THE IMPENDING BATTLE

WHEW NEWS SHOULD BE LOOKED FOR FORMER ISSUES AN ULTIMATUM 1 m (9 ■W ■ ■" *" ■ " ■ " ■^B* MUM B W miitr NY H If M 61 «*■ THE FIGHT AT DINANT tt REPORT OF FRENCH SUCCESSES CONFIRMED

It is at last definitely announced that Japan has issued an ultimatum to Germany demanding the evacuation of Kiaochau and the withdrawal of German warships unconditionally before the 23rd of the present month. Japan promises to restore Kiaochau to China, from whom Germany' held the territory under a ninety-nine years' lease. This promise • has apparently allayed any fears that were entertained in United States official circles regarding the maintenance of the territorial statxis quo in the Orient. Regarding the paucity of news of a definite character, the military correspondent of The Times says the public ought not to expect an account of the impending big battle , for a week, or even longer. He adds that heavy fighting may be expected near Ramillies, and that a decisive moment is approaching*^ the eastern theatre of war, where . the Russian southern armies have entered Galicia, Austria. News of a French success at Dinant, Belgium, 17 miles south of Namur by rail, has been confirmed. The Germans are reported to have lost heavily. It is rumoured that Austrian troops are helping the Germans in the operations in Belgium. If true, the report from Rome — published in the New York World — that 200,000 Italians are concentrating between Mantua, Verona, and Preschiera (towards the Aus- > trian frontier), and at Lugano (in the Alps), is rather important. It is also said that the whole of the garrison , of Bologna has left for Udine, sixteen miles from the Austrian frontier. A naval engagement between French and Austrians has taken place in the Adriatic. News as to the result is some-, what contradictory, although it -would appear that the honours rested with the French, who accounted for at least one of the enemy's vessels.

THE SEAS ARE FREE TO BRITISH SHIPPING GERMANY'S COMMERCIAL FLAG NO LONGER AFLOAT TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FACTS. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— -Copyright.) (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Times naval correspondent writes : "The seas are free to British merchantmen, but the commercial flag of Germany is no longer afloat.- It is well that the nation should realise the tremendous significance of these facts. Meanwhile, the fleet exercises pressure upon the vitals'of the enemy without fighting. Germany is deprived, not only of food products, but a hundred other requirements, and if it becomes necessary to feed the army at the expense of the civil population, history teaches us that the results should be disastrous." IMPENDING BIG BATTLE WHEN THE NEWS SHOULD BE EXPECTED A DECISIVE MOMENT APPROACHING. (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Times military correspondent says that the public ought not to expect news of the impending battle for a week or even longer. The first heavy fighting may be expected to take place at Bamillies, between Charleroi and GendlotiX. The decisive moment is approaching in the eastern theatre of war, where the Russian southern armies have entered Galicia, converging upon Lemberg along three railways, easterly by Brody and northerly by Sokal, thus hindering the Austrian attack on Warsaw from Cracow [The direct approach to Warsaw, the principal city in Poland, from Cracow, irt Western Galicia,/ is by a through railway running in a northerly direction about 200 miles. Another main route runs eastward from Cracow through Lemberg, into Russia. Lemberg is an important railway centre in Eastern Galicia, about sixty miles from the Russian frontier. Brody is> on one of the several railways radiating from Lemberg, and is east-north-east of it a few miles into Galicia from the frontier, while Sokal occupies a similar position to the north.] , FRENCH OPERATIONS RAPID ADVANCE BEING MADE. (Received August 18, 10 a.m.) PARIS, 17th August. On Sunday, French operations were developing along the line from RechiCOUt to the Sainte Marie-aux-Mines. The advance was especially rapid along the Schirmeck Valley. The French made a thousand prisoners, in addition to five hundred captured Oft the previous day, and also captured several heavy guns and field pieces at Sainte Marie, and nirieteen transport wagons at Blamon£. „ [The Col de Sainte Marie-aux-Mines is the name of the frontier pass over the Vosges, between St. Die in France and Markirch in Germany. The height of the saddle is 2502 feet.] , THE ENGAGEMENT AT DINANT PARIS, 17th August. The French allowed the Germans to enter Dinant while they prepared for a crushing blow. The engagement began On Saturday afternoon. The French artillery fire was deadly and was followed by a charge of the Chasseurs, who threw the Germans into disorder. In their /hurry to recross the Meuse many of the Germans were drowned. BRUSSELS, 17th August. Eye-witne?se3 state the Germans at daybreak occapied a part of Dinant, On the left bank of the Meuse. **f he force included a Guards' division, and another cavalry division supporting ttie infantry with mitrailleuses. Simultaneously, the French infantry entered on the other side of the town, and skirmishes were carried on throughout the morning, oxtending to several villages. At about 2 o'clock the French infantry withdrew into the woods, and the field artillery engaged the German artillery, tb£ h_eayy French guns mean-

