SLOW BUT SURE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 260, 7 December 1914, Page 7

SLOW BUT SURE

ALLIES' GRADUAL SUCCESS ■ I SANGUINARY FIGHTING IN EASTERN THEATRE \ —— : — FATE OF DE WET ' 's ' ' IMPORTANT ADDITIONS TO BRITISH FLEET PATHETIC SCENES OF DEATH AND DESOLATION IN BELGIUM —— —■ — ; . u According to latest advices the Allies have been making satisfactory progress all along the line. More or less violent artillery duels have , taken place, the French superiority being indicated. Hungary is complaining of being left open to attacks, and has officially asked Germany for two or three army corps. it is also stated • that nine German army corps have been withdrawn from France and sent eastward. Three hundred thousand Turks are concentrated between Enos, Adrianople, Kirk Kilisse, and the Bulgarian frontier. They are said to be supplied with powerful artillery. De Wet, the captured rebel leader, has been lodged in a fort. The Government is confiscating the farms and other property of thel rebels. The rulirig Princes in India are showing remarkable loyalty,, contributing largely to tho expense of the war. ' Important additions have been made to the British Fleet. By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright.

GERMAN FORT, PESTROYED. THE ALLIES ADVANCING. GERMANS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS. (Received December 7, 9.15 a.m.) PARIS, December 6. • A communique states: "We have destroyed a small German fort, and have been successful in a duel of hfeavy artillery in the Champagne District. The sapping war continues in the Argonne, where we are slowly advancing. We have advanced slightly to t the southeast of Vareiflaes, where we silenced the German artillery. ;. ANTWERP, December 6, The .Germans severely; punish the photographing 'of ruins caused' by the .^yrar.V : . GERMAN EXPLANATIONS. THEIR '' CONCERTED I?LAN.'' AMSTERDAM, December 6,. An official message from Berlin states: '" We evacuated Vermelles, in with our concerted plan, as further retention of it would have entailed needless sacrifices. Before retiring we blew up the buildings which remained standing.'' MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS. -V r , GERMANS IN BELGIUM. 18 THE "OFFENSIVE" A BLUFF? (Received December.; 7> 9,25 a.m.), ! LONDON, December 6. The "Observer's',' Amsterdam correspondent states that mystery/envelops the movements of the German forces in Belgium. Apparently they are largely a bluff to deceive the Allies, , giving the appearance of a strong offensive, yc;liile sending large forces eastward. ; > The Germans have constructed. a wall of concrete 60 miles long at Ecloo, to the. South-west of Brussels, whither they will retire if the Allies take the offensive. (Received' December, 7,-8 a.m.) The'"Bourse - Gazette, " of Petrograd, predicts' a concerted movement 'shortly of Allies in both East and West, for the pur- . pose of stopping Germany shifting troops between'the frontiers. KING GEORGE AND HIS TROOPS. VISITING THE TRENCHES. REGARDLESS OF DANG ER. (Received December 7 y 5.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. The King, assisted by the Prince of Wales, decorated many, officers and men at the front, with Distinguished Conduct Medals, also the French Medal for Valour. Later he visited King Albert, and inspected French and B6lgian units. - It is officially' denied that Lord Kitchener has been to France this week. .; "■ ■ I "J.:}.. ~ The King continues • toreview troops in French towns, which are beilagged in his honour, and the street's thronged with cheering people. King George has returned to London. .. The/'Central News" - Pari ß correspondent states that at. a certain point during the tour a staff officer suggested that it would be unsafe to visit some trenches, which had recently been the object of artillery fire. ■ The King replied: "All the more reason I should go. There is-no reason I should not take risks if my'soldiers take them." The King then went into the trenches and chatted with the troops. The Victoria Cross lias bccu awarded to Private George Wilson, of "the Highland Light Infantry.,* He attacked a hos-

