WESTERN FRONT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

FIRST OBJECTIVE ATTAINED SECOND STAGE WHEN TIME IS RIPE. ' (TIKES AND STDNBT SUN SERTICIS.) LONDON, 6th October. The military correspondent of The Times. Colonel Repington, says : "It may be said generally that the first objective of the British in the north, and of the French in Artois and the Champagne, has been attained. " The accounts from the Champagne suggest that only a small part of the French armies attacked. ''The second phase mil begin when the time for the continuation of the offensive is ripe. "In the interval the gains will be secured, and time will be allowed for the German reserves to be exhausted in the customary counter-attacks. " Great sacrifices are necessary to gain great ends, and it is particularly necessary, when Germany is displaying lassitude and gloom, owing to her prolonged and terrible losses, to demonstrate emphatically our power,* not only to maintain the strength of our troops, but continually to place new forces in the field until the arms of our vile enemy drop out of his hands." GENERAL BOMBARDMENT. The High Commissioner reports :—: — LONDON, 6th October, 1 a.m. There is a general bombardment on the whole of the western front, the Allied artillery responding very energetically on the German trenches. On Monday evening the enemy made a surprise attack on our posts in the Vosges, but was completely repulsed. THE ALLIES' VICTORIES A GERMAN SNEER. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 7. 8 a.m.) LONDON. 6th October. A German communique sneers at the Anglo-French description of successes gained with a sevenfold superior army and with American and other munitions as "brilliant victories." It quotes

General Joffre's Army Order of 14th September*, stating that the present moment is very favourable for a general attack, because new contingents of KrU chener's Army had landed and Germany will be unable to concentrate adequate infantry and artillery reserves, thus guaranteeing our success. GERMAN GENERAL'S ORDER TO HIS TROOPS AND THE REPLY. (TIMES ASD STDNET SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. A French wireless messags says that, on 22nd September, General yon a' leek, commanding a portion of the Champagne army, issued the following order :—"Comrades, let us swear each to die rather than surrender. Let us throw back the enemy at the point of the bayonets and pelt hand grenades. Thus the first line will be a wall of steel of German arms." - The reply was the surrender of 25,000 men. "IN THE HOLLOW OF OUR HANDS " KITCHENER'S STATEMENT TO LABOUR COiwRESS. (TIMES AND STDNEI SUN SERVICES.) (Received October 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. The Manchester Guardian reports that a member of the Labour Congress, addressing a recruiting meeting,' said : Lord Kitchener told the congress that there was no room for pessimists. "Give me the men and munitions I want, and I will guarantee my personal reputation that we hold the war in the hollow of our hands. I know how many men we want for the army and the factories." (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) A MUSICIANS DEATH CAUSED BY ILL-TREATMENT IN GERMANY. (Received October 7, 9 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Advices from London report, the death of Joseph Vial, the son of a prominent Newcastle resident, as the result of German ill-treatment. At the outbreak of the war lie was studying music in Germany. He was

arrested and imprisoned in a cell with consumptives. He contracted the disease, and, after a month of cruel treatment, was liberated. He proceeded to England and was sent into hospital, but never recovered. ATROCIOUS EXECUTIONS WOMEN SLAUGHTERED AT LIEGE. SOLDIERS REFUSE TO SHOOT. PARIS, 6th October. Details have been published of the execution of Belgians at Liege on Bth June. A woman denounced twenty-five others for giving information to the Allies. One woman was persuaded to confess on a promise that the culprits would be treated leniently. Nevertheless, eleven were sentenced to death. Volunteers were called for the firing squads, but none were forthcoming. Men were then chosen under threats. The condemned arrived in wagons at | daybreak, accompanied by priests. They were placed with their backs to the wall, and posts were driven into the ground, to which they were tied i& their courage failed. Louise Frenay was ordered to be shot. The first soldiers hesitated, not being aware that they had to shoot v woman. When ordered to fire, some of them aimed aside wid some low, with the result that the woman was wounded in the legs. An officer ordered them, to reload, and the men flatly refused. ■ The officer called up a non-com., who shot the woman with a revolver. The rest of the sentences were rapidly carried out. IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF NEW CHIEF APPOINTED. LONDON, 6th October: