IN GERMAN HANDS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 212, 12 October 1914, Page 7

IN GERMAN HANDS

SURRENDER OF ANTWERP TERRIFIC BOMARDMENT OF THE CITY BRITISH AID IN DEFENCE GERMANS MOVING ON OSTEND BOMBS DO DESTRUCTION IN PARIS. AUSTRIA LOSES DESTROYER AND TORPEDO BOATS IN ADRIATIC

-The Germans are now in occupation of Antwerp, the city having fallen after sustaining a terrific bombardment. British Naval Brigades assisted in the defence, and with the Belgian army have retired to Gstend, except about 2000 who crossed the Dutch frontier. The Germans are now Said to be moving swiftly on Ostend. What news is to hand of the campaign in Prance indicates further slight successes for the Allies. Two German aviators attacked Paris, dropping twenty bombs, and causing loss of life and injury. Bather conflicting stories are to hand of the fighting between the Russians and the Austro-German forces? Each side claims substantial successes, and the Germans are reported to have lost 60,000 men at Augustwo. • ■ In. the, Adriatic Sea the Anglo-French fleet has sunk two Austrian torpedo boats, while an Austrian destroyer has been blown up by a mine. - - The Australian Expeditionary Force has had some further trouble with the natives in New Britain, but there have been no further casualties. By Cable. — Press-Association.—Copyright.

END OF THE SIEGE. SURRENDER ON FRIDAY. WIRELESS FROM BERLIN. LONDON, October 10. A Marconi wireless message from Berlin reports that headquarters state that Antwerp has been i.n the possession of the Germans since Friday. The Belgian garrison is. left in the forts, only a few of which remain in the possession of the Belgians. The "Daily Chronicle" publishes an unconfirmed report that the Germans entered Antwerp. The inhabitants are calm.

fearsome of all. This continued until dawn, when, after a respite of two hours, the bombardment recommeHeed', fiercer than ever, while the fortress guns and field batteries joined in the chorus. Flames were breaking out and with buildings crashing down the city, became an inferno.' "' Meanwhile, fugitives, many - of' whom were half naked, thronged the streets;, the young dragging the- old arid infirm along. There was no time to take any property with tlierii. Nurnbers of women fainted in their frantie efforts to reach the train, on which the fugitives clung to every available part.* They sat on the footboards, on the roofs, arid even in the tenders. Others swarmed to the -boats at . the quays. Thousands wore left behind, and proceeded on a weary march to the .frontier,' which they reached in' an exhausted condition. A pathetic sight is the number of escaped lunatics who are now ranging the country. > "The possession of Antwerp may be satisfaction to Germany, but the German object failed. The destruction of the garrison was more important than the capture of the fortress."

UNEXPECTED SUDDENNESS. inSTOEId BUILDINGS DAMAGED. AWFUL PLIGHT OF REFUGEES. : AMSTERDAM, October 10. . Refugees state that the end came, with unexpected suddenness, Antwerp surrendering at nine on Friday, after, forty-eight hours' bombardment. . The Hotel' de Ville,< the Palais de Justice, and the Art Gallery suffered from shell fire., The Plantin Moretus Museum was eonsidei'ably damaged. The terror of the last twenty hours baffies description. The inhabitants who tiac| not fled took refuge in and mainy were struck as. they were seeking shelter. , The shops have been closed since Thursday, and valuables from the jewellers' shops removed to safety, owing to recollection of the German looting at/Louvain. | The sight of wounded Belgian : soldiers traversing the city from the forti- j fications and redoubts added, to the : terrbr of the population. I Boats for Ostpnd were dangerously crowded, and trains for Holland were i packed with wailing women and cliil- j dren, crying with hunger. At every . stopping plac-e more tried to enter, who had been waiting without food for hours. Many sank to the lloor of the corridors in an hysterical condition. The majority of the women hail but one desire—to get beyond earshot of the German gtins. A horrible -incident was a chance German shell striking a train full of fugitives leaving for Esschien. Several were killed, and there was indescribable "-panic. The plight of other fugitives was' so desperate that the Dutch Government, issued a warning to the public not to treat fugitives harshly if they behaved strangely, as many were partially demented owdng to. strain.

