THE PREMIER'S MESSAGES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 September 1914, Page 5

THE PREMIER'S MESSAGES

The Prime Minister yesterday- received the following messages from tlio High : The ffigjli Commissioner reports under l date London, August 30/ 8 p.m. Kitchener reports on the battles"'on the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th that during this period the British were occupied in resisting and checking the German advance and withdrawing on new lines of defence. A battle began at Mons on Sunday. During the day and part of the night the German attack stubbornly pressed and repeated, was completely checked on the British front. On the 24th the Germans made vigorous efforts in superior numbers to prevent the withdrawal of the British and to drive them to tho fortress of Maubeuge. The effort was frustrated by the steadiness and skill of the British retirement, and, as on the previous day, very heavy losses, far in excess of those suffered by tlio British, were inflicted upon the enemy whose dense formation and enormous masses marched forward again, and yet again to storm tho British lines. The British retirement proceeded on the 25th with continuous fighting. By tho night of the 25th the British occupied lines trcm Cambrai to Landreci.es Le Chateau. It was intended to resume the retirement at daybreak on the 26th, but the German attack, in five corps, was so close* and fierce, that it was impossible to carry out the intention until the afternoon. The battle on the 26th was of a most severe and desperate character. T2k> troops offered a superb resistance against tremendous odds, and finally extricated themselves in good order. There were serious losses, under fin* heaviest artillery fire. The guns were not taken by the enemy, except where tho horses were killed. General French estimates that from the 23rd to th.o 26th the British losses were from 5000 to 6000. The German losses, in the attacks across the open, and in dense formation, were out of all proportion to those we suffered.. In Landreci.es alone, on tho 26th, tho German infantry brigade advanced in the Jclosest order in a narrow street. Our machine guns swept away the head column. A frightful panic, ensued. It is estimated that there were 900 dead jind wounded Germans in this street alone. The German Guards cavalry division charged the British Twelfth 'lnfantry Brigade. The Germans were thrown back with great loss, and in disorder. Similar incidents happened over the whole front. During the engagements the German pay the extreme price for every forward march. Since the 26th, with the exception of cavalry fighting, the Britisn have not been molested. They have rested and refitted, ready for the next encounter, •with, tuudiJiSmished and undaunted strength." The High Commissioner reports under date London, August 31st: — "The Admiralty reports that in the action on the 28th off Heligoland tho 'Arethusa,' not tho 'Amethyst, s played the principal part. The principal part of the operation was a scooping movement by a strong force of destroyers, headed by the Arethusa, to cut the German light craft from home, and engage them at leisure in the open sea. The battle-cruiser squadron, when opportunity occurred, intercepted the German signals. They confirm the sinking of a third German cruiser Ivy the Ariadne. The British destroyers exposed themselves to considerable risk in saving German sailors. British officerSv vouch for the fact that they observed German officers shooting their own men in tho water. The complement of the five German vessels known to he sunk wore 1200. With the exception of 330, they all perished. The total British casualties were 69. The s n'-'* cess of the operation was due to information brought to the Admiraltv. To-day's reports justify neither pessimism nor over-confidence as to the position of tho Allies." [Further War News on Pages 2, 3, and 6.]