RUSSIAN BLOW IN THE NORTH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 16 January 1917, Page 5

RUSSIAN BLOW IN THE NORTH

-* ■ FIRST PHASE ENDED' ts . • ' ip '

el I DRIVING POWER ON THE I WEST FRONT :W x 10 ' I MILITARY EXPERTS VIEWS id ■ • c,a —„ r, S TWO SUBMARINES CAPTURED i BY ITALY , n " i ie I JAPANESE BATTLESHIP SUNK .6 ■ ■ ' a 0 The first phase of the Russian offensive on tho Riga , front is believed to ha-ve come to an end. The Germans are massing powerful reinforcements of men and artillery, but' tho Russians hare fully a • maintained their gains. The enemy has slightly advanced at some a points in Rumania, but the position in that theatre is not greatly i! changed. It is stated that a thousand Austro-German guns from the o Rumanian front have been returned to the-workshops, and that the j campaign up to the present has accounted for tho entire output of the German munition factories for two months. The Italians report the capture of two enemy submarines, and the Russians have destroytt ed forty Turkish supply ships on the coast of Asia Minor. Serious g rioting is reported in Austria. A message from Japan states that the d pre-Drcadnought battleship Tsukuba was sunk by an explosion, r '« • o ' ■ ■ " ■ '

t e SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE ON RIGA FRONT 0

1 ■ A PASSAGE CLEARED f t RUSSIAN SOLDIERS THANKED FOR THE NEW [ YEAR GIFT i . (ByTclegraph-Prcss Association-Copyright. r ' Petrograd, January 14. J General Dimitrieff, in. an order to the troops participating in the' successful offensive on the Riga front, says: "You pierced fortifications which it has 3 taken fifteen months to construct, and, despite the fire from hundred's of ma-chine-guns, cleared a passage in awe-inspiring silence with tho bayonet, eco--5 nomising thousands of shells. I salute you, and humbly thank you for your ' fine New Year gift." . ' A great amount of booty includes thirty guns and fifteen thousand rifles. ' —Reuter. ■ ENEMY ATTACKS SOUTH OP BABIT LAKE. i London] January l<l. .Russian official: "Wβ Tepulsed l » dense attack by tho Germans south of Eabit Lake."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor. FIRST STAGE OF THE OPERATIONS ENDED (Bee. January 15,10.40 p.m.) London, January 15. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says the firsb stage of General Diniitrieff's operations appears to have ended. The Germane have massed heavy including a large force of .artillery, at the threatened points. The Russians continue to hold all gains despite desperate counter-attacks, bringing up artillery adequate to cope with the German efforts.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN GRENADIERS ENTER A RUSSIAN POSITION. London, January 14. A German ofiioial message slates thai Germani Grenadiers entered a Russian position at several points north of Goldene Bistritz, inflicting severe losses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE FIGHTING IN RUMANIA London, January 14. A German official message states: "We stormed and captured a summit southward of the Oitoz road. Unfavourable weather has restricted General Mackensen's operations. Wβ repulsed an advance on the Sereth, north-west of Braila."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . London, January 14. Russian official: "The enemy attacked from Komtumikhali, on the iSeroth, as far as Vcdens. We abandoned Komtumikihali."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable VJissn.Uouter. ■ . • (Reo. January 15, 5.5 p.m.) London,. January 14. A wireless German message statos: "We captured Vadeni, on tho Braila-Galatz railway."—Aus.-N.Z. Ca.Blo Assn.-Reuter. TERRIBLE DRAIN ON GERMANY'S MUNITION RESOURCES.' Berne, January 14. Over a, thousand Austro-Gorman guns from the Rumanian front have been roturned to the workshops. The campaign up to tho present has accounted for the entire output of German munition factories for two months.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

SIXTY NEW DIVISIONS WANTED ON WEST FRONT

VIEWS OF AN EXPERT ! ALLIES HAVE NOT THE REQUISITE SUPERIORITY ©F NUMBERS < .■, • ■ i i (Rec. January 15, G p.m.) . London, January 15. ■■ j Colonel Repinglon, "Tho Times' " military expert, declares there is necessity for securing sixty new divisions on the' West front. ■ "The belligerents are still far apart in their views as lo the hasis of tho , conditions of peace, therefore the sword alone will decide. The number of French, British, and Belgian divisions is insufficient for a decisive offensive. Supposing we had two million and the French three million, we rcust debit tho non-fighters'. Before tho war we supposed that a three-to-one superiority would not bo too great for the attacker; we have nothing like this superiority, and victory depends upon obtaining it frequently. The Nelsonian (? Napoleonic) maxim that numbers annihilate is shown to be correct. Freeh divisions were obtainable by sending to the 'West those dispersed elsewhere, and copying the German system of expanding tho total divisions by creating now Home and Dominions overseas divisions. Romissncss in the creation , of now divisions was a departuro from the conception of Lord Kitchener, who proposed to eontinuo tho ceaseless development of tho forces until our enemies were exhausted." ; Ho urges tho immediate passage of a Civil Mobilisation Bill, based on tho German law; even then it would bo August before the men wore ready.— "Tho Times." BRITISH HARASSING THE ENEMY WITHOUT RELAXATION Paris, January 14. ( The "Petit Parisien" enys: "The British are- nnrassio'g the enemy with- 1 out relaxation from Arras to Clio Somtne. The two days' battle at Ancre was .1 the most important action since November. The Germans regarded their re- ( doubts, a-s invulnerable. Many of the enemy were captured beforo they had ( time to dress."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ■ i

SUCCESSFUL PATROL ENTERPRISES.

