STUBBORN FIGHTING

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 272, 21 December 1914, Page 7

STUBBORN FIGHTING

ALLIES BEAT BACK THE ENEMY IN FIRING UNE RUSSIANS ADVANCING CRUISER SINKS GERMAN AND TURKISH STEAMERS 30UItt COURT MARTIALLED AND SHOT

Retails of the fighting ia the west announce further successes for the Allies. The French artiUery"has been doing some magnificent work, while the infantry has captured many German trenches. From the eastern theatre of war comes the announcement that the Russians have gained further successes. Recent reports of German victories are ridiculed by headquarters. There is said to be consternation in Austria in regard to the Servian victory. Many Austrians are said to have deserted and joined'the Servians, while rioting is proceeding in some towns. The last of the South African rebel leaders have'been captured. Following on a court-martial, one, Captain Fourie, has been shot, and. his brother sentenced to imprisonment. The new Sultan of Egypt has been installed 1 with imposing ceremony. The Canadian troops have reached the Continent, and are now in the firing line. v By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright.

ENEMY'S TRENCHES TAKEN. VIOLENT EFFORTS REPULSED. - ARTILLERY SUCCESSFUL IN ARGONNE. ' (Received December 21, 9.35 a.m.) . PARIS, December 20. - A communique states: "We have '.gained a little ground before Nieuport and Saint Georges, and have progressed slightly to the east and' south of Ypres, Where, the enemy is being reinforced. We have captured a portion of the enemy's £r3t line of trenches between Richeburg and'La Bassee, and re-cap-tured khe trench to the north of Maricpurt,,. which- w,e lost yesterday; We have repulsed'very violent efforts'of the German to re-capture the trenches at Lihons (i and we have maintained our ar-'•fciller.y°--superiority xa~ Argonne, where -we silenced fhe enemy's guns, destroyed machine guns, the shellers' observation ■ posts, and dispersed' the enemy's concentration. CANADIANS AT THE FRONT. IN THE FIRING LINE. HOLLAND/ AND. COMPULSORY ,v- ";■,.'_ j^service;..;^/ ".;';,/.' - (Received December 21, 8.45 a.m.) ' '•':;';"' OTTAWAI, DeeemDer M ,- Princess Patricia's Regiment is now. in 'the firingrlinej being the first, Canadian contingent to reach the front. ':■■'. HAGITE, December 20.. .; The War Minister will shortly introduce a Bill providing for compulsory military '.service.-:-..-.' >- ' ■ A DEVASTATING FIRE. SPLENDID FRENCH ARTILLERY. GERMANS FORCED TO RETREAT. (Received December 21, 9.25 ■.a.m.)'""' PARIS, December 20. '. French artillery fire of five hundred! gims dealt a shattering blow to the GeriV;an 'front lines' on the north-eastern side of Arras oh Thursday , " The '.Germans abandoned . their trenches before' the devastating fire, and retired: to Blahgy and Saint Laurent, where their snipers have taken up positions in the windows and on the housetops.' : The Allies are strongly entrenched on the outskirts. HEAVY FIRING ON THE COAST WARSHIPS TAKING PART. GERMANS ON DUTCH FRONTIER. {Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) ...-: AMSTERDAM, December 20. '■' Refugees report that the Germans have posted eight 15-centimetre guns and several machine-guns on the sand Junes' between Duinsergen and Heyst. German troops are concentrating along the - Dutch frontier,, between Oostham and Merhout. • The '' Telegraaf'' states that there was fierce gun-fire on the coast on Saturday, assisted by the warships. Trains 6i wounded have arrived at Bruges, but most of them have been sent further eastwards. "' - (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.)~ • LONDON, December 20. A seaman who '[ participated in the bombardment of Nieuport and Middlekirk, states that-the Germans, at one point, replied with a naval 12-inch gun, mounted ashore. .' .

