FRENCH TOPICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15456, 19 September 1914, Page 9

FRENCH TOPICS.

WAR TROPHIES. A SHOW FOR PARIS. Reoeived 5.30. p.m., Sept. 18th. PARIS, Sept. 17. Parisians are greatly interested in the exhibition of war trophies, especially eleven big cannon. Over twenty trainloads of German war material have been sent to Paris since 'ihe opening of hostilities. During the last week sixty cannon, thirty machine guns, and forty motor vans' have been captured. FRENCH GENERALS. PRINCIPALS ARE SOUTHERNERS The fact that Generals Joffre, Gallieni, Pau, and Castellan are all southerners is considered proof that the Latins can play a waiting game besides one requiring courage and dash. . SOLDIERS NOT OVERWORKED. General Joffre ' and General French are both remarkable for their humanitarianism. Both have systematically saved their men, and declined battle when victory was only purchasable at a terrific loss of life. The good results of this policy are visible. General Joffre has now an immense reserve on which he can call. The resources of France are by no means exhausted. AN INGENIOUS IDEA. PRISONERS' BOOTS AS HOSTAGES The French when capturing enemies instantly, remove the prisoners' boots. The' Germans, knowing this, sit down when the French approach and unlace their boots, and hand them over as pledjges of good faith.

HORRIBLE—AND INCREDIBLE. A report from Rome states that a, ■ special train of great length entered Berlin filled with dead Germans, piled from floor to ceiling like frozen produce. Many passengers on the platform fainted with fright. ANOTHER INCREDIBLE STORY. LONDON, Sept, 17. Referring to a report that German dead were found standing upright in trenches, a chemist declares that the French are using a tunpentine explosive requiring a special gun, and'producing complete paralysis of certain organs of the body, and causing the absolutely painless death of everybody within reach. Other authorities consider such stories unbelievable, as dead bodies are incapable of remaining in the 'position described. EXAGGERATED, DOUBTLESS Press Association —By Teh- —Copyright. PARIS, Sept, 17, A Saxon officer admits that German artillery near Malines annihilated a Prussian regiment, mistaking it for French infantry; also that near a frontier village two battalions of twenty-eighth German Infantry mistook one another for French, and shot down every man.