(Rec. January 15, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "\\'a disporsod raiders at Guoudccoiirfc and conducted successful patrol enterprises at Neuvo Cliapello and Armentiercs."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. CUSTOMARY CANNONADE ON FRENCH FRONT. (Rec. January 15, 10.40 p.m.) London, January l<l. A .French communique says: Theren. Knemy reconnaissances south of the Sommo and in the region of Yordun. Enemy rcconnaisanccs south of Berry au Bac were repulsed.—Aus.-N.55. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.

KAISER'S PEACE PROCLAMATION DENOUNCED

TIME THE MASK WAS DROPPED ON THE VERGE OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE AND NEARING STARVATION New York, Jauuary 14. The "New York Times" scathingly denounces tho Kaiser's proclamation, and adds: "It is time Germany dropped her mask. The German need of peace is extreme, the country being on the verge of financial collapse, and not far from actual starvation. She will forfeit tho last vestige of neutral goodwill if sho does not stato her terms."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PEACE TERMS A FRESH DECLARATION OF WAR, London, January 14. The_ Cologne "Volks Zeitung" says: "The peace terms amount to a fresh declaration of war. We aro again summoned to fight for our freedom. Let us show the world we are worthy of our fathers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANNEXATION OF BELGIUM AS A REJOINDER.' Amsterdam, January 14: The newspaper "Bheinisclio, Wcstphalischo Zeitung" lias started an agitation for the immediate annexation of Belgium as a rejoinder to the Entente's reply to President Wilson. The Conservative newspapers decline to mention peace until a decision has been reached on the battlefield. Liberal journals belicvo that neutrals alone will bo able to do anything towards peace. Pro#rerman papers advocate war to the knifo by all available means. The "Cologne Gazette" describes the Allied terms as insolent humbug, full of tho poorest pretexts and excuses for political crimes.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNT BERNSTORFF REPORTED TO BE NONPLUSSED. Washington, January it Count Bernsterff (the German Ambassador) shows evidences of being nonplussed by the widespread naturo of the Allies' demands. He has ceased his conferences with reporters. This is apparently due to the fear of a reprimand by President Wilson,_ who, it is known, is most indignant over some of Count Bernstorff's insinuations, under tho cloak of anonymity, concerning Mr. Wilson's assistanco to the Gorman peace drive. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMANY IS SEEKING PEACE AND PREPARING FOR WAR. New York, January 14Berlin correspondents point out that while Germany is seeking peace she is also preparing to meet what she ox peels will be a tremendous Allied offensive in tho spring. They believe tho German method will be to hold the line in the West while von Hindenburg strikes a blgw in the East. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OVERSEAS DOMINIONS AND THE PEACE SETTLEMENT. London, January 14. Mr. J. L. Garvin, in the "Observer," commenting on tho silence in tho Allies' reply to the subject of tlie German colonies, says: "South Africa, Australia, and Now Zealand are free communities. Each has its own Monroe Doctrine, and will nevor allow the German menace to reappear in their neighbourhood. As regards the other German colonies, much will depend on the regime which may exist.in Germany itself, and the value of the guarantees for future peace." Mr. Garvin ridicules the German demand for a great African empire, but suggests the creation in tho Ottoman Kmpire and Africa, of an international domain, open equally to Germany and all otber countries. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asen. DIGNIFIED REPLY OP BELGIUM TO AMERICAN PEACE NOTE (Rco. January 16, 0.23 a.m.) London, January 15. The Press Bureau has issued Belgium's reply to President Wilson's Note. Il> says the President seems to believe that tho statesmen of the two opposing camps are pursuing the same ends in this war. The example of Belgium unhappily shows this is not so. The barbarous manner in which Gennany is treating Belgium does not permit of tho supposition that Germany in the future will guarantee tho rights of weak peoples, which she had not ceased to trample underfoot since tho war was unchained by her and she commenced to desolato Europe Belgium notes wiWi pleasure! and confidence that tho United Slates is anxious to co-operate in the measures t<, bo taken after peace to protect and guarantee small nations against violence and oppression. The Note complains that tho Germans mined Belgian industries, destroyed entire towns, killed and imprisoned a considerable number of its inhabitants, and sent to servitude thousands of Belgian .workers. Belgium has been forced to fight or submit to shame. Belgium passionately desires to end tho unprecedented sufferings of her population, but can only accept peace which will ensuro equitable reparations, and securities and guarantees for the future:—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GREEK GOVERNMENT'S REPLY TO PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE,.: (Rec. January 15, 10.40 p.m.) Paris, January l<l. The "Temps" states that the Greek Government's reply, to President Wilson's Note is violently recriminative against the Entente. It declares that no country suffered like Greece, although she was non-belligerent, and dwells under the strangling effect of the blockade in her efforts to preserve neutrality. —Reuter. MR. GERARD'S SPEECH .CREATES A DIFFICULT SITUATION Washington, January 14. Officials aro surprised to leaui that Mr. Gerard (the Ambassador to Berlin) was correctly reported. The incidoiit has created a difficult situation, which may load to a statement regarding Mr. Wilson's attitude on Germany's submarine policy and an investigation of reports concerning German plotters responsible for explosions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. y MASSACHUSETTS DEMANDS SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. (Rec. January 15, 10.40 p.m.) Washington, January 14. President Wilson has received a petition from Massachusetts with 15,000 signatures, demanding severance of relations with Germany.—Reiiter.