FRANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15446, 8 September 1914, Page 7

FRANCE.

THE GERiLAN MOVEMENT. A SMALL FRENCH SUCCESS. Received 8.23 p.m.. Sept. 7th. PARIS, Sept. G. Official.—Tho Allies' advanced troops defending Paris came into touch, on Saturday with tho enemy's forces, which seemed to Im> converging on Anrcq, towards tho south-east movement of the main body of tho German right wing. A small resulting engagement was to onr advantage. POSITION SATISFACTORY. WASHINGTON, Sept. 6Tho French Embassy states tlmt tho situation in Franco is satisfactory. Paris is fully prepared. "WEEK-OLD NEWS. SATISFACTORY, IF DELAYED. (High Commissioner's Cable.) (Official.) LONDON, Sept. 6 (8-40 p.m.). Aug. 30th.—British covering .and delaying troops have been frequently engaged. Spt. I.—A vigorous effort made by Germans brought about a sharp action in tho neighbourhood • of Compiegne. Ihis action wa.s iought principally by the First British cavalry Brigade, and honrth Guards Brigade, and was entirely satisfactory to the British. The German attack was strongly pressed, and was not brought to a standstill until much slaughter had been inflicted, 'lep. Germani guns were captured. The brunt of this affair fell upon our Guards Brigade who last in killed and wounded 300 mon. After this ongagi w merit onr tru>ps were no longer molested CASUA LTIES APPAREXTLY IIEAYY. Wednesday, Sept. 2nd.—Tho quiet day since tho battle of Mons, on August 23rd. During this period marching and fighting have continued through the whole period. The British casualties have amounted, according to iatest estimates, to about lo.fK)'). A very considerable number of these included in the toud will r. join the columns safety. These hisses, though heavy, have in now:.-e affected tho spirit ot the troops, ami ,1,, not. amount to a third of tho losses intlieted by tie. l British upon the enemy. Advantage* was taken of five quiet, days since Se]>tember Ist to fill up gaps and relit units. POSITION" OF THE AIiMIES. The British a:., now south of the Mante in line uith th" French force, on t he right and left. I

Tlu'' enemy is neglecting Paris and marching in a ?onth-casterly direction towards tho Marne and towards tlio lore and centre of tho French line. The west German army is reported to be between La Forte, Sous Jouarre, Essises and YilFort. Tho Second German army, after taking Rheims. advanced to Cateau Thiery and oast cf that place. The Fourth Gorman army is reported to be marching south on tho Argonne, between Suippes and Villa Sur Tourtic. The Seventh German army was repulsed by a French corps near Deinville. It appears that the enveloping movement upon the Anglo-French left flank lias been abandoned by tho Germans, either beeauso it is impracticable to continue such a great extension, or because the alternative of a direct attack upon tho Allied lino is preferred. "Whether this change by Germans is voluntary or enforced by tho strategic situation and the great strength of the Allies in their front, will bo revealed by tho course of events. BEST NEWS YET. FEELING OF SUPERIORITY. WILL GIVE* CONFIDENCE. Our men liavo established a personal ascendency over tho Germans. The shooting of tho German infantry is poor, while tho British rifle firo has devastated every attacking column. Superior training and intelligence have enabled tho British to use tho open formation with effect to cope with vast numbers of tho enemy. Tho British cavalry has definitely established its superiority. General Frcncli in his report dwells on this marked superiority of the British of every arm of tho service over tho Germans. Our cavalry, ho ■ says, do as they like with the enemy until confronted with thrice their number. German patrpls fly befor.o our horsemen, and tho Germans will not face our infantry fire. Our artillery has never been opposed by less than three or four t : mes its numbers. NOTABLE INCIDENTS. -MENTIONED IJTDESPATCHESTho following incidents hare "Boen mentioned: — During the action at Le Cateau on August 26th, the wholo of the officers and men of ono of the British batteries were killed and wounded with the exception of one subaltern and two gunners, who continued to servo one gun and kept up a sound rate of fire, and came unhurt from the battlefield. On another occasion a. portion of a supply column was cut off by a detachment of German cavalry. Tho officer in charge was summoned to surrender. He refused, and starting tho motors at full speed, dashed safely through, losing only two lorries. During a rearguard action of a Guards Brigade on September Ist, Germans wero seen giving assistance to our wounded.

BOULOGNE. READY FOR SURRENDER.. - LONDON', Sept. 6. The Military Governor, in leaving ■Boulogne, announced that tlio Minister bad ordered disarmament owing to the antiquated defences. Tli© garrison is distributed between Paris and Dunkirk. No one capable of bearing arms is left in the town. LEVIES OX FRENCH CITIES. The Germans demanded a ransom of £280,000 from Lille, £20,000 from Ammientieres, £28,000 from Lens, £IO,OOO and 100.000 cigars from Amiens. FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN. IN THE SOUTHERN FIELD. Received 12.30 a.m.. Sept. Stlv. PARIS, Sept. 7 (a.m.). It is officially announced that on the French centro and right, namely in Lorraine and in the Vosges, fighting continues. The situation is unchanged.

THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN. GERMANY'S DESIGNS. • Some experts interpret the latest Ge'-man movement as an attempt to intercept tho French eastern forces, which liavo been fighting with success between Toul and Epinnl. Germany's main object is to defeat the field armies, and the possibility of an active defence of tho eastern frontier depends on tho possibility of a general offensive by France. BETWEEN TWO FIRES. FOREST FLAMES AND BRITISH GUNS. Received 12.4 a.m., Sept. Sth. PARIS, Sept. 7. '! ho British success at Compiegno Forest was an operation of considerable magnitude, involving the employment of a large forco of artillery. Great numbers of Germans were concealed in tho forest. British artillerymen assumed position? around (he outskirts of part of the forest and the next was tired. The llame.s driving out the Germans the* latter were exiKised to a terrible and effective fire from t lio Rri-ti.-h guns, and their losses wore extremely heavy. ANOTHER. HOT ENCOUNTER. It is officially stated that Saturday's encounter between the advanced defence forces and the Hank of the German right wing assumed larger proportions yesterday. We advanced as far as Ourcq. encountering but slight resistance. SI'ITATIOX SATISFACTORY. 'I he situation of the Allies appears to be good as tin? whole of Maubcrge conJ linues to resist heroically.