captured German officers state that nearly all the companies of the Prussian Guard and the Tenth Army Corps have been reduced from 250 to 70. The first battalion of Guards is commanded by \ - volunteers, because all the officers have been lost.

The Guards, during the retreat, abandoned a General, a Colonel; eight officers, and 800 men. In another Guards' regiment only five officers out of sixty remain.

ALLIES TAKE MANY PRISONERS.

GENERAL POSITION FAVOURABLE. GERMAN LOSSES AT MAUBEUGE. (Received September 21, 8.50 a.m.) PARIS, September 20. The .latest communique reports the capture of numerous German prisoners.' The fighting continues, and the general position of the Allies is favourable. The German killed include General von Schank. - GENEVA, September 20. The fortress towns from Istein to Cologne are being hastily strengthened, and there is similar activity in Lorraine. The Kaiser is still' in Luxemburg, supervising everything. (Received September 21, 10.20 a.m.) OSTEND, September 20. The Germans admit losing 14,000 killed and wounded at Maubeuge.

A SUPREME ENCOUNTER. CLOSING OPERATIONS IN FRANCE. ' BRITISH REGIMENTS SUFFER SEVERELY. PARIS, September 19. The consensus of opinion is that the battle on the Aisne is the most important of the campaign. It is" evidently hot'a rearguard action, but a supreme encounter, closing the era of big operations in France. The French General Staff consider that the Allies' frontal attack is developing under favourable conditions, the German counter-attacks being repulsed. The Allies' gains are necessarily slow, owing to the strength of the German fortified position, and final success will probably be achieved by threatening the enemy's communications, rather than by carrying positions.

ENMITY TO BRITISH;

Meanwhile, the German communications are precarious as some suppose. While they" hold Terghier and L&on they have two lines of railway running across Luxemburg and the Belgian railways, via Mons ajid St. Quentin. There was furious fighting on Thursday in the British section of the line. Some famous regiments . suffered severely, but performed their task unflinchingly, and occupied some advanced German positions at a terrible cost.

"PRISONERS SHOULD BE SHOT!"

THE GERMAN WAR LOAN.

(Received September 21, 9.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 20. The Germans are showing the greatest enmity to the British prisoners, and individual soldiers declare that the British should be shot in all cases. (Received September 21, 9.40 a.m.) . BERLIN, September 20. An official telegram states that the war loan has been a splendid success, and that £175,000,000 have been subscribed.

The German trenches north of Chalons are over 3 feet and have splinter-screens every 20 yards, and resting-places. The trenches consist of

several parallel rows flanked by others running at right angles, with concealed machine-guns. A French officer states that the battle on the Aisue has been the most fiercelvfought of the war. It became general on the afternoon of the 14th, and on the .following day there was a ding-dong, struggle. The.Germans, having awaited reinforcements during the night, made a furious attack on the extreme left, where the British and French met furious onslaughts, and repulsed the Germans ten times, with fearful losses to the enemy.

BLACK HOLE OF LOUVAIN. POPULACE IN CONFINED QUARTERS. WOMEN GO MAD—CHILDREN DIE. (Received September 2.1, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. The German losses at Maubeuge are estimated at over fifty thousand. The Belgian Commission's third report states that between six thousand and eight thousand inhabitants of Louvain were confined for a whole night .n a riding school. The space was so small that they all had to stand. Several women lost their reason, and a number of children died in their mother's arms. The Germans completely burned Vise, except the religious establishment, and shot several citizens.

The Germans continued to attempt to pierce the French.lines, hurling dense masses in a supreme endeavour to check the French. At dawn the French had gained some ground.

There was an artillery duel on the following day, and desperate infantry fighting recommenced on the 17th, when the French threw the Germans back ten kilometres, capturing a number of machine-guns. The Germans on Thursday finally evacuated Soissons, and fell back.

The evidence emphasises the improbability of the rising of .the disarmed population. Witnesses declared that the first shots were fired by intoxicated Germans at their own officers, and it is notorious that during the same, period Germans killed one another in camp at Tesch.

All accounts agree that the famous Prussian Guards Corps was practically blotted out in the battles on the Marne and the Aisne.

PERIL FROM THE CLOUDS.

An American army officer who was present estimated that the German deall during the fighting in the centre; around Eebais and Champenoise, be- j tween September 8 and 12, numbered.! 15,000 to 20,000. The majority were j bayonetted in the trenches in hand-to- j hand fighting with the Turcos and Sene- j galese troops. j

AVIATORS' SPLENDID WORK.

FRENCH PRISONERS ON SHOW.

PARIS, September 20,

It is reported that the. French prisoners of war at Munich arc being . exhibited at 2d admission,* and a,re being visited by immense crowds.

BATTERING A DREADNOUGHT.

Prisoners state that German aeroplanes are not flying over the French lines owing to lack of petrol. A French aviator destroyed a perma,nent way, and held up ten trainloads of Germans.

SIDE OF VESSEL DEMOLISHED. AUSTRIAN DREADNOUGHT'S /MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. (Received September 21, 8.50 a.m.) ROME, September 20. Advices from Vienna state that the Austrian Dreadnought Viribus, Unitis miraculously escaped in a pursuit in the Adriatic:

Another destroyed two food trains.

It is also stated that one British airman has destroyed seventeen German aeroplanes.

GERMANY'S ACTIVITY.

