VICTORY

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 310, 29 September 1915, Page 5

VICTORY

i, nl llli , WORO PERMITTED BY CENSOR FIRST TIME SINGE THE MARNE Pn ,, lM 1 ioH oUbusooij FURTHER ADYAMGE MADE STORIES TOLD BY PRISONERS / RySSII DRIVING GERMANS BULCARS FRATERHISE WITH TURKS

A WELL-TIMED OFFENSIVE. GERMANS DEEPLY COMMITTED. ATTACKED AT MANY POINTS. MAIN THRUST IN CHAMPAGNE. PARIS, Sept. 27. It. is generally recognised that Joffre has ceased nibbling. It. is clear Neuvo Chapelle, Beausejour, and Les Eparge.s have been eclipsed. The offensive is considered opportune, as the Germans are deeply committed to the invasion of Russia, where they are fighting on ;i 700 miles front at the opening of ■ bad season. The Germans were expecting an attack, and have been holding up the boards in Flanders: " We ar<> ready for you on the 20th." But the Allies' attack did not come on the 20th. The gunners distributed their favours so impartially that it was impossible to say where the thrust would come. It is untrue that the German morale has been destoyed. Their guns are numerous and too well concealed to be destroyed, though they suffered much through the bombardment. But they were unable to guess the real storm I centre, and must have been sending reI serves first to one centre ad then another. It now seems certain that the main thrust will be in the Champagne, where there,is open, undulating country without watercourses. If a wedge of the Mackensen type be driven in it may compel the Germans to retire upon the Sambre and the Meuse. GERMAN REPORT. BIG CAPTURES OF PRISONERS. AMSTERDAM, Sept. 28. A German communique states: The warships continued to fire isolated shots on the environs of Middelkirke. The Allies have not renewed their attacks south-west of Lillte, where our. counter-attacks arrested a great offensive. Severe isolated attacks north and south of Loos collapsed with English losses. :.» Attacks on both sides of Arras were bloodily repulsed. We captured 25 officers and 2,600 men, and 14 machine guns. The French offensive at Rheims an« in the Argonne has not progressed. Fighting was especially»severe on the road between Slommepy and Suipes, also north of Beausejoir farm, where the French failed, with very heavy losses. We took prisoner 40 officers and 390 men. We shot down three aeroplanes, including a great French battle aeroplane, in aerial battles north-east of Ypres and south-west of LiHe; Two French aeroplanes were brought down in the Champagne. TENSE INTEREST IN FRANCE. "VICTORY NOT YET." PARIS, Sept. 27. The news of the resumption of the offensive aroused the most tense interest. The French communiques were shown in the cinemas in all the large towns yesterday-eve, with portraits cf Joffre and his generals. Audiences sang the "Marseillaise," but the word "Victory" was not used, remembering that the conditions of modern warfare make decisive results extremely difficult, t THE ALLIED VICTORY. DISPELS PRO-GERMANTSM. PARIS, Sept. 28. Reuter's Athens correspondent says the news of the Allied victory comes at the right moment, dispelling the 'ast vestige of pro-Germanism..