while exchanging shots with the German guns across the town. The French" commander then gave the order to advance, and an infantry regiment from I Houx, three miles clown the river, flung itself on the Germans and chased them out of the town to the hills to the south of Dinant. Profiting by the disorder of the German regiments, light cavalry crossed the river and hunted the flying Germans for several miles, though the French pursuers were greatly outnumbered. Six French batteries, each of six guns, j were able to follow the retreat from the other side of the river, moving forward through wheat fields west of the town, while the Chasseurs and infantry drove the Germans due south. MASS KORMATION (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Eeceived August 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON", 17th August. In the battle at Haelen, the Germans under fire used the goose step and mass formation. These cast-iron tactics greatly increased the number of casualties. The bridges over the rivers were crossed by Germans through masses of piled dead. Priests during the battle heroically accompanied the Belgians to the | filing line, and calmly heard confessions and granted absolution to the dying under a hail of bullets and bursting shrapnel. JAPAN ISSUES AN ULTIMATUM TO GERMANY PROMISE TO RESTORE KIAO-CHAU TO CHINA. (Press Association Extraordinary.) SYDNEY, 17th August. An Independent Cable message, dated London, Sunday, 1.30 p.m., states that it is officially announced in Tokio that Japan has handed an ultimatum to Germany. Japan demands the evacuation of Kiao-chau and the withdrawal of German , warships unconditionally before 23rd August. LONDON, frth August. Japan's ultimatum to Germany promises to restore Kiao-chau to China. An official message in connection with the ultimatum states that it was important and necessary to remove causes of a disturbance of, peace in the .Fay East and safeguard generally the interests under the Anglo-Japane3e Alliance. Accordingly, Japan advised Germany to withdraw her warships of all kinds from Chino-Japanese waters and to disarm those she is unable to withdraw; secondly, to deliver to Japan by 15th September, unconditionally, the entire territory of Kiao-chau, for eventual restoration td China-. If the terms are not accepted by noon of 23rd August, Japan will take action. [Kiao-chau is a German protectorate in the Chinese province of Shantung, and was occupied by Germany in November, 1897, and formally ceded to her [ on a ninety-nine years' lease by China in January. 1898. It is administered under the German Navy Department by a Governor. With the. town went about 160 miles of coast, and the colony U surrounded by a neutral zone of 2500 square miles and 1,200,000 inhabitants. The protectorate has an area 6i about 20D square miles, and a population of about 33,000. The large bay is the base of the German Far Eastern Squadron, arid is equipped with a large floating dock and fortified as a coaling station. For commercial purposes, Kiao-chau is a free port. Railways run inland to extensive coal fields. There is a garrison of about 3000 German marines, with a small force of Chinese soldiers.] SENSATION CAUSED IN AMERICA WASHINGTON, 17th August. A sensation has been created hero by Japan's ultimatum to Germany, and there is much concern in official circles at 'Washington, which desire to know whether Kiao-chau will revert to China. It is feared that Japan will be tempted to demand that the leasehold of Kiao-chau be transferred to her. It. is also feared that Japan may seize German Samoa, and insist on its retention, which would be bitterly resented by America, in view of the strategic importance of Samoa in connection with the Panama Canal. [Great Britain and Germany, in 1899, made an agreement, which was approved by the United States, assigning the nationality of the Samoan Islands. Upolu (345 square miles), Savaii (660 Square miles), Manono and Apolima, were assigned absolutely to Germany, and Tutuila and the other islands to the United States. The three nations had equality of trade reserved to them. The population is 36,000, of whom 500 are whites and 1000 half-castes. The islands are administered by a Governor, with his headquarters at Apia.] »

AMERICAN INTERESTS TO BE SAFEGUARDED (Received August 18, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Japanese Ambassador at Washington has informed the United States that every American interest -will be safeguarded. The United States regards Japan's promise to restore Kiaochau to China -a& satisfactory. (TIMES AND BTDNEI SON SERVICES.) (Received August 18, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 17th August. American people are learning that in the twentieth century there is no place for an isolated United States. '.PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WRITTEN UNDERTAKING (Received August 18, 9.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 17th August. The Japanese Ambassador delivered to the United States Secretary of State (Mr. Bryan) a -written announcement that a Japanese ultimatum had been addressed to Germany, requesting the withdrawal of the latter from the field of activity in China. Simultaneously, Japan communicated general assurances that the interest's of the Powers interested in maintaining the territorial status quo in the Orient would be protected to the utmost, and that a conference would bo developed. Japan is not assured that her ultimatum has been delivered to Germany, owing to cable difficulties, and in order to guarantee its delivery a. copy has been communicated to Berlin through the United States Government. The United States does not intend to be drawn into the controversy, considering that the Japanese promise of the eventual restoration to China of the territory of Kiaochau is satisfactory. Newe of the ultimatum has been received at Washington as one of the gravest developments in the situation, Bringing for the first time a great Oriental military Power into the range cf conflict heretofore confined to Europe. Japanese action, according to authoritative sources, was taken on the proposal of Britain, following conferences. GREAT HARDSHIPS SUFFERED BY PEOPLE OF LIEGE. GERMAN OFFICERS TAKE OF THE BEST. (TIMES AND SIDNEY SUM SERVICES.) (Received August 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. While the Germans attacking Liege were suffering great hardships, those occupying the city were living like fighting cocks at the expense of the Belgian populace, the officers occupying the best rooms in fashionable hotels and demanding the oldest wines, offering lOfJ's in payment. , A theatre was transformed into a stable, and quickfirers mounted on the balconies commanding strategic streets. ' The Germans possess hundreds of motor-cars. The residents ,are allowed only candles, which must be extinguished at 9 o'clock, when the windows must be closed and the doors opened. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) I MOTOR-CARS SHELLED GERMAN OFFICERS KILLED. (Received August 18, £.45 a.m.) BRUSSELS,' 17th August. Emboure fort shelled three motor-cars 'carrying German officers on the road alongside the River Ourthe. One car fell into the river, and the others were smashed, and all the occupants killed.

