War Notes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 123, 17 October 1914, Page 3

War Notes.

DELAYED CABLES. The following cabled items are taken from the current files of the Sydney Sub:— BRITAIN LAYS MINES. Melbourne, October 4. Sir George Rcid sendß the following cable message, dated Saturday, 5.45 p.m.:— Official.—The Admiralty announces that German mine-laying, combined with [submarine activities, make it necessary for the Admiralty to adopt countermeasures. The Government has therefore authorised mine-laying in certain areas. A system of mine fields has been established, and is being developed on a considerable scale. To reduce risks to non-combatants the Admiralty announces that it will be dangerous henceforward to cross the area between latitude 61deg. 15min and 51deg. 40min., and longitude ldeg. 35min. E. and 3deg. E. The southern limit of the German minefield is latitude 62deg. N. Although those limits have been assigned to the danger area, it must not be supposed that navigation will be safe in any part of the southern waters ■of the North Sea.

TROOPS' FORETASTE OF WINTER. - London, October 4. M. Galli, a member of the French Chamber of Deputies, is appealing for winter clothing for the French army. He says that the men's shirts, underpants, and socks are in rags. Their | coats and trou9ers,still resrisl tic cold but these garments arc worn and torn, and will soon be nearly useless. The soldiers were told that they would be able to procure waistcoats and flannel shirts in the towns they occupied, but they soon discovered that the Germans Tiad taken everything. British troops are ako suffering from the cliilly nights. A number of officers visited Paris and purchased for the Britishers all the warm clothing it was possible to obtain.

"NOW GUARDS I" London, October a. ! The men of ft regiment of British guards found themselves in a tight corner during the progress of a battle on the left wing. Shrapnel was Bhrieking and bursting around them, and the German cavalry was creeping closer »nd closer. Suddenly the enemy remounted their torses and came crashing down on the British. "Now Guards!" was all the officer commanding the British said. Immediately the men lined up in the old English square. The front ranks waited with bayonets fixed while the men inside, kept blazing away at the advancing korseman.

They came nearer and nearer. The earth 1 Beemed to quake and shiver beneath their rush.

"Steady!" was all the Guards' commander said. Then tho craßh came. Steel met steel, and sparks shot .up as swords crossed bayonet. The Guardsmen kept their ground, despite the weight of men and horses, and the Germans came to a dead stop.

i A volley poured from the centre of ■ the square, and the cavalry broke and scattered. Then the Germans got another volley, after which the Guards chased and smashed the enemy.

WITH TEE BIG GUNS. | An officer attached to the British Howitzer Brigade sends a diary with I these entries:— \ "Up at 4.30 this morning. Brcainasfc 14.50. In gun-line 5.15. In my hole <S.SO. Cold morning. Pipe wont draw. Only one pipe of 'baccy left-Occasional rounds of shrapnel bursting near. Black Maria whistling her shells out. Clothes getting smelly; not been off for fifteen days. 8 o'clock fired our first rounds. 9.30, bread and jam—one piece. 11.30, lot of firing. Back in hole. Raining still. Lots of noise. 12.30, bread and jam, two cups of tea. Birthday cigarette. 2.15 (.till raining. Ate two green apples. 4.30 tea. 0.30, dinner. 5.30, to bed in my hole."

AUSTRIA PAYS ITALY. Austria has replied to Italy deploring the loss of life caused by the. Austrian mines in the Adriatic, and assuring "nor that she will remove the menace immediately.

Austria has also agreed to pay the indemnity fixed by Ttiily, at £200,000.

WHOLE REGIMENT TAKEN. London, October!. Among the thousands of German prisoners which have arrived at Versailles, near Baris, was almost an entire regiment of the Prussian guard, with the band and stair officers. London, October 3.

Four more German army corps linve been withdrawn from the French frontier and sent against Russia in the Crnvovy district. I FEARS OF RUSSIA IN BERLIN. Reports of the defeat of the. German troops in East Prussia were, published in Berlin a few days ago and caused excitement. The Berlin newspapers admit that the defeat has been serious, but explain that the unfortunate position of East Prussia, the south of which is bounded by Russian soil, made, the retreat necessary, quite apart from the fact that thev w«ro attacked by a M.rongly superior force. One newspaper says that the population is fleeing from the country, and a relief committee lias therefore been formed in Berlin. The . Vorwaerts admits the Germans are in , a dangerous position, but hopes soon that they will be able to stop the Ilusf.ian advance. The German Socialist papers publish daily extremely patriotic articles. T"no Vorwaerts says it must be every Socialist's duty to fight to Ithe last drop of blood for Germany's existence. Many of the Socialist leaders lave joined the army as volunteers.