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Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15443, 4 September 1914, Page 6

The fiercest warfare has been raging on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, 011 the left wing of the Allies' line, where the British have their place. The Allies have been forced back, apparin spite of some successes, but are still hoping to wear down their opponents, whose dash . is reported both by the Press Bureau and by Mr Donohue to be failing. The French and British have adopted the policy of harrying the Germans night and day, and unless either side has something in reserve the result ..of immediate operations in this region will depend on staying power. The reports of fighting, in which the British captured guns, near Compeigne is disturbing, since that, town is only 42 miles from Paris. A French military critic states that the Germans on this wing are insufficient to besiege Paris, even if they are not checked by the Allies. The decision of the French to remove their seat of government to Tours, on the Loire, and afterwards if necessary to Bordeaux, where the largest ships could reach it, shows that their plans for resistance do not end at Paris. A few more such days," says Mr Donohue, writing of the fighting north of Paris, "and the Fourth Germ-m Army will cease to exist." "A few more , such victories and" we are ruined," said King Pyrrhus, and in his case the prediction was fulfilled. Now is the time when morale is needed, and if the Garman transport plans are going wrong, as is again hinted, che Allies will be assisted in their efforts to break down the enemy 's morale.

When German papers are asserting that " Canada and-Aus-tralia are really mobilising in ! order to throw off tlie British yoke while Britain is involved on the Continent," we fan appreciate the humour of a German ambassador's characterisation of London and Paris as "lie factories." But, with German fugitives from Eastern Prussia pouring into Berlin every day with stories of the Russians, desperate inventions must be needed to -keep up the spirits of the German people. When New Zealanders, Australians, Canadians, Sikhs, and Gurkas reach the front in a few weeks from now, perhaps the Kaiser's. Press wiJl give it out that they are fighting for the Germans. His armies will know better than that, however, and the people he has sold for a mess of military pottage ■must soon learn where the Kaiser's schemes have brought them. That some of the American papers are disclosing strong pro-German feeling and have lent themselves to the campaign of lies is not surprising, when we remember the unscrupulous character of tlie "'yellow" Press, and that the United States holds 21 million Germans in addition to Ij million Austrians. New York itself has more Germans living in it than any city in Germany except Berlin. The "yellow" Press, which cares nothing for truth and battens on sensation. is only a portion of tlie American Press.

Confused German and American reports refer tins morning' to either one or two dei'ea-ts .said to have been suffered by the Russians at Allenstein and in the district of Ortelsburg, half way between Prussia's eastern border and the Vistiila. It is vaguely rumoured that at Allenstein the Germans took 150,000 prisoners, and all the artillery of the opposing Russian, force. Just possibly tliere lias been confusion between "the results of fighting ui this district and at Lemberg, an important town well inside the Austrian frontier, where the Russians claim to have routed utterly about 160,000 Austrians, after a seven days battle, taking 30,000 prisoners and 150 guns. Russia acknowledges a reverse in East Prussia of purely local importance, and claims that her main army in this district is still "marching on." Another report claims a Russian victory at tlie Yistula, with the capture of many guns. The difficulties presented to an invading army in

East Prussia are explained in au article in another column. That a great reverse has been suffered by the Austrians seems beyond doubt. And Austria can ill afford to meet reverses.

The report of Mr Hiley on out railways based upon his full acquaintance with the conditions of their -working- was awaited with much interest before the war beo-an. The report, prepared

before war was declared, lias now been presented, and was described last night by Mr Massey as "the most important railway statement ever presented to Parliament." Mr Hiley finds that our railway system has outgrown its organisation'- the staff requires increasing and remodelling, and large addH tions should be made to accommodation and machinery for the sake of more economical as well as more expeditious working. Money which could not be spared for these improvements while the North Island Main Trunk line was costing large sums for construction should be found now,he suggests, but the expense of the "war has introduced another factor since Mr Hiley's '' now ' was written. The General Manager's recommendations provide for a loan of 3J millions, apportioned over five years, for the improvement of facilities, including £40,000 for a new station at Timaru. _ Mr Massey has promised to give a whole day, if necessary, for consideration of the report by the House.