. One side of the skip was demolished. [The Viribus Unitis is one of Austria's largest Dreadnoughts,, and is quite a new vessel. Her displacement is 20,000 tons, and she has a sjseed of 20.7 knots. She carries a complement of 1000 officers and men, and is heavily armed with twelve 12in, twelve 5.9 in, eighteen 12-pounders, and six smaller guns, in addition to. four submerged torpedo tubes. She was completed in 1913, at a cost of £2,500,000. Only one other of her class, the, Tegetthoff, has been completed, but two . others, the Prinz Eugen and the Szent Istran, will shortly be ready to be commissioned.']

MANUFACTURE OF MACHINES. (Received September 21, 9.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 20. Messages, from Berlin state that Germany is turning out one. Zeppelin and seventy aeroplanes weekly. Ten thousand have volunteered for service with the air fleet.

GERMANS HEAVILY DEFEATED.

ONE MILLION FIGHTERS.

WHAT BRITAIN NEEDS. v STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL. (Received September 21, 10.20 a.m.) 7 LONDON, September 20. Tlie Right Hon. Winston Churchill sent a message to the Acton Park recruiting meeting, that nothing less than a million British soldiers in line together would finish the war as it must be' finished..

WHEN PEACE COMES. SERVIAN AND ALLIES' DECLARATION. GERMANS DO WILFUL DAMAGE. (Received September 21, 10.25-a.uu) NISH, September 20. It is officially reported that Servia will not conclude peace separately from the Triple Entente. (Received September 21, 9.40 a.m.) TERMONDE, September 20. The wilfully shelled the old tower of the Town Hall.

A HORRIBLE DEED.

OLD WOMAN PINNED TO WALL.

HER AGED BUSBAND SABRED,

(Received September 21, 9.15 a.m.) BRUSSELS, September 20.

The German General at Brussels lias ordered the removal of Belgian flags, as they were provocative to the Germans.

In connection with the German outrages, witnesses have vouched for the fact that a Uhlan officer sabred a man of 80 because he shook his fist at the intruding Germans, who took his wife, aged 78 years, slit her forearms, and fixed her with two bayonets thrust into the wall, in order to compel her to disclose the whereabouts of her money.

REMNANTS OF ARMY CORPS. RUSSIAN GENERALS ■', SUCCESSES.(Received. September 21, 9.50 a.m.) . ■ PETROGRAD, September 20. ■ It is officially announced;that General Rennenkampf has compelled the Ger-. mans to retreat at several points in East Prussia. The Russians have captured' 36 howitzers sent to attack Ivangorod. In Galicia the German Army Corps under General von Tretza was again completely defeated near Sandomir (51 miles south-west of Lublin), and only the remnants remain in Galicia.

The Russians, have occupied fortifications at Sambor (40, miles south-west of Lemberg). The Austrian rearguard has been driven out of Vischtia, across the San, and the Russians burnt Jaroslav, which the Austrians had occupied. They captured 3000 ammunition waggons, and also took prisoners 3000 men and ten guns in the Sandomir-Rabomyail region.

COMPLETELY COT OFF.

RUSSIAN STRATEGY WINS.

THE ENEMY'S DESPERATE efforts!

(Received September 21, 10.25 a.m.) - ROME, September 20.

A Petrograd message states that the Russians have completely cut off General Denkyl's army, forming the extreme left, from Przemysl to Cracow, thus preventing a junction "with General Huffenburg. General Denkyl is making a desperate attempt to reach Cracow, and the Russians are advancing from Sandomir to cut off his retreat. '

LLOYD GEORGE ON THE WAR.

CHANCELLOR'S FIGHTING SPEECH. "WE WILL TEAR THE BULLY FROM HIS SEAT." (Received September'2l, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. Much interest was taken in the Right Hon. Lloyd George's first war speech. Addressing - a gathering of London Welshmen, he said that the war was repugnant to no man more than himself, but he than convinced that Britain could not have avoided it without national dishonour. Prussia, with cynical contempt, declared that no nation need carry out a treaty unless it suits it. But treaties are the currency of international statesman-ship, and the doctrine that "scraps of paper" are binding only when it suits their interests is the straight road to barbarism. If Germany won, the whole macliinery of civilisation would break down. France had offered Belgium live army corps to defend her against attack, but this was refused, Belgium declaring that she would rely on Germany's promise. Belgium's . one crime was that she trusted the word of the Prussian King, but the Kaiser had made it certain that no king would repeat this crime. If Britain disregarded the cry

of two little nations, Belgium and Servia, her shame would. ring down through the everlasting ages. The Kaiser declared that lie was the Deity's vice-regent, wielding his sword, and when such lunacy was manifested by the head of a State and became the policy of a great empire, it was time to put that person away. The Prussian junkers were the road-lxogs of Europe, ordering the little States out of the way, but Britain would tear the bully out of his seat. If a burglar broke into Potsdam, shot the Kaiser's servants, and ruined his art treasures, would the Kaiser wait to don his uniform before shooting the burglar? The Tsar told Austria: "You lay hands on that little fellow Servia, and I will tear your ramshackle empire limb from limb," and he is doing it. God created man iu his oWn image, but Germany has re-created him in the image of a Diesel engine, accurate and powerful, but soul-less. There had been nothing like the Kaiser 's patronage of God since the days of Mahomet. Treaties tangled Germany 's f e.et, and said, ' 1 Cut them with the sword.'' Little nations hampered her in her advance and Germany said, "Trample them in the mire."

