RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 51, 28 August 1914, Page 7

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

ANOTHER TOWN OCCUPIED IN PRUSSIA. (Received Atfgust 28, 11 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, 27th August. It is officially announced that the Russian ttroops have occupied Tilsit. [Tilsit is a town of 37,000 inhabitants 72 miles north-east of Konigsberg by rail and 57 miles south-east of Memel. It is situated on the Memel or Niemen River, which is navigable, with steamboat 'communication with Konigsberg, Memel, and Kovno. It has some manufactures, and a considerable trade with Russia. Ifc is best known as the scene where the Peace of Tilsit was signed ia 1807, when the preliminaries were settled at a meeting of the Emperors Alexander and Napoleon on a raft moored in the Memel River. This treaty, which constituted the kingdom of Westphalia and the Duchy of Warsaw, followed the crushing defeat of Prussia at Jena and Auerstadt, and represents the very nadir of Prussia's humiliation by Napoleon.] GERMANY'S ALLEGED PLAN EAST AND WEST PRUSSIA TEMPORARILY ABANDONED. WHILE THE AIARCH ON PARIS TAKES PLACE. LONDON", 27th August. The Dutch press, on the strength of German sources of information, declares ■that Germany's planappears to be to abandon temporarily East and West Prussia tc the Russians, withdrawing slowly west to the River Oder, where will be the main defences of Berlin. The object of this move is to afford time for" the German armies operating against France to deal a deathblow to the British and French forces, and then to march to Paris. The distance between Mons and Paris iB only a quarter of the distance between Insterburg and Berlin. [Mons is 155 miles by rail from Paris, and Insterburg 425 miles from Berlin.] The Oder is one of the great German rivers. Ifc rises in Austria, and runs through Germany from the south-eastern extremity of the Empire through Silesia, where its banks carry the city of Bres lav, and without much general change of direction as far as Frankfort, fifty miles east-south-east of Berlin. The river then turns north for a short distance, swings towards the north-west to a point thirtyfive miles north-east of Berlin, and then runs in a north-easterly direction into the Stettiner Haff and the Pomeranian Bay. The city of Stettin lies at its mouth, while almost due east of Berlin, and about twenty miles north of Frankfort, is Kustrin. Over the whole of its course in Germany, the valley of the Oder is wide and shallow/ and the land along its lower portion is so level that the river subdivides, forming numerous islands. The Oder is navigable for faireized vessels as far as Breslau, through which city about four million tons of goods pass annually by the river traffic. The waterway has been greatly improved by canalisation. Franlcfort-on-oder, which is not to be confused with Frank-fort-on-Main, is an important garrison town, and has many times been besieged and captured by various hostile arnueßi \ The last occasion was in 1812, when the ] French took it and held it till the following year, when the Russians marched in. THREE OTHER TOWNS THAT HAVE BEEN CAPTURED VILLAGE WOMEN SECURE AUSTRIAN AVIATORS. - • ST. PETERSBURG, 27tb August. The Russians now occupy the follow- I ing towns in East Prussia : — Norder- j burg (twenty-five miles south of Inster- | burg), and Sensburg (fifty-five miles south of Insterburg), and Bischofsburg (fifteen miles west of Sensburg). A party of village women captured Austrian aviators who had descended at Gamen, on the Russian frontier. ITALY IS CALM COAST & FRONTIER WELL GUARDED POPULAR HATRED OF AUSTRIA (Received August 28, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. The Times's Rome correspondent says that Italy is apparently calm and unmoved by events, but the Adriatic coast and the Austrian frontier are well guarded, and everything is ready for the most popular wad' since the unity of the. kingom. Italy cannot long postpone her decision. The popular hatred against Austria is intense. The Times, in a leader discussing the positions, says : " Those who know and love Italy best are confident she will take her right stand and place at the right time." GERMANS SAID TO BE NERVOUS. ROTTERDAM, 27th August. Travellers