ITALIAN WARSHIP LOST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2977, 15 January 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN WARSHIP LOST

♦ STRUCK BY TWO IMS

ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED MEN DROWNED HARASSING TIE HUNS ■ DESTRUCTIVE BRITISH TRENCH RAIDS STUBBORN FIGHTING ON THE : ." RIGA FRONT , ■■;'■. An interesting account is given by Mr. Philip Gibbs of success- . ful British attacks lately made in the region of the Ancre. There is. reason to believe, Mr. Gibbs states, that these local operations are part of a methodical plan, and iho prelude to vastly more impor- ■■ tant operations. Some account is given by Captain Ross of raids in jwhich New Zealanders have taken a creditable part. The Russians are achieving important results in their offensive west of Riga. Heavy fighting is reported in Rumania, but no very pronounced change in the situation is disclosed. The Allies are taking firm measures in Greece. They have refused to lift the blockade until their demands are fully satisfied, and it is stated that the Athens Government has been informed th at failing complete acquiescence in the demands General Sarrail will take action. An Italian preDreadnought battleship has been sunk, with a loss of nearly 700 lives. The Entente reply to President Wilson's Peace Note is said to be regarded in America as a diploma tio triumph.

WARFARE ON THE WEST FRONT

SERIES OF SMALL ENCOUNTERS EFFECT OF THE DEADLY POLICY OF HAMMERING THE ENEMY (ByTelegra,ph-o?rcs3 ABSociatign-Copyriirht ........ (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. Mr. Philip Gibbs says the success north of Beaumont Hamel was the continuation of a Series of small encounters during the past ten days,.not big fights, hut important locally. ' They show clearly the oharacter of the winter warfare, the spirit of our men, and the effeot of our definite and deadly polioy tof hammering the enemy unceasingly with high explosives and not giving the(Germans rest. ! • The enemy made the first move on January 2, leading up to the recent Events. "Wo seized a small post in front of Serre. Wo then decided to take {two points and link them as a protective barrier.' Raiding parties on JanuSary 5 captured the posts. The Germans counter-attacked. In their first (effort twenty out of fifty were killed, and the remainder crawled back. The second attempt was blocked as soon as it started. Then the fighting grew ... jrrimrner and' grimmer, and the area widened until we were bombarding two Sriles of the front. - British detachments on January 10 following up the barrage penetrated Idugouts 1 and gave the enemy the choice of death or capture. All surrendered, including several officers, who were wet, miserable, and nerve-broken. ... !An attack was made on January lin greater strength on a misty morning ' jyver a snow-wvered quagmire. We were too quick for the enemy, and i pierced his dugouts before the machine-guns could be brought out. We gave jthem the same choice. Seme officers tried to rally the men. The rcsisters .were all killed. An important feature of these local encounters is the spirit of the British i (troops, which, has not weakened, but as as grim as ever despite the hardships and foul weather. Behind them the maßsed guns pursue their destructive work ill day arid all night incessantly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 London, January 12. Mr. Philip Gibbs, the war correspondent, says: Yesterday's attack followed a severe bombardment. Our casualties were slight. The attack was made before daylight. Seventy-five per cent. of. the prisoners are Bavarians; the remainder Prussians. The enemy's barrage was erratic. Our new positions form the top of a ridge. There is reason to believe that these local operations are part of a methodical plan, and is the prelude to vastly more important operations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable- Assn. ENEMY'S ACCOUNTS OF THE BRITISH 'ATTACKS. _ London, January 12. _ A German official message states: The English twice vainly attacked north jf Anore. Our counter-attack north of Thiacourt thrust them back from tho positions they hai gained.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. 'A wireless German official message says:' We sanguinarily repulsed the smajority of the British attacks at Serre. The enemy occupied an advanced post.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcutcr. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RAID ON TRENCHES. (Rco. January 13, 7 p.m.) London, January 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We entered enemy trenches at two points porthward of Arras, and took prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SUCCESSFUL MINOR ENTERPRISE NEAR YPRES. (Rec. January 14, 11.5 p.m.) London, January 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy'penetrated a post north-west of Gerre, and was immediately driven out. «, We succKSsfully conduoted a minor enterprise westward of Wy'tschaete. A French communique says: —A quiet day, with intermittent cannonade to various sectors.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'A ssn.-Reuter. OPERATIONS OF THE NEW ZEALAND RIFLE BRIGADE. ' (Special from tho N.Z. Official War Correspondent.) London, January 0. The raid so brilliantly carried out the other evening by tho Rifle Brigade is the second in which they liavo been successful within a. few weeks. In the last raid 43 Germans'wero killed and wounded. The prisoners were mostly young me% well olothed, but. thin. They said the health of their troops was good, hdci the only disease they were suffering from was had hunger. Their rations had not been reduced in bulk, but they attributed their hunger to the idea that they needed more rations to stave off hunger in winter than in summer. The probability, however, is that though rations are undiminished in quantity they aro lacking in the main elements of sustenation, and that the mon do not Ijdow this.