FINANCE IN AMERICA,

STOCK EXCHANGE STILL SHUT. EUROPE 'S HOLDINGS OF ■ SECURITIES. (Received September 21, 9.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 20. Banking .interests state that every effort is being made to secure the reopening of the Stock ; Exchange, but without result. None of the suggestions put forward would prevent the liquidation of Europe's enormous holdings of American securities, even if America could finance their purchase.

BUILT UPON SAND. GERMANY'S PEACE CALCULATIONS. MILITARY MIGHT TO BE CRUSHED "Times" and "Sydney Sun"Services. . (Received September 21, 8 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. It is anticipated in Petrograd that •German diplomacy will await isolated, successes with a view of ma,king ,a bearable bargain under peace conditions. These calculations are built upon sand, .as the seven allied nations, united by the London Declaration, will conduct the war conjointly , till the complete downfall of the military might of Germany. * 7

prospects of peace. RIDICULED BY BRITISH PRESS. OPINIONS IN GERMANY AND AMERICA. •LONDON, September 19. The Press ridicules the talk of peace, and suggests that it is inspired by powerful German-Americans. Keuter's Washington correspondent says President Wilson has virtually abandoned his peace endeavours, and is awaiting a definite expression from one of the belligerents. ROTTERDAM, September 20. f The "Cologne Gazette" says Germany will not accept peace that . does not give full indemnity for her sacrifices. Nothing could be more insulting than a compromise with England which does not once for all banish the thoroughly English piratical spirit. The ' 4 Berliner. Tageblatt'' says Germany will not lay down her arms until she is assured that her position ill the world is improved. NEW YORK, September 19.

Two high diplomatic sources state that Germany's essentials for peace include the dropping of all suggestions of dismemberment and talk about a. fight to the finish, or the - cession of Alsace-Lorraine to France, and the recognition of Germany's right to extend her commerce to the ends of the earth and maintain an army and a navy suffcpient to safeguard overseas comtaerce. Reports from Paris state that the Ivaiser has informed the' Pope that he never ceased to desire peace. LONDON, September 19.

Reuter's Washington correspondent reports that the German Ambassador states th&t Germany is willing to make peace on the basis that European Germany is not dismembered. WASHINGTON, September 18.

-Ilerr von Bethmann-Hollweg, German Chancellor, replying to President Wilson's enquiry whether the Kaiser, would discuss terms of peace, suggested that as the Allies had made a compact not to cease hostilities excjept on a common agreement, the United States should obtain peace proposals froi|i them.

A VERBAL DISCUSSION. CHANCELLOR AND AMBASSADOR. NOT RECOGNISED BY PRESIDENT WILSON. (Received September 21, 8.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 20. President Wilson supports the newspaper proposal that American children should send Christmas presents to all children in Europe rendered fatherless by the war. ' It is reported that Ilerr von Beth-mann-llolhveg is verbally discussing the

possibility of terms of peace with tho American Ambassador, without indicating whether the Kaiser is aware of tho discussion. President Wilson declines to accept the discussion other than ai incidental to America's enquiry concerning Germany's attitude towarda mediation. GERMANY'S MISTAKE.

KAISER'S GRAVE MISCALCULATIONS. ' ,

MR ASQUITH ON THE WXR.

LONDON, September 19.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PARALYSED.

RUSSIANS CAPTURE SIEGE GUNS.

ROME, September 19. . SFx| Austrian destroyers, in the absence ,of the Anglo-French Fleet, bombarded the French wireless, station at Antivari, bat did not damage it. ' '

From Vienna reports have been received of rioting. The windows of the Ministry of War were smashed.

It is stated that the Russians have captured altogether 1000 Austrian guns.

The newspapers are trying to diverc attention to the campaign inFrance. The mass of the people pin their faitii on Germany, but anxiety is deepening* Commerce and industry are paralysed throughout the Monarchy, and the unemployed problem is serious. Hundreds of men are engaged in constructing fortifications at Vienna, where there are 70,000 Galician refugees.

"DOWN WITH AUSTRIA!' *

ROWDYISM AT INNSBRUCK.

(Received September 21, 9.40 a.rni.)

HOME, September 20,

A mob at Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian Tyrol, raided the shops displaying the portraits of the Comman-der-in-Chief, and prominent war promoters, and burnt them in the streets,amid cries of "Dowh with Austria."

GERMANS REINFORCED.

ALLIES' LEFT ADVANCING-. BOTH ,f SIDES STRONGLY ; > ENTRENCHED. <. PARIS, September 19-. A communique .states that the Allies ' left has made progress near Noyon, and holds -all the heights on the right bank of the Aisne. The Germans have apparently been reinforced from Lor-

Mr Asquith, speaking at a recruiting meeting at Edinburgh, said Great Britain had no direct concern in Austria's quarrel with Servia. A settlement was actually in sight when Germany deliberately made war on Britain. It was a well-founded belief of leaders of 'German thought that German domination carried with.it the supremacy of German Culture, and that the spreaJ • of the German spirit was the best thing that could happen to.the world. Of that German culture.-and spirit - the Kaiser's armies were now missionaries and France. That which k had been - specifically German in the-world-movement of the last 30 years had been the development of the doc trine of the supreme ultimate progress sion of human affairs from material foree. In pursuit of this doctrine Geir many .believed that treaties were or*!} pieces. of parchment, that all talk about; rights was weak, and that the idea thai obligations were strong was only nauscating cant. "