state that the Germans are very nervous regarding Italy's attitude, and express the hope that she will keep neutral. FRENCH CABINET ! ONE OF NATIONAL DE- ! FENCE PARIS, 27th August. M. Viviani's Ministry has resigned and M. Viviani becomes Premier of a Cabinet of National Defence. M. Millerand takes the portfolio of Minister of War, M. Briana is Minister of Justice, M. Delcasse is at » the Foreign Office, M. Ribot is Minister of Finance, M. Augagneur Minister of Marine, M. Sembat Minister of Public Works. M. Malvy Minister of . Education, and M. Doumergue Minister for the Colonies. JAPAN'S OPERATIONS NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUS SERVICES.) WASHINGTON, 26th August. In view of Japan's operations, President Wilson has signed a proclamation affirming America's neutrality. EASTERN WATERS A TORPEDO BOAT FIGHT. BRITISH LOSSES. SYDNEY, 27th. August. A Rtuter'ft niawase. via, New York,

dated evening, 26th August, rea-ds :-— "Pekin. — Tlie British lost eleven killed and wounded on 24th. August in a torpedo'bont fight with the Germans oJf Tsing-tau." BRITISH ARMY COUNCIL LORD KITCHENER REPLACES MR. ASQUITH. ttIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SKRTICBS.) (Received August 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. The personnel of the new Army Coun> cil, as gazetted, is : — Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. General Sir Charles Douglas, G.C.8., Chief of the Imperial General Staff (First Military Member). Lieutenant-General Sir H. C. Scliter. X.C.8., Adjutant-General to the Forces (Second Military Member^. Major-General Sir J. S. Cowans, X.C.8., M.V.0., Quartermaster General to the Forces (Third Military Member). Colonel S. B. von Donop, C.8., Mas-ter-General of the Ordnance (Fourth Military Member). Mr. H. J. Tennant, M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War (Civil Member). Mr. H. T. Baker, M.P., Financial Secretary (Finance Member). [The members of the Council are the j same a-s before the outbreak of war, with the exception that Lord Kitchener re* places Mr. H. H. Asquith (Prime Minister.] ON THE SEA GERMAN AUXILIARY CRUISER SUNK BY BRITISH WARSHIP. OFF WEST CO~AST OF AFRICA. (Received' August 28, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. The Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, which was converted into an auxiliary cruiser, was sunk by the British cruiser Highflyer off the West Coast of Africa. [The Kaiser Wilhelm. der Grosse is a steel twin screw steamer of 14,349 tons, owned by the* Norddeutecher Lloyd Company. She was built at Stettin in 1897. Latterly she was running between Bremerhaven and New York. The Highflyer is practically a eister ship of the Challenger and the Encounter, so well known in New Zealand waters. "She is of 5600 tons displacement, and has a speed of 20 knots. Her armament is eleven 6-in, nine 12-pounder, six 3-pounder, and two Maxim guns, and two torpedo tubes.] HIGHFLYER'S LOSSES. (Received^ August 28, 11 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. During an exchange of shots one of the creiv was killed and five wounded on the Highflyer. ONE OF THE ENEMY'S CRUISERS ASHORE IN GULF OF FINLAND. GERMANS BLOW UP THE VESSEL. (Received August 28, 11.10 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, 27th August. An official Gorman statement has been made that the' cruiser Magdeburg ran ashore in fog on Odensholm Island, in the Gulf of Finland, and was unable to be refloated. A torpedo boat rescued the majority of the crew under fire from the Russian fleet. Seventeen men \rcii killed an<S eighty, five are miesing. The Germane blew up the Magdeburg. [The Magdeburg 16 a sister ship to the famous Breslau, which is keeping the Goeben company in the Dardanelles. She was a new ship, completed in June, 1912. Her tonnage was 4700, and her speed 25£ knots. She carried twelve 4.1-in guns and two 21m torpedo tubes. Odensholm Island is on the south side of the Gulf of Finland, just within its mouth, and lies within a few miles of the trade route to and from St. Petersburg.] TWO VESSELS SUNK BY . MINES WITH LOSS OF LIFE. (Received August 27, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON. 27th August. A mine sunk the Norwegian steamer Gottfrid, 426 tons, bound for