AT SALONIKA.

Evening Star, Issue 16045, 23 February 1916, Page 6

AT SALONIKA.

ANZACS ARRiViNG. ALLIED OFFENSIVE LIKELY. London ' Times' and Sydney ' Sun' Services. LONDON, February 22. A Salonika telegram states that the latest allied reinforcements included a magnificent body of colonials. They greatly interested the Londoners, who "■ere also awaiting particulars of tho experiences of a party of tho popular Anzacs who took part in the expedition against the Arabs on the west frontier of Egypt at the end of January. _ The possibility of a great allied offensive from Salonika is becoming clearer. The Bulgars and Germans are strengthening thear entrenchments on the °Greek frontier, and apparently they hare postponed tho idea of storming Salonika. GREEK GENERALS IMPRESSED. ENEMY'S SUPPLIES FAILING. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 8.20 a.m.) The Salonika correspondent of the 'Daily Chronicle' reports that on the invitation, of General Sarrail the Greek "generafe inspected the allied fortifications of Salonika, and were astonished at the strength of the forts. The Greeks agreed that tho enemy would need to attack in great force and with formidable artillery. DeserteTs state that a serious famine exists at Monastir.

SERBIA'S KING. ■' ATHENS, February 22. (Received February 23,\t 8.20 a.m.) King Peter of Serbia, who is taking sulphur baths at Edepsos, is rapidly recovering, and is looking many years younger. He was delighted at the prospect of being soon fit again to lead his army. JACKALS OF WAR. ARAB IRREGULARS PILLAGE BOTH BELLIGERENTS. THE SHAIBA AFFAIR. London 'Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Services. > LONDON, February 22. Mr Candler (official correspondent in Mesopotamia) states that thousands of Arab irregulars hang on the outskirts of the Mesopotamia!! expedition. Even when the troops are marching they kill for pillage, swooping down on isolated detachments, stripping the dead, digging up graves, and following like jackals in our rear. Once two jibbing transport ponieswere unyoked from a cart, which was abandoned, and the Arabs werodown upon it before our rearguard, Who were marching only 800 yards away, could reach them. Emboldened by loot they come close in, ami it is difficult because "of the miragu to tell where they are. as the hazes .in Mesopotamia magnify everything. They haunt .the battlefields for' days, and spare the wounded only when their sheik or a Turkish officer commands them to do so. They murder and pillage even their friends the Turks. "It "is important," some Turkish prisoners said to General Aylmer, "that we should join hands and make an end of these scavengers, and then settle our differences afterwards." ihe Arabs, who in build arc lightweights, carrying a | )ag c f dates and a small ration tor their horses, never wait for our cavalry, who, encumbered by their six-stone wei»ht of equipment, cannot get amongst thorn unifies they believe we are badly outnumbered.