LAST DAYS OF DEFENCE. PRAISE FOR NAVAL BRIGADE. AN ENTIRELY SUCCESSFUL . ' : RETREAT. WELLINGTON, October 12. /.Tlie Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner: — LONDON, October 10, 10.30 a.m. "The Admiralty announces as follows: — . "In response to an appeal by, the Belgian Government, we sent to Anti werp during the last week of attack, two naval brigades, with heavy naval guns, and- a detachment of the Royal iNavy. Till Monday nigh't last, the Belgian Army and the, Marine Brigade successfully defended the line of the I Nethe River, but early on Tuesday-, morning the Belgians on " the right of the marines-were .forced to retire. In consequence the whole defence was withdrawn to the inner line of forts. The inner line of defences was maintained on Wednesday and Thursday during a ruthless bombardment. The behaviour of \he Royal Marines and Naval Brigades was praiseworthy, and 1 their losses are probably under three] hundred out of a total of eight thousand. The defence could have been maintained for a longer period,,but not j long enough to allow of adequate forces ' being sent to the- relief of the city, without prejudice to the main-strategic situation. The Belgian and British military authorities in Antwerp decided to evacuate the city, and the British offered to cover the retreat, but General tie Guise desired that they should leave before the last division of Belgians. After a long night march to St. Gilles, the three naval brigades entrained. Two brigades arrived at Ostend, but, owing to' circumstances unknown, the greater part of the First Naval Brigade was cut . oft' by a German attack north of Lokeren, and two thousand officers and men entered Dutch territory in the neighbourhood of llulst and laid down . their arms. - J The retreat oif the Belgian Army was successfully accomplished, and the naval armoured traifas .and heavy guns

THE FIRST SHELL FALLS. DARKNESS AND DESOLATION. -STRICKEN CITIZENS IN THE STREETS. (Received October 12, 8.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 10. When the first shell boomed into Antwerp, the city was dark, but the empty streets suddenly became alive with people, womeji, and children, crying and flocking in every direction. There was a quarter of an hour's lull, and then came the booming of the big guns. : Ea eh shot was followed by a weird and long : drawn-out din and then the final explosion, wliifih was the most

were brought away. The retreat from Ghent onwards of th'e naval division and the Belgian army was covered by strong British reinforcements.

BEFORE THE GARRISON LEFT. BLOWING- UP THE FORTS. KAISER'S SON DECORATED. (Received October 12, 10.50 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 11. The Antwerp garrison blew up Forts Sehooten, Brasschaet, Meuxem, Cappelleu, ami others. Three thousand Belgian troops crossed the Dutch frontier, and were interned. THE HAGUE, October 11. The Kaiser has bestowted the Iron Cross on his son Prince August Wilhelin, who was among the first to penetrate the Antwerp fortifications. ■■■

RETREAT IN GOOD ORDER. | PORTS AND WORKSHOPS BLOWN UP. THE CONDUCT OF THE KING. (Received October 12, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The field army retired froift Antwerp in good order, and the retreat, which began several days ago, was completed under the best conditions. The soldiers were ordered to leave the forts before they w.ere blown up, and they also destroyed stores of petrol and benzine, and broke up thfe workshops at the Minerva factory, where machine guns, armoured trains, and aeroplanes have been made during the last month. I German Zeppelins and' aeroplanes dropped 140 bombs (Turing...the- siege." Three hundred thousand Germans participated in the attack. The conduct of King Albert throughout was an inspiration to the Belgian troops. He wore the uniform of a private, and shared their meals with the men ill the trenches. He only left the city when it was impossible for him to do any more.

ARRIVAL AT OSTEND. LAST STAND AT ANTWERP. &ERMAN ARTILLERY IRRESISTIBLE. (Received October 12, 9.40 a.m.) OSTEND, O&ober XI. The Belgian Arinj', and the 1 British force" with the King of the Belgians, have arrived safely. The Belgians manned the trenches at Antwerp for 70 hours, while headquarters was established in a high tower which was connected by telephone: with"- all the trenches. - While the battle was confined to. the infantry the Belgians easily held their own, but the overpowering massed artillery fire, directed from the Taube aeroplanes, was irresistible. •The English Women's, National Service Hospital had alarming experiences. It was found necessary to rescue S3O patients who were in the direct lijie of-shell fire ami close by the ammunition building. Those able to walk were allowed to find their way out of the city, but 60 of. the most seriously ill were carried into cellars, where they spent Thursday night, shells bursting above throughout. _ GERMANY'S NEXT MOVE. SWIFT MARCH ON OSTEND. ■WARNING. TO CITIZENS OF ANTWERP. (Received October 12,■ -9.4.0 a.m.,) . LONDON, October 11. The Central Exchange correspondent at The Hague reports that the Germans are swiftly moving on Ostend, hoping to capture the King and Government. A German official message states that the Germans captured enormous supplies j of all kinds at Antwerp, while-the number of prisoners cannot be esti: mated. General Baeseler, who directed the attack, has been decorated. General Baerfeler's proclamation warns the citizens tiiat refractory conduct will be punished according to the laws of war "and may load to the destruction of your beautiful city."

is reported that nearly fifty vessels, including thirty-two Germans steamers, have been destroyed at Antwerp.