Blyth, Northumberland, in the North Sea. Eight were killed. Other explosions were heard in the vicinity. A mine sunk a Danish trawler near Grimsby. Four persons were killed. ORDERED TO STOP * A UNION CASTLE LINER. GERMAN COURTESY. LONDON, 27th August. The Union Castle liner Galician (6762 tons) has arrived from South Africa. She reports that a German cruiser signalled her to stop, and to use her wireless. €The operator immediately sent, the " S.O.S. " (danger) signals, and had sent the first three letters of the Galician's name, when the Germans signalled : "We will blow up the bridge if another letter leaves." German officers came aboard, and in a courteous manner arrested a British Army officer and gunner. While this incident was proceeding a German liner, disguised in the colours of the Union Castle Line, appeared, and the cruiser forced her to hoist the German mercantile flag. The Galician's passengers cheered the Germans as they left. The Galician was allowed to proceed after the wireless apparatus had been wrecked. VERY CURIOUS STORY OP A MISUNDERSTANDING AN INACCURATE TELEGRAM. LONDON, 27th August. A curious misunderstanding on the j part of Prince Lichnowsky, the late German Ambassador in London, lias been revealed. On Ist August he informed Herr von Bethmann Hollweg, the Imperial Chancellor, that in a telephonic conversation Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Minister) had asked whether, if France remained neutral in a Russo-German war, Germany would agree not to attack France. Prince Lichnowsky replied that he thought he could take the responsibility for that. The Kaiser immediately telegraphed to King George that for technical reasons ho could not stop the mobilisation on the two fronts^ but. if France offered to remain neutral, and her neutrality was guaranteed by the English Army and Navy, '' I will cease to consider an at*

lack on France, and use my troops in another direction." King George replied that some misiinderataading had evidently arisen over Sir Edward Grey's and Prince Lichnowsky s friendly discussion as to how hostilities between Germany and France could be avoided while any possibility existed of an agreement between Austria and Russia. Prince ' Lichnowsky admitted that he had, been under a misapprehension, and forthwith telegraphed a correction to" Berlin, stating that there never was any question of French neutrality in the ©vent of a Russo-German war. Sir Edward Grey had merely made a desperate effort to see if Germany would remain neutral if England secured France's neutrality. The German Government published Prince Lichnowsky's inaccurate telegram, but suppressed his correction, in order to give fresh proof of British parfidy and Germany's eagerness to accept any peace proposal. QUESTION BY MR, KEIF? HARDIE. HE IS HOWLED DOWN. SIR E. GREY'S REPLY. (Received August 28, 11 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August Mr. Ken- Hardie, in the House of Commons, asked why the Government had rejected Prince Lichnowsky's suggestions for a settlement. Sir Edward Grey explained the facts, and added : "Prince Lichnowsky did not make any suggestions differing from those made by the German Government. Prince Lichnowsky worked for peace, but the real authority did not rest with him. That was one of the reasons why our efforts for peace failed." (Cheers.) Mr. Ke'ir Hardie made several attempts to speak, but was howled down. GENERAL ITEMS "WILHELM 11., EMPEROR OF EUROPE " THE WRITING ON THE WALL! GERMAN SOLDIERS' PROPHESY. (Received August 28, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. It is stated that, German soldiers scratched all over the walls at Liege "Wilhelm 11., Emperor of Europe." BOURBON PRINCES JOINING THE"ii.ITISH ARMY. (Received August 28, 10.24 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. The Bourbon Princes, Louis and Antoine of Orleans and Braganaa, are leaving the Austrian army and joining the British. ' [The two Princes, Louis and Antoine, are brothers, sons of Prince. Louis Philippe, Comte d'Eu, himself son of thfe Due db Nemours, who in 1840 married Princess yictoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The princes are therefore greatfrandchildren of Louis Philippe, King of ( 'ranee (1830-1848). Prince Louis-Philippe is the