CAMPAIGN IN POLAND

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3826, 13 January 1915, Page 5

CAMPAIGN IN POLAND

■ GERMANS LOSE THEIR OASII. HALF-HEARTED TROOPS. - PRISONERS’ PITIABLE CONDITION. PETROGRAD, Jan. 11. German, attacks on Bzura (Poland) are now half-hearted and .badly concerted. They lack impetuosity. The condition of the prisoners is pitiable. Many Landstunners are unfitted to stand the rigors of the winter, and are frostbitten. Exposure lias added considerably to the list of ineffectives. A remarkable thaw has set and most of the trenches are haif-frdl of melted snow. GERMAN ATTACK FAILS. ATTEMPT TO DUPE RUSSIANS. (Received Jan. 12, 7.15 p.m.) PETROGRAD, Jan. 12. OJTicia 1: The Germans on January !0 attacked several points on the left bank of the Vistula unsuccessfully. At villages east of Skernvice. they reached our entanglements and tried to dupe us- by calling, out, ■ 'Don’t fire on your own men !” Wo poured in a murderous fire and then made counter-attacks, the enemy being driven off with heavy loss. We are cannonading the German positions in Galicia.

RAMPART OF BODIES. 13 GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED ENEMY'S FEARFUL LOSSES. (Received Jan. 12, 11.20 p.m.i * PETROGRAD, Jan. 12. During the past week the German offensive has been confined to a zone ten miles wide and 20 miles from Var*avv.‘ Two Army Corps have been engaged, one in the trendies and the other in reserve. The Germans are straining every . nerve to gain the Robinow woods, where fighting is fierce and positions are frequently changing hands. Despite enormous sacrifices of men and an unceasing bombardment, the Germans failed to make headway and 13 consecutive attacks were repulsed. One night, after the 10th attack, the bodies of the enemy were piled so high that the Russian riflemen were unable to shoot and a party was sent out and arranged the heap of bodies in the form of embrasures for machine guns. The three next attacks were repulsed from behind the shelter of the onoinyV bodies. At another point at Rawka a German six-gun field battery went into the open and shelled the .Russian trenches. Russian artillery demolished three "V>F the guns, killing the servers and the remainder took shelter. They came out later and the Russians smashed two more guns, killing the crews. The last gun was served until -destroyed.

AUSTRAL! A N M ILS’TAR Y CONFERENCE. DISCUSSION STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. (Received" Jan. 12. 9.40 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 12.' The Military Conference is sitting, I>ut its deliberations are strictly confident ini. THE DARLING OF GER•MANY. AN EMBARRASSED GENERAL. TOO MANY LOVE LETTERS. b „ (Tunes and Svdney Sun Services.) LONDON, Jan. 11. Gorman newspapers have asked • iris not to write more letters of admiration to General Hindcuburg. They point out that the campaign occupies that generabs time and * thought and he has no leisure for the j most beautiful literary essays of the rising generation. He is aware that the whole of the German people regard him with love, gratitude and -confidence. ft is reported at Berlin that Gcn--ernl Himlcnlmrg is assembling a million men for a decisive attack on Warsaw.

m UIZLSHO. THE WAR LORD. GERMAN GENERALS’ STRONG STAND. KAISER MUST NOT INTERFERE. LONDON, Jan. 11. The “Daily Mail” says a neutral who was constantly in Berlin, and is now in London, declares that the German generals definitely barred the Kaiser from interfering with the strategy of tho campaign. General Himlenberg is described as the loader of the movement to muzzle the War Lord, and has made non-interference a condition of his retaining the command in the east. Dr. Von Bethmann-Hoilwcg, Hie C hancellor, is accused of an unpardonable blunder in admitting in tiro Reichstag that the invasion of Belgium was a violation cf international law. . General Von Kluck’s Paris fiasco is attributed to the Bavarian Crown Prince’s failing to arrive in time with his army. , Von Moltke was dismissed for allowing the Brit-isu io escape at Antwerp.

SERBS MUST BE CRUSHED. ENEMY ARRANGING NEW CAMPAIGN. AUSTRIA’S CRITICAL SITUATION LONDON, Jan. 11. It is. reported that Germany is plan-, ninir. to assist the Austrians to crush tho'Serbs. It is declared that one hundred thousand Prussians and to roe hundred thousand Austrians are employed in the campaign. Such a move is deemed imperative in view of the grave situation m die Balkans. With Roumania allegedly 'preparing to assist tSic Allies-tlis positiem of Austria-Hungary is regarded as most critical. GERMAN COPPER FAMINE. ATTEMPT TO I FILL NECESSITIES. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 11. Thousands of motors are running from Belgium to Germany, carrying copper fittings, ■which have been melted in gun factories. -If necessary Germany will break clown her own electrical appliances. - WHEN THE WAR WILL BEGIN. KITCHENER’S GRIM REMARK. ~"’"PARIS, Jan. 11 An "English' officer told the French officers’ mess that'Lord Kitchener recently replying to a question when the war was going to end, replied: I don’t know, but I know it s going to begin :n May.” _ (Times and Sydney,Sun Services). ' (Received Jan. 12, 5.20 pan.) Generals on actived service, while cautious in expressing opinions, believe that with the return of good weather a decisive phase of the war will be speedily reached. • ■ ' m - sTMSS A - ' ■ ' A 5 : r;