BELGIANS AND FRENCH EXCHANGING OFFICERS. (HUES ANb SIDNHY SUN SBRTICES.) (Received August 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 17th .August. The Belgians and French are exchanging officers. The transfers are calculated to mutually stimulate the energies of the respective armies. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ALLIED ARMIES' FIRE GREAT. DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. > • The Press Bureau states that' a visit to the scene of the fighting in Upper Alsace has shown the great destructive effect of the Allied armies' artillery fire. A trenah that had been abandoned by the Germans was full of dead and j wounded. AUSTRIANS IN BELGIUM FRENCH CAPTURE MANY HORSES. I AMSTERDAM, 17th August. It is rumoured that Austrian troops are fighting in Belgium under Count yon Buelow, commanding the Second German Army Corps. PARIS, 17th August. The French captured many hundreds of Uhlan horses. German* columns can be seen winding along the valley of the Mease towards Dinant, where there are signs that important operations are pending. BEFORE BLAMONT BAVARIANS WERE STRONGLY ENTRENCHED. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH ATTACK. i _____ j , PARIS, 17th August. \ The First Bavarian Army Corps held | a strongly entrenched • position before Blamont. A French division opened the attack on Friday night, and, after push* ing the German outposts back, suspended Operations till dawn on Saturday. The infantry then advanced under a powerful artillery fire, and soon drove the Germans from Blamont and Cirey. The Germans then occupied a hill overlooking the villages from the northward, bu^ the French advanced, and the Bavarians withdrew towards Saarburg, leaving many dead and wounded on the hillsides. The French are in force four miles south of Saarburg, and have occupied Mount Donon, one of the chief summits of the Vosges. iust beyond the frontier. Further r.orthward, in the Briey district, twenty miles south-west of Thionville, retreating Bavarians pillaged the houses, maltreating the civilians. Ketreating Germans in Alsace also burned many houses, and shot a number of the inhabitants. j FRESH FIGHTING BETWEEN BELFORT AND ALTKIRCH. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) BASLE, 17th August. Telegrams report fresh fighting between Belfort and Altkirch. UHLANS CAPTURED ALSATIAN ENGINE-DRIVER'S TRICK. (Received August 18, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. A train driven by an Alsatian, while transporting seven hundred Uhlans to

the frontier, instead of stopping where he should have detrained the Germans, ran across the frontier and drew up at a station occupied by French troops. The whole of the Uhlans were captured. FIRST CAPTURED GERMAN FLAG. (Received August 18, 8.10 a.m.) PARIS. 17tli August. The first captured German flag has arrived at Pans. [The flag was captured during the French offensive movement. from Saarburg and Limeville, reported^ yesterday.] ITALIAN TROOPS REPORTED CONCENTRATION TOWARDS AUSTRIAN FRONTIER. LONDON, 17th August. The Rome correspondent of the New York World" reports that two hundred thousand Italians are concentrating botween Mantua, Verona, and Preschiera, towards the Austrian frontier, and at Lugano, in, the Alps. The whole garrison at Bologna, where the Sixth Army Corps is stationed, has left for Udine ; sixteen miles from the Austrian frontier. The port of Venice has been mined, and the defences of Brin-. disi have been, strengthened. NAVAL ENGAGEMENT FRENCH AND AUSTRIAN VESSELS. IN THE, ADRIATIC. NISH, 17th August. It is semi-officially reported that the French on Sunday sank two Austrian warships off Budua, an Austrian town on the Adriatic, twenty miles north-west of Antivari, the seaport of Montenegro. A third warship was ignited and a fourth fled to Cattaro, SEA SAID TO HAVE BEEN SWEPT CLEAR. , (Received August 18, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Press Bureau states that the French Mediterranean Fleet swept the Adriatic Sea- clear to Cattaro and sank a 2400-ton Austrian cruiser, NO CONFIRMATION. The Press Bureau states that there is no confirmation of a naval battle in the Adriatic, and ia inclined to discredit the report. BRITISH BATTLESHIPS' CHASE. ROME, 17th August. It is reported that four British battleships chased * the Austrian cruisers Auro( ?) and Soziertjar ( ? Szigetvar, 2313 tons, completed at Pola in 1901), which were blockading Antivari. The Austrian ships took refuge in the port of Pola, Austria's chief naval station. AUSTRIANS RETURN TO HEADQUARTERS. (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Austrian fleet has retired to headquarters at Pola, and secured itself behind the minefields and destroyer flotilla. The Franco-British fleet will probably be content to maintain a close watch on the enemy. RUSSIAN CAVALRY DISPERSE THE AUSTRIANS. GERMANS REPULSED. ST. PETERSBURG, 17th August. Russian cavalry on Thursday dispersed the Austrians, forcing the evacuation of Kielce, in Russian Poland, fifty miles north of Cracow. The First German Infantry Division on Thursday and Friday attacked the Russian front at Eydkuhnen, in East Prussia, and were repulsed after an artillery engagement. THRILLED ALIKE RUSSIANS AND POLES. REUNION UNDER THE TSAR. LONDON, 17th August. The Daily Chronicle's St. Petersburg