FALL WAS INEVITABLE. NO NEED FOR DEPRESSION. THE ZEPPELIN AIR RAIDS. (Received October 12, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The Hon. W. Bunciman, speaking at Kiugsway Hall, said there is 110 reason to be depressed at the fall of Antwerp, which was inevitable, and which has enabled the Belgian ariuy to co-operate more closely with the Allies in France and Belgium. "The German Press," he added, "in predicting Zeppelin raids on England, had the British character if they thought to frighten the people. We have courageous men .in our Flying Corps, and thirteen of them are pledged to dash their machines through any Zeppelins which may be coming, even if both are dashed to earth."

GERMANY MUST BE CRUSHED. FIRST SHOCK OVER. REAL ... STRUGGLE JUST BEGINNING. (Received October 12, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. Yiscount Haldane, speaking at Newcastle on Tyne, said "that the finer qualities of the German race had been degraded for an unworthy purpose, and ■subjected to the domination of a military spirit, which should be exterminated. Germany might be admirably prepared, but preparations-wore off against a people possessing Britain's resources. He did not. underrate the magnitude of the task, but held that the first shock was over, and the real struggle 'beginning under much less favourable conditions for Germany than in August. ~ Earl Grey said:—'' . '.. '' We are not going to stop until we have smashed the German army ,and navy, and the .spirit of Prussian militarism." RAGE AND REVENGE. GERMANS IN BELGIUM. SCATHING COMMENT-IN AMERICA. ... -y ■ ■; (Received October 12, 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 11. The '' Tribune " lias a scathing article on the Germans' concentration of her rage and revenge Upon Belgium. The "Sun,'-' in a cartoon,,shows the .'Kaiser surveying'the ruins of Antwerp, and saving, "My heart bleeds: for Antwerp! " BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADES PARTICIPATES IN DEFENCE. BELGIAN RETREAT SUCCESSFUL. ' LONDON, Oc.tobef- 11. It is officially.'stated • that-• the Biitish Naval Brigade, Avith lieavjvguns, participated in the defence of Antweip. Eight thousand marines and bluejackets, formed into two brigades, safely retreated to Ostend with all their guns. The Germans cut off two men of the first brigade, who -were forced into Dutch territory, and surrendered. The retreat of tlie Belgian army was successfully carried out.

AN ORDERLY SURRENDER. KING ALBERT WOUNDED. GAREISON'S DESFERA.TE REARGUARD ACTION. AMSTERDAM, October 10. Some refugees state that, they saw the King of Belgium with his arm in a sling. A Belgian officer states that.the garrison in withdrawing across the Scheldt fought a desperate rearguard action. Fighting continues fiercely to the westof the Scheldt. The surrender of the city was orderly, the authorities hoisting white Hags on the church towers and public buildings. All grain-laden boats:in the harbour had previously been sunk. A fierce bayonet fight preceded the eneiny's entry into Berchem. Refugees in Antwerp opened holes in the walls to enable them to retreat in case of emergency from house to house along a whole street. . People at every big Dutch station met incoming trains, and offered fugitives bread, biscuits, tea, and milk.

ENTHUSIASM IN GERMANY. THE BEGINNING- OF THE END. "GERM' OF THE CAPTURE OF PARIS." (Received October 12, 8.45 a.m.) ROME, October 11. | The news of the fall of Antwerp lias ! caused unprecedented, enthusiasm in | Germany, where, it is -regarded., as being the beginning of the end. Flags-have been hoisted, and demonstrators are parading, the streets. Wounded soldiers who have recently arrived' at Aix-la-Chappelle,, Cologne, and Pusseldorf, have been covered with flowers and given presents. l The " Tages Zeitung" states: — The capture of Antwerp carries- with it the germ of the capture, of Paris, and is a'most serious blow, to England,

DUTY OF BRITISH FLEET. NEUTRALITY OF HOLLAND. Si II I*B DESTROYED'AT ANTWERP. (Received October 12, •5.4.') a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The capture of/ Antwerp imposes additional duties. on the Bi'itish Fleet to gee that neutrality is not. violated by the GcrnaßS crossing, the Scheldt. It

TO SAVE THE CITY. THE BURGOMASTER'S ACTION. SUBURBS 3<;NTIRELY BURNT OUT. OSTEND, October 10. It transpires that the Burgomaster of Antwerp issued a proclamation a week ago, quoting the-Kaiser's assurance as to non-interference with the civil 'population. He warned the citizens against interference with foreign soldiers entering the town. The city therefore regarded surrender as a natural sequence, and the only sane policy to save the city. The destruction of the ..waterworks by the Germans deprived the city of.water,,

and prevented the Brigade from extinguishing fires. All the chief art treasures have been removed. The suburbs of Borgherliant, Zurimburg and Berchcm have been almost entirely burnt out. ' It is rumbured that the Queen has sailed for England. . The Germans have blown up all the bridges on the road from Ghent to Ingelmunster (25 miles south-west of Ostend), and destroyed the station at Vive St. Eloy.

