THE BATTLE OF SOISSONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144484, 19 September 1914, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF SOISSONS.

A SCENE OF DESOLATION. DESCRIBED BY AMERICAN WRITER. (Deceived Sem. UK 11.40 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. is. Riehsml Harding Davis, G»e .American author, witnessed the end oi tho Iniule of Soissous. During the retreat from the Marin', he write.-. German gunners .sought to destroy the mad from Mcuux. Their marksmanship was so accurate and their execution so tcrrilie that pursuit was : mpo>sih!e, while during four days the ;-mies .struggled only tour miles. 'I hr country i> now littered with uih xyloded shells. kiutpsavks, and rnilorm-. Red Cross flriiis hung on hushes still show when l there were dressing stations, together with lnvli-s of German soldiers whom first aid tailed to save. TJufo are the socallcd missing. Some peasants will huiy them ami. not knowing the purpose of the medal each man wears on Ids nock as a K.cans of identity, the circnraslancc.s will never reach ih>- relatives. Everywhero were dead horses, some killed by shells, hut t)io majority the properly of the French peasant's, which (he Germans destroyed Usi they .'honld Ik- used as French renuumU. (Ucceived Sept. UK liblo p.mo LONDON. Sept. IS. Mr. Davis says it was iniposmhie to conn: tin; motor trucks and automobiles abandoned along twenty miles m road for hie’. of petrol or breakdowns. The Dennnius smashed or lined the cars before abandoning the shattered remains. Two (Jenna.il airships were also Wii. When Davis reached Soissous the Germans had abandoned the hills to the south, and ieft a rearguard to protect the suppers who were destroying the bridges. The .French commander ordered the Tiircos to clear the town. The black leiloTvs crossed in boats, followed by the Kngincers. who endeavoured lo repair the bridge. Meanwhile the German guns were, bombarding tin* bills and pounding the roads in order to retard the French advance. From the heights ii was possible to soo Comptigue and thirty miles northward, to Saint Quentin, a beautiful panorama of wooded grain-clad country converted into a truck of Imridng, bursting shells and smoke. dhe battle could be followed for tiilecn nub*:, including a section '<■» the right where the Hrilish were fighting. From time to time shells set fire to houses._ haystacks, ami piles of grain, the gnie fanning them into n fierce blaze. The siege guns sometimes dug ImW twenty yards in circumference. The French disregarded them and sVpt peacefully in German treuehe- or under haystacks. The; had been fighting for seven days without a pause. hate in the afternorm tiring ceased, and the Germans retired. Mr. Davis saw little wanton damng*nothing comparable ro the horrors c. Delgium. but other observers stale that during the siege of Meux n German general and his staff occupied' tin' historic chateau of Guie at Congls. which wns (tiled with art treasures and priceless tapestries. Little now remains hut the ban' walls, broken pieces of Udd furniture. and stained and tattered tapestries, which the. Germans used ro clean their boots, and the slashed remains of old masters. GERMANS MAKE A STAND. IN STRONGLY FORTIFIED POSITIONS. ALLIES PROGRESSING SLOWLY. (Received Sept. in. S.oO ii.m.) .PARIS, Scpi. IS. Ofiit il.—The battle continues the whole length of the Oise and Meuse. Tho Germans occupy a prepared position, armed with heavy artillery, consequently the Allies’ progress is slow, but their vigour and enthusiasm is unabated. They have successfully repulsed a German counter-attack. The siluatiob generally is unchanged. Tho enemy continues to fortify positions. PARIS BECOMES RELIC JOGS, TIMES AJtD STDNET BON SEEVICES. (Received Sept. 19, S a.in.) LONDON, Sept. IS. Paris appears to bo acquiring a now temperament. A religious revival is a striking accomxjaniment of this change. Thousands daily attend service at Noire Dame. ESTIMATED GERMAN LOSSES. (Received Sept. 19, noon.) LONDON, Sept. 19. It is stated on relit.Mo authority that during the past fortnight the Gorman losses of killed, wounded and prisoners have totalled on an average 3200 per day. or a total of 44,000, of whom l-LOOO have been killed. ITALIAN NEUTRALITY. WEARING VERY THIN. (Received Sept. 19, 10 a.m.) ROME, Sopt. 18. The Democratic, Nationalist, Reform, Socialist and Republican parties passed resolutions in favour of immediate hostilities. The consensus of opinion is that Italian neutrality has reached the breaking point. Many demonstrations in the large cities are insisting"in participation in tho war on the side of tho