correspondent says that the proclamation of self-government for Poland has thrilled the Russians and Poles alike. It is the first official indication of the vast historical changes the war is likely to produce, and intense enthusiasm was aroused at Warsaw by the proclamation. It lias also had an excellent result on tjie mobilisation, and has tended to counteract German and Austrian incitements to a revolution. The Poles admit that owing to their hatred of Germany, and the growing anti-Slav policy of .Austria, Poland's only hope is a reunion under the JKussian Crown. BULGARIA STATE OF SIEGE PROCLAIMED. LONDON 1 , 17th August. The British/ Press Bureau announces that a state of siege has been proclaimed in Bulgaria. A report of a revolution in Sofia is unconfirmed. THE MONTENEGRINS ADVANCE INTO HERZEGOVINA. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) ROME, 17th August. The Montenegrins continue to advance into Herzegovina. DEATH OF AN ENGLISH GENERAL SIR JAMES GRIERSON. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Lieutenant-General Sir James Gnerson, who was intended for a high command in the British A"Tmy, &ed suddenly, from heart disease. [On Friday last, the General was received in audience by the King. Lieu-tenant-General Sir James Moncneff Grierson, X.C.8., C.V.0., C.M.G., had the general command of the Ea-stern Division of the British Army. He was 55 years old ; by training an officer of the Royal Artillery, in which he became lieutenant in 1877. He served in the Lidian contingent in Egypt in 1882, took part in the actions of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir, served at Suakin, 1885, in the Hazara expedition, 1888, as Assist-ant-Adjutant-General in the Army headquarters, South Africa, and in a large number, of actions in the Boer war. He wab in China and Berlin in important official positions, was^chief staff officer of the Second Army Corps in 1902-04 ; Director of Military Operations at headquarters- in 1904-06, He was an autbq. j

rity on tne liussian, German, and Japanese armies, and an expert linguist, speaking French, German, Russian, and Spanish.] USE OF AIRCRAFT THEIR VALUE FOR WATER OPERATIONS. DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE. (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. It is difficult to determine the value of the aeroplane for water operations. Belgian airmen succeed in spoiling the scouting of the Uhlans, but guns ha-ve brought many to the ground. The airmen have had weird and uncanny experiences. Air waves created a concussion which rocked the aircraft like cockleshells, causing them to dive, rush upwards, stop, shiver, and other nervewracking acrobatics. DIRIGIBLES. THE PART ZEPPELINS PLAYED. (Received August 18, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The fact that the Zeppelin airships played little part in the operations against Liege leads to the surmise that tlie main fleet i» being withheld for future and more critical operations. The airships are now coloured grey, rendering them less visible. BELGIANS LOSE AN AEROPLANE. , BUT RECOVER IT. (Received August 18, 8.10 a.m.) BRUSSELS, 17th August. Two Belgian aviators, owing to a breakdown, were compelled to land near a body of Uhlans. They abandoned the „ aeroplane, but later, Belgians, with a quickfirer mounted on a motor-car, surprised and drove off the Uhlans, and rescued the aeroplane. BOMBS DROPPED INTO ' LOUVAIN. (Received August id, 8.30 a.m.) BRUSSELS, 17th August. ' Last night a German aeroplane dropped bombs into Louvain. FORTRESSES AT METZ. RECONNOITRED BY FRENCH . AIRMEN. PARIS, 17th Aug. (Morning). Two French aviators, Lieutenant Cesari and Corporal Prunsommeau, left Verdun on Friday evening on separate aeroplanes, and reconnoitred the German fortress of Metz. Lieutenant Cesari, who was flying at a height of 3000 yards, and the corporal at 2500 yards, were subjected to a ceaseless rain of shots. Lieutenant Cesari's engine stopped at a critical moment, and he decided not to lose his life for nothing. He volplaned, and launched a bomb over the fort, and then the engine started again. Meanwhile the corporal had launched a projectile, but is unable to state the effect. Both aviators got back safely. THE DARDANELLES TURKS ACTING ARBITRARILY. CONSTANTINOPLE, 17th Aug. The Turks are acting arbitrarily at the Dardanelles in detaining Triple Entente vessels without explanation. ■ The newspapers publish bitter antiBritißh articles. The Turks at Smyrna hafe seized the property of British subjects. ALBANIANS AND AUSTRIA ESSAD PASHA'S DECLARATION. (Tims AN» BTD.NET BUN SJRTtGIS.) | (Received August- 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Essad Pasha, the well-known Albanian general, who lias returned to Italy, declares that he will lead the Albanians against Austria. KAISER AND HIS STAFF 1 HEADQUARTERS LUXURIOUSLY FITTED UP. LONDON, 15th August. Mt. Edgar Wallace, correspondent of the Birmingham Post, fcays the German railway lines are kept open to carry the Kaiser and war staff, whoso headquarters are luxuriously fitted up. The j train has special boxes iFc-r chargers, and a motor-car, and is guarded by armoured trains. The Kaiser will use a email tent when, the Bimple life is deemed expedient. '• , BERNE, 17th August. Xt is reported that the Kaiser, with the Headquarters Staff, has