THE GERMAN ARTILLERY. A RAIN OF PROJECTILE S. TWENTY, SHELLS A MINUTE. 4 LONDON, October 10. The Germans are using two hundred guns—twenty-eight, thirty, and fortytwo centimetre weapons. A correspondent describes the firing of a German forty-two centimetre gun. I The gun is fired every ten minutes. [There is a flame like that of a blasting furnace, a small cloud of smoke, a j thunderous though bearable roar, and ; then a hiss. The Germans never fired wildly. Spies had worked out the 'ranges of vulnerable points to a yard. King Albert; through a neutral attache, sent the German commander a plan showing the sites of the Cathedral and other ancient monuments, which he begged might be spared. The King is in the field with the army. The British,' French, and Russian Ministers were the last to leave the city. They witnessed the first part of this bombardment. From midnight dt rained projectiles, sometimes at the, rate of twenty p<# minute. They state that more than half the shells failed to explode. Many civilians were killed. The weather was calm,-which prevented, the spread of the The Germans in their advance to the inner forts literally filled the dykes with their dead. Owing to their close formation the Belgian machine-guns went through; them like a scythe. Hordes of refugees are at' Flushing. All sorts of river" craft, loaded to the guriwales with human freight, are crossing the Scheldt, the panie being pitiful.' , ■ .' ' Twenty-five thousand refugees have fled fo Holland, and 'the Dutch are nobly feeding the including three hundred orphans; ' ■

TWO YEARS AT LEAST. GERMANY'S WAR RESOURCES "ABSURD TO TALK OF » STARVATION." (Received October 12, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY,. October 12. Mr Hat trick, a well-known Svtlney* agricultural chemist, has returned from a visit to Germany. He left Berlin in the last train before the declaration of' war. He states that Germany's internal resources are such as to enable her to carry on the war for a couple of years at least. The farm woTk is being - carried on by boys and women, and therye crop, which has been garnered,. isexceptionally good. Wheat and oataalso promise well. Bottling up the fleet made no matter so far as internal* food supplies were concerned, and- it- - was absurd to talk of starving Germany * in that way.

GERMANS LOSE SIXTY THOUSAND' BATTLE. OF AUGUSTWO. COLUMNS RUSHING TO PRZEMYSL. (Received October 12, 9.15 a.m.) - ; PETROGRAD, October 11. The German losses at the battle .of " Augustwo are estimated at 60,000. (Received October 12, 8.45 a.m.) ROME, October 11. Advices from Vienna- state that two Austro-German columns are rushing to : - £he relief of Przemysl,

FURTHER DETAILS OF SIEGE. FORTS' GALLANT RESISTANCE. WHEN THE GERMANS ENTERED. AMSTERDAM, October 10. ' A Belgian staff officer states that the. Wavre Saint Catherine Fort (one, of the outermost ring) offered the most stubborn resistance. * i.'.A. Zeppelin gave the- range to. the Germans, and" dVopped bombs. The commander of the fort pretended that the fort was on fire, whereupon the Zeppelin' signalled to the German infantry to advance. When they reached the glacis,- the Belgian guns and quick-firers mowed down eight thousand. : When the position .became untenable owing to the: 180-pound shells, the commander blew up the fort. While the main force of Germans was attacking - the fortifications in the neighbourhood of Lierre "on Thursday, a heavy bombardment of the inner fort line was proceeding from the direction qf Boon. " As the fight progressed, large infantry , bodies were flung against the redoubts of the inner circle, while other troops feigned attacks in the direction of Termohde and Duffel and elsewhere for the purpose of= diverting attention from Lierre. .The. south-eastern and eastern forts, including Lierre, ceased firing on Friday morning, enabling the Germans to force their way into Antwerp, where the Belgians blew u{> the fortifications. The Civic Guard was disbanded, and the majority of the.. men immediately volunteered for the Regular Army. The Dxxtch are behaviug with fine generosity. Rotterdam, Maastricht, Tilburg, Middleburg, Amsterdam,' and Dordrecht are all taking large contingents. At.Esseclion a thousand fugitives are camping along the railway lines, stretching rough covering from telegraph poles as protection from the weather, and living in railway coaches. .The region from Ghent to the sea is still free of Germans. , Many of the refugees prepared to gk to Bruges, Ghent, Ostend, and the coast towns. Endless processions, camping throughout Thursday and Friday night, soon exhausted the food in the wayside inns . and farms. The scenes were unparalleled since the Spaniards sacked Antwerp in 158 G.