In the skirmish near Shaiba the Arabs thought us ambuscaded, and at a disadvantage m the deep mud, and charged us \\e had 450 horsemen in two sections Our horse artillery wheeled and chained their thousands. For a . minute there was the clash of sword and lance; then they broke, and our artilierv did blood v execution. OUTSIDE ADEN. NAILING TURKISH LIES. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 25, at 8.20 a.m.) in tho House of Commons Mr Austen Chamberlain. Secretary for India, referring to the Turkish chum of annihilating the British, Kuu that, an engagement occurred on January 12 between a reconnoitring party from Aden and a Turkish detach? ment. A British officer and four Indian soldiers were killed, and four British officers and five. Indian soldiers wero wounded. I'liore were 200 enemv casualties. The British were neither annihilated nor dcleated. EAST AFRICAN BRUSH. GENERAL SMUTS'S CONFIRMATION. CAPE TOWN, February 22. (Received February 23, at 8.20 a.m.) Official : General Smuts reports that on February 18 an enemy force numbering AX) attacked at Katchumbe on the Uganda border, and were driven off. The enemy lost four Europeans and 55 natives and \ quantity of machine guns, rides, and ammunition. We suffered no casualties. THE BLOGKADE AND ITS ENFORCEMENT. CONCENTRATING CONTROL. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 8.5 a"!m.) It is understood that Cabinet contemplate making a single Minister responsible for.the enforcement of the Gorman block-' ade, and that he will exercise the powers now distributed between the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, the Board of Tracfe, and clsewheie. It is likely that Lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affair*) will be appointed to"this post. BUTTER DOLES. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 10.10 a.m.) The Berlir. authorities are limiting the sale of butter to 41b weekly for each person, obtainable only on presentation of a card. STRASBURG SAUSAGES. AWE-INSPIRING HOLOCAUST. ZURICH, February 22. (Received February 23, at 10.10 a.m.) The German army cold storage and meat reserves at Sehelmuheim, near Strasburg (Alsace), were mysteriously burned, and several million maiks' damage was done. OUTRAGE AT SEA. RIO DE JANEIRO, February 22. (Received February 23, at 10.10 a.m.) The steamer Tennyson, bound from Buenos Ayres to New York, has arrived at Marranhuo seriously damaged bv an explosion in her bunkers, due either to an infernal machine or to- a■ • German ship's shells. An Englishman, a Dutchman, and an American wero killed. WALTON HOSPITAL. LORD FISHER'S VISIT. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 8.20 a.m.) At Sir T. Mackenzie's invitation Lord Fisher visited the Walton Hospital, where there are 250 patients, who are mostly able- to take daily outings. Tho only stubbornness notable ia rheumatism. Only the following cases have been at Walton ever since it was opened in August: Privates Macuuiney (Auckland}, M'Gahey (Wellington), Sergeant Black (Canterbury), Bugler Chegwidden (Auckland). There are no serious cases. One of the cheeriest case; is a Maori, John Morgan, who lost bo' hj legs There have been no recent arrivi-ls, except for an occasional accident. Arthur Sanders, of Wellington, sustained concussion in. tho match on Saturday while playing at full-back. Lady Mackenzie and Lady Mills accompanied Lord Fisher, who was impressed by the excellence of the organisation, and admired the system of putting the men en their lienor, resulting in no breaches of the rules. He thought the hospital extremely comfortable and its siu'roundincr S delightful. The military regard Walton as a model hospital, and constant visits of liigh officials elicit unanimous approval.

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS; i LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 6.20 a.m.) In the Mouse of Commons Mr-Herbert [ Samuel (Home Secretary) stated that 12,446 alien males and 10,500 females remained uninterned, the majority beiiv of friendly races, • : o Lord Robert Cecil announced that the statements of returned prisoners from j Wittenberg _ fully corroborated the reports that conditions had been deplorable, and the treatment of tha interned was scandalous, though recently an improvement had been observable. CUSTOMS TAXATION. MARKING OUT LUXURIES. LONDON, February 22. (Received February 23, at 8.5 a.m.) Lobby opinion expects that a further extension of the Customs tariff will be an important feature of the next Budget, and many articles now exempt will be added to the list. In this revision Mr M'Kenna. will probably aim at striking at luxuries, but will have regard to future trade with the Dominions and our Allies. ANGLO-FRENCH AMENITIES. PARIS, February 22. (Received February 23, at 10.10 a.m.) President Poincare and Premier Briand extended the heartiest welcome to Lord Bryce and his deputation of 24 British members of Parliament, who have come to demonstrate the sympathy existing between the two nations. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. 1 Ik> High Commissioner reports under date, London, February 22 (5.15 p.m.) : Following on a- violent bombardment in the Artois the enemy strongly attacked the French at Bois de Givenehy, penetrating the first line of trenches. Ihcy completely destroyed these on a front of about 800 metres and several points in supporting trenches. In the. following counter-attack they only occupied some sections. '.I he enemy, whose strength was estimated at seven battalions. sulVered considerable looses from certain infantry and machine-gun tire. In the south-east, at Rocklineoiut, the enemy blew up a. mine, the crater oi which the French occupied. Yesterday evening the Germans attacked east of Brabant sur Meuse, between Bois, Dhaumet, and Herbebois, gaining a footing in some sections of advanced trenches, and in places pushing as far as the supporting trenches. The French counterattacks drove them out from the latter, the French making about 50 prisoners. East of Sepp-'iis two German attacks were repulsed. There has "been considerable artillery activity on the Cbapelotte-Bamle-sapt front. A Zeppelin flew over Luneyille yesterday, dropping brjmlv and causing unimportant damage. Pursued by Frcnch aeioplaucs. it made off towards Metz.