second son of the Comte d'Eu, and was born at Petropolis in 1878, and was a lieutenant of Austrian Hussars, as was also his younger brother, Antoine, born at Paris in 1881.] TALE OF GERMAN CRUELTY A PRIEST SHOT. (TIMES AND BYDNBY SUN SERVICES.) LONDON, 26th August. ' An American who has just returned from Germany states that the Germans on reaching Battice. about 18 mileß north-east of Liege, and near the frontier, compelled the cure to stand bare-footed and bare-headed in front of his church while the cavalry passed, threatening that he would be shot if the slightest provocation were given by the townspeople. After a few thousand had passed the priest heard his woman servant cry, and rushing into the house he found her struggling with a German soldier, and struck the soldier. Six soldiers then marched the priest to the front of tne church and shot Mm dead, SAME FATE AS HIS FATHER ALSATIAN WHO SHOT MARAUDERS. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICBS.) LONDON, 26th August. The German troops plundered the farm of a German named Hauff, living in Alsace during the Franco-Prussian war. Hauff, becoming enraged, shot a couple of the marauders. The Germans placed him against a wall and shot him. His little son, weeping over the body, told his mother that when he grew up he would shoot the Germans who had killed his father. The widow emigrated to Belgium, and settled at Vise. The son married, and two sons were born. When the Germans reached Vise last week, Haufl's hatred was rekindled at the German, atrocities, and he shot one of the invaders, who thereupon placed him and his two sons against the wall of their own house and shot them. INSTANCES OF BRAVERY A PLUCKY LIEUTENANT. (TIMES AND SYDNKY SUN SERVICES.) ST. PETERSBURG. 26th Aug. Lieutenant Skalon was shot in the cheek at the battle of Gumbinnen. He immediately rode to the rear, and had the wound dressed, and returned. He then received another bullet wound in the arm, and got a brother officer to dress it, and remained in the ranks until a shrapnel shattered hi 6 shoulder. There were many similar instances of heroism. A PRUSSIAN GENERAL .CAPTURED AT COURTRAI. PAPJS, 27th August. A band of Uhlans captured at Convtrai. in Belgium, fifteen miles north-east of Lille, wajucommanded by Count von Schwerin, a nephew of the Kaiser. Letters and a sword, a present from- the Kaiser, have been presented to the wife of the officer who captured the Count. [The Count von Schwerin referred to may be the Grand Duke Frederick von Mecklenbourg-Schwerin, brother of the Crown Princees of Prussia, who was married to the Crown Prince in 1905. He was born at Palermo in. 1882, and is a general of Prussian cavalryi] QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS REFUSES TO LEAVE ANTWERP. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) ANTWERP, 26th August. The Queen and her- children have refused to leave Antwerp. Germans in Antwerp are required to report themselves every three hours. BOTHA'S SON ENLISTS. CAPETOWN, 26th August. General Botha's son, a lad of 17, has left school and enlisted. [General Botha, Prime Minuter of the Union, of South Africa, was th'a Com-

mander-in-Chief of the Boer forces during the Boer War, succeeding to that position on the death of General Joubert.] SUFFRAGETTE DISTURBANCE SEVENTEEN ARRESTED. NARROWLY ESCAPE A MOBBING. August 28, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. Seventeen. Suffragettes, while creating a disturbance at the Home Office, nar* rowly .escaped a mobbing. All were arrested, including Mesdames Drummond, Dacre, Fox, and Richardson. CANADA'S CENSORSHIP. (Received August 28, 8.25 a.m.) OTTAWA, 27th August. The Government has established a censorship over all letters from and to Germany and Austria. ADDRESS TO KING ALBERT MOVED BY MR. ASQUITH. SPEECHES By"~BRITISH PARTY LEADERS. (Received August 28, 11.55 a.m.) > LONDON, 27th August. Mr. Aequith, in moving the address to King Albert, said the Belgian^ had unflinchingly faced horrors, irruption, spoliation, and outrage against ihcalcul* able odds. They had stubbornly arrested the onrush of wave after wave of gigantic overwhelming forces. The de* fence of Liege would Temain an inspiriting chapter of history. "We are proud of their alliance," concluded the Prime