BRITAIN AND GERMANY AT GRIPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3873, 9 March 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN AND GERMANY AT GRIPS.

ENEMY REVIEW OF THE SITUATION. OUR MIGHT CANDIDLY CONFESSED. GRIM AND TERRIBLE ANTICIPATED. • WHAT DEFEAT MEANS TO GERMANY. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHTJ (Received! March 8. 8.5 p.m.) LONDON; March S. The Press Bureau publishes a translation of an article appearing in the German paper “Hamburger Nachrichten,’’ headed “The Conflict With England.” After reviewing the raids on the English coast anti the attacks by dirigibles and submarines in order to resist Britain’s starvnig-dut policy, the article continues: “Behind; the German front in the West is drawn up a second battleheld, which won’t give way any more than Northern France. . . . Expert opinion has stated that the German coast guns from Calais will lie able to bo tuba ref the defences at Dover and the country north of Dover over a front of nine kilometres. High military commanders have declared that the English soldier is an adversary to be taken 'very seriously, and results prove that the English Navy realises its duties and responsibilities. Conflict with England will demand freshtexertions and sacrifices. In all the wars she has waged, England has fought with persistence and endur-ance—-qualities which doubtless will again be revealed—but we Germans ~ are aware of our own powers and *’ of the weak spot in England’s armour. We realise the stakes Ave are playing for, and know that the pouiitry which goes under will lose beyond worlds the estimation of the world. Victory for England would destroy Germany’s future for centuries,” ancl the war indemnity would so cripple our resources that rve should be unable to contemplate the reconstruction of our military and economic forces. If England, our most-hated and dangerous enemy, conquered Germany, she would' humiliate and trample us in the dust to the uttermost. We enter the struggle Avith set teeth, registering a vow to be joyfully prepared! to sacrifice the best German strength, courage, grit, and patriotism.” The Press Bureau comments that presumably the article is semi-official or inspired.

NEW GERMAN TROOPS. WILL TAKE CALAIS THIS TIME! FRESH ATTACK CONTEMPLATED. (Recen-edl March 8, 11.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 8. A large force from the eastern front has arriA'ed .at Tournai. The Germans at Bruges boast that this time they avi’ll reach Calais. AUSTRIA AND ITALY. DISCUSSIONS' ALARMING GERMANY. (Received March 8, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. • The German paper ‘ •'Voiwaerts’ ’ says discussions between Austria and Italy must not be alloAved to end in open conflict. Germany, having risked everything for Austria, has the right to demand a solution suitable to Germany’s interests. NEW GERMAN SUBMARINES. BUILT FOR-COAST DEFENCE.. (ReceKed March 8. 11.15 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 8. Fifteen small submarines are being built at Kiel. Each avIII haA'e a. creAV of eight.. They are mainly for coast service.

W!TH THE FRENCH FORCES GOOD PROGRESS MADE. (Received March 8, 11.15 p.m.) PARIS, March 8. Official: We have gained a footing in a strongly-fortified wood west of Perthes and carried another trench north of Bean se Jour.

We repulsed five counter-attacks at Hartmanns.

BOMBARDMENT OF RHEIMS THIRTY FIRES IN THE CITY. TERRIBLE HAYOCAT DIXMTTNDE (Times and Srdnev Sun Services.) LONDON. March 7. There were thirty fires in Rheims as the result of tlie bombardment, which took two days to quench. The exodus of the populace continues. The walls of the cathedral as high as can be reached have been covered with armored plating and sandbags for protection from the German shells constantly falling in the vicinity. Every church in Dimunde district has been damaged. Forty have been demolished. Abbe Demen, of Essen, was shot in a churchyard. The burgomaster of Handzoene was shot.

USING NEW TROOPS. A CONTRAST IN METHODS. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) . LONDON. March 7. The “Times” military correspondent contrasts the treatment of British and German new troops. The latter attack'd bravely but stupidly, suffering immense losses. The new formations dissolved rapidly. Experience has shown that new troops cannot be advantageouslv us r d in this manner except for a single blow. The British method is better, no hurrying the troops, and bringing them slowly from small to ereat things, completing the training behind the lines, and gradually letting them replace the regulars.

GERMAN SUBMARINE LOSSES. SEVEN GONE IN A M # ONTH. ENEMY’S PRESS ADMISSION. LONDON. March. 7. The “Tageblatt” admits that according to news from neutral countries more than seven German submarines have been sunk since February Bth. Scandinavian shipping companies refuse to carry German goods towards America. - Semi-official: Berlin admits that the Thordis rammed a. submarine, which returned slightly damaged.

