GENERAL NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 4, 14 July 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

FEAR OF DEFEAT. PERMEATING THE GERMANS. NEW YORK, July 11. Von Weigand's despatch to a New York paper is regarded in America as the first open indication of the fear of defeat in Germany. The paragraphs praising the German troops are interpreted as a significant admission of disquietude, suggesting that von Weigand believes a German collapse is possible, and wishes to say so between the lines, thus escaping the censor's vigilance. He says: "The thin, anaemic line of von Hindenburg, Prince Leopold of Bavaria, von Linsingen and von Bothmer is struggling against almost overwhelming odds, about four or five to one. Fresh Russian armies, equipped with ammunition from Japan and America, are beating against those thin lines with the eeaselessness of the sea. That cannot be otherwise than discouraging to the s'toutest hearts. 'Germany," he continues, "is practically without news from her own side. In no great battle of equal proportions during the war have the German military authorities given so little information. Undoubtedly there is great suspense hi Germany." RUMANIA'S OPPORTUNITY APPROACHING. WAITING FOR MUNITIONS. LONDON, July 12. The Daily Telegraph "s Bucharest correspondent says that the Allies' general offensive has deeply stirred Rumanian jniblic feeling. The Opposition newspapers are violently demanding that M. Bratiano should take action." Officials assert that M. Bratiano is aware that Rumania's opportunity is approaching, and he desires Russia to hasten the delivery of Rumanian munitions held up at Vladivostok and also 'to hasten the Allies' offensive at Salonika, to keep the Bulbars o.oou.piea»: ..-...-, .'.;..,..

THE INITIATIVE.

PASSED-FROM GERMANY. WASHINGTON, July 11. Von Weigand 's despatch to the New York World from Berlin says: "Germany is in a vice-like grip, under a pressure which is likely to increase on all the fronts. The question is whether the Allies, with their 670 millions of people, can crush the 115 millions of the Central" Empires; and it will be answered in tfie next few weeks 1 . "For the first time in the war the military initiative has passed from Germany, who is now fighting on the defensive almost everywhere, even in the west. "At Lutsh von Linsingen's counteroffensive has slowed down, and only at Verdun is the Grown Prince keeping up a show of pressure. "The Austrians may not be able to kold the Russians until the Carpathians are reached" TRANSATLANTIC FOLLY. A ZEPPELIN SERVICE. WASHINGTON, July 11. A despatch from Amsterdam states that Germany inaugurate in August a Transatlantic passenger and freight Zeppelin service. RUSSIA'S FINE HARVEST. ROME, July 11. The harvest in Russia is .10 per cent. superior to that of 1915. MUNITION MAKERS. A GERMAN STRIKE. BERNE, July 11. Five thousand munition makers at Brunswick struck as a protest against Dr Liebknecht 's sentence. The Social Democratic Executive Council also protested at the infliction of a term of servitude. Their protest is all the weightier in view of the Socialist leaders' well-known disapproval of Dr Liebknecht's methods of agitation.