Major-General Sir Archibald Murray has been appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff. [General Sir Archibald Murray was Sir John French's Chief of Staff with the Expeditionary Force in France, and has for some time been Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff, a post formerly held by Sir John French himself — he relinquished it during the Ulster crisis, and was succeeded by General Ewart. Sir Archibald earlier in the year was awarded X.C.8., and received by the King, and was also created a Grand Major \of the French Legion of Honour for distinguished services in the field.] DEALING WITH PRISONERS POPE'S NEW PROPOSAL. (TIMES AND STDNEY SON SERVICES.) LONDON, 6th October. A Rome report states that the Pope has submitted a new proposal concerning the prisoners of the belligerents. It has been accepted. The terms are kept secret. TWO STEAMERS SUNK. (Received October 7, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. The steamer Sailor Prince, 3144 tons, has been sunk. An unknown number of survivors were picked up. The stetHner Haydon ( ? Haydn) has also been sunk. The crew is reported to have been" saved. AMERICAN INTERESTS ARABIC CASE SETTLED. NEW PROTEST AGAINST BRITISH / METHODS. (Received October 7, 8.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 6th October. The Arabic case is now settled on the basis of Germany apologising and paying compensation for the American lives lost. The Administration is preparing to negotiate with Britain regarding alleged interference with trade. A new American Note is being prepared, contending that the British Government must show that goods consigned to a neutral destination and destroyed or seized are intended for Germany, and contending also that the assumption that all foodstuffs going to Germany are intended for army purposes is not justified. NATIONAL HYPOCRISY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PROTESTS. (Received October 7, 9 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Presbyterian Church Committee has passed a resolution of protest at the King's representatives encouraging racing by their attendance at meetings, which are at all times a menace to the morality of the community, and especially dangerous in war time. The committee connot find terms sufficiently strong to indicate its abhorrence of national hypocrisy, which with one hand pleads for recruits and economy and with the other encourages the institution of a conspicuous and deleterious influence and an extraordinary waste of money through gambling. Copies of the resolution have been sent to the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and the State Premiers. " "THE LUCK OF THE GAME " STORY OF A DEAD HERO. (Received October 7, 8.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Lance-Corporal Poster told the story of Sapper Carlyon. " One of our ofhcei's was sniped by a Turk, and Carlyon went out and brought him in on his I back. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but two days later was killed in his own dug-out by being struck by a fragment of shell. '' He was a real hero. Everyone in my section looked up to him, even more than to the officers. He would climb the parapets and hand over the wounded, or do anything else. He was a rare daredevil. " It just shows you the luck of the game. Carlyon and fifty others were all in dug-outs in as safe a position as possible in the arena of danger ; yet when he took every chance in the world amongst the bullets and shell-fire and shrapnel he never received a scratch." RECRUITING QUESTION VOLUNTARY SYSTEM UNDER TEST LONDON. 6th October. Lord Derby, at a recruiting meeting at Rossendale, said he accepted the directoiship of recruiting because of his personal loyalty to, and friendship with, Lord Kitchener. Personally, he advocated national service, but would do his be=t to make the voluntary system a .success. The action of the Trades Union Congress would have the effect of putting i every man on his mettle to piove that

the voluntary system was adequate. If, ultimately, he considered the recruiting unsuccessful, he would not hesitate to resign unless other methods were adopted. RECRUITERS' EXPENSES REPLY TO CRITICISMS SYDNEY.. 