tile machine-gun near Verheiul on September 14, shot " an officer and six men, and captured the gun. THE FRENCH ARTILLERY. MAKING EXCELLENT PRACTICE. TROUBLE IN GERMAN RANKS. "Times" And ".Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 7, 8 a.m.) M LONDON, December 6. "TJie Times.'s" correspondent says that the French artillery at the Aisne during the month have' been denot realised., first that shell fire was so important, and it was necessary to use it sparingly, but ample supplies are now a,vailabie. 1 '/The- French gunners maintain /tbgii. ; . excellent, practice, notably in the ? destruction of entanglements.-. : : v: ;' The Dutch Press states that whether it is raining. f . or. .fine some German trenches are like brooks. The soldiers remain in them for two days, and then have a day's rest. The burgomaster of Max writes stating that he is confined in prison and is being subjected to the treatment prescribed for murderers. Hague' reports state that the moral of the Germans has been seriously affected by the hardships of the battle of the Yser. : The number of suicides is increasing, especially among men with families, who feel that even, if they are unhurt in the war, their health will be permanently impaired. 1 GERMANS SURE OF VICTORY. GREAT HOPES IN HOLY WAR. PRECAUTIONS AT FRIEDRICKSHAYEN. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December^. A . Zurich journalist, after a tour through Germany, declares that while much dissatisfaction lias been caused bv the defeats of the Austrians, the Germans, are still convinced that they are going to win. Great hopes are reposed in the Holy War, and the populace is Haily expecting to hear of serious disturbances in India. A Swiss engineer relates that a great network construction lias been built to protect the Zeppelin sheds at Friedrickshaven. ' The sentinels, and aircraft guns have been doubled, and five powerful searchlights which have been installed on the hills illume the whole! district. DESOLATION IN BELGIUM. RUIN AND SUFFERING. ONE HUGE CEMETERY. (Received December 7, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. Mr Waters, the representative., of the. American ''Christian World," who has returned from; a tour of Belgium, says: "I saw over a thous'ahd poorly clad women in Antwerp, many of them snuggling their, babies to their breasts,' waiting in tbe snow and slush for their doles of food, under the shadow of a big hotel, where the German soldiers were making merry. Between Antwerp and Brussels the road was full of refugees tramping homeward to their ruined villages. It was like journeying -through a cemetery. There were graves everywhere, and always, between, the ruined : houses, the graves were marked by bayonets, caps, and helmets. On one there was a child's shoe. Deso- * lation raged all round, trees had been felled, and crops run to seed and rotting, |

with the women grubbing in the ruins of their former homes. There is only a two weeks' supply of food in Brussels. '' "NO PRISONERS." TAKING OP A HOUSE. GERMAN CRUELTY PUNISHED. (Received December 7, 8.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. Corporal Minns, of the First Battalion of the Queen's (West Surrey) Regiment, who was wounded -at Ypres, reports that a section of the regiment was instructed to capture a house, but they were handicapped by a woman standing at the door before the Germans' bayo-

nets, and a child being held at a window from which a maxim was being fired. "We captured the house,'' ,he added, "and lost thirteen men. We found'that the child had. been pinned by a sword „tb the frame. There were twenty-three Germans in the cellar, and I left them to my men, who took no prisoners." PREPARING FOR DEFENCE. GERMAN WORKS ON RHINE. WANTON DESTRUCTION AT YPRES V ' (Received December 7,. 10.50 a.ni,).-; LONDON,; 6. Private. letters from Germany state that foreigners have been expelled from the eastern banks of the Rhipe, 'which are being prepared with powerful defences. ■, An eye-witness with the British, headquarters staff confirms the wantonness, and. vindictiveness of the bombardment ,of the Clotlf Hall and Cathedral, at Ypres, which began after the failure of the final effort to capture the city. 1 ! It ceased immediately the building was destroyed, andthe action no military purpose whatever. TO THE LAST MAN. CANADA'S DETERMINATION. THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND . ' , MORE. . (Received December 7, 8.45 a.m.) OTTAWA, December 6. Sir R. L. Borden, speaking at the Empire Club, Toronto, said that Canada has an unflinching determination to see the 1 war through to the end by the side of the

HUNGARY'S COMPLAINT. LEFT OPEN TO ATTACK. FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE EAST. (Received December 7, 9.15 a.m.) PETROGRAD, December 6. • Complaints have been made that the Hungarian Plains have been largely left open to Russia's attack, and Hungary has officially requested Germany to send two or three army corps. The relations between Austria and Hungary are much less cordial. Private messages state that the Germans have withdrawn nine army corps from France, replacing them with second line troops. I The Russians nevertheless hold the