left Berlin for Mainz, on the Rhine. SCARCITY OF HORSES THE GERMANS INCONVENIENCED! LONDON, 17th August. I The British Press Bureau states that the Germans are greatly inconvenienced by the scarcity of horses, as thousands have been killed and captured by the Belgians, and the Gernians cannot obtain moTe. TSAR GOES TO MOSCOW MANY WOMEN WANT TO SERVE IN THE ARMY. DOWAGER-EMPRESS MARIE. ST. PETERSBURG, 17th August. The Tsai' has gone to Moscow. Many women, principally Cossacks, are applying for service in the ranks. The Dowager-Empress Mario reached St. Petersburg by a circuitous route and had a great reception. The previous reports of Her being m Switzerland were circulated as a blind to hef real movements. BRITISH FORCES LORD KITCHENER'S SECOND ARMY LONDON, 17th August. Forty thousand men were recruited for Lord Kitchener's second army during the week, and recruiting is now at the rate of seven thousand daily. WORK FOR WOMEN UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, 17th August. The Queen is inaugurating a scheme to secure work for women who are unemployed owing to the war. GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN WAITERS. THOUSANDS STILL IN LONDON. (TI4ES AND SYDNEY SUN BERVICES.U * LONDON, 16th August. * Ten thousand German and Austrian waiters are itill in London, and English

waiters are placing placards in hotels and restaurants calling upon British citizens to refuse to be served by "our alien enemies." (PRESB ASSOCIATION.) SURPRISE IN BERLIN WHEN NEWS OF DEFEATS WAS RECEIVED. COPENHAGEN, 17th August. A traveller from Berlin states that the Scandinavian mails giving detailed reporte of German defeats in Belgium created a great surprise in Berlin. The night revels ceased, dancing halls closed, and the city, was in absolute darkness. Leipzig (101 miles S.S.W. of Berlin, and within six and a ,half miles of thePrussian border) has been transformed into a hospital town for the reception of the wounded from Liege. A DANISH PRINCE HAS AN UNCOMFORTABLE JOURNEY. (HUBS AND STDNEI SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 16th August. Prince Aage, of the Danish Royal House, has arrived at Copenhagen, after an uncomfortable journey from Milan through mobilised Europe. Soon after he crossed the German frontier he was' stripped naked and his clothes scrupulously searched. He travelled in a cattle train through France, eating dry bread, and embarked al Havre in a freight steamer in company with hundreds of Russian and Scandinavian refugees. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ' BRITISH, FRENCH, AND RUSSIAN CONSULS ALLEGED INDIGNITIES. POPULAR HATRED AGAINST THE ENGLISH. PARIS, 17th August. The French Embassy states that the British, French, and Russian Consuls at Danzig were treated with great indignity. They were peremptorily ordered to leave on sth August, and when the- ' train reached Kentheim, three days later, the Consuls were separated from their families.' The women were sent with men ito •» tavern and the Consuls imprisoned in a tiny cellar. The British Consul, Mi*. F E. Drummond Hay, was released on, the 13th, but the Russian and French Consuls are still detained. Americans from Berlin state that, although the popular hatred against the English is intense, they are being well treated by the authorities. STORIES ABOUT GERMAN TROOPS DESCRIBED AS ABSURD. BY UNBIASED OBSERVERS. (Received August 18, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The stories of German cruelties, cowardice, and wholesale voluntary sm--renders, which originated in Brussels, 'are described as absurd by unbiased observers, who declare that the German cavalry advance was almost foolhardy bravery, their absolute recklessness indicating that they thought themselves invincible. v UNFORGETTABLE EXPERI- " ENCE SWIFT COMING AND GOING OF SHIPS. (Received August 18, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Globe's naval correspondent, writing from an unnamed naval port, says: "I have been on silent service with the Navy, and have had unforgettable experiences. The swift coming and going of ships and the readiness of men and material was great to see. I was not surprised to read the Admiralty's announcement that our trade routes were open but for mines in the North Sea. Trawlers are busy clearing the seaway, and are proceeding well. The German fleet is bottled up in tlie potts.," ESPIONAGE CAPTURE IN BRUSSELS. (Received August 18, 9.46 a.m.) BRUSSELS, 17th August. The police have captured Wuelfing, one of the chief German spies resident in Brussels. At the moment of his arreßt he was writing a report to the German Government. The taking of the report resulted in the- arrests of many others. ARREST AT BELFAST DOCKS. (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONJDON, 17th August. Rochmann, a German ex-employee at Vickers' and Harland and Wolff's, has been arrested at Belfast Docks. BRITISH SENTRY WOUNDED. LONDON, 17th August (Morning). Private Robertson, a sentry at Brooklands Aerodrome, thrice challenged a supposed spy, and then fired. The spy returned the shot, wounding the sentry, and then escaped into a neighbouring wood. DESTROYER CHASES A SCHOONER AND STRIKES A MINE.' . (HUES AND SIDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received August 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON; 