SACRIFICE OF LIVES. GERMANS' DESPERATE EFFORTS. ATTEMPTS TO EMBROIL SCANDINAVIA. "Timea" and "Sydney Sun" Services. , i (Received December 21, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. Amsterdam reports declare that thousands of, Germans have been sacrificed in Flanders during the last few day's. ' . ' The Germans declare £ha't they want to make acknowledgment to the Fatherland for Christmas gifts, hencetheir frantic efforts to capture Ypres before Christmas. 1 The German Press is frantically urging Scandinavia to combine against Britain, who-is responsible for the oppression of its trade. LOOKING AHEAD. GERMAN MESSAGE INTERCEPTED. ;; ALIENS ,IN BERLIN. (Received December 21, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. • .British agents,; intercepted a report i dated September 8,. which, was intended for General von def Goltz,-and in which the anthor advised:''-;',' When the wholei bf Belgium, with Northern France, belongs to-us, : the Flemings should not be harshly treated. The linguistic: affinities with Germany shoujdjjbc taken into account, so as to prepare for a union of the German people, tvhite later on the Belgian army, like the should be given a special position in the German army.'' (Received December 21, 8 a.m.) ; LONDON, December 20. An organisation has been formed in Berlin for the assistance of aliens' in Berlin: In appealing for funds, a circular says: "The foreigners in our midst are, for the most part/ Germany's best friends and are bound to us by a thousand ties.'' UNITY OF EMPIRE. OF SUDANESE. ASSURANCE FROM MALAY STATES. "Times" and' "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 21, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. Commenting on the British Govern-' ment's announcement that it keenly appreciated the loyalty of the Sudanese, the Grand Mufti, in an article which has been published refers to the attitude of other Governments which returned other people's loyalty by robbing and ill-using them. The article adds: "British methods demand nothing short of absolute loyalty." ; LONDON, December 20. The High Commissioner of the Malay States has transmitted an assurance of the loyalty of the Mussulmans community, praying for.a decisive British victory over Turkey. [The Grand Mufti is the "chief official of the Mohammedan faith. He is head of the. general body of learned men, known as the Ulema, who are interpreters of the Koran and therefore of the law, which is founded on the Koran. Besides expounding the law the Muftis combine the function of public prosecutor, or advocate, and assessor.]

WAR IN THE AIR. TWO AVIATORS KILLED. ' GERMAN CHARGE AGAINST BRITAIN. (Received December 21, 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, December 20. Two military aviators fell near Issy les Moulineaux, and their petrol caught fire, and both were incinerated. AMSTERDAM, December 20. A Berlin telegram states that two of the Allies' airmen threw 10 bombs into Saarburg, Lorraine, on Thursday night, killing a Uhlan and severely wounding a igirl. They also dropped bombs into other villages. (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. Reuter 's Cape Town correspondent states that a Taube aeroplane flew over a camp at Chaukaib, German South-west Africa, and dropped two bombs. The second fell on a group of artillerymen, killing one and wounding eight. GERMAN OUTRAGES. MALTREATMENT OF PRIESTS. SOLDIERS SICK OF THE WAR. (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 20. ' One hundred and ninety-three priests' have been shot, wounded,' or taken prisoners -for giving evidence, before the Commission of Inquiry into German outrages 1 in Belgium. An eye-witness states that prisoners' admissions show tKat many of the Land-; wehr are sick of the war and resent.their officers'harshness. . AUSTRIA'S TROUBLES, % SOLDIERS; JOIN THE SERVIANS. ] '. ' ■ ■.. ———• \ AMERICAN EXPORT OF } : .';'l' ■.".;;.. breadstuffs. .;■!;. \ "Times" and "Sydney Sun"Services. • (Received December 21, 8 a.m.)' LONDON, December 20. Riots are occurring in Austria. Trieste reports state that 17,000 Aus- ; trians of various • disaffected.. nationalities deserted during the recent fighting, and joined the Servians. t; ■■■.. The Elnited States exports of bread-, stuffs for November were valued .at dollars, an amount four times: greater than during November of last year. BULGARIA'S POSITION. STRICTLY NEUTRAL ATTITUDE. WHAT SHE HOPES TO GAIN. (Received December 21, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. v The*"Chronicle's''' Sofia correspondent interviewed M. Radoslavoff, who declared that Bulgaria will remain absolutely neutral, thereby greatly defending the Allies,: especially SerVia. In return for this she expects the Entente to restore the boundaries of the 1912 Treaty. RUSSIAN CRUISER ACTIVE. ARRIVAL AT PORT SAID. GERMAN AND TURKISH SHIPS DESTROYED. (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) PETROGRAD,, December 20. Official: The cruiser Ask old has arrived at Port Said. She captured a German vessel off..the Syrian coast. She also blew,up a Turkish steamer and sank another at Beirut.