This had ; turned" out to be a verypurblind philosophy, and had led -the Kaiser into grave miscalculations regarding the British Empire. Aifter /six weeks' war, full supplies of fcod-and: raw material were reaching our shores, industries, with one or two exceptions, maintained their activities, unemployment, so far, was not seriously in excess of the average, and the monetary situation had improved, and every effort was .being made to re-establish foreign exchange. Meanwhile, Britain's supremacy at Sea had not been seriously questioned, and the Fleet was still patiently waiting to try conclusions with the Germans. The Army had revived the most glorious records of tho past, and was equally splendid in retirement or advance. Siirt John French an*l his gallant officers and men would long be remembered. ■ ■ • ROMS 3, September 18.. The -publication by the British-Em-bassy of a translation of the dispatches' - of Sir Maurice de Bunsen, Ambassador at, Vienna, and Sir Edward Grey, has had a profound effect. NEW LEASE OF EMPIRE. <' CULTURE'' BRANDED ON THE BROW.

(Received September 21, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. Mr Asquith, in his speech, added— German culture is branded on ! the brow by Lduvain, JNlalines, and Termonde. • The Power ' claiming to impose culture is the" Power. whose Generals have revived ' those methods of warfare condemned by the civilised world; and a nation fed on lies cannot succeed.' It has long been known that the British Empire must be preserved by war, and, now that the war has come, there will be a fine Renewal of the lease -of Empire. ' RIOTING, IN VIENNA.

PETROGRAD, September 19. The Russians captured a siege artillery train of 36 howitzers sent from Breslau for the attack 011 Hangoroo.

jaine, and still* liolcl the trenches in the centre. The Crown Prince's army continues to retreat. The French advance to Lorraine continues methodically; A later statement says that both sides are strongly entrenched, and a battle is proceeding a-t various: points plong the whole. ,line, with indecisive results. , Visitors to the Marne battlefields state that some of the burial trenches were 150 yards long.

' A SLOW ADVANCE. j r 'UJLIi PN THE LEFT. GERMANS ON THE DEFENSIVE. PARIS, September 18. ' An bflicial comniunique states that the battle continues from the Oise to the Woevre region without important change.- Slight progress has been mad(? oii tlie r lieights north of Aisne. Three against the

British were unsuccessful,, while tlio /' French repulsed three night c-ounter- , attacks fpom Craonne to Rheims. The enemy vainly attempted-to take the qffensive ag&insi Rheims. if The are acting pui eh on '-' the defensive from Rheims ,to the Aj,jjrorme, and als/in Lorraine and the

•Vosges.' llt was officially Stated at midnight <&'Friday: that Jlie Allies had made a Continual, advance. .On .the left, wiiig there was a slight lull in the battle. : A party of Germans in a mot&r car, Rearing ixniforms taken from French prisoners, were' caught attempting to up a railway bridge at Missel, thus trying* to . sever communication be* iween Dieppe and Havre. OSTEND, September 19. 1 ; The Germans are strongly entrenched along the Sanibre from Maubeuge.. t.o Mamur. There are important works at Thuin, Farcienne, Tamines, Floreffe, and also a deep semi-Circle extending from Buggenhout thrpugli Ganipenou to tli<? r iiorth of Louvain, where the line turns ' to the,south-east.' All trenches and redoubts are reinforced with' concrete.

PARIS NOT ANXIOUS.

GERMAN POSITION PERILOUS. AN EXPERT'S VIEW. PARIS, September IS. Despite the severity of the Aisne battle, there is no anxiety in Paris. It is* pointed out that the German right is very strongly placed, and it is difficult to locate the German guns; never- * iheless the right has been obliged to retire at certain points, ..and are Jess favourably placed ,in other -parte of the line. The evacuation of Varennes Indicates • "that the left; is- -yielding. The German army's position is in general perilous. There is a fortified frontier on the left, and the Belgians are threatening the rearj- where the. lines ,®f communication are quite .inadequate. AMSTERDAM, September 18. German headquarters have issued a j statement from Bei-lin that no decision has resulted so far in the battle proceeding in the country.between the Oise and * .'

LONDON, September 18. The military correspondent of '' Tfye - Times'' says there is no; cause for anxiety because the Allies 1 are not,immediately overwhelming, the Germans. Realisation of 'the necessity of fighting methodically and in unison was bought by earlier experiences in the campaign, and it'is now needful to repair bridges and assemble troops and supplies, preparatory to a long struggle. SURROUNDING THE GERMANS. BBITJSB TO SURRENDER. RELENTLESS FIGHT GOES jjj)N. ,* ; . LONDON, September 19. MrWilliam Maxwell,, correspondent of the '/Daily Telegraph," telegraphN ing from the neighbourhood of the Aisne fighting on Wednesday, says that a French officer from the battle line narrates that the British and French on Tuesday surrounded a German army corps, whose position was ( so hopeless that a flag of truce was sent and a demand made for the surrender of the corps. The offer was rejected, 'and the fight went on with relentless Many were killed or taken -prisoners. : The enemy is now making a desperate stand oil the line from Noyon to the Forest of Argonne. •: -v During the eight days' occupation of Rheims tlie Germans strengthened the 'hilly country round about With elaborate fieldworks, enabling them to arrest the. Allies' pursuit. The latter, however, succeeded in forcing a passage of the Aisne, west of Rheims, on Tuesday. .The enemy's entrenched and fortified position was carried by assault after a two. days' desperate struggle, in the face of terrible fire.