AUSTRIANS CLAIM VICTORIES. REPULSE OF THE RUSSIANS FIVE DIVISIONS DEFEATED." (Received October 12. 10.50 a..m.) AMSTERDAM, October 11. ! Official reports from Vienna declare that the Austrians repulsed the Hussians at Przemysl, and defeated five divisions near Lancut. They also re- . ' puised a small force at Dynow. 1 - .

AIR ATTACK ON PARIS. TWENTY BOMBS DROPPED. PEOPLE KILLED AND INJURED. (Received October 12, 11.25 a.m.) > ; " LONDON, October 11. Two German aeroplanes„■ dropped ' twenty bombs into Paris, killing three and wounding fourteen. One bomb fell on the roof of Notre" Dame, but did not burst.

* WITH THE FRENCH FLEET. OPERATIONS IN ADRIATIC. Lighthouse and wieeless ' STATION DESTROYED. PARIS, October 9. The French, EJeet appeared off Bag-n usa and Gravoso, in Dalinatia. The Austrian authorities and the principal inhabitants of Ragnsa fled. The squad-' ron destroyed the lighthouse and the . wireless station, and took a few prisoners. ■ ■ ----- An Austria n a eroplane threw bombs,» ; ;; but they fell harmlessly into the sea. v The guns on Mount Lovehen destroyed an aeroplane. It is reported that two torpedo boats s collided off Porquerolle6, and both sank. ~\ The crews were saved. The report: is not confirmed.

FAMINE IN BELGIUM. SHORTAGE IN MANY TOWNS. SUGGESTION FROM AMERICA. (Received October 12, 10.50 a.m.) j AMSTERDAM, October 11. | Besides a food shortage in Brussels the Belgian Minister announces that famine exists in Liege, .Nanny, Luxemburg, and Hainault. OSTEND, October 11. The United States has requested. Germany to re-victual Brussels, and has suggested that the United States Minister should control the distribution of food.

AUSTRIA LOSES WARSHIPS. TWO TORPEDO BOATS SUNK. [DESTROYER STRIKES A WprNE. . (Received October 12, 11.25 a.m.) VENICE, October 11. The AiigloTFrench fleet sank . two Austrian torpedo boats in the Adriatic. . A mine sank an Austrian destroyer. (Received October 12, 9.15 a.m.) BORDEAUX, October 11. Five hundred German prisoners ..have been sent to Morocco. * :

CHOKED WITH CORPSES. THE GERMAN TRENCHES. DEADLY FRENCH ARTILLERY. "Timex" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received'-October 12, 8 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. A correspondent of the "Journal Debats" says: "I have seen the German trenches choked corpses frightfully mutilated, while further away several infantry regiments were entirely destroyed, the bodies of the men formingTjeaps three feet high. This awful carnage was caused by the French 75 centimetre guns. I have seen them destroy entire columns at 800 -yards,.

while six horses could be interred- in tho hole the i>rojeetilc makes in the ground."

BORED BY INACTION. BRITISH CAVALRY AT AISNE. ALLOWED TO'SERVE IN TRENCHES ■ (Received October 12, 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, October 11. The cavalry, during the battle of the . Aisne, became bored by inaction and petitioned General AJlenby to be allowed to serve in the trenches. _As their carbines were useless, General Allenby armed a third of the cavalry with rifles and bayonets similar, to those used by the Mounted Infantry in South Africa. "

AN IMPROVISED ALTAR. x HOLY COMMUNION IN A WOOD. WORSHIP UNDER DIFFICULTIES. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received October 12, 8 a.m.) LONDON, v October 11. A chaplain says that the British generally fight or march on Sundays. He describes the holding of a service without his surplice in a wood where the troops were bivouacking on straw inches deep, with water a foot deep and mud all round. An officer states that there was a large attendance at holy communion at this service, which was held in black darkness excepting for two candles on a packing case which served as an altar, while tin mug was a -chalise. The ■ soldiers, grimed with battle, and each carrying his rifle, knelt in a circle round the light. Referring to the interest taken in religious services held with the French armies," a correspondent says: '' The war has brought to bear on the life of the country a healing and unifying influence."