GREEK OFFICER ARRESTED. SENTENCED TO DEATH. A PROTEST TO TURKEY. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 21, -S. a.m.) x LONDON, December 20. The American cruiser Tennessee lias arrived at Alexandria. A Greek non-commissioned naval officer, an attache at the Greek legation at Constantinople, has been arrested on a charge of spying on the ships leaving port. He was tried and sentenced to death. ' Greece demanded that he should be handed over to the Legation, but Turkey refused. Greece has also protested against the Turkish massacres in Aival.

IN ENGLAND. RUSH OF RECRUITING. TRADESMEN REAPING A HARVEST "Times"' and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received December 21, 8 a.m.) ' LONDON, December 20. In many of the provinces the board-ing-house keepers were severe losers until the Belgian refugees arrived, and Territorials were billeted ' with them. The jewellers are busy owing lo recruits buying presents for the girls they are leaving behind, while the studios are being rushed by recruits anil their sweethearts getting photographed. Unskilled labour is being well paid in the "preparation 6f trenches, and consequently farmers in. many places have difficulty in securing Jabour. GERMANY AND AMERICA. "NOTHING TO~DO WITH YOU." VERA CRUZ AND BELGIUM. (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 20. 1 The "Frankfurter Zeitung" publishes a letter, in which' a German-; American sayS:—-' ' \ Impartial people in America are powerless to influence public opinion. America will have nothing to do with you; ; - T i.v ■■• : ; ■ •; : ■-■ The writer contrasts the' American oc-' cupation of Vera Cruz, where she has less business fo be than' Germany has in Belgium. AT HONG KONG. A LIE REFUTED. TREATMENT OF GERMAN ' PRISONERS. « (Received December 21, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. The German Government, having stated

that German civil prisoners at Hong Kong are being compelled to work like coolies, the American Consul-General, at the Rt. Hon. Lewis Harcourt's instance, investigated the statement, and found it to be untrue. LAST OF THE REBELS. TWO LEADERS CAPTURED. BRITAIN BITTERLY REPROACHED. (Received December 21, 9.15 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, December 20. Wolmarans and Conroy, the last of the rebel leaders, have been captured. At the court-martial of the Pourie brothers, both of whom were formerly officers in the Defence Porce, the elder bitterly reproached the British conduct during the Boer war) and declared that they had injured Boer traditions at every op-

four large boarding-houses, four churches, and the workhouse at Scarborough. The damage is estimated at £40,000, and it will take many months to repair the losses. Thirty shells were found embedded in the Spa Gardens. It is asserted that signalling by flashlight was seen on the eve of the raid. Search is being made for spies at Hartlepool. Most of the victims were women and: children. A falling gable killed ten,who were taking refuge. The German steamer Dinebole was.j the worst sufferer; amongst the shipping in the harbour. A shell damaged a shop five miles in-, land. ! Less than twelve hours after the 1 , Germans disappeared, workmen commenced repairing damage. There 1 is i little grumbling among residents of the ! coast. It is realised that..the raid was'jj a repetition of the meteoric dash on Yarmouth. There is universal regret that the; German ships escaped. The uppermost feeling is that when the-day of reckoning comes the pill which Germany will have to. swallow will not be made pleasanter by this raid. There; is a burning desire to avenge scores of. innocent sufferers. - ■ I