Another report states that at Acy a regiment of French Territorials was outnumbered and forced to take refuge iri a large barn. They shut the gates and fought to the last. man. Guns ' battered the to pieces, and. fire added to the horror of the struggle.

A wounded private of the Inniskill- j iiogs, describing the battle of the Maine, says: "In front of us a little space was swept for hours by.showers of bursting shells and living bullets. After an eternity the showers suddenly ceased, and we saw the Germans creeping across with easy confidence.* We charged and chased them for a mile and cut them to ribbons. Then we rati into their cavalry supports. The impetus of the charge carried us past

the cavalry, which was in our rear. We charged back, giving them a fine cutting up, and they cleared to the fields, leaving a trail of dead men and horses.'-' .

Lord John Hamilton-was killed while fighting with the Irish Guards.

A letter received at Copenhagen from a German officer states that the Germans in their retreat were without food for twenty-four hours, lyut they had plenty of champagne. The British fought like devils, but we repulsed the French.

FIGHTING AT TERMONDE.

A THIRD FIERCE BATTLE. GERMANS WRECK THE TOWN.' OSTEND, September 19. Ghent reports that a third fierce battle was fought at Termonde. The Germans, singing and shouting, wrecked the town. The chief feature of the struggle was an attack on a bridge. A German regiment attempted to rush it in. close formation, aud v the Belgians mowed them down with machine-guns, and then set fire to the bridge. When the last'rafter fell, the surviving Belgians plunged into the Scheldt, and many who we're battling for their lives in the water were shot, few escaping. Nesfr day the Germans forced a passage in boats, but were unable to maintain a landing, and finally, evacuated the town, leaving four guns. During the fight Germans mounted a machine-gun in the tower of the Cathedral, compelling the Belgians to shell the building. The fire seriously damaged the tower. The Germans set fire to the fifteenth-century Town Hall before retreating. Germans at Willsbrook were sweeping the Belgians across a canal with ma-chine-guns. The Belgians were unable to cross, as the bridge was raised. A soldier volunteered to swim the caiial under lire, and did so. He lowered the bridge, .but was mortally wounded.

RUSSIA STILL WINNING.

-IMPORTANT REARGUARD ACTION. LEAVE GERMANS TO PERISH. PETROG RAD, September 18. Russians at Jaroslav., north of Przemysl, captured the convoys of the Sixtli and Fourteenth Austrian Corps, 30 guns, enormous quantities of ammunition, and 5000 prisoners. . The Russians won ah important rearguard action all along the line, n ROME, September 18. / ' Advices from Vienna state that the hope in the forthcoming battle near Przemysl to hold back the Russians, who are concentrating, in the vicinity, until large German arrive and crush the Russian troops from Poland. . PETROGRAD, September 18. German troops * were interspersed among the Austrians to raise the latter's spirits. After the Russian attack in one locality the Austrians fled,- .while the Germans perished to the last : man.

THE MUSCOVITE HOSTS.

SIX MILLIONS MOBILISED. • \ - . . FIGHTING IN EAST PRUSSIA. ROME, September 18. Russia has completed the mobilisation of six million men. Only half a million are operating in East Prussia, and half a million in Galicia. The centre army, 900,000 strong, is advancing on Posen. Another two million are hurrying from Siberia, Turkestan, and the Caucasus. The rest arfe acting as a reserve.

PETROGRAD, September 18. General Rennenkampf, commanding in East Prussia, is making extensive use of motor lorries to carry reinforcements. Over one hundred lorries, each containing twenty men, travelling forty miles an hour, are taking men towards the Russian Hank. Some* German howitzers captured at Lublin are now in use against the enemy. Germans occupying the Kaliscli district, on the Polish frontier, ordered all inhabitants to esiirol in the German army. The men fled, and some of the fugitives were caught, and twenty hanged.

RUSSIA AND ITALY.

• 4 ABANDON YOUR NEUTRALITY. 1 '

OFFER OF TERRITORY. ROME, September 19. A message from Petrograd states that the entire Russian Press has renewed solicitations to Italy to abandon her neutrality, offering her Trieste, Trent, and Ynlona, also Russian commercial concessions. JAPANESE DROP BOMBS. OPERATIONS AT KIAO-CHAU. THE LANDING OF TROOPS. TOKIO, September 18. It is officially stated that Japanese aeroplanes dropped' bombs on German ships and the wireless and electric stations at Kiao-chau. It is believed that a sliip was blown up. TOKIO, September 19. It is officially reported that Japanese troops have landed at Haoshau Bay. The Japanese stale that the German troops at Tsing-tau number (5000. There are also several hundreds oil civil guards.

PEKING, September 19. Baron von Eissenbach, second Secretary of the German Legation, was killed in an engagement with the Japanese. The Germans report that one of their aeroplanes bombarded the Japanese, killing thirty.

ON THE HIGH SEAS.