BRIBE FOR ASSISTANCE. AUSTRIA AND RUMANIA. , SET-OFF TO RUSSIA'S OFFER. (Received October 12, 8.45 a.m.) . BUCHAREST, October 11. As . a set-off to Russia's offer of • Transylvania to Rumania, AustriaHungary has offered" to give Transylvania autonomous government, with j honorary Rumanian Ministers. j

ANTI-AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. GERMANS IN CHINA AND JAPA.N. the police Investigating. ,; (Beceived October 12, 9.40-arin.) TOKIO, October 11. The police are investigating a cam-, paign instigated by Germans, and in- - tended to arouse anti-American feeling in Japan. The newspapers during the past fortmght have published', numerous interviews with so-called Americans, who ' have declared that antiJapanese feeling in America is intense and that war between the two countries is inevitable. Similar methods have been invoked in China.

w IN NEW BRITAIN. TROUBLE WITH THE NATIVES. NO FURTHER CASUALTIES. {Beceived October 12, r8.30 a.m.) - SYDNEY, 12. Latest reports from New Britain Htate that there has been little fighting Binee the capture of Babaul. The Natives have given some trouble, but there have been no further casualties.

ALLIES. BATTLE PROVES FAVOURABLE. GERMAN PRISONERS TAKEN. ceived by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner:— " LONDON, Octolier 10. / Official: The battle progresses favourably for the Allies, in spite of violent attacks, . North of the Oise advantages have been secured. There has been appreciable progress In the Saint Mihiel region. .On the left wing there has been confused cavalry fighting in the region of Bassee, Armentieres, and Cassel (due south of Dunkirk). Reliable: The enemy's attempt to Irive a wedge between the Allies and • Antwerp has been unsuccessful. PARIS, October 10. A communique issued last evening, says that further sharp fighting has taken place in the Roye region, where the Allies on Thursday and Friday made -prisoners of sixteen hundred men. . Othgfrwise there is nothing new. PARIS; October 11. A communique says":—"The battle aontinues in our favour. Our whole front has been maintained despite the enemy's violent attacks on several points. The fighting between the opposing cavalry between La Basn.ee, Armentieres, and Cassel is somewhat confined, owing to the nature of the ground. We have secured real advantages at several points north of the Oise, and appreciably progressed in the Saint Mihiel region." ; ■ Q A communique, issued at midnight, says there has been heavy fighting around Arras. The enemy has made -,-very vigorous attacks upon the heights T overlooking the Meuse. The Germans north of Sajtsaoas had

been strongly posted iix fortified posts, called mushroom beds, since the beginning of the siege. In a battle the French troops failed to dislodge them, and suffered severe losses. The commander then ordered the attacks to cease, and entrenchments to be dug two hundred yards from the Germans. French engineers niiiied the intervening space until it was possible to fire heavy charges of dynamite, and five hundred Germans holding the trenches were killed.

A GALLANT BATTLE. FRENCH GUNS WORK FEARFUL HAVOC. COMPLETE ROUT OF ENEMY. LONDON, October 10. On the 4th, two German shells which fell in the centre of Lille, marked the beginning of the Germans' desperate attempt to escape from the encircling movement. The shells, which did little damage, were fired by batteries on the extreme left of a new force which advanced from the Belgian frontier and formed a crescent line lying roughly between Turcoing and- Armentieres. A violent series of engagements followed between about ten thousand of the enemy and the infantry garrisoning Lille. Savage fighting continued in the streets, on the boulevards, and on the eastern outskirts all through Sunday until Monday, when the enemy were finally repulsed. ; On Tuesday a gallant fight raged between the French and a big army stretching along £he whole of the eastern, northern, and north-western suburbs of Lille. The battle raged all day and well into the night. The French guns wrought terrible havoc, the slaughter t>eing most ghastly. The Germans were mown down in hundreds. ' The fact that the German infantry fire ~waa feeble, though it sounded incessant, is taken to indicate that their whole transport has broken down ousfy along the northern Belgian lines of communication. The day ended in the complete rout of the enemy. The French fought with magnificent dash and courage. The" German army between . Armentieres and Turcoing, which was intended to cover the flank of the main body advancing on Lille and Arras was driven back thirteen mileSi On Wednesday the French artillery came within a few kilometres of Lens, and firing straight over the town, bombarded the Gerinlan positions near the village of Hoigtfn, and beat the Germans back to the north-eastward with heavy losses. Oh .Thursday the Germans evacuated the Lille district and retired from Bethune in a north-easter-ly direction.