SUBMARINE MENACE TWO STEAMERS SUNK. London, January 12. The British steamer Hudworth (3900 tons) has been sunk.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable'Assn. (Rec. January 14, 11.5 p.m.) London, January 14. The Simian steamer Ruby ha a been sunk — Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Absti-

BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS GERMAN NOTE TO HOLLAND. The Hague, January 12. The German Note replying to Holland's protest declares that the deportations of Belgians are in accordance with The Hague but Germany undertakes to repatriate those Belgians who fled to Holland and subsequently returned to Belgium.—'Aus.N.Z. OaWe 'A'ssn.

FIGHTING ON THE RUSSIAN-RUMANIAN FRONTS

ENEMY SURPRISED NEAR. RIGA ATTACK IN DENSE FORMATION BEATEN BACK BY THE RUSSIANS (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) PetfOgrad, Jauuarr 13. The Germans are obstinately resiating the Russian offensive on the Riga front, and are concentrating strongly on Lake Babit with troops drawn from other lines. Every village has been converted into a, stronghold. The Germans lost enormously at Kalnzem, about 16 miles west of Riga. The 14th and 22nd Regiments were almost entirely destroyed. Over a. thousand prisoners traversed Riga. Tho Russian blow was so unexpected and violent that the enemy was unable to destroy tho bridges near Kalnzem, which, aro now facilitating the transport of Russians across the River Aa.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. January 1-1, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. Wireless Russian official: An enemy attack in dense formation at Kalnzem was beaten back'An enemy aerial squadron bombed tho town of Radzivilov. The enemy pressed back our detachments on tho height northwards of tho Sloniki River. _ ._ The Rumanians westwards of Moncstirks and Kinchinul, threw the enemy back, and occupied the trenches.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. ' I RUMANIANS ATTACK AND RECOVER LOST GROUND. . London, January 12. A Russian official message states: The enemy pressed us back for a short, distance south of the Oitoz River. The Rumanians repulsed an attack west of Monestirka. and Kichinul, and threw back the enemy for a. distance of two verstn (roughly a. mile and a quarter) southwards. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R.euter. A POSITION STORMED BY THE TURKS. (R«>. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. Wireless German official: We further progressed northward of ihe Slanio Valley. The Turks stormed Mihalea north-west of Braila, taking prisoners 400 of the garrison; the remainder were drowned in the Sereth.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Reuter. RUSSIANS PUSHED BACK BETWEEN BRAILA AND CALATZ. London, January 12. A German official report states: We stormed several positions on both sides of the Oitoz Road, capturing hooty and prisoners. • We pushed back the Russians between Braila and Galatz, towards the Sereth, and captured Lahurna. Armed enemy vessels attempted, on the night of the 10th, to pass Isakcea, on the Danube. We sank one, and another went aground. The enemy fruitlessly attaoked the .Austro-Bulgarians behind Cernava, south of Lake Ochrida. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY VIOLENTLY BOMBARDING GALATZ. (Rec. January 13, 7 p.m.) Copenhagen, January 13. Sofia, telegrams state that the Germano-Bulgars are violently bomhaTding Galatz, a great part of which has been destroyed, but an advance is difficult owing to the swamps, % whiqh. the Germ ans are bridging.—Router.