17th August. A Russian schooner was pursued, but eluded a German destroyer near Falster Island (south of Zealand). The destroyer struck a German mine and foundered. [Falster Island is one of the southernmost of the group of islands of Denmark. At its southern extremity is the lighthouse of Gjedser, where a previous cable message reported the destruction of a German torpedo boat through striking a German mine.] TERRIBLE CONDITIONS IN DALMATIA, BOSNIA, AND CROATIA. SERBS AS HOSTAGES. (Received August 18, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Letters received here reveal terrible conditions in Dalmatia, Bosnia, and Croatia. Trade has ceased and food is scarce. All notable Serbophiles have been imprisoned, including deputies, merchants, professors, mayors, and many Catholic priests. Terror prevails everywhere. The clubs have been, dissolved, the newspapers prohibited, and editors imprisoned. The soldiers have taken leading Serfja^

as hostages, and these guarantee with their lives the safety of bridges, teleon the 3rd August at Serajevo. Sixteen Orthodox priests were executed on the 3rd August at Sorajevo. A whole regiment of Bohemian soldiers waß annimilated in Bosnia for rebellion. ROUGH RIDERS' CORPS BEING RECRUITED IN PARIS. WILL BE ENTIRELY SELFSUPPORTING. (Received August 18, 9.10 a».m.) PARIS, 17th August. A Rough Riders Corps is being recruited. It includes several Ameiican cowboys, a number of jockeys, and many Englishmen. The squadron, which will be entirely self-supporting, will be armed with carbines, sabres, and automatic pißtols. WAR NEWS BY WIRELESS FRENCHMAN ORDERED TO BE SHOT. FOR GIVING DETAILS OF EIFFEL TOWER STATION, (Received August 18, 9.10 A.m.) PARIS, 17th August. The French Government is twice daily sending wireless war news in German, French, and English from the Eiffel tower. Gruaulfc, a Frenchman, was courtmartialled and sentenced to death for offering the Cologne Gazette details of the wireless station on the Eiffel Tower and the Aerodiome at Issy-les-Mouli-neaux.. If the sentence is carried out he will be the first spy executed in France, though wild rumours state that 1573 have already been shot. BELGIAN RESERVISTS SAIL FROM MONTREAL FOR LONDON. "YOU ARE GOING TO DEFEND YOUR LIBERTIES." (Received August 18, 9.30 a.m.) OTTAWA, 17th August. Two thousand Belgian reservist* sailed from Montreal for London, with tliis message from the Minister for Militia. (Colonel Hughes) : "You are going to defend the liberties of all humanity and humble the greatest tyrant of modem times. " SHIPPING AN ARRIVAL AT BRISTOL. (Received August 18, 8 a.m.) f >♦ LONDON, 17th August. I Saint Leonards, 4574 tons, which left Sydney on 19th Juno, has arrived at Bristol. WAR RISKS. 1 (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. | The Government is insuring vessels for a war risk period Of ninety-one days at 2£ per cent, if at sea, and at the expiration of the policy for an additional^ thirty days, pro rata. ' j TROOPSHIPS. (Received August, 18, 1,0.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Twenty-three steamers have been taken up as troopships. RELIEF FUNDS • THE PRINCE OF WALES'S. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Prince of Wales's fund has reach- I ,ed £1,200,000. , i COMMONWEALTH PROPOSAL. I (Received' August 18, 40.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Minister for Defence (Senator Millen) proposes to pay widows of pri' vates killed in the war an annuity of £50, and for each child a quarter of such, amount. Payment to officers' wives will be on a graduated scale. BEG CONTRIBUTION BY A CANADIAN. (Received August 18, 9.10 a.m.) OTTAWA, 17th August. ' The Finance Minister (Hon. W. T. ! White) has received a. war contribution of £500,000 from Mr. Ross, a. Montreal steel magnate. SYDNEY'S AND MELBOURNE'S DOINGS. (Received August 18, 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Lord Mayor's Fund totals £16,« 000. Other funds ai % e swelling rapidly, but some are clashing. The Cricket Association ha« donated £25. MELBOURNE, This Day. The Lord Mayor's Fund totals £40,760. SPECIAL CONSTABLES IN LONDON. (Received August 18, 8.30 a.m.) LODDON, 17th August. Ten thousand special constables have been sworn in in London. AUSTRALIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (Received August 18, 9 A.m.) LONDON, 17th August. A meeting ha* been called for Wednes* day to form an Australian War Contingent Association, similar to that formed for New Zealand. ; NO LORD MAYOR'S SHOW. (Received August 18, 8 a.m.) ' LONDON, 17th August. There will bo no Lord Mayor's Show or banquet this year. ENGLISH PUBLICHOUSES. TO CLOSE AT 9 O'CLOCK. (Received August 18, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Justices have ordered the closing of the public houses in the chief towns of Northumberland and Durham at 9 o'clock. There is no resentment on tho part of the working classes. MASTERS AND MEN IN BRtTAIN , CONTROVERSIES CLOSED. MINERS SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT. (Received August 18, 9.10 a.m.) .LONDON, 17th August. The miners arc strongly supporting-the i .Government, though 60 t OOO colligrs are,

