THE WAR.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 4 December 1914, Page 6

THE WAR.

KING GEORGE IN FRANCE.

RELIEF TO KAISER'S THEATRIC'ALISM. PARTS, Dec. 2. King George's visit has been received with the liveliest satisfaction. Newspapers contrast its unobtrusiveness with the Kaiser's theatricalism. President Poincare has gone to the north-west of France. AX IMPRESSION IN ITALY. "WAR TO THE BITTER END." ROME, Dec. 1. King George's presence in France has produced an excellent impression in Italy, and is considered as calculated to convince the most incredulous that Britain is determined to prosecute the war to the bitter end. CZAR AGAIN AT THE FRONT. PETROGRAD, Dee. 2. The Czar has again gone to the front. BERLIN OFFICIAL REPORT. HOW THE WAR WAGS. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 2. An official Berlin report states that the German army in East Lodz was seriously threatened in the rear by the Russians, but broke through after a fierce battle lasting three days. We captured 12,000 prisoners and 25 guns without the loss of a single gun. Our losses in men were not light but they were not colossal. "VORWARTS" AND "NIEN." CHARGE BY PRUSSIAN GUARD. ENDURANCE OUTWEIGHS DISCIPLINE. FURIOUS ASSAULT THAT FAILED. PARIS, Dec. 1. An eye-witness, describing the repulse of the Prussian Guard, states that the German discipline is wonderful, but occasionally it is forced beyond human endurance. The Germans were ordered to attack our trenches across an open space of 200 yards, and after cries of "Vorwarts" the first assault was delivered aud repelled. The second and third assaults were preluded with louder exhortations, but failed. Again there were shouts of '' Vorwarts,'' but these were greeted with exclamation of "Nein," and no advance was made. BOMBARDMENT OF RIIEIMS. FOUR MILLIONS OF DAMAGE. PARIS, Dec. 2. The bombardment of Rheims continues. All the factories are destroyed and the stocks of wool burned, the teetile industry being ruined. The damage is estimated at four million sterling. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. AUSTRIAN POSITIONS CAPTURED. PETROGRAD, Dec. 1. Official: Obstinate fighting continue* in the direction of Lowiez. German efforts to force their way in the region of Szercow between Weilun and Piotrehow, were repulsed with heavy losses. After :10 days' assault we captured Austrian positions oil the crest of the Carpathians, from Konecza to Ozozuka. Since November 14 we have captured 50,000 Austrian troops and 600 officers.

SERVIA HOLDING HER OWN. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS FAIL. NISH, Dec. 1. Ouicial: The Austrians violently attacked on the Hazarevatz front on Friday, and were repulsed everywhere. We captured twenty officers and 1500 men. GERMANY'S SUBMARINES. AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY. CAPABILITY OF BR'TISH FLEET. LONDON, Dec. 2. The Daily Telegraph points out that Germany has considerably more submarines than was supposed, having exorcised press mention of an unknown number which were being constructed at Dantzig or the Germania yards for GENERAL JOFFRE IN ALSACE. THE POPULACE LOYAL. PARIS, Dec. 2. General Joffre visited Thann (a town of Alsace), and interviewed the notabilities who since its occupation by French troops have loyally assisted in provisioning the troops. General Joffre said:— Our return is definite. You are French for ever. France brings you your spirit of liberty; she respects your traditions, beliefs, and customs. One ot the Alsatians replied: — "For nearly fifty years we have suffered every humiliation, being crushed, wounded, and tortured in the name of a civilisation boasting itseii superior to ours. This they well know to be untrue." He concluded by assuring General Joffre of their absolute devotion. lesser European and other navies. It is of the opinion, however, that the achievements of the German submarines will be less remarkable in future than they Übve been hitherto, the British fleet, by its speed and the use of the helm, showing its ability to avoid submarine attacks. FRESH ATTACK ON YI'RES. THE POSSIBILITY DISCREDITED. CASUALTIES BIGGEST IN HISTORY LONDON, Dec. 2. The Times disbelieves the probability of a fresh attack on Ypres or elsewhere. It considers the battle of Flanders gilded- because the opposing armies have dug themselves in. From a standpoint of casualties it is the greatest battle of history. f xt is estimated that the German loss is 200,000. - It fell to the lot of the British and In-

ilian troops to withstand the most furious Oi. the attacks, especially in the earlier stages of the battle.

SIR JOHN TRENCH'S REPORT.

TERRITORIALS PRAISED. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. CALAIS UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED. LONDON, Nov. 30. Sir John French's despatch states that the bearing of the Territorials, of whom there are six infantry battalions and five cavalry regiments, has realised ins highest expectations, lie again pays a high tribute to the resource and initiative of the Indians in repulsing superior forces. Their behaviour in their new surroundings has been highly satisfactory. The despatch adds: "Thp value and significance of the Allies' role in the West lie in the fact that at the moment when Germany's eastern proyinces are ill imminent danger of invasion nearly the whole of her active army is tied lip in 260 miles of trenches from Verdun to Nieuport, where it is now held, much reduced in numbers and morale by the success of our troops." Commenting on the despatch, the newspapers point out that Sir John French took an enormous risk in ordering the First Army Corps to Thourout via Ypres. But by doing so he undoubtedly saved Calais and the Channel ports. They also emphasise the fact that Sir Douglas Haig's original instructions to capture Bruges, and, if possible, Ghent, showed that Germany's enormous reinforcements were imperfectly realised at that stage. Sir Douglas Haig never reached those cities, nevertheless he held the line before Ypres against terrific odds until General Joffre was able to strongly reinforce him.

THE "JEHAD." ITALIAN CRUISER DESPATCHED. ROME, Nov. 30. The cruiser Calabria has been ordered to Syria to protect the Italians resident there. Owing to the threatening situation in Asia Minor and Palestine, following on the Sultan's declaration of a holy war, the Italian Government have despatched four steamers to embark the Italians. AFGHANISTAN NEUTRAL. MOSLEM OPINION OF TURKEY. DELHI, Nov. 30. The Ameer of Afghanistan, in a letter to the Viceroy of India, has clearly confirmed Afghanistan's determination to remain neutral. The letter, which is most cordial and friendly in tone, expressed regret that Turkey had embarked on war with England. It was certain to have the effect of further strengthening the general Moslem opinion regarding the folly of Turkey joining Germany. The leading Tirwana chiefs in the Sherpur district of the Punjab have offered to raise and maintain 300 men whenever required. The Government of India, following the British Parliament's example, will omit as far as possible all Bills of a contentious nature from their legislative programme. THE "MORHARRAM" PASSES QUIETLY IN PERSIA. LONDON, Nov. 30. N'ews from Theran shows that the annual festival of the Moharram passed without the slightest hostility being shown ■ towards the Russians. The "Holy War" proclamation from Constantinople was ignored in connection with the festival. [The Moharram is equivalent to the Mohammedan New Year.] THE FIJI CONTINGENT. TO JOIN' NEW ZEALAND REINFORCEMENTS. SUVA, Dec. 1. The Fiji contingent of 100 men is to join the New Zealand reinforcement draft. VON MOLTKE PRACTICALLY A PRISONER, LONDON, Nov. 30. The Daily New r s Copenhagen correspondent says that General von Moltke's Danish wife writes that her husband is a prisoner, by the Kaiser's orders, in the palace at Homburg-von-der-hohe (in Hesse-Nassau), for interfering with the Crown Prince's operations in the west front in the early stages of the retreat from the Marne.