Motherland and the other Dominions. Canada was prepared to dispatch 300,000 more, men if necessary, and he did not expect: the war would end until Germany is'exhausted. The Empire's existence depended on the outcome of the struggle. Canada was unflinchingly determined .to fight to the last man.

j Germans, keeping them fighting day and night. ' The Germans are seek'ing to lay siege to Petrokon, where the fighting has been extremely violent. The Germans at Czenstoc-howa are preparing for a long siege, and the town has been turiied into a fortress. SWISS NEUTRALITY, THE DIFFICULTY OF GERMANY. MAPS FOUND ON DEAD OFFICERS. (Received December 7, 5.45 a.m.) PARIS, December 6-' "Le Matin" states that maps of Switzerland' Were found on tjie dead bodies of several German officers, which had been printed in Germany, • with Italian place names, for the use of Italian officers during an attack on France through Switzerland. "Le Matin" recalls the Kaiser's protestations with respect to Swiss! neutrality. S. "■ ' ■" „ ' % THE TURKISH CAMPAIGN. A RUSSIAN VICTORY. ENEMY FIGHTS DESPERATELY. •e . PETROGRAD, December 6. It is officially stated that the Russians captured Sarai Kashkal after desperate resistance by the Turks, who fled towards Van, leaving many prisoners and wounded men. ROME, December 6. A correspondent of "II Mattino" interviewed Sir John Maxwell, commanding the troops in Egypt. The General said everything" was"ready for the de--r-

fence of the country, and there was no lack of troops. TURKS CONCENTRATING. THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN SUPPLIED WITH GOOD ARTILLERY "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. The Turkish forces concentrated be-

tween Enos, Adrianople, Kirk Killise, and tlie frontier of Bulgaria, aggregate three hundred thousand men. They are well supplied with powerful artillery, and are divided into two armies. [ Adrianoplc is an important city in European Turkey, situated on the Maritza River at its junction > with two other considerable streams. It is about 137 miles from Constantinople, to which it is joined by the railway connecting Const-aril isople with Belgrade, the capital of Sei'via, and about 25 miles from the south-eastern frontier of Bulgaria. It has a population of 70,000, half of which are Turks and the remainder Bulgarians, . Jews, Armenians, and Greeks-. It is the capital of the province of Adrianople, a district 15,000 square miles in extent, bordering on the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Sea of Marmara. Kirk Kilisse. is 32 miles, to the eastward of Adrianople, jand has a population of about 16,000.

There were • hostile demonstrations against him at Mafeking and Johannesburg. PRETORIA, December 6. It is officially stated that the Germans in South-West Africa are disseminating news among the troops to the effect that the Russian fleet was destroyed off Kronstadt, a great battle was fought off Heligoland in which the Germans destroyed five British battleships, and the Emden is blockading the Suez Canal.

The nearest point of the Bulgarian frontier to this town is 20 miles 'distant. Kirk Kilisse was the scene of heavy fighting and a serious Turkish defeat during the last war' with the Balkan States. Enos is a seaport town of European Turkey, .on the Aegean Sea, situated at the mouth of the river Maritza, which'connects it with Adrianopje, from which city it., is distant S.S.W; about 75 miles, taking a direct line. It has a population of between 7000 arid 8000, and is the seat of some trade, though its harbour admits only small vessels. With the exception of Kirk Kilisse itself, which is situated in hilly Country, the district between these joints is level, well watered, and fertile, producing cotton, ; tobacco, olives, leather, variotos cereals, and silk.] BRITISHER IN TROUBLE., -0 ~ ARREST OF SIR EDWIN PEARS. ' i TURKISH MINISTER'S THREAT. , ■ . ■ > ■ • (Received. December 7. 9.15 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 6. Sir Edward Pears has been arrested, and has had his offices searched. : \ Talaat Bey, the Minister of the Interior, threatens that unless two persons, presumably Turkish emissaries, arrested at»Port Said, are released forthwith, he will seize Britishers as hostages. •••: • [Sir Edwin, Pears, who was born in 1835, is an authority $n affairs in the European ''Near East," and lives 4n Constantiiiople. As a student of law at London University, he gained high honours. He became a barrister of the Middle Temple, and an Exhibitioner of Constitutional Law and Legal History. He settled in Constantinople in .1873, where he practised in the Consular Courts and became president of the European, Bar in that city. As correspondent to the London "Daily News" in 1870 he forwarded letters dealing with the Moslem atrocities in Bulgaria; two of the letters being incorporated