WESTERN MAGNIFICENT SUCCESS. MANY GUNS CAPTURED. THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS TAKEN. ALL COUNTER ATTACKS REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, Sept. 28, 12.5 a.m. In North Arras the situation is unmodified, the enemy only re-acting feebly against the new positions we occupy. Prisoners in this region exceeds 1500. , . In the Champagne the struggle is pursued without' reaxation, and our troops now occlupy an extended front iefore the esccnd defensive enemy position. Over seventy guns were captured, incuding 23 pieces taken by the British. Four counter-attacks in the Argonne were completely repulsed after violent bombardment with projectiles of all . kinds and asphyxiating bombs. The | enemy reached a few points in the , first line only. A MILLION SHELLS. TO PREPARE THE ADVANCE. •(Rec. 8.35 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 28. The British and French, before Saturday's advance, poured an incessant deluge of hig explosives. It is estimated that a million shells were thrown. \ . MORE GAINS MADE. DESPITE COUNTER-ATTACKS. (Bee. 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 28. Official: Further gains have been made in the Artois Tegions, and in Champagne, despite desperate counterattacks. PRISONERS IN TURKEY. THEIR NAMES NOT FURNISHED. (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. Sir Edward Grey says that every efIfort will be made through the AmeriVean Ambassador to obtain' a list of British prisoners at the Dardanelles. Turkey has been warned that until these obligations are fulfilled, Britain ■would not furnish similar information. Htherto, Britain had received only the 4 names of sumarines and 136 officers and men. FURTHER FRENCH SUCCESS. -GROUND COVERED WITH DEAD. (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 28. A communique states:—We progressed nearer and nearer to the crests south-east and east of Souehez. Germans in Champagne are resisting in reserve positions, protected by extensive entanglements. We farther progressed towards Hill 185, east of Sommepy. Seven enemy battalions attacked our trenches at La Fille Morte Bolante and suffered a seriouß defeat. They penetrated our first line of trenches at ; some points, but our counter-attacks sfi the night expelled them. The ground in front of our trenetie? 3s covered with German dead.

OVER 70 GUNS TAKEN. RII : -.11 CAPTURE 23; THE STK i' GGI .E CONTINUES. PARIS, Sept. 28. ..A eommuniouc states: The enemy made only the i - cblest effort against our new pcsiti- -is at Artois. The struts!o i - rhc Champagne cuntinuos without ' .mission before the Germans' second line. The Allies' <•'• 'uvo exceeds 70 guns, whereof the Briti;] took 23. The Getriruni offensive, in the Argonne was stopped four titme with heavy enemy > . . I GERMANS CAT- ;" RED IN FRANCE. ! RETURNED PROM'RUSSIAN FRONT " RESPECT FOU BRITISH DEAD. (Reed! "o a.m.) T/- 'HON, Sept. 28. The Exchange Telegraph Agency says that man ■' .an. prisoners state that they had -"■'■" ."h' s t arrived from the Russian frin! and .had been reoq.uipp.ed. There is grei! optimism in Berlin, and greater in Paris. ' Belgian peasants arc paying attention to manly graves of British dead, and are bestowing great care on them. A letter by a lady at Mons says: Everywhere in the fields are graves, come containing twenty soldiers, covered with beautiful flowers, often re-* newed every Sunday, which are visited b,y hundreds of people. They hear the inscripticn, "Hero lie brave British soldiers,, who died in defence of our country." ENTHUSIASM IN FEANCE. LONDON, Sept. 27. The news of the offensive on the eve of Sir John French's birthday aroused enthusiasm in Britain, but nothing approaching mafficking. The Stock Exchange has a more cheerful tone. Thi war loans rallied sharply. A military parade in Throgmorton Street occasioned patriotic demonstrations. Colonel Maud is of opinion that with reasonable luck the Allies should drive the Germans back to the Rhine in two months. Other critics deprecate undue optimism as the present are enly-.opening moves in the game which may continue for days and weeks, but there is general relief at the apparent end to the period of waiting which pessimists construed as paralysis. The Pall Mall Gazette considers the advance on the Menin road ensures north La Bassee. The real British objective is Lens, where there are at least two' corps. The French advance in the Champagne) implies the engagement of at least five army corps. We are now within three miles of the railway in the Souain region with the small rivers Aisne and Tourob'e on either flank, hence we should be able to make good against expected strong counter-attacks. __ p PRESS COMMENT. LONDON TIMES ON SITUATION. LONDON, Sept. 28. The Times, in a leader, comments on the splendid sterling news. It will be received by the nation with the deepest grateful conclusion that an irresistible army who had large forces in the field was heavily beaten. If we can penetrate deep into the German front we may have tremendous events Tet the nation should entertain no illusions. The victory should serve as a stimulus, not as a sedatitve. It renders nation national service not less but more necessary. GERMAN PRESS COMMENTS. WARNING TO PUBLIC. AMSTERDAM, Sept. 28. Berlin newspapers warn the public against exaggerating the German cheek. The Koelnische Zeitung opines that the advances at Lille and Perthes are not surprising in view of the terrible bombardment levelling the German defences, i The Volks Zeitung declares that the success is not proportionate with the losses the enemy sustained. THE ZEPPELIN RAID. THE GERMAN VERSION. I ' (Reed 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, Sepfe 27. Prom the Zeppelin we could discern dark spots of considerable size amid the glow of light, and we dropped bombs thereon, but the searchlights hampered u g by cutting off the view of our objectives. The English are terror-stricken at our wonderful Zeppelins, and the effect must have been awful. English land guns were useless, but better ones are on the coast, so we were careful in returning, as they always try to intercept ua from reaching Dunkirk in the morning, so we take another direction. The great thing is plenty of petrol when English aeroplanes are about.

