WITHIN NINE MILES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 5

WITHIN NINE MILES

FIERCE FIGHTING IN POLAND ' ". MMC. SMUGHTK I EMMY'S '.".'■ EANKS '' THRILLING FIGHT IN THE '■ CLOUDS DIMIM RAIDERS' DRIVEN OFF TURKISH DESIGNS ON EGYPT The Allies in Flanders are now within nine miles of Ostend, and German civilians are leaving the town. So states the Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf," published at Amsterdam. Violent fighting has been taking place north-east of Soissons, on the Aisne, and to-day's news from that region tells of a brilliant exploit by French Chasseurs Alpines just • • prior'to the capture of Perthes. In the' Eastern theatre the Germans have been hammering at the Russian line in a desperate attempt to break through. The fighting lately has been mainly on a front about 30 miles from Warsaw, and' the German losses have been enormous. The airmen have been covering themselves with glory. It now appears that the fleet of German, "doves" which flew over Dunkirk and dropped bombs were severely punished by intrepid Belgian aviators, after a most thrilling fight in the clouds. There is little that is new from the Asia Minor campaign between the Russians and the Turks. The debacle at Sara Kamysh, where the Turks have suffered a crushing de-. feat, is said to have been worse than Sedan.. Conflicting statements are to hand of the Turco-German preparations for 'an advance on \Egypt. On the one hand it is stated' that , great preparations are proceeding ~ apace, while from Constantinople comes an admission that the expedition is fore- , doomed to failure, by reason of the.menace to the invading army's, i communications from a possible attack by the British from the sea. The presence of a Rumanian mission in, Paris is regarded as an important manifestation of the trend of events—Rumania's entry into the European conflict. Meanwhile a combined German-Austrian effort is to be exerted to crush Servia before that happens. If report is to be believed, Kitchener has prophesied—or rather, said something from which a prophecy could be deduced—that the war will really begin in May, while the cautiously-expressed beliefs of generals on active service indicate that the return of fine weather will herald the approach of the decisive phase of the. war. The State officials at .Washington are disappointed at the terms of Sir Edward Grey's' interim reply to the American Note on the. subject of contraband cargoes, but it has been favourably received by. the American Press. WITHIN NINE MILES OF OSTEND., ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES FURTHER CAPTURES OF TRENCHES By Teleßrash—Press 'Association—Oonyiishli m. i.m t «i ' j. ii. . ~ ' Amsterdam, January 11.. ■i n % "Meeraaf*-reporta that the nearest 'Allied forces aie within nine miles of Ostend. German civilians are leaving the town. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED; WITH HEAVYJ LOSSES, ~, . , , ■~.„ ~'■ ■ Paris, January 11. A communique etetes:' "After violent fighting we seized a trench near Laboiselle. We repulsed a counter-attack north-east of Soissons then carried two trenches, ensuring complete possession of the spur upon which the trenches are situated. .We repulsed counter-attacks north of Perthes and captured more trenches. r • "German efforts to retake the redoubt north of Beausejour failed with heavy losses. Eaoh attaok was made with two battalions (2000 men} (Rec. January-12, 9.40 p.m.) Official.—"The situation along our front-is unchanged;'' ENEMY'S .VERSION OP THE FIGHTING. « n • mi t, London, January 11. „„ A Ger , man communique states:—The French attack at Lahoisello failed, ihe French occupied a small portion of our foremost trenches north of Soissons, but their further efforts failed. ,We have recaptured a trench east of Perthes. Slow progress has been made in Poland, west of the Vistula, owdnc to the weather. _ i " BELGIANS' NEW 'ARMY READY FOR THE FIELD. * London, January 11 .The new army of the Belgians is numerically equal to the original army. It is training in Normandy, and will shortly be ready to take the field-. "Times" and Sydney. "Sun" services. GREAT FIRE IN. BRUSSELS. (Reo. January; 12, 7.15 p.m.) . . Amsterdam, January 12/ Refugee's report that a great fire is raging in' Brussels. BRILLIANT ATTACK BY FRENCH CHASSEURS ENEMY'S OAMP.'SUDDENLY SURPRISED. (Rec. January 12, 11.15 p.m.) Paris, January 12. Prior to the capture of Perthes, a brilliant attack was delivered on Gorman reinforcements coming from Grandproo to prepare fresh positions behind where Uormnqs were being heavily ■ pressed. • A battalion of Alpine Chasseurs, with a mountain battery,'stumbled on the enemy's outposts, who : were bayoneted or captured without ji shot being fired- Tho march was continued to the enemy's, encampment in the hollow. The searchlights, wore turned on the unsuspecting Germans, and tho Chasseurs charged with the bayonet. A lucky shot from a French gun, lcll on the German batteries and blew up a 'quantity of ammunition, and discomfited the enfjmy, who wars in eon? mderabjy superior iorco before tho time tlu Vrwh withdraw and regajflw their linen,