DE WET'S ULTIMATE FATE. LIABLE TO DEATH PENALTY. 4$ . ———— GOVERNMENT'S TREATMENT OP REBELS. "Times" and ''Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. There is much discussion in Cape Town as to the ultimate fate of De Wet, because the Free State rebellion was due to his prestige. Martial law having been operativej he is liable to the death penalty, but the opinion in England is that the Union Government is unlikely to exact the supreme penalty for political reasons. (Received December 7, 8.45 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, December 6. The ...government is confiscating the farms, stock, and effects of the • rebels, and is also considering the inauguration of concentration camps for the dependents of rebels in the field or taken prisoners, owning to the hardships the women and children! 1 may suffer. :

THE HARASSED SERVIANS./ A HOMELESS GOVERNMENT. V STILL ANOTHER TRANSFEE. (Received December 7, 10.50 a.m.) NISH, December 6. Thei Servian capital has been transferred to 1 Mitrbvitza. I ' X Mitrbvitza is in. the pr<jv.inpe of Kossova, about 60 miles to the southwest of Nish.] ADDITIONS TO FLEET. _i BATTLESHIP, CRUISERS AND DESTROYERS. • . ■ ADMIRALTY ANNOUNCEMENT. LONDON, December 5. The December Navy List shows that the battleship Canada and the old light cruisers Cambrian, and Wallaroo, have been added to. the Fleet. Tli£ battleship Canada was the Almirante.Latorre, which was building for Chili. • ' y'. The Admiralty has ehristened the new •flotilla leaders Botha and Tipperary. The: ,-new British battleship Canada is Lator re,', sq'also is', the sistei:' ship, the Almirante Cochrane. . The keel of , the first-named was laid in the yards of Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. in December,/1911, and she was laurfched at this end of the following November. She is one of the biggest and most powerful battleships ever, bdlt in England, her displacement being 28,000 tons, or 500 tons more, than that of the battleships of the Queen Elizabeth class. She •was- due to be completed this year. Her dimensions and armament, which are the same as; those of the Almirante Cochrane, are, length 625 ft, beam 92ft, normal draught 28ft. 6in. In arranging hj& guns the®general plan of the King George V. and Orion classes was followed, .substituting'l4in. guns for 13.5 in. The armament consists of ten l4in. guns in five turrets (all guns firing on the broadside arid four*ahead and astern), sixteen "6in., four 3in., two 12-poumlers, and four maehihe guns, and four submerged torpedo tubes. She is heavily armoured with Krupp and . Armstrong steel, has four screws, and is fitted with Yarrow water-tube boilers as weir as Parsohs turbines. Both ships have an estimated speed of 23 knots, and the coinpleiiient of officers and men is 1075. The two new leaders of destroyer flotillas, v- the Botha and the Tipperary, are probably two large destroyers built for th£ Chilian Navy and launched last year, "these were two of six similar vessels: ordered by Chili and built by Messrs J; S; White and Co, at Cowes, the two ships being named the Almirante Lynch and the Almirante Condell. With the exception of the Swift, tliey are the two largest destroyers afloat. They.are fitted with Parsons turbines and White-I orster boilers, consuming either coal or oil fuel, and have a speed of o.ver 31 knots. Their displacement is 1850 tons, and their armament consists of six 4in. guns, four machine guns, and three torpedo tubes. Their dimensions are, length 320 ft., beam 32ft., and their complement is 160 officers and men.

.The Cambrian ami Wallaroo are old light cruisers which formerly served on the Australasian station. The Cambrian was built in 1893-94, and the Wallaroo in 1889-91. The,first is. a third-class cruiser of 4360 tons displacement, with a speed of slightly more than 19 knots and an armament consisting of two Gin. guns, eight 4.7 in. guns, one 12-po.under, thirteen 6-poun~ders, a few machine guns, and three torpedo tubes. She carried 312 officers and men. The Wallaroo is a third-class cruiser of 2375, tons displacement and a speed of 19 knots. Since 1904 she has been stationed at Chatham as a training ship' for naval mechanicians.

ir. Blue Books aroused widespread interest, followed by demonstrations led by Gladstone, and eventually led to Britain's intervention.] LODGED IN A F0RT.,.,. THE CAPTURE OF DE WET. • GERMAN LIES IN THE WEST. PRETORIA, December 5. De Wet and eleven followers were lodged in a fort at Johannesburg.