IMPORTANCE OF HILL 70. LONDON, Sept. 2S. The Daily Mail correspondent in Paris says the good news caused the liveliest satisfaction. Amongst the strategic, positions captured one of the ■' most important is Hill 70, which domi inates the road from Lens to La Bassee. A military officer stated this real - business was exceptionally good for the :■ Allies. Diplomatic circles state-the consequences of the significant success . wil lbe very far reaching and provide food for reflection, far beyond the - boundaries of France. THE WORD VICTORY. FIRST TIME SINCE lARNE. THE CENSOR HAS PERMITTED IT. (Reed 10.20 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 28. Newspapers comment on Lie fact that the word victory to be app'ied to the Champagne battle. It is the nrst : occasion since the Battle of the Mai i.e. Several train loads of prisD.iers taken by the Britsh have arriv ed at Havre. All arc glad that Unit* fighting is over. THE ALLIES' OFFENSIVE. EYE-WITNESS'S REPORT. (Rec. 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Westminster Gazette's correspondent in Northern France, writing the 23rd, says: This is the third day of continuous British bombardment. The German fire is astoundingly light, sugi gesting that they are short of amraunij ° " tion on this front. Looking towards the German lines there is no sign of life, even trench periscopes are not hoisted. The German infantry are lying low, packed in the deepest du-gouts. The ground immediately below the surface is chalk, and the tienches on both sides are clearly defined, the wavy Tnes of the parapets glaring white in the sunshine. The most prominent feature in the country is the pithead erections. towering chimneys, and the huge block of slag-heaps. Most chimneys have beer shelled down because they were used is artillery observation stations, but tall winding-gear erections made of metal lattice-work resisted the shells. The bellowing thunder of guns, shrieks and screams of shells, crashes and growls of high explosives, did. not cease all day long, and even the darkness was broken by continual gun flashes, telling of the activity of guns throughout the whole battle line . Tiie British have heard of the hammering of the Russians, and have undergone an apparent lock-fast at Gallipoli, and the painfully slow progress of Italy, . now feci* that the fulcrum of the lever is back on the west front. Germans have jeered at Kitchener's armies, but these Germans feel now that they have a real good chance of showing their metal alongside the remnants of Sir J, French's contemptible littl" army. The spectacle on the British front is ; wonderful and awe-inspiring. Shells of the heaviest artillery resemble .spouting geysers, the flames, smoke, and dust playing upon the slag-heaps. At Lens lyddite from howitzers plunged into the firing and communication trenches, blowing, down parapets, and shrapnel pelted savagely the masses of banked entanglements protecting the German lines. The British bombardment blotted out wholw stretches of the German line in a slow moving curtain of smoke through which could be seen an range of flame from bursting shells. Every heavy shell threw up an enormous column of dust which drifted slowly down with the wind along the German front. AT THE DARDANELLES. BULLETINS DROPPED BY AIRMEN DESCRIBING GERMAN DEFEAT. » ■ (Rec. 11. 35 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Daily Telegraph's Rome correspondent says that travellers from Constantinople state that Russian, French, and British aviators flew over Constantinople and Smyrna and dropped bulletins describing the German defeats in Russia and France. J It is reported that Dedeagatch is full of Bulgarian soldiers who are fraternising with Turk's. Raholavoft' has authorised the despatch of Bulgarian cereals to Constantinople, which is now completely re-stocked with flour, rice, and bread .which had been greatly reduced. It is reported that dissensions among the Young Turks are increasing. Enver Pasha does not possess his former authority. The departure of a number of German officers has impaired his prestige. The Sheik ul Islam told the Sultan that it was necessary to finish the war before the complete dismemberment of •a the Empire. The cession of Thrace to Bulgaria may be regarded as the beginning of dismemberment.