GERMAN EAGLE AND RUSSIAN BEAR THE CAMPAIGN IN PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK'jiON WARSAW Pfltrograd, January 11. The German attacks on the Bzura are now half-hearted, badly concerted, and lack impetuosity. The condition of the prisoners is pitiable. Many are of the" Landsturm, and are unfitted to- stand the rigoiurs of winter. • Frostbite and exposure have added considerably to the list of ineffcotives. A remarkable- thaw has set in, and most of the trencbjss are half full of melted snow. - ; A MILLION GERMANS, FOR ANOTHER ATTACK, ffondon, January 11. It J6 reported in Berlin that General von Hinflenberg is assembling a million men for a. decisive attack on Warsaw.—"Times"- and Sydney "Sun" services. i FIGHTING ALONG THE .VIS'JjULA. (Roc. January 12, 7.15 p.m.),' Pfttrograd, January 12. Official.—"The Germans on January 10 attacked at several points on the left bank of the Vistula, but unsuccessfully. At villtiges eaet of Skiernewiece they reached our entanglements. They tried to drape us by calling: 'Don't fire on your own men I We poured a murderous fire, on them and then coun-ter-attacked, driving them off with heavy loss. • i _ "We are cannonading the German positions in (Jalicia "• : ■ I DESPERATE FIGHTING NEArJwARSAW ENEMY'S FURIOUS ATTACKS REPULSED. (Reo. January 12, 11.20 p.nj.j) PetiMgrad, January 12. During the past week the German offensive has been confined to a zone ten miles wide, thirty miles from Warsaw. Two army corps have been engaged, one in the trenches and the other in reserve. The Germans are straining every nerve to gain the Bolimow woods, where-.the fighting is fierce, and positions are frequently changing hands. ; Despite enormous sacrifices or men, and the unceasing bombardment, the Germans have failed to make headway. Thirteen consecutive attacks were repulsed in one night. After the tenth attaok, the bodies were piled so high that the Russian riflemen were unable to shoot, and a party wa3 sent out to arrange heaps of the bodies to form embrasures for the Russian machine-guns. The three next attacks wore repulsed from behind the shelter of the enemy'B bodies. At another point on the Rawka, a German sis-gun field battery went into the open and shelled the Russian trenches. The Russian artillery demolished three of the guns, killing the servers. The remainder took shelter, and came out later. The Russians smashed two more of the guns, killing tht crews, and the last gun was served until it also was destroyed. REPORTED MOVE TO CRUSH THE SERBS GERMANS TO ASSIST THE; AUSTRIANS. Amsterdam, January 11. It is reported that Germany is planning to assist the Austrians to crush the Serbs. It is declared, that a hundred thousand Prussians and three hundred thousand Austrians are employed in/the campaign. Such a move is deemed imperative in view of the grave situation in the Balkans. With Rumania allegedly preparing to assist the Allies the position of Austria-Hungary is regarded as most critical. RUMANIAN MISSION IN PARIS. ' • \ ■ i (Rec. January, 12, 6.20.p.m.) • Paris, January 11. _ The presence of. a Rumanian mission is regarded as an important manifestation. It is felt heTe that Rumania, with justice, cannot'much longer remain aloof.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. ■ TURKISH DEBACLE AT SARA KAMYSH ,;,:/. .:,-. WORSE THAN SEDAN THE PROJECTED ADVANCE IN EGYPT ' London, January 11. A Russian military expert considers the Turkish defeat at Sara Katnysh overshadows von Moltke's overwhelming defeat of the French at Sedan. It was the first time in military history that two large armies fought at an altertude of ten thousand feet, in severe winter weather.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. Potrograd, January 11. A message from Tiflis states that Iskhan Pasha surrendered when only three hundred men of his command rematnod. PANIC AND TERRORISM IN CONSTANTINOPLE. (Reo. January, 12, 6.20 p.m.) ■ Athens, January 11. The newspaper report that panic and terrorism are increasing in Constantinople, where the Christians are closely watched. Extreme exactions are enforced in the shape of military taxes. —"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. THE TURKISH ADVANCE IN EGYPT MASSING GREAT FORCES AND IMMENSE SUPPLIES. i (Reo. January; 12, 6.20 p.m.) ' London, January 11. The Ottoman leaders in Syria, inspired by the Germans, seem to have decided on an attempt to advance on the Suez Canal, and are massing great forces and immense supplies, but the projected movement westward is very Blow.—"Times" and Sydney; ''Sun" services, , . EXPEDITION 'ANr'ADM.ITTED FAILURE. (Reo. January 12, 9.40 p.m.) London, January 12.. The "Daily Telegraph's" Athens correspondent says that it is admitted in Constantinople that the expedition against Egypt has failed, the Turks fearing that the British will land on the Syrian, coast and endanger the communications. The "Times's" special correspondent, writing from Cairo on November 27 last, said: "The news that Djemal Pasha, Minister of Marine, has been appointed to command the. Ottoman forces destined to operate against Egypt, is, if true," proof that the Turks are not making a mere demonstration against the Suez Canal, One of the leaders' of ths Committee Party, ex-Governor of Adana and Basra, commander of the Konia division, and afterwards of an army corps during the Balkan War, Djemal is one of the foremost figures in Turkish politics. His military value is uncortain, and he has the reputation of being a headstrong if energetic leader, and is known to have 6trong Pan-' Islamio sympathies. Since his discovery that the British is really a military occupation of' Egypt—a discovery which seems to have been made for him by the German Ambassador in Constantinople—he has been almost a monomaniac on the subject of an expedition against the Canal, whereby he has hoped to avenge what he considered the affront put on Turkey by England when she laid an embargo on the two Ottoman Dreadnoughts built in England.'