portunity. ; There was a greater honour in standing as a prisoner than in being an officer in the British Army. He added that there were enough people on the veldt to rescue South Africa. , THE DEATH PENALTY. CAPTAIN FQURIE SHOT. HIS BROTHER SENT TO PRISON. (Received December 21, 10.50 a.m.). JOHANNESBURG, December 20. Captain Fourie has been shot, and his death sentence has been commuted to one of five years' imprisonment. \ i • IN THE COMMONWEALTH. THE GOVERNMENT AND WHEAT. CHRISTMAS TRADE AND THE WAR. (Received December 21, 9.45 a.m.) , ;;. SYDNEY, December 21. The !Government has stopped all; wheat f<rom crossing over into Victoria and many laden teams have been-held Up. ."i-K '. Adviceihas been received of the death. in.Egypt:'of Roy Gartside Culleri,a mem-, ber of the Expeditionary Force. His next Of -kin is his wife, a resident of New Zealand. '"-• ■■'' • -'■■ ■■■■'■■■'■ Though the -Christmas .spending is hardly so heavy asin previous -years, business is very brisk. It is estimated that the Christmas dinner will cost very little above the normal price. THE GERMAN RAID. SPIES AND FLASHLIGHTS. DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE DONE.

LONDON, December' 20. German shells damaged six hotels,

Lloyd V bombardment risks for the' coast from Harwich^ orthwards are at the rate of 40/- per cent.; from Har-' wieh to Dover, 20/-; and the South, Coast 10/-, and the West Coast 5/- per cent.

AN INSPIRED TELEGRAM. - GERMANY MAKES EXCUSES. FUNERAL OF SCARBOROUGH' ', VICTIMS. , (Received December 21, 9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 30. An apparently inspired Berlin telegram declares that Scarborough is a fortified place, and that only the coastguard and wireless-stations at Whitby were bombarded, which actions are not contrary to international law. (Received December 21, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. There-were pathetic scenes at the funerals of the victims of the raid on Scarborough. , i , The Archbishop of York in his address at the memorial service, said: "The death of these innocent people must be a> reminder of the ruthless ferocity'of the war spirit which the Allies are striving, to destroy.' LONDON, December 20. Two mine sweepers between Scarborough ,and Filey have been blown up, and a third seriously- damaged. The bulk of the crews were saved.

THE NEW SULTAN. WHY HUSSEIN WAS CHOSEN. CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING. i LONDON, December 18.. Britain has informed Prince Hussein that he was chosen as Sultan of Egypt because, as a Prince of Mehemet Ali's family; he is the most worthy to occupy the new 1 "position, of Sultan of Egygi. Foreign relations henceforth .will be conducted through Britain's High Com-, niissioner. Revision of the capitulations will be postponed until thje. end of. ! ; the war presents a clearer definition of Britain 's position in Egypt, and accelerates progress towards self-government. Egyptians' religious convictions will bo scrupulously respected. In declaring; Egypt free from any duty of obedience to the usurper's political power at Con-; stantinople, the British Government is; animated by no hostility towards, the Caliphate. The past history of Egypt shows that the loyalty of the Egyptian Mohammedans towards the Caliphate is independent of any political bonds between Egypt and Constantinople. The strengthening and progress of Moham-medan-institutions in Egypt is a matter in. which the ; British Government takes the deepest interest. In carrying out such reforms as'are necessary PrinceHussein, may count on "the Government's sympathetic support. The Government confidently rely on the loyalty, good, sense,, and self-restraint of Egyptian subjects to facilitate the task.

; . The Commander of the Forces is entrusted with the maintenance of order and the prevention of rendering aid to the enemy. Reuter's Cairo correspondent says; the Union Jack was hoisted at the British Agencies, and a salute of 101 "guns fired at Alexandria, Port Said, and Cairo. The declaration of a protectorate has been cordially received. Prince Hussein has been given the Grand Cross of the Bath. The High Commissioner reports: —■ LONDON, December 19. . The King telegraphed congratulations to the new Sultan of Egypt, expressing the conviction that the protectorate exercised by Britain would successfully overcome the influences seeking to destroy the independence of Egypt, and the liberty and happiness of the people. PRINCE HUSSEIN'S VIEWS. NEVER A PRETENDER. FRANCE AND ITALY RECOGNISE PROTECTORATE. LONDON, December 19. Prince Hussein, in an interview with the Cairo correspondent of "The* Times," said: "I have never been a pretender to the throne. Since the suppression of Arabi's rebellion I have