CAPTURE OF GERMAN SHIPS. ZIETEN LANDS HER PASSENGERS LORENZO MARQUES, Sept.. 18. The German liner Zieten landed 145 British and 40 other passengers at Mozambique, Portuguese East Africa, and the Portuguese liner, Beira, brought them to Lorenzo Marques. LONDON, September 18. A warship brought into, Queenstown the Hollaud-AmerikV liner liijiidani, 12,527 tons, from New York to Rotterdam, carrying contraband. - The German four-masted barque Werner Vinnen, ;J145 tons, bound for Hamburg, was captured ami taken to Sierra Letme. The cargo of nitrate is valued at £50,000.

Four large German steamers have been seized at Hong Kong.

• Destroyers report that during the gales in the North Sea patrol work Wi\a carried on amid the greatest discomfort. impossible to light galley fires for two days. The men continue to display the highest spirits. ,

| The Norddeutscher-Lloyd Company's steamer Zieten, a vessel of over 8000 tons, has been recently mentioned in the cables.. She left Australia oh her voyage in the middle of .July, and when war .wasdeclared was somewhere between Colombo and the Rt',:l Sea. It was evidently decided not to take the risk of going through N Suex, and the next heard of the vessel she was at Madagascar. The Rijndam is a steel twin-screw vessel of 12,527 tons, owned by the Holland-Amerika Company... She was built by Harlaiid and Wolff at Belfast in .1901.

, The Werner Vinnen is a steel .fourmasted barque, of ''l4s tons, built in 1891, and owned, by F.' A. Viniien and Co., of Bremen..]

FIGHTING m AFRICA.

GERMANS TAKE FRONTIER POST. DEFENDERS EIGHT IN NUMBER. CAPE TOWN, September 18. Two hundred and fifty Germans, with three maxims, attacked the frontier post of Nakob, defended by eight police. One of the defenders was killed, one wounded, and three taken prison-

The' main body of Germans subsequently returned to ; German territory, leaving patrols to occupy the post and the kopjes. They captured all the cattle in the vicinity, and made prisoners of" the coloured people. At a meeting of Pondo chiefs, Maseline, the paramount chief, authorised a message to the King, expressing sympathy with Great Britain % hi the struggle to protect the smaller nations.

THE GERMAN BANDITS.

WANTON DAMAGE PASSES BELIEF. MANY, PL ACES LOOTED AND BURNED. PARIS, September 18. Sir Alfred Sharpe, formerly. Governor of Nyassaland, who traversed the district in which the* recent lighting took place, states that the Germans wrecked all unoccupied < houses as a matter of principle. The peasants were unmolested beyond requisitioning of supplies. The whole of Soissons was sacked and pillaged, the wanton damage passing belief. The contents of shops were scattered, though there was no suggestion that townsfolk had resisted, and houses* and safes rifled. WoiWn were, forced to give up their jewellery. Many Germans were captured at Soissons, chiefly in batches of twenties arid thirties, who were eager to be taken. '""n.

PARIS, September 18

Retreating Germans systematically looted town*, set fire to houses, and destroyed booty which they were unable to carry off. Officers took their pick, and the men had the rest. German wounded complain of the severe marching, which was never less than thirty-six miles daily. AMSTERDAM, September 19.' The Germans in Brussels forced the doors of the Palace of ..Justice -and removed all the objects of historical value. Some of these were afterwards found in soldiers' knapsacks. The magistrates protested against the robbery.

AMSTERDAM, September 18

The "North German Gazette" says that officials dispatched to* report on the condition of Louvain state that only one-fifth or one-sixth of the city is in ruins. Most of the public buildings have been preserved, especially the Town Hall. *

NEW XORK, September 18

The publication of:, the accounts of German atrocities in feelgiuin has provoked a storm of indignation in the newspapers, and the cry is that Germany must answer the indictment or stand for ever condemned.

Pittsburg factories are making six million horse-shoes for France ami Russia.

COURAGEOUS TROOPS.

BRITAIN AND BELGIUM. EXCHANGE OF FELICITATIONS. LONDON, September 38. King Albert of Belgium has telegraphed to King George, expressing the deepest admiration for the'stub-

born couYage of the British at the battle of the Maine. "God will surely help our armies to avenge the atrocities on peaceful citizens of my country, whose only crime was that it refused to be false to its engagements."

King George, in reply, declared that the heroic efforts of the Belgian armies are beyond all praise, and hoped that combined efforts will be made by the ,AUies and Belgium "to free your much-tried country from the invader."

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED. THE KING'S STIRRING SPEECH. LONDON, September 18. Parliament was prorogued to-day until October 27. The King's Speech was as follows:' — I address you in circumstances that call for action rather than for speech. After every endeavour had been made by niy Government to preserve the jfeac.e of the world, I. "*yas compelled,

in the assertion of treaty obligations /deliberately set at nought, ami for the protection of the public law of Europe and the vital interests of my Empire, to go to war. My Navy and

Army have with unceasing vigilance, courage, and skill, sustained, in association with our gallant and faithful Allies, a just and righteous cause. Prom every part of my Empire there has been a spontaneous and enthusiastic rally to our common flag. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you for the liberality with which you have met a great

emergency. My Lords and Gentlemen, we are fighting for a worthy purpose, aiid we shall not lay down our arms until that purpose haa.been fully achieved. I rely with confidence upon the loyal and united efforts of all my subjects, . and I pray that Almighty God may give us His blessing. Members p£ the House of Commons, /led, ;by Mr Will Crooks, M.P., sang the National Anthem and cheered the King.

STOP!