Minister. Mr. Bonar Law paid a similar tribute. Mr. John Redmond said there was no sacrifice which Irishmen would not make to assist the Belgians, The motion was untt>nihiously carried. Earl Cr.ewe in the House of Lord*, moved *n addTess of sympathy to Belgium m eimilar terms to that passed in the House of Commons. NOVIBAZAR EVACUATED BY THE AUSTRIANS. (Received August 28, 10.5 a.m.) PARIS, 27th August. A message from Kraguyevats (in Servia) states that the Atistro-Hungariaiiß have evacuated the Sanjak of Novibazar, a district projecting between Servia and Montenegro. Its area is 2840 square miles, and its population 160,000, exclusive of the Austrian garrison of about 3000. SORRY PLIGHT PASSENGERS BY A GERMAN STEAMER. TAKEN TO THE CAROLINES. (Received August 28, 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A letter from Mr". Mark Foy states that he left Sydney by the German steamer Coblenz on 25th July for Hongkong. When he reached German New Guinea he heard that war had been declared. The Coblenz landed her passengers and left hurriedly for a neutral port. The . passengers were stranded. They chartered a cutter in order to l-each port and get a steamer to China, but the cutter was wrecked The passengers returned and Were picked up and taken to Yap, in the Caroline Islands, where they now are. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AMERICANS VOLUNTEERING. BUT OFFERS DECLINED. (Received August 28, 11 a.m.) OTTAWA, 27th August. _ Hundreds of Americans are volunteering to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including expert airmen and submarine engineers. Ml 1 . Hughes (Minister for Defence) was obliged to decline the offers owing to the United States' neutrality. Over ten per cent, of Canada's Expeditionary Force ie composed of Canadians who returned from the United States to participate in the war. ; IN AUSTRALIA. FURTHER CONTINGENTS, IF REQUIRED. (Received August 28, 10.24 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Commenting on Lord Kitchener's speech Senator Millen (Minister for Defence) states that already he has submitted to Cabinet proposals for the organisation of further contingents if required. USE OF DIRIGIBLES METHODS OF THE ZEPPELINS. LONDON, 27fch August. An Englishman who has returned from Germany states that the Zeppelin's method is to hover beyond ra-nge,, lower a man in a bullet-proof cage from two to three thousand feet on a wire, the bombs are then released from the cage. BRITISH EAST AFRICA GERMANS CAPTURED. ATTEMPT TO BLOW UT A RAILWAY STATION. (Received August 28, 10.50 a.m.) NAIROBI, 27th August. A patrol captured two Germans, besides a quantity of dynamite, while attempting to blow up the railway near Vei Station on the line betwwen Mombassa and Nairobi. SOCIALIST PAPER IN BERLIN OFFICES WRECKED. THE KAISER'S (Received August 28, 11 a.rt\.) COPENHAGEN, 27th August. Militarists wrecked "the offices of thft Socialist newspaper Vorwaerts in Berlin, which had published articles making the Kaiser responsible for events which had resulted disastrously for the unity of Germany. HOLLAND AS A NEUTRAL COUNTRY. AN APPRECIATION. (TIME* *ND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received August 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON. 27th August. The Times, in a leader, says : "Holland has scrupulously performed her duties as a neutral country. We are convinced of her honest desire and intention to perform, them, bub whether

Germany will permit her to do ao re» mains to be seen. "With the exception of the actual belligerents, Holland ha& already suffered more from the effects o| the war than any other country." GERMAN NAVY MEN (Received August 28, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. Athens reports that a hundred and fifty perman Navy men passed through. Phillipopolia, en route to Oonstantinople. LEAVING FOR SWEDEN AND NORWAY. FRIGHTENED BERLIN PEOPLE. (Received August 28, 10.24 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. Many wealthy people are leaving fo» Sweden and Norway. ECONOMIC SITUATION . SAID TO BE DESPERATE' IN GERMANY. (Received August 28, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August. ■ Travellers returning from Germany declare that the economic situation is desperate. A large number, of export- firms -at ' Hamburg are already closed. A general trade catastrophe is antici* pated. v ' ■ ' ' WAR OFFICE DENIAL '■' REGARDING PRISONERS Of'wAß. (HUBS AND EYDNfiY BJUN JBllVtcM.) (Received 1 August 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 27th August.... The War Office denies "that prisoners of war are hotter fed than the soldiers. CAVALRY SKIRMISH * DESCRIPTION BY ONE WHO TOOK PART. " LIKE WHAT ONE SEES IN PICTURES. (TIMES AND SVDNBV SON 'BEB VICES.) ' ' (Received August 28, 8 a.m.) , „ PARIS. 