GERMANS SOUNDLY BEATEN. HEROISM AT AREAS. BRITISH OFFICERS' CASUALTY i- : 'LIST. LONDON, October 10. Two French divisions, with a Territorial division, held positions at Arras, for several days against overwhelming odds, until reinforcements arrived. Though the French losses were heavy the Germans were soundly beaten. The reinforcements on nearing Arras encountered a large force of Germans. A frontal attack having failed, a large force of French went to the flank, and while the centre was engaged, rushed the trenches and took nine hundred Germans prisoners. Fifteen spies masquerading as Frenchmen were found in a factory | near Lille. They took shelter on a lofty chimney, and all were shot off, screaming their allegiance to France in their last moments. | Up to Wednesday the casualty totals for British officers were:— Killed JO9 Wounded .. .. .. 610 Missing .. 267 Prisoners .. .. .. 84

BRITISH ARE "IMMENSE;" TRIBUTE TO GENERAL JOFFRE. WONDERFUL FRENCH ARTILLERY LONDON, October 10. A Russian officer attached to General French's army speaks in unbounded enthusiasm of General Joffre, whose calm and unruffled assurance of victory is a tower of strength. This officer is delighted with the British. They are '' immense.'' The quiet and businesslike manner in which! they face the day's work is a veritable treat. The moment there is a lull in the fighting they start playing games. He saw them many times break off a friendly encounter and rush back to the trenches and coolly proceed to pour volleys into the foe. - The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says the wonderful qualities of the French artillery are likely to become the outstanding feature of the struggle. British soldiers docln.ro that the French big guns are just the last word. The quick and "cute" way in which they are handled is a treat to see, and their shooting boats anything they ever saw. They score a "bull" every time. French soldiers speak with affoction of their seventy-five millimetre cannon, and the skilfulness of tlio giiniiorn in hiding the whereabouts of the butteries, for modern warfare is developing into a game of hide' and seek. When the

airman signals the position of the enemy's guns the battery places a '< smoker" as a pilot shot, and the rest speedily get home, and the trenches or the battery are decimated within six minutes. German officers state that of a hundred French shells observed, only three went wide of the mark. A wounded Zouave, a survivor of a party of ninety, asserts that Germans deliberately shot his comrades, declaring that they were irregulars.

BRITISH AIR RAID. A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK. ZEPPELIN SUPPLIES DESTROYED. The Higlx Commissioner reports: — LONDON, October 9. Official: Squadron-Commander Spencer Grey, with Lieuts. Marix and Sippe, made a successful attack on the Dusseldorf airship shed. Lieut. Marix dropped bombs from a height of 600 ft on to the shed, and destroyed a Zeppelin and ignited the gas supply for the airships. The three officers returned safely, but lost their aeroplanes.

OUTRAGE AT DINANT. ARGENTINE CONSUL SHOT. DOMINIONS AND THE MOTHERLAND. \, BUENOS ; AYRES, October 9. Messages from Amsterdam state that the Germans at Dinant shot -M. Himmer, Vice-Consul for the Argentine, on his own-doorstep, and also twenty of workmen, although they were unarmed. The Argentine flag was thrown into the street. The public is incensed at the Argentine Government's delay in obtaining satisfaction. LONDON, October 10. The newspapers, applaud Australia's decision to send a Light Horse Brigade. The "Evening Standard" says the overseas Dominions are determined to see things through. The spirit animating Australia in sending a third contingent, and Canada a proves that the Empire will second the Allies' efforts with the last ounce in their power.

DELIBERATE CAMPAIGN. THE GERMAN ATROCITIES. MURDER, LOOTING, AND RAPE. The High Commissioner reports:- — LONDON, October 10. A report issued by the Belgian Commission says that murder, rapine, butchery, ami pillage haS':been carried out on a deliberately organised scale by the direction of superior officers. The Press Bureau says the reports of the Belgian Commission show that the excesses at Aerschot were due to the Regular Army and the Landsturm equally. Murder, looting, rape, and attacks on person and property, closed only when the Belgians re-entered Aerschot. A wounded Belgian soldier affirms that with twenty-seven other prisoners he was forced to walk in front of the Germans along a road on the banks of The Germans fired, killing many. The narrator feigned death. When the Germans discovered his ruse he was about to be shot, but an officer said he was not worth a bullet, and told his men to throw him into the river. This was done, but the Belgian escaped by remaining in the water all day, only his head emerging. Only one other man escaped. Corroborative evidence of the inhabitants shows that the bullet which killed a German General came from the Germans and not from the Burgomaster's son, as alleged. PARIS, October 10. ' A San Francisco lawyer who visited villages in the. Vosges, has furnished a terrible report of German barbarities inflicted on civilians of all ages and sexes, including abominable atrocities on women. In nearly all the villages petroleum was poured on the houses, and the houses burnt. THE CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE. ACTIVITY QF THE AIRMEN. GERMANS HALF-HEARTED ATTACK. WELLINGTON, October 11. The following war news has been received by the Prime Minister:— LONDON, October 9. An communication from General Headquarters describing the movements of the British force and French armies in immediate touch with them, j states that on September 30 there was no activity beyond slight attacks by the enemy, with artillery fire at intervals. The Allies' airmen succeeded in dropping nine bombs, some fulling on the enemy's rolling stock on the railway near Laon. The enemy's front trenches were foun/j empty at night. Thoy frequently evacuato the trenches in this way to prevent (lie men in the buck lines firing on their comrades. October I wuh the most peaceful day since the Horcon were engaged on the Ainne. There wan only deitultory gun (lie. A, French aviator dropped bombs on the railway HtalJou and massed troopn, On October If I.ln* (Jin'iiiuiih were driven from thu mill which thoy occupiod an un atlvamwi potib, and their machine desfefoyfld by the Allies. At night the enemy attacked the Allies' lines, but wore repulsed. A battalion commander states that