ALLIES' REPLY A DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH

DOOR TO PEACE DEFINITELY CLOSED NOTE WILL STRENGTHEN NEUTRAL OPINION IN FAVOUR OF THE ALLIES Washington, January 12. ! Semi-oflicial opinion regarding the 'Allies' Note shows a strong conviction that the statement of the Allies'caße is a diplomatic triumph—but that it will definitely close the door to peace for the present. Compared with the German Note, it will not fail to strengthen neutral opinion in favour of tho Allies. Satisfaction is expressed because the Note meets fully tho request for a statement of terms. The reference to tho restoration of territories wrested from the Allies in the past is interpreted to include Alsace and Lorraine. Mr. Lansing, the State Seoretary, regards tho Note as favourable. President Wilson is silent.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. ■UNACCOUNTABLE BLUNDER OF GERMAN DIPLOMACY. Now York, January 12. The "New York Times" welcomes tho friendly, frank tone of the Note. "It means Constantinople for Russia, and the disappearance of Turkey as the plague spotof Europe. Germany's new Noto was tinied for simultaneous presentation with that of the Allies. This was a deplorable mistake; another unaccountable blunder of German diplomacy. President Wilson and the Allies had given Germany an opportunity to say whether tho war was to end < now, and if Germany has the effrontery to say the terms aro unjust she will have the whole world against her. If she continues tho war it mil bo a hopeless struggle, resulting in untold suffering, inevitable defeat, and still harder terms."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ; UNPRECEDENTED UNSELFISHNESS OF BRITAIN. Now York, January 12. The fact that the 'Allies' terms contain nothing for Great Britain has caused the deepest impression that the British are fighting for the benefit of humanity and civilisation. Their unp xecedented unselfishness destroys Count Bernstorff's attempts to persuade America that the British have been using the Allies as a catspaw.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ENTHUSIASTIC APPROVAL OF FRENCH PAPERS. ■ London, January 12. The Paris newspapers enthusiastically approve of tho Allies' reply to President Wilson, and ask: Will the enemy show the same frankness? The document is the most important and complete issued during the war period. It demonstrates that unless the Allies' aims are attained Germany will be a perpetual menace to Europe.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. » London, January 12. The newspapers generally interpret the reply to President Wilson to mean that France must recover Alsace and Lorraine and Italy her lost provinces. There is an absence of reference to Germany's colonies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN PEACE TERMS IN PRESIDENT WILSON'S HANDS New York, January 12. The opinion ia Washington is that Germany intends to make further endeavours to secure peace, and will publish her terms. The United Press Agency says tlie German terms are in tho possession of President Wilson. They include the evacuation of Belgium, with payment of an indemnity; the evacuation of France, Rumania, Serbia, and Poland, without indemnities; tho Allies must return the Germans their colonies, and not take territory from Germany's Allies. Count Bernstorff announces that Germany does not intend to carry on ruthless submarining. He considers the Allies' reply is proof of their effort to crush Germany.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KAISER'S PROCLAMATION TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE HARDSHIPS AND DISTRESS OF THIS UNSCRUPULOUS ECONOMIC WAR. (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 13. The Kaiser, in a proclamation to the German people, says: "Our enemies have dropped tho mask. After re fusing with scorn and hypocritical professions of love and humanity our honest peace offer, they now, in replying to the United States, admit at last that they aim at conquest, the baseness of which is their calumnies. They aim at crushing Germany, the enslavement of Europe and the seas under the samo yoko that Greece with gnashing teoth is now enduring." and adds: "Our glorious victories and the iron will with which Germans have borne the hardships and distress of this unscrupulous war guaranteo that our beloved Fatherland has nothing to fear. Burning indignation and holy wrath will redouble every German's strength, and God will givo us full viotory over the enemy's rage and destruction."—Reuter. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN NOTE TO NEUTRALS • (Rec. January 13, 7 p.m.) Ambassador, January 13. _ The Austro-Rungaran Nolo to neutrals and the Pope in reference- I* the s Allies' reply to the Central Powers' peace offer closelv follows' the German - Note. e It stigmatises as axbitary and unprovable the Allies' assertion thai) the - peace offer was insincere, and declares that Austro-Hungary will continue to - fight relying upon God, but before God and man repudiates responsibility for the continuance of the war.—Roujteiv

ALLIES' BEPLY MEANS A STRUGGLE TO THE END. (Ree. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. German newspapers iccognise the Allies' reply means a struggle to tho bitter end. The "Lokal Anzeiger" describes th q Note as arrogant, impudent, and lying. That it has rendered Germany a service by strengthening her will to gain victory. The "Tageblatt" regards the Allies' demands as mad and frantic.— Aus.-iV.Z. Cablo Assn. ( VIEWS OP THE ALLIES ON THE GERMAN NOTE TO ] NEUTRALS i (fire. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. < Reuter's Agency authoritatively issues a, statement which may be re- ] garded as expressing the views of the Allies on the last German Note. 1 It re-emphasises that it was Germany who refused a conference in tho critical days of July, 1914. 1 With reference to Germany's allusions to Iroland and South Africa, it ] says: "Whatevor tho paßt differences in connection with theso countries, Germany knows to her cost that they are now united with tho rest of tho i British Empire in repelling Germany's aggression." Replying to tho German assertion that our starvation policy is inhumane, tho statement asks if Germany was of the same opinion in 'i 870 when sho starved Paris. Regarding the attempted defence of over-running Belgium, the statement reminds Germany that Herr von Beth mann-Holwcg in the Reichstag stated that the invasion was justified as a military necessity.—Renter. GERMAN DELEGATES TO PEACE CONFERENCE TO SPEAK GERMAN ONLY. (Rec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) CopenhagGn, January 13. At a. meeting of the German Language Union in Berlin, representing 300 associations, it' was resolved to.request the Chancellor not to permit any enemy language to be the common language at the Peace Conference, and to instruct the German delegates to speak German only.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.