27th' August.:. Describing a. cavalry skirmish, a. par» , ticipator ea.ys :— "We came plump upon tho Cuirassiers, round a. tor net in a lit» tie village. It was an absolute stfnprise for both, valid before one could wink we flew at each other. Ther* was -no firing; it was absolutely _. a., cavalry charge likfe on© &ees in ' pictures, the hoifies going hell for leather -and "every man sitting hunched up,'"h6ping"*he would not get his knees, cMjeftea Mif^ the fellows alongside. Lighter though vie were, we went at a pace which more that) compensated fov' 6tu-' inferior weight, and smashed -them " . BOY SCOUTS AS CYCLIST MESSENGERS.. " SYDNEY, 27th August? The Defence Department has 1 accepted the Boy Scouts' offer to form a' 'corps of -cyclist messengers. , , , BELGIAN REFUGEES . IN A DEPLORABLE CONDITION. (Received August 28, 9.10 a.m.) PARIS, mix August. Two thousand five hundred Belgian t'efugaeii, mostly women and children, have arrived here in a deplorable ooMdi' fcion. The Government is sending them to assist in the harvesting in the provinces ENGLISH TOURISTS SENT TO AN INLAND FORTRESS. (Received August 28, 9.10 AM.)' LONDON, 2Hh August Forty-eight English tourists, who were detained at Wesel, ha-Vfe now be&ni sent to an inland fortress. ' They a*e occupied t la light duties. There, ■ are other similar oa»es. SHIPPING ,'.:. .? ISLAND SERVICES TO BERESUMED'. ' " • (Received August 28, 10.24 &.m.) SYDNEY, Thi* Day. The Burns-Philp Company notifies the resumption of the Island service*. MONEY THE PARIS BOURSE SETTLEMENT POSTPONED. (Received August 28. 11 a-m.) PARIS, 27th August. Tho Bourse settlement lias been post* poned until 30th September. v REPRESENTATIVE STOCKS REPORT REGARDING DEPRECIATION. • LONDON, 27th August. Th« Bankers' Magazine (London) Eta,te&' that during the ten days prior to thfe closing of the Stock Exchange on 50tli July, the 387 representative stocks de* predated £187,092,000, and British funds show a loss for the month of £44,000,---000; foreign Government securities £4?,---000.000.( FOREIGN INDEBTEDNESS TO THE YOUKSHIRIiN\VOOL I TRAD&LONDON, 27tK August;- *" The > Morning Post says that the present indebtedness ot Germauy, Aiißtriaj France, Russia, Italy, and the Nether lands to the Yorkshire wool textile trade is estimated at between four and fiv* millions sterling, of winch half is due by Germany. Practically no bills have beeh honoured for goods shipped after April. Many firms have their whole capital Bunk in the countries now at war. It is. sug\. gested that the Government will >b«;b»tmdto consider some arrangement • 111 tll& nature of a clearing-house, <jn,'line6,\v,hich\ the British nations debit can be cci ugainsi what m owing. LONDON EXPLOITED BY THE GERMANS. BILLS FOR LARGE PURCHASES. (Received August 28, 8.2S a.m.) ' ' . L pNpON, 27th August. Ihe Financial Times says thAt the lowest estimate of the amount of billa nnd acceptances circulated in London, by. German bankb at ilie outbreak of the war is eighteen millions sterling. Got*' many deliberately and syßtematically-ox. ploited London for her own bc&efit "aad

England's injury. She had been, un-loading--on-London -and New York for - months previous to the war. Every manufacturing .city in the United Kingdom, is | • loaded "tfith; 1 German bills for large purchases • of* goods. -T Bradford's share is eight millions sterling. German accounts ■ were the main obstacle against the renewal of business on the Stock Exchange, ; OFFERS OF AID ;". TWO HUNDRED HORSES :;''OR"J t OTJR "THOUSAND POUNDS. Z". '(Received August 28, 9.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr. Sydney Kidman, the "Cattle ;King," has offered Senator Millen -'(Federal -Defence Minister) 200 horses "or £4000.' ' "* : - J JWHAT ONTARIO HAS DONE '} "BIG •GIFT OF FLOUR. i; (Received August 28, 9 a.m.) OTTAWA, 27th August. j 1 Ontario province > has given 250,000 -bags of flour, to supplement the Do"•inini6n's"gift. 