N2NE MILES FROM 08TEN0 THE ALLIES’ ADVANCE. GERMAN CIVILIANS IN FLIGHT. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 11. The “Telegraaf” reports that the Allied forces are nine miles from Ostend. German civilians are leaving. THE FRENCH ADVANCE. ' MORE TRENCHES CAPTURED. PARIS, Jan. 11. . An official communique states: After violent lighting we seized a | trencfii near La Boxsolle and repulsed a counter-attack north-east of Soissons; i tlicn carried two trenches ensuring [complete possession of a spur whereon i the enemy were situated. • ! Wo repulsed counter attacks north of Perthes, and captured more trenches. -German efforts to retake a redoubt north of Beausejour Tailed with heavy losses. Each attack was made with two battalions. A German communique states: A French attack at La Boiselle failed. The French, occupied a small portion of our foremost trenches north of Soissons. Further efforts failed. We ! recaptured a trench at Perthes. We have made slow Progress' in Poland j and west of the Vistula, owing to the 1 weather.

SURPRISE . FOR THE GERMANS. • REINFORCEMENTS CAMP ATTACKED.. (Received .Jan. 12, 11.30 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 12. Prior to the capture of Perthes a brilliant attack was made on German reinforcements coming from Grand Free to prepare fresh positions behind -where the Germans were being heavily pressed.A battalion cx Alpine Chasseurs with a'mountain battery stumbled on the enemy’s outposts who were bayonet ted or captured without a shot being fired. Tho march was continued and tho enemy’s encampment was found in a hollow. Searchlights were turned on the unsuspecting Germans and the Chasseurs made a bayonet charge. ■ A lucky shot from a French gun fell on the German batteries and blew up a quantity of ammunition and discomfited tho enemy, who were considerably superior, before the French withdrew to regain their lines.

ENGLAND’S BREAD/ ANOTHER RISE IN PRICE. LONDON, Jan. 11. Tho price of bread has risen from okl to 7d a loaf. This is chiefly attributable to increased freights, the result of the Government commandeering so many vessels and the impetency of German ships, aggregating six million tons. Inquiry discredited tho idea that the rise was tine- to speculation and hoarding cf foodstuffs. American freights have risen by £2, River Plat l ' freights £1 to £3 since the war. The suggestion is being discussed that the Government should commandeer merchant shipping as was done in respect to railways. The "Times’’ says there is plenty of food, !n:t prices depend on the fact that there are less supplying centres than formerly. It points out that but for Britain's command cf the sea the loaf might have hec-n 224 d, as in 1801. Since the war there lias been an allround advance in food prices, averaging 20 per cent. Fish prices have almost doubled, HOW TO SECURE PEACE. . A GERMAN PRESCRIPTION. XKAY YORK, Jan. 11. •Herr Dornberg nvocates the cessation of sea domintaion, which would secure permanent peace. The fleets should be relegated to territorial waters, and forbidden to traverse the high seas. Sending troops to the territory of others or . to neutralised parts of the-world would be regarded as a casus belli. Herr Dernbsrg admitted that Germany was seeking to replace copper with alloys of other mot ids.

THE ROLL OF HEROES. A BANDSMAN’S V.C. J.GNDON, Jan. 11. Landsman Rendell, of the Duke of Cornwall’s infantry, has been awarded the Victoria Cross for tending the wounded under heavy shell and rifle fire at Wulverphcm on November 2d. While rescuing the wounded he was buried in blown-up trendies. Private Ranger, a well-known Kent athlete, has received the distinguished conduct medal for assisting in the rescue of Prince Maurice of Battenberg after tho Prince was mortally wounded. GENERAL STEMS. GERMAN IDOLS. CONTEMPT FOR BRITAIN. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.l LONDON, Jan. 11. Before tlm Educational Congress, Professor Ridgway, in his presidential address stated that British lethargy brought the leaders, of thought in Germany to the conclusion that England was besotted in cowardice, luxury and sloth, and would fall an easy prey to any martial race. That contempt was due to British politicians’, scholar;;’, theologians’, and scientists’ attitude towards everything German. With a few exceptions, they were always bowing down to German idols. A conference of politicians, colonial officials, clergy, and leading public men and women resolved that tho question of unemployment arising out i of tho war should he treated as an i Empire matter, and that tho views of ! representatives of the Dominions j should be obtained, j The London Zoo is caring for tho I pets of 'regiments which have gone to j the front, including monkeys, marmosets, eagles, penguins, snakes, and • goldfish. ! French Chasseurs de Alpines went | into action at Or bey upon skis, capI taring a German blockhouse. They caret-red over snow-clad hillsides and bay-one tied the defenders. A now army of Belgians, numerically 051r.il to the original army, is training in Normandy, and will shortly be ready for the field. TIIO Amsterdam “Telegraf” states that General Fife and Lieutenant Gililc, who were with the Belgians at Liege.. were imprisoned for life for assisting 360 Belgians to reach Holland and join..the French army; also for making maps of the German position on theJVfeuse. During the hearing General Fife called the Kaiser a rascal. Tho Kaiser, during his stay in the west, encouraged the troops, sending them beer. ' He interviewed . the ■ cooks, and tasted all kinds of cookery, delight at the delicious nourishing food, everywhere, advertising that war bread is superior to white. M; Viviani’s (French Premier) youngest son, a’ private, was killed whilst attacking German trenches. The French Government has arranged for -selected -artists, to visit the front and make a series of precise di a wings,, illustrating the history of ■the war. (Received. Jfin.: 12, T. 15 p.m.). .. - Official-: The University boat- race has- been abandoned. '-W A ' A. Mv - .. -. ;■ . ...