FIGHTING IN ALSACE. FRENCH MASTERS OF THE SITUATION. ONE UNCOMFORTABLE SPOT. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Received: March 8, 6 p.m.) - V ' LONDON, March 8. ‘ The “Times” correspondent in Alsace says the French are masters of the situation in the Valley Le Aragne and the Valley St. Martin. The Germans are making Altkirch the pivot of their moA’ements, and the toAvn is extensively fortified, entrenchments being forcedly constructed by civilian labor. .The Germans have received! large reinforcements in the Munster Valley, including some Austrians and heavy guns, thus causing the French to slightly retire, and bringing the Germans uncomfortably near the top of the pass. " MASTERY OF THE SEAS. CHEERFUL FEELING IN BRITAIN WAR RISKS MARKET WIDENING. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Received March 8, 6 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The market for all Avar risks lias widened, and' business is easy.. A cheerful feeling prevails. There is an impression that never since the start of the Avar has the Avatchof the Navy been keener or more effective. "The Times,” in a leader, declares that Avith the definite permanent Avithdrawal of the Ship Purchase Bill, there disappears a potent possibility of friction between the United States and the Allies. BULGARIA’S ATTITUDE. A SECRET MOBILISATION. (Received March 9, 12.25 a.m.) PARIS. March 8. Havas’ Agency reports that Bulgaria. has secretly mobilised three divisions, including one sent to an unkmvn destination from Adrianople. it is suggested that a Bill providing for a credit- of eight millions sterling Tor military expenses is before the Chamber of Deputies. CHASED BY A SUBMARINE. BRITISH STEAMER’S ESCAPE. (Received March 9, 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. The steamer LingchoAv. hound from London to GlasgOAv, Avas chased by a submarine of Lands’ End and made at full speed toAvards shore and escaped under cover of darkness after half an hour’s pursuit. STORY OF THE KAIPARA HOW THE VESSEL WAS SUNK. SYDNEY. March 8. Captain Makepeace, recently captain of the Kaipara, is in charge of the Middlesex. He states that on August 16 the Kaiser Wilhelm dev Grosse Avas sighted. The commander megaphnecl, “If you use your Avireless J Ave will use our mms.” The Germans 5 hoarded the Kaipara, • smashed the A Avireless, placed explosives in the stokehold, and ordered , eA r eryone to leave. They alloAved the creAV to take their clothes. It took the Germans naif an hour to sink the Kaipara. Twenty-three shots Avere fired. TROUBLE IN PORTUGAL. CIVIL WAR FEARED. (Received March 9, 12.25 a.m.) MADRID, March 8. There are rumors at Badajoz of impending civil Avar in Portugal and many fugitives have crossed the frontier.

SIBERIANS AT THE FRONT.

' ARE IN A NEW WORLD. THEY FIGHT EAGERLY. All through the short winter day you see them moving in squads ami companies from the stations to the outfit department, from the outfit departed to the armory, and from the armory to the stations for the west, the sturdy Slavs that are making for the frontier to swell the flood of Russia’s indomitable infantry (writes the Petrograd correspondent of “The New York Sun"). . Many of 1 them are already in a new world.' The young Siberians are very conscious of it. You notice their quick step, chins well up; they are sure of themselves and interested m everything. At the crossings people stop to watch and wish them godspeed • for answer they nod confidently ancl wave their fur caps to the crowd. . , . .. Tliev are only one in the long line of territorial armies that Russia has assembled to fight for the Slav cause; but they have come from afar and because they are the. children of Russia’s very own colonising the people are following their progress in the war with a proud heart. Unquestionably they are formidable fighting men Not very tall, an average of five feet eight or nine inches, they have big. firm limbs, deep chests and broad backs, ana they - look bigger their coats of complete undressed sheepskins, with the skin turned out side. Many of them are the sons of prosperous " farmers: they have brought their own homespun wraps and superb field boots and burnished station as tliev await to an traini for the front they are sure of the com pany of some older, sophisticated citizens, probably carters and portcis, who are very willing to explain to them what it is all about. _ ONE VIEW OF WAR’S BEGINNING “This is what happened,” says one observer of events “The Gennan got all the best places m Russia as managers of the big estates. I .V brought in their own agronomes and their own foresters. lhey , *f t w he own way with the crops and v itli tbe timber. 'they got moie a until at last they said, Nov give us the land.’ But we said, No you will not get our land. lou will o et out.’ This is how it began. r Phe Siberian type is not confined >y any means to the sons of the gen miltons who went East and took thei families, roused hv, the same hopes that used to send Scotch orofteis t Canada and New Zealand. It represents much move the preaviling spi of the country Russian who is lucny ennmdi .to live far from the ad mini Sr. native centre than foreigner would suppose from looking at the faci e,_ familiar pictures of phenomenal humility that are held up as the likeness of the Russian peasantry. Of course, he is religious. His religion belong-' to him and makes up liis life, just as his land belongs to him and makes up his life: The two together are nis existence. But there is no ponderous burden of saintliness aoout him. He spends very little of his pocket money on barbers or tailors, and hence superficially he is taken to be a yokel and a simpleton. Very much the reverse. He knows in these present times what he is fighting about; and the German used-to-be pacifists who reconciled themselves to the war because they feared the coming of the Slav had probably good grounds- for their fears. , The philosophers at. the railway stations are left behind, and the new troops are steaming • away down south-west into the heart of Poland.