idle in_ Northumberland alone. Many,, are assisting the farmers to gather in t the harvest. ' The Armstrong College is organising , lessons in simple agriculture. Masters and men haw closed existing,), controversies. The master* »re nob pressing for the reduction in wages-; which the Conciliation Board has given 1 them. The miners aro submitting to &/• three-shift system, , Export of Russian butter and eggs to ( England, via Archangel, is being ai> ' ranged. THE IDLE IN AUSTRALIA. GOVERNMENTsIFeeP THE MA'f. * TER IN VIEW. (Received August 18. 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Though considerable numbers of workers, particularly in the mining dietricts, are idle, the Federal and State j Governments are working together to minimise the dislocation of trade and un«< employment. , TERRITORIALS AND BOY ,' SCOUTS GOOD SERVICE BEING DONE, (Received August 18, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Territorials and Boy Scouts pro-, tecting the railways, telegraphs, att<i\ waterworks have been largely increased. ' The police have been ordered to enforce^ the registration of Germans. MOMBASA BRITISH DEFENSIVE FORCE. , MOMBASA, 14th August. All British residents have been, carolled as a defensive force. i [There are 150 Europeans at Mombasa, , the largest town of the British East >! Africa Protectorate, and 5000 Europeans aiid Eurasians in the whole ol British •' East Africa.] MISCHA ELMAN. CONFIDENCE IN RUSSIAN • , STRENGTH. (Received August 18, 10.10 a.m.) • SYDNEY, This Day. Mischa Elman, the .well-known violinist, says his country (Russia) can be depended on to take her part well in the campaign. Russia is able to put eight million soliders in the field. CONFIDENCE RESTORED, WHAT N.S.W. CUSTOM HOUSE RETURNS SHOW. (Received August 18, 10.10 &.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Custom House returns show tliat exporters' confidence in Britain's command of the sea has been restored. Shipments of butter and meat overseas havo regained normal. AUSTRALIA'S EXPEDITIONARYf FORGE. FOOTBALLERS JOIN. SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE RESUMES SETTLEMENTS. ■ SYDNEY, 17th August. Mr. Larkiu, secretary of the New South Wales Rugby League, and a number of footballers, ha.ye joined the Ex-, peditionary Force. ' Tattersall's have donated £2000 to the ' War Fund. The Stock Exchange Committee baa decided to resume settlements, hoping thus to gain the normal position a-nd recommence business shortly. AN OUTPOST AFFAIR GERMANS WEAR BELGIAN UNIFORMS. THEY ARE REPULSED AND FLY,' PELL-MELL. (Received August j.B, 1 p.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Mr. Martin Donohoe, the Daily > Chronicle's war correspondent, writeaij from Brussels of an outpost affair near* Louvain on Sunday afternoon. The German advanced guard wore Belgian gendarmes' uniforms, enabling them to approach close and fire a deadly volley. • The Belgian outposts and cavalry* quickly recovered their momentary confusion and charged the advanced guard, who) fled, leaving the Dragoons ftftd Hussars to bear the brunt of the charge. The German machine gun* opened on the Belgians, who were in a dangerous ' position, until half a battery of artillery opened shrapnel fire on the Germans, who * wore without covei. They were thrown into disorder and fled pell-mell, pursued' by the Belgian cavalry, who cut off ai number of the Seventeenth Hussars, who were apparently glad to surrender. They were ravenously hungry. All their supplies were short, they had no knowledgeof where they were ; some thinking they were in France. They were wholly without maps or compasses, and their horses were thoroughly exhausted. GERMANS AT VISE REMAINDER, OF THE TOWtt BURNED. (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent states that the Germans on Saturday burnt the remainder of Vise and sent the men prisoners to Aix 'la Chapelle and the women and children to Maestricht. DANES MAKING MONEY LIVE GATTLE FOR GERMANY. BEING SENT THROUGH JUTLAND. (Received August 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON. 17th August. ' The Chronicle's Copenhagen correspondent states that the export of live cattle to Germany through Jutland is bo great that the route is insufficient and that the railway ferry between Gjedser and Warnomundo has been reopened. Tho duty has been annulled and the quarantine regulations are not being enforced. OFFICIAL NEWS The following cablegram lias been received by the Primo Minister from tho High Commissioner:— _, "French, advancing in the VaJioy of Scliirmock, have secured 1000 prisoners. Hie scene of the last two day*' fightmg shows the disastrous effect of tho alhed forces' artillery, the enemy's trenches being full of dead and 'wounded. Japan's ultimatum to Germany has been confirmed. The French fleet in the Mediterran&m ■mado a. eweep of the Adriatic to. C&ttaro and sank an Austrian cruiser of ih<s< Aspern type. itbg-Xronch sueegssejs at Dinaiit lia»i