VESSEL FIRED ON. CAPTAIN INDIGNANT. . Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 21.; At 12..'}0 this niorning the steamer Ngakiita was entering the port, and was twice fired iipon by the fort. . The first shot was blank, but'a shell from the second crossed the ship's bows. The captain stated in response to the signal that he hoisted the proper lights, and protested that the steamer was not a tramear, and could not be stopped immediately: ; '

SUSPECTED SPY. ILLICIT WIRELESS. j Press Association. _ WELLINGTON, September 20. A man namej,! Hugo Sewold was arrested by detectives to-day on a charge of establishing in Wellington an apparatus capable of transmitting or receiving wireless signals without having obtained official permission. It is stated that the plant was established in a house in Taranaki Street. Police information is meagre, but it is understood that tlie man is a German who has been naturalised in .NewZealand.

WAIMATE ACTIVITIES.

Press A-ixocialion'. WAIMATE, S/ptember 21. The Sports Club's carnival and concert in aid of the Poor Relief Belgium and New -Zealand (distinct from British and Belgium) Fund realised £l5O. ' SOCKBURN CAMP.

A DAY OF ROUTINE. The troops in camp at Sockburn today were engaged in routine work, in arranging details of equipment, and in clearing their lines. /

The sick jmrade Avas small, and all the cases were of a trivial nature.

. While engaged with the horses one of the troopers of tiie Mounted Regiment had three fingers badly jambed by a rope, owing'to a horse pulling on the rope suddenly. He was sent ill to the Cliristchurch Hospital for treatment. . i .

The collection taken lip yesterday in aid of the sufferers by the Huntly disaster realised £55 9/11 L

Mr I). B. Green, 8.D.5., jhas been appointed dental ofiicer to the troopship Hawlce's Bav.

The 111 embers of the one time Highland Rifles, now D Company, who have joined the Expeditionary Force, were on Saturday night entertained at a farewell function in the rooms of the Canterbury Caledonian Society. Captain. Stevenson, commanding . D Company, presided, and amongst those present were Captain *T. Charters. Captain Salter, ex-Lieutenant ■■■Mj>ir, ami ex-Ser-geant McLean. An apology for absence was received from Captain .MeGee. The guests of the evening were Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Lieutenant Dobson, Lieutenant Robertson, and twenty ex-members of the Highland Rifles. Several toasts honoured, and during the eveuing a programme of musical and other items avhs given. Mr .J. B. Merrett acknowledges the following donations of eggs for the troops: —Previously acknowledged, 7(16 dozen. Since received: Mrs R. Westwood, 2 dozen; Friend, 2 dozen; Mrs Mangles and Mrs J. Watson, Tai Ta]»u, 20 dozen; A. W. Adams, Sheffield, 20 dozen; Sonierfield School, 41 dozen; Verrall Bros., 100 dozen; total to date, 951 dozen.

The camp was visited by a, large crowd of people yesterday, and the church parade, which took plaee at 2.."»0 p,m., was attended by a big congregation. The address was given by the Rev. .J. Mackenzie, assisted by the Revs. Sinclair and Christian, and at the conclusion a collection was taken up for the Huntly Fund for the relief

|of the sufferers by tlio recent mining j disaster. Later, the Regimental Band ; played several selections, and the programme was"'much appreciated by the j visitors.

CAKE FOR THE SOLDIERS.

ABOUT 1000 POUNDS PROVIDED. The Mayoress, interviewed this morning concerning the cake fund, said that a good deal had been received up to Saturday, and the committee, with the money they had in hand for the purpose, were making it up to about .1000 lb in weight, which would be immedi-. atelv packed and placed aboard the troopships. The response to this appeal was not as liberal as it might have been; still, the committee are eonsoling themselves with the thought that 10001b of (rake, after all, is a great deal better than no cake at all.

NELSON VISITORS TO THE CAMP. A party of visitors from Nelson, including the Nelson Equipment Committee (Mrs Locke, Mayoress), Mrs Crawford, Mrs Svines, Miss Haldane, and Mr Snodgrass (secretary) have been in Christchurch for the past few days, visiting the Nelson contingent in camp with the Expeditionary Force at Sockburn. There are over 200 boys from that district in the camp, who were, needless to say, delighted to see their Nelson friends. Mrs Locke and her party, who perforined the journey by motor car, left on their return to Nelson to-day. :

SOCKBURN CONCERT. On Saturday, night a concert party visited the Sockburn Camp, consisting of prize-winners from the recent Debating Club's competitions, and provided ah evening's entertainment for the troops. The; party was* assisted by an orchestra under Miss Snell, and was in charge of the president of the competitions, Mr F. L. Anderson. Songs were rendered by Messrs A. F. Cade, Harrington, and. J. Stinear; recitations by Miss E. .White, Miss M. Higgins, Messrs R. Malcolm and R. Torrance, and an Irish jig by Mr J. Stinear.. The party was well received by an appreciative audience, and the encores were long and frequent. The items of the ladies and Mr R. Malcolm were received with special favour, particularly a selfcomposed song by the latter, entitled "Young New Zealand." The party was given a rousing send-off.