ITALY'S ATTITUDE. ANTE-WAR NEGOTIATIONS. MINISTER'S WARNING IN VAIN. LONDON, December 5. Renter's Rome correspondent states

that documents exist showing that early

in July, when after the Serajevo murder, Austro-Servian relations were strained, the Marquis di San Giuliano urged Austria to show moderation and" avoid Russian intervention in Servia's favour. Austria replied that she did no*, believa Russia was sufficiently prepared, afW the Japanese war, to undertake military action on behalf of Servia, and cited Russia's attitude throughout the London Conference after the Balkan wa r , when sW was unable to make imr supremacy in the Balkans felt.

The Marquis di San Giuliano answered that, according to his information, the situation had changed, and Russia would not tolerate any attempt to iimit Servia's independence and sovereignty, or to cause diminution of" her territory; Austria retorted that in the event of Russia's intervention she would be answered by Germany's participation in the war. The Marquis di San Giuliano pointed out the enormous- gravity of this plan, as Germany's action would inevitably mean Britain's intervention. Both Vienna and Berlin replied that they were convinced that at the last moment Britain would not assume the risk of undertaking a European war. The Marquis di Giuliano rej oine'd that such a view was erroneous, he having sufficient foundation for the opinion that the exact opposite would occur. His warning was vain, and events were precipitated by the ultimatum sent to Servia without Italy being consulted or notified. ROME, December 5. A setisation has been caused by the appointment of Prince' von Rulow as Ambassador to Italy. Prince von Bulow having been Chancellor, the appointment is obviously "intended to 1 influence Italy's policy. ' >•; "-V

PRIME MINISTER'S DECLARATION. •ENDORSED BY PARLIAMENT. . « '• ~ : ' ' ' ' " ' (Eeceived December 7, 8.45 a.m.) ROME, December 6.. The Chamber of Deputies by 413 votes to 49 approved of M. Salandra's declaration of Italy's attitude. [A message from Rome -published in Saturday's issue, stated that Signor: Sal-andra,-the Italian Premier, declared that neutrality could not be the exclusive 1 aim of the Italian policy, and that since the 'political configuration of Europe was about to, be transformed, Italy must maintain her vital interests arid just; aspirations. - If the rule of right ceased,foree remained the only guarantee of a people's safety, and though Italy had no aggressive aims, .she must aim as effectively as possible. The Radical ami Democratic groups in the Parliament resolved to-sup-port the Premier.] " LOOKING BACKWARD. INTERESTING OPERATIONS RE- "?• ; Viewed. OFFICIAL BULLETIN SKETCHES -> ' THE WAR. ' 'v" ?'ARIS, December 5. Ari official- bulletin; has "been issued sketching'the war to date. .It says:'The violation of. Belgium showed that the main struggle would occur on the north, but we were unable to engage the enemy until the British came into line, therefore we sought to retain as many army corps as possible in 'Alsace and Lorraine. ' From September 8 onwards General Maunoury's new army's attack against the German right began to take effefct, and the- enemy shifted front, thus presenting a weak point to the British Army which crossed the Marne and,' came into grips with the German flank. Meanwhile, General Desperey, with General Maunoury on his wing, crossed and drove back the Germans,' supporting tlie British on his left with General Foch on his right. "It was upon this army that the Ger ; mans sought to avenge the check to their right, and from September ,6 to 9 this force was compelled" to face repeated attacks, until on.the evening of the 9th, its left, near Lafere Champeiioise, took the Prussian Guards and another German corps on : the flank. This audacious nia-ueeuvro decided the issue. The-Germans fell back and General Foch entered Ohalou-sur-Marne on the 11 tli. " Froin the 13th oihvards began the <-ojitest of the race to the sea. The Germans had the advantage of a concentric front, which sliQrtened the 'distance'for. them, nevertheless the movement of.their right failed, and the victory of the Marne was confirmed. General Castelnau, on the 20th, formed a new army on General Maunoury's left, and strongly established 'himself in the Lassigny, Roye, and Peronne districts. General Mandbry's army entered the line on the 30th, occupying the l egion around Arras and Lens, with a view to functioning with the Dunkirk division, but the line was still too thin. Sir John French instantly decided to transfer the British from thei-Aisne to tlie vicinity of the Lys. Th 3 Belgian army from Antwerp, covered by British and : French marines, arrived to strengthen the projected barrier in the Yser district. The British were una,ble to come into action before* October 20 r , and the Belgians were short of muni-