6th October. Afterthe caucus discussion. Mr. Holman. _ in the Assembly, replied to criticisms as to the payment, to certain members of the Government, of the Opposition in the State Parliament, and a few Federal members* of expenses in connection with the late recruiting campaign. Altogether £150 was paid, according to agreement, to cover out-of-pocket expenses, to which he considered they were entitled. Mr. Holman condemned the agitation by a certain section of the press as contemptible and dirty. PROTECTING THE SOLDIER SUPPLYING LIQUOR WHEN IN UNIFORM. (Received October 7, 9.40 a.m.) ADELAIDE, This Day. A Bill has been introduced making it a penal offence to supply liquor to soldiers in uniform. Several members intimated that the^ would support an amendment making "shouting" illegal. NO TIME FOR STRIKING IMPORTANT SOCIALISTS' MANIFESTO. LONDON, 6th. October. The Socialists' manifesto supporting recruiting says : " The right to strike is a priceless weapon in the hands of Labour, but it has its limitations. To strike now would be a blow levelled against our brothers in the trenches. A corollary would be a strike by the soldiers themselves. Then, God help the civilians." ARSENAL COMMITTEE LEAVING FOR INDIA. (Received October 7, 10 a.m.) • MELBOURNE, This Day. The Arsenal Committee is proceeding to India to-day. PRIZE COURT CASE THE METALLGESELLSCHAFT MACHINATIONS. BILBSTER'S CARGO CON- . , DEMNED. (Received October 7, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October! Giving judgment in the Prize Court in the case of the steamer Bilbster, the President, Mr. Justice Evans, said that the sole questions for decision related to the claims of the shipowners, A. H. and E. Gunn and Co., for freight, and of Mertons for the return of £5000 paid to the shipowners in respect of freight. The President held that Merton could not act as receiver against shipowners who discharged their obligation by giving up a lien on goods, for whomsoever the £5000 was paid -to, it was intended to preserve the goods for the owners, whom Mertons kneWj to be enemies, and to gain advantage for themselves or their co-adventurers, the Metallgesellschaft. They thus did not hesitate to engage m commercial intercourse with the country's enemies. The claim was without foundation. It required much assurance to launch the claim ,• to persevere showed a reckless want of appreciation of the possible consequences. The judgment of the Court was that the cargo was condemned as prize, and that out of proceeds, £2546, the balance of the ( sum awarded, should be paid to the shipowners, and that Merton's claims against the shipowners and the Crown be disallowed. TO MAKE UP FOR LOSSES SPECIAL PORT DUES FOR ENEMY SHIPPING. (Received October 7, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. The committee of the Australasian Merchants' Association has resolved that as German submarine activity has inflicted considerable losses on British shipping here and in the Dominions, the committee suggests that the British and j colonial Governments should levy imme- i diately after the war special port dues, ip addition to the customary port rates, on German and Austrian vessels entering the ports of the Empire. GERMANS IN MEXICO HELPING CARRANZA'S WORK. LONDON, -6th October. Renter's New York correspondent states that German capital is financing General Carranza's campaign in Mexico. Many German officers, and an army of German agents, are playing a leading part in Carranza's councils. LORD CRICHTON-STUART AND JOHN KIPLING KILLED. LONDON, 6th October. Lord Crich ton- Stuart, M.P., and Mr. Rudyard Kipling's son, John, aged seventeen (who was delicate, but persuaded Lord Roberts to nominate him for the Irish Guards) have been killed in action. WOUNDED OFFICERS IN ENGLAND EXCELLENT QUARTERS AND TREATMENT. (Received October 7, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. If the friends of Australian and New Zealand wounded officers in London could see where they are quartered they ', would feel no anxiety on their account. The majority are now at Wandsworth 3rd London General Hospital, where they sit in beautiful open grounds, in I which new huts have been elected, some in iron, others in stucco, lined with fibro-cement, with bright and attractive interiors. The inmates read or walk in the grounds, and are taken out in motors. Three concerts or other entertainments are held weekly. The outside wards are connected with the hospital by long glass-encloeed corridors. There are many captains and lieutenants from each State in a ward at the extreme end of the corridors, which has been christened " Tipperary," because the Australians paid it was " a long way to go." Dotted around the ground are revolving huts for open-air treatment. They are turned according to the direction of the wind and rain. The hospital is administered by Colonel Porter. Most of the WQundod New Zealand officers are progressing well. Major Dawsou is able to take up temporary duties