'Most of Canada's contributions ,»re already en route to Eng--land. >-• \] AUSTRALIAN RELIEF ;f FUNDS, ;* SYDNEY/ AND MELBOURNE. ;: (Rested August 28, 9.45 a.m.) :» ' jr;t/J ' Sydney, This Day. *• 3-he-* Lord -Mayor's Fund has reached "* £5(3,0(30 -and tfie Chamber of Commerce ::War-*Efe 0 d Fuji'd £18,000. •: F©/)D SUPPLIES :; NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. • ■ (Received August 28, 8.25 a.m.) ' '{•_ VANCOUVER, 27th August. New Zealand -butter is at- s ls lOd per *lb. ... „ , :i WHEAT MARKET. i; LONDON, 27th Aitg (Morning). ;;- The wheat market is firm. Sellers are * making offers sparingly. The American TvisibltClupply is J 4f1.806,000 bushels. :i 1 - 7 "CH J ICAGfO,' 26th August. J* Wheat jumped three cents on Lord fiCitphener',6 announcement that Great -Britain was preparing for a three years' *.war_if necessary. NEWS 3IESSAGES RECEIVED BY THE PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister yesterday received the following cablegrams from the Higli -Commissioner : — LONDON, 27th August, 12.10 a.m. Reliable.— Four Russian armies are invading Germany and Austria, the first "in"^Eastern Prussia, the second in the direotdon-of Posen^the third in Western .Galicia',.,.^and the fourth in Eastern The Russians have occupied Kopilstza "4ttd'Tfifn»H»L - ■ Offlcial.-<rogoland has surrendered unconditionally. LONDON,' 27th August, 6.10 p.m. Official.— English cruiser sank German cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm Grosse coast Africa. General French reports engaged yesterday superior force.. Troops fought splendidly. Considers general position impending battle satisfactory. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE •ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS. ■ i The following additional officers have been appointed to 'the Expeditionary Force:— ' "Ca'ptaiif Waldermaii, general staff officer second grade. Captain Frank -Hudson, staff officer third grade. Captain M. W. *?. Thomas, New Zealand Staff Corps, deputy-assistant adjutant. ...... .. - _' Lieutenant' Colonel J. J. Esson, assist-ant-quartermaster general. , .Captain, J...R. -Henderson, &o, 2 Staff Corps, deputy-assistant quartermaster. Colonel W. J.. Hi11,. V.D., New Zealand -Medical- Coi'pVJ • -assistant director medical' services. "' " " Lieutenant-Colonel P. C. Fenwick, deputy 1 assistant. Major A, R. Young. New Zealand Veterinary Corps, assistant director veterinary services. SALVATION ARMY CHAPLAIN. Adjutant Green, the officer in charge <>) the i>alvation Army Workmen's Home in BuckJe^street', . will accompany the Expeditionary Force abroad as the Army's representative chaplain 1 . Ensign and Mrs. Pickering, from the Auckland Workmen's Home, arrived yesterday afternoon to take over the management of - , .the. Buckle-street establishment. ,' Brigadier .Bray," of the Salvation Army, Jeft for Painflei'ston North this morning to deliver & farewell address to the Expeditionary Force, in the departure > of which the Army is taking a lively terest.IN THE AIR There has ' always been a good deal "of" secrecy' , about the 'building of German ' aircraft — except , the Zeppelins, •whose si^e precluded secrecy. The suspicion., was fairly general that in time of war the Germans would show a ■sast superiority in this respect. This has not been borne out by fact. Four Zeppelins Jiave been destroyed, and a number "of" aeroplanes haVe been put out of action by the Belgians. The dropping of bombs from aircraft has not been so terrible a thing a& was anticipated. It is dim'cult to drop them accurately from ""a" h'eigH'fr" In 1907 the following article •was adopted"by Th# ' H&gae Convention : "The con tractwig/ parties 'agree to prohibit for aVperiodf-extending to the close of tfie"tHif<rFea<;eXonference the discharge of projectiles and explosives ftom balloona or by other jiew methods oi' ,a similar nature." Great Britain, the United^ States, and Austria were parti&s to this agreement} but it was not accepted •by Germany, Spain, Prance, Italy, Japan, or Sweden. It is only binding, therefore, upon the nations whoee delegates signed it.