rions, therefore General Joffre entrustsd General "Toch with the task of coordinating the operations o£ the northern armies.- '' Fresh reinforcements enabled him, on the ,I.2th of November, to constitute a Franco-Belgian army under General Dourbal, co-operating with the Belgians and the British between the sea and the Lys, against a dozen German army , corps and upwards of four cavalry divisions. "The Kaiser was present and bis proclamations emphasised the necessity of a decisive blow by reaching Dunkirk, Calais, or Boulogne, along the coast, or piercing the line towards Ypres, and then declaring Belgium annexed. "For .three weeks the Germans : launched repeated furious attacks, in dense masses. It was obvious that after November 12 the balance was on our side. We yielded not an inch, and held an impregnable position. .The German offensive, at'tor lasting a fortnight in November, was broken, the attacks weakened, and the artillery, became less "active. " The battle of Ypres cost the enemy * 1211,000. Never has an attack been so carefully prepared and so furiously delivered, and never lias it suffered a more complete chec 1 -. Tlie Kaiser witnessed a repulse '•nst.ward of Rlicims, and a week la'er a repulse at Ypres. , '' Our forces are now as large as at - the outset of the campaign, and the . quality has enormously improved. All are profoundly imbued with a, sense of ?" their" superiority over the enemy, and ■1 there is absoTute confidence of victory. The Germans' futile efforts have ex- "> liauted their reserves, while the troops they are bringing up to-day are badly officered and badly trained. Russia is li-ore and more asserting her superiority and-the German halt in the East is doomed inevitably to become a retreat. ' I '

ALLIES GAIN GROUND. ENEMY'S TRENCHES STORMED. : INTENSE BOMBARDMENT AT RHEIMS. PARIS, December 5. L An official statement says: "We have appreciably progressed north; of the Lys, our infantry at daybreak carrying with a single rush two lines of trenches, - gaining five hundred metres. We captured a house-at Poesele on. the right bank of the canal between <Dixmude mid Ypres, the possession of which had ..been stubbornly disputed for a month. The enemy 's heavy artillery, by a violent attack, 'vainly attempted to recapture it. 5 ■ ■ ~- -■ ■■ ■ 'There has'been intermittent cannonading at Arras, and® in the champagne country.; The bombardment of : Eheims -has been resumed with marked • intensity. Our heavy artillery destroyed . several,of the enemy's earthworks. " The struggle in th€\ Argonne continues to b& severe. We have taken several trenches, and repulsed all coun-ter-attaeksV Another official statement says: — " We took 991 prisoners in the northern region on . Wednesday. We progressed towards Altkirch" (in Alsace) to-day." LONDON, December 6. . An eye-witness with the Headquarters Staff says that the Germans have lately pressed heavily on our Indian : lines, extending saps : for assaults at short distances. None of these were carried out by great forces. The Germans are using .civilians to dig trenches. > Both sides are sapping against each other, preceding their assaults with .grenades, which, with short-range bombs, are becoming a prominent feature of close attack.

NO DANGER AT PRESENT, j FRENCH EASTERN FRONTIER. - • ALLIES 7 ALL-ROUND SUCCESS. '' '--N r _ LONDON, December 5. i: A correspondent of the '' Daily T Chronicle," who has visited the Verdun area, disposes of the German claims v that the fortress is besieged, and t some " forts have been taken. The Germans are not within twenty miles of the fortress, and the communications are intact. The Germans are still in touch with the Meuse at. St. Mihiel, but their vcommunications with*-Metz are precarious. The French are steadily progressing north of Verdun, and are excellently equipped for a winter campaign. He declares that for the present all danger ' or. the eastfern frontier is past. PARIS, December 5. Correspondents at Nancy emphasise the existence of signs of a possible German retreat from Lorraine. The Germans" are constructing a huge entrench- • ed camp between Blamont and Saarburg, proving that they fear a possible early invasion; The bombardment of Arnaville continues to threaten the line of supplies from Metz to St. Mihiel through the Wcevre. BERNE, December 5. A well-informed Geneva newspaper, "La Suisse," states that guns have been mounted at Colmar and parts of Mulhausen mined, while precautions are being made at flood the country westward and Southward of v .he towns. MIDNIGHT ON THE YSER. GERMANS FAIL TO CROSS. TRAINLOADS OF DEAD AT OSTEND LONDON, December 6. The ' Daily Chronicle's'' Dunkirk torrespondeiit reports that Allied sentries at Pervyse at midnight were sud-