been convinced that Egypt needed European direction, and I am grateful to the British. My views are known to Lord Cromer and Lord Kitchener, and were known to the late Sir Eldon Gorst. Egypt has now become a centra of extensive cultivation, moral as well as material." It is officially stated that Prance has recognised the British protectorate in Egypt. Britain adheres to the FrancoMoorish Treaty. Reuter's Rome correspondent says the protectorate is heartily welcomed in Italy, as auguring increased prosperity and stability in and imply- ~ ing greater advantages to Libya and Itaty. - PARIS, December 19. The newspapers cordially approve of the protectorate. . Captain Bean, theofficial' - e6rrespondent with the Australian;' Expedition, cabling from Cairo, givet details of the annexation of Egypt. He states that the announcement surprised nobody. . Even the. peasantry knewVthat the change was impending. ' The majority realise that British rule is -infinitely preferable to The Khedive, who : was on a holiday in Europe at the beginning of the war, went to Constantinople, where he intrigued with the Turks. While he was theje an Egyptian Nationalist attempted to murder , him. His assailant was killed,- but the Khedive escaped, though hit by several bullets. Later on he definitely took the Turkish side and expressed hostile sentiments towards : the British Government'which decided,not to allow, him, to return to Egypt. The Khedive's personal influence in the Government has always been hopelessly corrupt. His methods of extorting money by; the sale of titles, and taking money frommagnates with whom he stayed on tour, had lately been a growing scandal. AN ELABORATE CEREMONY. ! PRINCE HUSSEIN PROCLAIMED. (Received December 21, 9.15 a.m.) CAIRO, December 20. The new Sultan, Prince' Hussein, has , been proclaimed, "with elaborate ceremony. There was an imposing parade of English, Australasian, and native troops. v f " The Aga Khan arrived to assist at the accession ceremony. ' ' ALLIES 1 DIFFICULT ADVANCE. STEADY ENEMY'S COLUMN CUT TO PIECES PARIS, December 20. An -official statement says:—"We repulsed an attack at and - appreciably -progressed in the neighbourhood of Korteker. ..We surprised* and cut to pieces a column at Linens.' * We'.organfised "ground gained on Thursday south of Dixmude and pushed "our 1 front to the south of Carobaret and Kprteker. The advance south of Ypres > continues over difficult marshy ground:' The Allies progressed over a kilometre in two days * south of La B&ssee. "During the night of the 17th and the following day we advanced at Albert under a violent fire, and reached the wire entanglements of the enemy's second line of trenches. German handgrenades forced us to abandon a trench captured on Thursday - north of Malincourt. "Several-German trenches were carried up the Lihons district, where three violent counter-attacks were repulsed. "Our fire, directed by airmen, demolished two heavy batteries-on , the heights of the Meuse and damaged a third.'.'

■The "British lost some trenches, to--war3s"Neuve Chapelle, which were captured on Friday. The Indians % advanced some hundreds of metres towards Bichebourg. In order to occupy Saint Georges,.the Belgians and the French crossed flooded country, sometimes waist-deep in water. Engineers made pontoon bridges. Six lines of German trenches, five hundred to a thousand yards apart, were taken on reaching Saint Georges. The | Allies discovered that -their artillery had driven the Germans out. ThYrtyeighi soldiers taking refuge in a cellar were • • ,', '■ '■■'] The Franco-British advance :to Roulers is confirmed. French and British outposts hold Roulers. , jA./ Belgian aviator threw a bomb on a German supply convoy ■ near Qstend, and destroyed three motor lorries. ■•..'" • The-Allies', advanced troops have passed Middlekirk. The enemy hasf been driven out of a number of trenches on the right bank of the - Yser, our forces having pierced the German lines just at the end of the inundation at Dixmude. The Belgians are acquainted with the exact positions of'the (tykes and ditches, whicH, hidden in the murky waters, were previously death traps to every advancing. German. The. forces were led by Belgians, who selected parts where the water was knee-deep. The AUies'then 'crossed and charged with the bayonets The Germans put up a poor defence., Many