UNEMPLOYED.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. THE MINISTER'S TERMS. The Mayor has received the following telegram from the Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works:— v "I have beeu in communication with Mr H. G. Ell and Mr J. McCombs, M.P's, in regard to assisting towards providing work for -unemployed married men in Christchurch and the immediately surrounding localities. May I suggest, that you should convene a meeting of local bodies to decide on the amount that can be collected, and the particular work or Works elected for expenditure thereon? I am prepared to subsidise pound for pound up to £IOOO for such combined efforts, on two conditions: Firstly, that I •••approve, of particular work; or works ta be secondly, that only married mest are employed. I have consulted with all the Christchurch members, who approve." >

THE TRANSPORTS.

NAVAL OFFICERS. The following officers have been appointed by the Admiralty to the charge of the troopships conveying the New, Zealand .Expeditionary Foree to Europe, and will assume their duties at once:— MAUNGANUIj H.M.N.Z.T;; No. 3. Principal - transport-' officer, Commander J. R. Le Hunt Ward, -R.N. „ (of H.M.S. Torch), v Secretary -to;",, principal transport officer, Assistant-Paymaster Roberts, R.N.R. - \ . And seven naval ratings. ■ ARAWA, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 10. Divisional transport officer, Commander R. A. Newton, R.N. (retired)." . And seven naval ratings. ' TAHITI, H.M.N.Z.T;, No. 4. Naval transport officer, mander G. Dennistoun, R.N. (of H.M.S. Psyche), in charge of Lyttelton division. v And seven naval ratings. ATHENIC, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 11. Naval transport officer, Lieut. R. Porter, R.N.R. (late second officer Athenic). ; And six naval ratings. RUAPEHU, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 5. Naval transport offcer, .Lieut.-Com-mander F. G. Cooper; R.N.R. (in charge of Port Chalmers division-). And seven naval ratings. HAWKE'S BAY, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 9. Naval transport officer, Lieut. C. G. Tonge, R.N.R. (late, chief officer Ruap<>hu). And six naval ratings. H.M.N.Z.T., No. 12. Naval transport officer, Lieut. A. H. T. Glenny, R.N. (of H.M.S. Torch), in charge of Auckland division. And six naval ratings. STAR OF INDIA, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 8. Naval transport officer, Lieut. A. 11. Yarian, R.N.R. And six naval ratings. ORARI, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 6. | Naval transport officer, Lieut. .John 1 Jenkins, R.N.R. (late first officer Delphic) . .And six naval ratings. LIMERICK, H.M.N.Z.T., No. 7. Naval transport officer, Lieut. H. T. Williams, R.N.R. (late chief officer Corinthic). V>._ And six naval ratings.

CANTERBURY PATRIOTIC FUND.

This fund is established with the following objects:—(a) To provide for those dependent on "our volunteers should it be found necessary; (b) to assist volunteers returning physically unfit until such time as they are again restored to health; (c) generally to apply the funds in such manner as the executive may deem necessary to alleviate suffering and distress caused by the present crisis. , Donations may be forwarded to his Worship the Mayor of Ohristchureh. the Town Clerk, or the secretary (Mr R. T. Tosswill, Royal Exchange Buildings),

stud will be acknowledged through these columiis.~

TO-DAY'S CONTRIBUTIONS. . . £ s. d.

Total to date .. £13,813 5 0

EQUIPMENT FUND.

The Central Committee of the War Hospital Equipment Fund has received gifts of Hhe following Red Cross material:—Christchurch Corps St. John Ambulance, box bandages, linen; Christchurch Nursing Division St. .John Ambulance Brigade, four dozen Nightingale jackets and four dozenpairs bed stocks; Selwyn Nursing Division St. Jolin Ambulance Brigade, four dozen' jackets, four dozen bed socks,-linen and mufflers; Ashburton Nursing Division, two dozen jackets, and two dozen bed socks; Hokitika Ambulance Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, two dozen jackets, two dozen bed socks; Greymouth Nursing Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, two. dozen jackets; Westport Nursing Division, three dozen jackets ami three dozen bed socks. Donations of cash-or suitable materials for military -hospitals such as pyjamas, linen, bed socks, dressings, bandages, blankets, \ Nightingale jackets, meat extracts, medical comforts, and so on, may be left a't the St. John Ambulance Rooms; 119, Worcester Street.'

THE LIVERPOOL FUND. The..-Mayoress; Mrs Holland, lias received gifts of cake for the troopers on the transports from the following:— Mrs Chaffey, Mrs Crook, Mrs Down, Mrs M. P. jMurray, Miss 33. Freddy, Miss AE.E. Freddy, Miss Wad worth, Miss Williams, the Misses Cole, Mrs S; Bullock, "Anonymous" (6 cakes),; and Mes- . dames W. S. Clarkson, sen., Carey Hill, A. W. Eames, W. IX Marks, E. Joyce, arid Walter Hill (401bs).

. SOUTH CANTERBURY. Press Association. TIMARU, September 20. The v local Home and Belgium Relief Fund amounts to about £3500.

FLOWER DAY IN DUNEDIN. £6OO RAISED. DUNEDTN, September 20. In aid of the local branch of the Britain and Belgium Relief Fund, a Flower Day was held here on Saturday, and realised the very satisfactory sum of £6OO, \vith some amounts yet to come in. The day was very line. Stands were erected in prominent sites

Geo. Anderson (Waiau) 0 10 0 E. Addington .. 1 1 0 F. Addington .. .. 1 1 0 A.' Addington . . .. 1 1 ,0 Carleton-Beniietts Euchre Club .. .. ... 1 1-3 6 John Moles .. .... 6 0 0