}>een confirmed. The German forces included two cavalry divisions and several ibattalions of infantry. The Fremjh are forcing a further retreat of Bavarians in tho neighbourhood of, Ciroy. [There are three Austrian cruisers of the Aspern type, the the Zenta, and the Szigetvar. They are vessels of 2400, 2300, and 2350 tons respectively, laid down between 1896 and 1899, and LaVe been in commission for nearly fifteen years. They are unarmoured, and carry eight 4.7-inch guns and a dozen small ones. Their speed is about 20 knots. They are virtually equivalent to the Philomel.] JAPAN AND CHINA LIMIT OF EVENTUAL ACTION. (Received August 18, 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, 17th August. 'A telegram from Tokio states that $apan has declared that she will limit the eventual action she may take in China to the protectorate of Kiaochau. HARRIED WAR VESSELS DRIVEN OUT OP CATTARO. (Received August 18, 1.30 p.m.) CETTINJE, 17th August. Before the Austrian warships Aureo And Szigetvar fled to Pola, Montenegrin artillery on Mount Lovchen furiously ' bombarded and drove theirf out of the Cattaro Harbour. :■;: BANK OF ENGLAND BILLS TENDERED FOR DISCOUNT. A SLIGHT HALT CALLED. (Received August 18, 2.5 p.m.) LOKDON, 17th August. Owing to the enormous number of bills tendered for discount at the Bank of .England under the arrangement previously tabled, the directors have been compelled to issue a notice stating that it is physically impossible to accept more until to-morrow. [It was officially announced on the 13th instant that Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of .tho Exchequer) had completed Arrangements with the Bank of England to terminate the deadlock in the money market, so as to enable trade and commerce 1 to resume. The Government agreed to guarantee the bank any loss incurred in discounting bills of exchange, either on Home* or foreign banks or traders, accepted prior to 4th August. The Bank of England announced that it was prepared, upon application of the holder of any approved bill of exchange accepted before 4th August, to discount it at the Bank rate and without recourse on such holder, and upon maturity the Bank would give the acceptor the opportunity, until further notice, of postponing payment,, interest being payable at 2 per cent, over Bank rate. The Bank of England was prepared to approve of such bills of exchange as they customarily discount, also good trade bills and acceptances of such foreign and colonial firms and bank agencies as are established in Britain.] SILVER. (Received August 18, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 17th August. Bar silver is quoted at 27id per ounce standard. WAR RATE ON CARGOES (Received August 18, 3 p.m.) LONDON, 17th August. The Government Avar insurance rate on cargoes is 3 per cent. AUSTRIAN RESERVISTS NOT MANY IN WELLINGTON. The fact that war has been declared between Austria and England is not likely to result in much of a tax being made upon Somes Island as far as the local Austrians are concerned, but, of course, if the large crowd of men of Austrian nationality on the Northern gumfields are brought to Wellington it will be quite a different matter. Enquiries to-day showed that the police 'at headquarters kneW of only eight or nine Austrians in Wellington. These will tfe treated in exactly the same manner as* the German reservists, and will not be lield as prisoners of war unless they fail to find anyone to vouch fos their desirableness as citizens. One police officer, who spent several years in charge of the Whangarei district, informed the reporter that the hundreds of Austrian gumdiggers who resided in that locality while he was there were nearly all reservists liable to be called upon to enlist with the colours. Taken all round, they 'were an exceptionally fine class of men, and all the time he was there he only knew of one -who got into serious trouble. They were industrious and thrifty, and never interfered with other people. In these circumstances he did not think it would be necessary for them all to be made prisoners of wail. They were not likely to make trouble ; there was little prospect of their getting out of the country, and in the Far North they would not, even if they felt evilly disposed, be able to do much damage. THE BRITISH POOR ! "The Poor of Great Britain and Ireland Relief Fund." instituted by those interested in providing a shipload of frozen meat to relieve distress in the Old Country, was further supplemented yesterday by donations of £10 from Mr. T. S. Weston and £50 from t Mr. Lan Duncan, and to-day by a gift of 500 sheep from Messrs. F. add J. Armstrong, of Akitio. The committee of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Sports Protection League will meet to-day to decide on the manner in which the movement is to be pushed forward in ' this city. Mr. W. G. Sherratt, Mayor of Gisborne, who passed - through Wellington yesterday, said that the fund is likely ..to b6 supported with enthusiasm in his district, which will probably provide a large proportion of the stock to be cent Home. sth (WELLINGTON) REGIMENT RAISED TO WAR STRENGTH. The sth (Wellington) Regiment is now being raised to war strength — 1000 strong. The ordinary establishment is 900, or nine-tenths of the war strength. In order to make up the additional strength and to replace those whose services have been accepted for campaigning abroad 300 of the general training section posted to the sth Regiment are now being called up. In addition to these a company of riflemen under President Marshall, of the Karori Rifle Club, is being attached, which will bring the total strength of tho regiment up to over 1200 officers and men. A public meeting will be held at St. Hilda' b Club Room, ißland Bay, to-morrow evening, to consider a scheme for assisting, in ilia rgttet of jjrqbablo distressi