prisoners were taken. Their losses in the vicinity of Lombartzyde were very heavy. LONDON, December 19. The "Daily Mail's" Dunkirk correspondent says that in advancing along the coast in the direction of Ostend, French dragoons attempted a turning movement near Nieuport. German reinforcements, with hidden machineguns, checked the movement. Next night the dragoons galloped round the Germans' right wing'and the Germans in the dunes, enclosed on three sides, surrendered.. Nine hundred prisoners were taken. A GERMAN REPORT. ALLIES' ATTACKS REPULSED. ENEMY'S LATEST CASUALTY LIST PARIS, December 19. i A Berlin official statement says that' the enemy made a number of attacks at j Nieuport, at Bixschoote, and north of; La Bassee, and fighting continues west of Lens and Noyon and the east of Albert; where, attacks were repulsed. AMSTERDAM, December 19. ' The four last German lists contain 22,601 casualties, including 1600 in a single Wurtemburg regiment. A Saxon regiment lost two thousand men at Beckslaere in Belgium in August. Recent lists include 30,000 casualties in Yser fighting. LULL ON THE VISTULA. GERMANS' AWKWARD POSITION. • GENERAL lIINDENBERG'S OBJECTIVE. "* PARIS, December 19. Advices from Petrograd state that the sudden lull on the Vistula arises 'from the awkward, position ,of the German left wing, due to the Russian success in the Mlawa region. It is now certain that the German plan to seize the right bank of the Vistula by making a dash on the .left and simultaneously advancing fr.in Mlawa has completely failed. LONDON, December 19. c The Petrograd correspondent of 4l The Times" says General von Hindenberg's real objective is not Warsaw, but the prevention of the invasion of Silesia, bOttCG his feverish activity and inability to adhere to a consecutive line of operations. The* Russian plans are well served there. If, instead of waiting in his trenches, the enemy advances, he will be destroyed. All his efforts will only postpone the day of reckoning. The Russian armies are within a>stone's throw of the Silesian border north of Cracow, which is the real pivot of all sie present operations. Moreover, the idesperate flanking move on the Bzura and from the Carpathians merely serves to indicate that the Russians hold the pivot firmly, whence they will duly sweep away the flanking movements and advance into the heart of Germany.

The."Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent says the Germans' action in massing so many army corps along the narrow Iloff-Lowicz -front is obviously intended to tie down as many Russians as possible, and to prevent them reinforcing the armies before Cracow and" elsewhere in Galicia. The Russians meanwhile are content with a policy, of subjecting Germany to the process of attrition. AFTER THE CALM. RUSSIANS BEPEL VJ#fcENT ATTACKS. GERMANS ALSO CLAIM VICTORIES. PETROGRAD, December 19. An official statement says: "A lull on almost the whole front on the left bank of the Vistula has succeeded attacks by the enemy, lasting several days, all of which were repulsed. "The enemy's offensive in Western Galicia has been checked. <r We are successfully executing offensive operations on the Sanok-Lisko front (•outh-west of Przemysl). We captured 3000 prisoners and several guns and ma-chine-guns. " During recent fighting 3000 Hussars and Prussian Guards were ambuscaded. Only 50 escaped. WELLINGTON, December 20. • The Governor has received the following message from the Secretary for the Colonies:— Official: The Russian Government reports success at Queehin and Mlawa. PETROGRAD, December 20. An official statement says: '' Our artillery prevented an attempt by the enemy to cross the right bank of the Vistula near Dobrzin. We forced the Germans to evacuate an island occupied by them in midstream and captured their pontoons. 1 ' Fighting in the Bzura is beginning to develop. Several German attacks were repulsed. We captured a thousand prisoners on the left bank of Dunaieta, in Western Galicia. A strong force from the Przemysl garrison is trying to get out in the direction of Bmreza." AMSTERDAM, December 20. A Vienna official message claims that the Austrians routed the Russians in Western Galicia, and also in the South of Poland. The Austrians made successful; sorties from Przemysl and took hundreds of prisoners. "GERMAN VICTORIES." RIDICULED IN RUSSIA. A THREAT FROM AUSTRIA. PARIS, December 19. A E irlin official message says that the pursuit eonttnues in Poland.