denly alarmed by figures creeping up in the darkness. They discovered five hundred Germans trying to cross the Yser, many up to their necks in water. Three hundred were drowned, and two hundred made prisoners. AMSTERDAM, December 6.

The Germans have retired two kilometres along the Yser, owing to the insanitary conditions of the marshy ground, which is also unsuitable for artillery.

The Germans force the inhabitants of Ostend to stay in their houses after nightfall, while trainloads of dead are brought in and buried among the dunes. . The Germans are in great difficulty at Zeebrugge, owdng to the silting up of the harbour, the Belgians having destroyed the dredges, which formerly worked day and night. "A MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY." JELLIES' COMING VICTORY. ENEMY LOSING 20,000 DAILY. PARIS, December 6. General Joffre, in conversation with an officer, said the coming victory was a mathematical certainty. His first task had been to forge his weapon. Reliable generals the place of those found wanting. The French military machine was now in such a state that the German attack would dash itself against the French in vain. He was not anxious that the Germans should decrease their forces in the west, as the present position would enable the Russians to advance at a greater rate. COPENHAGEN, December o. The German official returns show; that the German and Austrian casualties for the four* months of the war have averaged 20,000 daily.

NAVAL BRIGADE AT ANTWERP.

GREAT SKILL AND BOLDNESS. GENERAL FRENCH'S DISPATCH. LONDON, December 5. Sir John French's dispatch to the Adihiralty on the work of the Naval Brigades that assisted at Antwerp declares that Brigadier-General Paris handled them with great skill and boldness. The fortress was not saved, but the marines certainly delayed the enemy for a considerable time, enabled the Belgian Army to withdraw, and destroyed war material and ammunition which would have been of I great value to the enemy. The Belgians afterwards were a great asset to the Allies on the Yseiv Also the moral effect on the Belgian army by this necessarily desperate attempt to succour them was of great value. Brigadier-General Paris, in his rejiort, states that when it was evident that the Belgians "were unable ta-hold the forts, in order to avoid disaster, he retired under cover of darkness. The roads were crowded with Belgian troops, refugees, cattle, and vehicles. Partly owing to this, partly owing to fatigue, and through unexplained causes, numbers of the brigade became detached. ' j Meanwhile, the main body entrained and effected a . retreat. The irearguard entrained later with hundreds of refugees. The engine was deriailed and the enemy opened fire. There was considerable confusion in the darkness, and- the agitation of the refugees made the passing of orders difficult. The battalion behaved splendidly, and fought its way through, but the loss in missing was upwards of half its numbers. Major Richardson, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, is mentioned in General Paris's dispatches.

OBSTINATE FIGHTING. RUSSIA'S ARMOURED CARS. MAXIMS INFLICT MUCH LOSS. PETROGRAD, .December 5. An official statement says that obstinate fighting continued on Thursday between Glowno and Lowicz. An official statement says:—Stubborn fighting continues at the Lowicz-Lodz j front and onwards to Piotrkow. During the fighting on the 4th a Russian armoured motor corps near Lask, taking advantage of the darkness, ran into a considerable body of Germans, and the Maxims inflicted heavy losses. j The following telegram, dated December 5, has been received by the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— "A Russian report of December .1 says that obstinate fighting is proceeding on the frbnt Glowno to Lowicz, on western roads towards Lodz and Piotrkow, and on other'fronts. There are no essential modifications in the positions." GERMAN EYES OPENED. MIGHT OF RUSSIAN ARMY. AWFUL SLAUGHTER IN CLKVI'IIJ TRAP. LONDON, December 4. A German officer captured at Lodz said: "We believed in our technical superiority. We had been told that the Russian army was weak, but we found it the most powerful in the world." Assuming that everything remained favourable with the Germans, they would not soon be conquered, but matters might quickly become critical if their generals continued to accuse each other of failures. "Then the strength of Russia, the sang-froid and the perseverance of Britain, and the self-sac-rifice of France, will destroy us." COPENHAGEN, December 5. Moscow papers claim that only a mere