the German officers are skilled in leading troops forward under cover, but once the latter have deployed the men decline to face the heavy fire. Prisoners describe the British fire as pinning them to the ground. In one instance in an attack over the open, ground against an equal force of infantry sheltered in a sunken road and ditches, the British lost ten killed and sixty wounded, while four hundred of the enemy surrendered after fifty had ben killed. Each side had the support of a battery, but the fight for superiority in infantry fire took place at a range of seven hundred yards, and lasted only an hour and a half. The Germans wavered, and some put up the white flag, while others continued firing. Our men continued to fire, and eventually a large number of white flags were exhibited all along the German line. Latterly the German attacks have become half-hearted, and the enemy has never closed with the bayonet against the British. The War Office denies the statement that Canadian troops have reached English waters.

THE RUSSIAN .MOVEMENTS. MILLION ADVANCE IN CENTRE. A SERIES OF SUCCESSES. PETROGRAD, October 10. The Russian composed of a million, men, who' "were mobilised at Warsaw, has advanced within thirtymiles of Thorn, and ninety of Posen. It is officially stated that the Russians dislodged the enemy- from Vladislav off, captured positions at Bakalajevo and Lakegantcha, and occupied Lyck. The Russians have taken ten thousand prisoners and forty guns in the latest fighting on the East Prussian frontier. . ' The "Novoe Vremya'' advocates a timely agreement amongst the Allies in regard to the means employed to overthrow German militarism, lest the conclusion of the war should take them unawares. The sacrifices already made will have been in vain if the Allies leave intact a political organism which jleniea to all save itself the right to live. The fight against militarism means de facto a fight against the Kaiser, as personifying the German Empire. The Taai', who went to visit his army in Poland, has returned to Tsarkoe Selo. The High Commissioner reports:LONDON, October 10. - The Russians have occupied Lyck, in East Prussia. The Petro'grad correspondent of " The Times" says that the Tsar's visit to the" front may be taken as a further indication that the Germans -site up against a stonewall.

REFUGEES IN HUNGARY. TERRIBLE OVERCROWDING. *' HEALTH OF COMMUNITY IMPERILLED. PARIS, October 10. ..The Petrograd correspondent states that the Russians have occupied Margrabova. The Russian newspapers state that the Austrian Government is preparing io move to Innsbruck from Vienna. Hungary has suspended the import duties on grain. The enormous influx o£ Galician re* ! fugeea into Northern Hungary has caused terrible overcrowding. Kaschau, with a population of" 50,000, is shelter-' ing 100,000.. The prices of food have trebled, and. the sanitary conditions are imperilling the health of the community. LONDON, October 10. The Petrograd correspondent of "The Times'' says a Russian General expressed surprise at the Austrians sending their valuables from Vienna to Prague for safety. He declared they were making a mistake. "We don't intend to fritter away our opportunities. Our objective is Berlin, and our road is via Prague." MONTENEGRINS COME ON. MARCH TOWARDS SERAJEVO. AUSTRIANS HANG A PRIEST. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, October 10. The Montenegrins are marching towards Serajevo. PETROGRAD, October 10. The "Sviet" states that Austrian officers, during a service at the Sha,batz Cathedral, ordered a priest to pray for the Emperor Francis Josef. The priest recited the usual prayers for King Peter, and the Austrians hanged him. NEW BRIGHTON RESERVISTS. A platoon of the National Reserve has been formed at New Brighton, and on Saturday evening a meeting was held at the New Brighton Council Chambers to complete details, the Mayor, Mr C. 11. Winny, presiding.' About fifty residents have signed on for service, and, should the State accept service, an application for the issue of arms will be made. Lieutenants A. P. Hopkins and R. S. Hopkins, of the Territorial Force, were appointed honorary instructors, and the following officers were elected: —Honorary captain, Mr O. IT. Winny; lieutenant, Mr F. Ward; plat.oou sergeant, Mr F. Coe; sergeant, Mr W. Smith; corporals, Messrs Cr. Thompson and J. Bosomworth; lance-corporals, Messrs G. Reiger and T. M. Gaul.