PETROGRAD, December 19. A semi-official statement ridicules the Germans' claim to have won a victory in Poland, though they do not give a single name and do not state the number of prisoners. Such a fanfare may deceive the Germans and Austrians, but will not deceive neutrals. Really, the Germans have been driven from Bekhanoff, and the Russians are at their heels and are already tripping them. Count Tisza, Premier of Hungary, in a speech in Parliament, intimated that Hungary would separately defend herself if the Austrians permitted the country, to be invaded. He emphasised that Hungary was an independent State, although in union with Austria. The independence movement is spreading, and assuming an official character. This explains the German effort to expel the Russians from the Carpathians. THE SUFFERING BELGIANS. HELP FROM OVERSEAS. CONTRIBUTIONS PROM AUSTRALASIA. SYDNEY, December 20. The Belgian Consul has remitted free of exchange a further £20,000 for the relief of Belgians, from New South Wales, Auckland, and Chrfetchurch. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, December 19. Sir Timothy Coghlan, Agent-General for New South Wales, has handed £60,000 to the American Embassy through the Belgian Ministry for the relief of Belgians. The donations comprise contributionsfrom Queensland, New Zealand, and New South Wales, making a total of £IOO,OOO. The donors expressed the hope that the money may, during the Christmas season, alleviate the miseries of the Belgians. AMERICA'S ATTITUDE. NO REPRESENTATION TO GERMANY. ' ! GERMAN OFFICERS OBJECT TO ! RAID. . | WASHINGTON, December 19. j President Wilson and Mr Bryan have j decided not to make any represen'ta- j tions to Germany, concerning the bom- j bardment of the East Coast of England, v Certain American papers have pointed out that America is involved in such a breach of international law, but Mr Wilson wishes to "avoid all entanglements in the present conflict. COPENHAGEN, December 19.

Naval circles in Hamburg are sharply discussing the raid. A number of nonPrussian naval officers declared that it was against their sense of honour to shell unfortified towns. The Kaiser and the Admiralty overruled the objection.

Several submarines accompanied the raiders, and other vessels were readyto* sail if the raiders got into trouble. •If the weather makes it possible, similar raids will be organised at short intervals, and an attempt will also be made to land a few thousand men, who expect to be captured, but may force England to recall troops from the Continent.

PETROGRAD, December 19

The Vienna Press is jubilant over the East Coast raid.' The < ( Neue Freie Presse" says: < l These insolent foes now,know what comes of threatening Germany's existence." The "Neues Wiener Journal " says: "England must now fight for her existence. This is the turning point of the war.'' THE AUSTRIAN ROUT. A HORRIFIED PUBLIC. REMNANTS OF ARMY EXHAUSTED PETROGRAD, December 19. A Budapest correspondent writes that the public are horrified at the details of the rout of the Austro-Hungarian forces in Servia. The losses in the flight and the rearguard action were 60,000 killed and wounded and 35,000 prisoners. *- More guns, provisions, and ammunition were lost than Servia possessed. The remnants of Potiorek's army, which is reduced to 100,000 men, are now in Bosnia endeavouring to re-form. The troops are worn out by exhaustion caused by excessive marching and by hunger. j ROME, December 19. I Advices from Budapest state that the Emperor has ordered General Potiorek to be eourt-martialled. THE WAR AT SEA. EMDEN' FUGITIVES CAPTURED. BRITISH SHIP CONSTRUCTION. NEW YORK,, December 19. A message from Tokio says that a British cruiser captured the Emden's fugitives aboard the schooner Ayesha. AMSTERDAM, December 20. A Berlin wireless message states that the harbourmaster at Rangoon telegraphs that an officer and 43 of the crew of the Emden's landing party have been taken aboard a collier. LONDON, December 19. The Press Bureau supplies an interesting record of ship construction in the yard of Messrs Cammel, Laird, and Co., Ltd., Birkenhead. The light cruiser Caroline, which was laid down in January last, was launched on September 21, and delivered complete on December 17 after, satisfactory trials. The contract date for delivery was May 21 next.