' EASTERN BATTLEFIELD GERMANS PULLED UP. DVINSK PROVES A HARD NUT. MACKENSEN STOPPED. LONDON, Sept. 28. The Times' Petrograd correspondent says the increasing intensity of the German efforts near Dvinsk indicates the importance the enemy attaches to the capture of this city, also to the general Dvina line. Our ability to develop a hurricane of fire at Novo Alexandrovsk is gratifying proof that the I defenders of Dvinsk are well equipped with ammunition. The presence of Germans in the region of Villerka points to the strength of their thrust from Svinssiany across our line of retreat, consequently the expulsion of the enemy there is all the more important. Our territorial gains in the Kovel region since early September arc estimated at 70 miles. The-general offensive at Volhynia and in the Galician theatre effectively countered Mackensen. BOMBARDMENT OF DVINSK. C EEMANS TRAPPED. AUSTRIANS IN RETREAT. PETROGRAD, Sept. 2S. The fighting is of extraordinary violence round Dvinsk. Our cavalry defeated a strong enemy column near •Lake Tchiehiry. Strong enemy artillery forced the Russians back to the lake district, which is a veritable labyrinth. The Russians fired on the enemy in the marshy ground, surmounted on three sides. Half of the Germans were exterminated, and the remainder taken prisoners, including three complete companies of Guards. Their artillery was also captured. Reports from the Austrian front state that the Russians have reached Kovel. The Austrians have evacuated Brody and suspended the fortification works in other towns in Volhynia. During their retreat the Austrians threw much artillery, machine-gunr. ammunition, and forage into the River Stryj. BIG CAPTURES EY RUSSIANS. PETROGRAD, Sept. 28. A communique states: Four German attacks westward of Vileyka were repulsed. We captured .<. thousand unwounded Germans and thirteen guns, including five of large calibre. We compelled the enemy near Deleatrisehi to fall back with great losses. We surprised an Austrian battalion at La Busy on the Snara, bayoneting a number and make prisoners of 304. The remnant was forced beyond the river Frence. House-to-house fighting ended in the capture of Sliesnits in the lower Stokho region. Nearly all the defenders were killed. Austrian reinforcements compelled us to evacuate Novo Alexanatz. We counter-attacked with the bayonet and re-expelled the enemy. We killed many and captured a thousand. FURTHER RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, Sept. 27. The Russians have captured Resterka, in the neighbourhood of Vilna. The enemy was driven out of his trenches near the village of Old Kilichitzy, 600 German prisoners and quantities of munitions and waggons being taken. When driven across the Strumene the Germans abandoned numbers or their wounded, besides quantities of munitions. I . - THE BALKANS. BULGARIA'S ATTITUDE. STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT. i (Ree. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. Sir Edward Grey, questioned in the House of Commons, said Bulgaria had taken up a position of armed neutral 1 - ity to defend her rights and independence. She had no aggressive intention towards her neighbours. BRITAIN TO ASSIST BALKANS. IF BULGARIA IS AGGRESSIVE. (Rec. 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. Sir Edward Grey announces that in the event of Bulgaria assuming an aggressive attitude, Britain will be prepared to assist her frieds in the Balkans without reserve.