remnant of two trapped German army corps near Lodz broke through to Breziny. Ninety per cent, of the officers fell, and some of the regiments were reduced to a few hundreds. LONDON, December 5. In consideration of the receipt of eight millions in Russian gold, the Bank of England discounts, under a Government guarantee, a further twelve millions of Russian Treasury bills, making a total of twenty millions. INFORMATION KEPT BACK. "CERTAIN NAVAL MISHAP.'' "TIMES" CRITICISES GOVERNMENT. LONDON, December 4. "The Times" mentions that a piece of news with which the whole world outside Great Britain was acquainted, which had been published in American and German newspapers, is still concealed by the Government. The excellent reasons for its suppression no longer obtain. The Government has placed the Press of this country in an exceedingly difficult position, says.'' The Times.'' We fear the Government has ceased to understand .that it must keep in touch with the British public. December 5. The Admiralty has issued a notification stating that lights, buoys, and fogsignals in the Channel and the Downs will be liable to cessation or alteration without notice after December 10. The Admiralty states that the German armed liner Berlin, which recently put into a Norwegian port, and was interned there,, was almost out of coal. She was specially fitted for mine-laying. So far as is known, no mines are aboard and those she carried have probably been sown broadcast in the track of neutral and British shipping. German floating mines are constantly sighted, and many «ire still dangerous.

INDIANS AND THE WAR. * REMARKABLE GENEROSITYRULING PRINCES' KEEN INTEREST DELHI, December 5. All the great native States have now expressed regret to the Viceroy that Turkey has joined Germany in -fighting England, under whose benign rule Moslems have enjoyed perfect religious'free-' dom. All the ruling princes continue to take the keenest interest in the war. Thejr have now subscribed about £190,000 the Prince of Wales's Fund, and approximately £BOO,OOO to the expenses of thewar, including £400,000 from the Nizam of Hyderabad, and £333,000 from the Maharajah of Mysore. A furthef sum of nearly £30,000 has been given by chiefs to provide motor-cycles and binoculars and telescopes. Of this £24,500 has been given by the Maharajah Eeindia of Gwalior, who has also presented motor-ambu-lances, consisting of 41 cars, for the use of troops in Europe, arid is arranging for the establishment of a convalescent home in East Africa^ Besides these gifts, many chiefs have presented a large number of horses, anules, camels, and even private motorcars. The liospital-ship .Loyalty, which left Bombay recently, splendidly equipped, is another of their donations. x London, December 4. Some wounded Indians lost their pugarees en route to England* Queen Alexandra dispatched 400 yards of muslin for them, but the Indians were so delighted that instead of making pugarees they carefully parcelled out the treasure to carry home with them.

OVERSEA TROOPS. NEW ZEALANDERS IN EGYPT. THE "STRICT" CENSORSHIP. LONDON, December 4. The New Zealand War Contingent Fund now stands at £6OOO. The committee is sending an artistic souvenir in the form of a Chria.tmas card addressed individually to the troops in Egypt. Twelve bags of New Zealand letters have, been forwarded to Egypt. Amusement was caused .among Australians in London by the suppression of the news of the arrival of troops in Egypt. Anxious relatives besieged officials, but .the latter were instructed to remain dumb and protested ignorance. Suddenly the wife of an officer burst in and informed everybody that her husband had cabled to her, stating that he had disembarked in Egypt. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says that the Commonwealth has already reached a special glory of its own in the war, yet it i» only beginning. As regards the Now Zealanders, as well as the Australians, the Motherland is proudly confident and proudly grateful. The newspapers are publishing interesting accounts of the remarkable iltiiohn of the detachment of New ZealaiifleiH in camp on Salisbury Plain. The Amy authorities are highly gratified. The men arc satisfied with their treatment and surroundings. IN BRITAIN. SCANDAL ALLEGATIONS. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. LONDON, December 5. A committee consisting of three members of the Committee of Imperial Defence, with Lord Esher as chairman, has been appointed to co-operate with the head*; of the various Treasury Departments in sanctioning expenditure on