AUSTRALIA'S NAVY. LAUNCH OF THE DERWENT. NEW ZEALAND % SHIPMENT SEIZED. SYDNEY, December 20. The destroyer Derwent was successfully launched yesterday. The slipway vacated will be occupied by the destroyer Swan. Work on the destroyer Torrens is well advanced, and it is expected she will be launched shortly. The Derwent is the first warship completely constructed in Australia. Mr Jensen, representing the Federal Ministry, stated that she would be the forerunner of many such launchings of ships for the Australian Navy. The Government intended to continue the industry. LONDON, December 20. The Prize Court made an order for the condemnation of a shipment of sausage casings which the Indrabarah was bringing from New Zealand to Hamburg. LOSSES FOR THE ENEMY. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. PREVIOUS MESSAGES CONFIRMED. ATHENS, December 19. Advices from Constantinople state that the majority of the crew of the Turkish battleship Messoudieh, which was sunk by the submarine Dll, were drowned. WELLINGTON, December 20. The Governor has received the following telegram from the Secretary for the Colonies:— Official: The Russian Government confirms the sinking of the German armoured cruiser Friedrich Carl, with two-thirds of her crew. . RIOT AT NEW YORK. A TRAITOROUS IRISHMAN. LARKIN LEADS ARMED GERMANS. NEW YORK, December 16. Three thousand Genhans, armed with swords, forming a volunteer regiment, held a riotous meeting, sit which James Larkin, the Irish Labour leader, demanded that all Irishmen should arm themselves and fight against England while she was now engaged on the Continent. One speaker denounced the American Press for giving news favourable to the Allies, and then hit the reporters across the back with the fiat of his sword. The reporters attacked the speakers, and an uproar, developing into a free fight, followed. Deputy-sheriffs managed to quell the disturbance before many were injured. Professor Kuno Meyer attacked Harvard University, because it had refused to allow him to deliver a lecture attacking Britain. / A band played "Die Wacht am Rheiu."

U.S. NAVAL DEFENCE. SCENE AT THE ENQUIRY. NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION! WASHINGTON, December 19. After a scene before the Naval Investigation Committee, Mr Gardiner withdrew from the committee's sessions. Mr Gardiner proffered certain data showing that the United States was, utterly unprepared for war. The committee questioned the accuracy of this, and Mr Gardiner resented the imputation. It is improbable that the United States Congress will hold a further investigation into defence matters, owing to President Wilson's pronounced hostility. A j GERMAN IN ENGLAND. THE CASE OF AHLERS. CHIEF JUSTICE ON HOSTILE ACTS. LONDON, December 19. The Lord Chief Justice, in delivering judgment in the case of Ahlers; the German Consul at Sunderland, who was convicted of treason, said counsel had cited an Order-in-Council to show the reasonableness of Aiders's view that the margin of time should be permitted to enable Germans to depart. The Order lent some colour of reasonableness to his belief. Moreover, one material point, namely, the alternative issue whether Ahlers had been actuated by purpose or intention to aid, the King's enemies, was not put before the jury in the way it ought to have been. It in nowise followed from the evidence that Ahlers'h actions were hostile to Britain. Certainly they were not necessarily hostile. LOSSES THROUGH LOOTING. THE WAR IN AFRICA. OPERATIONS IN THE CAMEROONS. CAPE TOWN, December 19. It is estimated that the losses caused by looting in the northern part of the Orange River Free State total £200,000. Many storekeepers have been ruined as a result of the rebels' depredations. LONDON, December 19. The Colonial Office has issued a summary of the operations in the German Cameroons, which shows that the whole of the northern railv/ays running northward from Bonadcri is in our hands. BRITAIN AND BELGIUM FUND. DOMINION ART UNION. It has been finally decided that the Britain and Belgium Fund Art Union will be drawn on Wednesday next, at 4

p.m., at Mr Charles Clark's auction rooms. Ticket-holders are invited to be present at the drawing, which will be superintended by the Mayor of Christchurch. The committee is now exceedingly busy making all arrangements and gathering together all the blocks of the sold tickets. It is requested that the public will immediately hand in any remaining blocks, tickets, and money, as all have to be gone over carefully before the drawing takes place. GIFTS FROM GORE. Press Association. GORE, December 19. The valuo of one day's milk this mouth at the Mataura dairy factory, amounting to £94 7/9, £4 2/- from the factory employees, and cash donations to the amount of £l9 0/5, making a total of £ll7 10/2, has been subscribed to the Belgian Belief Fund. The sum of £IOO has been cabled to the High Commissioner, London, and'the balance is being sent by bank draft.