at Weymouth ; Major Schofield, who has ' a shrapnel wound, is on leave ; Major M'Lean, with a chest wound, is still in hospital; Major Luxford. chaplain, has lost a leg; Captain W. Hardham, V.C., injured lung, is convalescent. There are seven thousand wounded Australians now in England, many having suffered loss of a limb. Two artificial limb-makers have been brought from Victoria, and are at work at Harefield. Twenty soldiers at Harefield alone have lost a leg. Artificial limbs will be made of Government material at the hospital by the Victorians at an estimated third of the usual cost. SINKING THE ARABIC A TERRIBLE SCENE WELLINGTON PASSENGER'S EXPERIENCE. A first-hand account of the sinking of the White Star liner Arabic by a. Geiman submarine was obtained by a Post reporter to-day from Mr. Aubrey Gualter, of Wellington, who returned to New Zealand by the San Francisco boat to-day. On Wednesday,. 18th August, the Arabic, of over 15,000 tons, steamed out of Liverpool, bound for New York. On Thursday morning, just after breakfast, a friend asked Mr. Gualter on deck to see a derelict steamer ahead. This proved to be the s.s. Dunsley, waterlogged and down at the stern. "The moment I saw it," said Mr. Gualter, "I remarked, ' The* submarine hasn't finished its work. It's there. and we are doomed !' If we had reversed engines and used our wireless the moment we realised the position, we would have escaped. I took a few turns round the deck, and coming to the starboard side I saw a row of faces with eyes wide open gazing at one spot in the sea. There was seen a dark body, white streaks flying, and a wake of boiling foam, giving the impression of a, wild beast loosed from its leash and, mad with joy, rushing on its prey. Pointing seawards, I shouted, ' Torpedo ! Get to the other side!' Immediately the passengers obeyed. 1 called out the same above and below. Then the torpedo hit -with a loud smothered explosion, turning the sea to foam and raising a pile of wafer that flooded our main deck. I helped some women and 'children into a boat. I went to secure some lifebelts for the children, when a sailor -who was lowering a boat stopped me, and I climbed down a rope into a boat, which, after a couple of hitches that caused anxiety, wa3 launched successfully. By this time the stern of the main deck was under .vater, and the. splendid Arabic was sinking rapidly. THREE BOATS OVERTURNED. _ "Just as we were pushing off from the side of the Arabic a boat full of women and children capsized. In all three boats overturned at this period, and it was a real hell. The funnel was pouring out soot and steam and ashes, and the ship seemed to groan in its agony while boats, wreckage, and living beings were dashed up and down in a horrible melee. Finally, the Arabic, the bow of which was projecting 200 ft into the air, slid into the water, drawing us right into the vortex of boiling foam. It was as if the sea had gone mad, for great barrels came bobbing up to the surface among the ghastly wreck. The Arabic had a cargo of carbide, and there is no spot ra Rotorua which in any way resembled the scene. However, we soon got free, and then there was a struggle to save life. A lifeboat is terribly hard to move, and, although the cries of the injured and drowning were all around us, life-saving was greatly handicapped. But our boat succeeded in rescuing many, and so did the other boats. A LONG SAIL— AND A CRUISER, "Soon there was little sound but the wash of the sea. We managed to set up a mast, took a boat in tow, and set sail for the Irish coast. We had been going about six and a-half hours when a vessel appeared on the horizon. Was it another victim of these Hun devils? I called out : 'I believe its a cruiser.' Then a shot was fired, another and another. They were ' not for us, but were directed at double periscopes ! The cruiser came on, turned, and made off at top speed. Then it zig-zagged back and came up to us. We were picked up in double quick time, with the sailors all round watching hard for pei-iscopes. There was rum for the blue and brandy for the perishing. It was here I had the drink of my life. After such an experience quite 95 per cent, of the survivors seemed dazed or quite incapable of independent action. PATHETIC SCENES. "I picked up a little girl of eight, drenched, and blue with the cold. When she recovered she cried.* for her mother, daddie, and little Irene (a sister of five years) and Gladys (ten). None were to be found. On the patrol boat I placed her in blankets and took her clothes to the engine-room. -While I was hammering at some blue men an officer came up and said : 'Is there anything I can do for you?' I got him to wireless to another patrol, which had just come up, and found that the little -girl's father and Gladys had been saved, while the mother and Irene had been drowned. I had previously promised to take care of the little girl, and it was hard to part with her. This is only one of many pathetic incidents. We were landed in Queenstown, Ireland, and were treated with every possible attention' by kindly Irish people.. A naval officer old me that no 'S.O.S.' signal came from the Arabic, and the two patrols arrived in response to a call from the disabled Dunsley Our patrol boat fired six shots at double periscopes on its way to our rescue, so we must have been in a nest of submarines. In Queenstown I received many telegrams asking me to stay in London and elsewhere, and offering me complete outfits. However, I found it necessary to return."