Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Grey River Argus, 4 September 1917, Page 2

Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Delivered every morning in 'Grcymoutli, Knniarr., Hokitika, Dobson, Vallseac I I'aylorville, Croiuiduu, Kgaheje, Bluckta.ll, Nelsou Creek, Bruimer, ; Te Kinghu, Kotojniiuu 'Poerua, lucubouuie, Putaro, ( Bam, Kaimatu, Jtptuku, Moaua, Arntika. Riwanga, Duuollie, CoMeu, Baxter's,. Kokiri, Ahaura, Ika- < inatita, Stillwater, Waiiita, ami Keeftou . ; _ — _ — — < TUESDAY, September 4th, ioi7_ 1

THE ITALIAN THRUST.

THE great importance , of the Italian blow which has resulted so successfully is now becoming apparent and it is clear that our Ally .has triumphed over the enemy' to such- an. extent that the Central Powers are becoming alarmed at the position. For several weeks not a word was received of .the fighting on the Austrian frontier, and the Italian offensive was so well prepared in silence, that' the Austrians -were completely surprised. The country is most uninviting for military operations on a large, scale, consisting as it does of high > mountains and narrow defiles 'through which flow rivers difficult to negotiate. The Isonzo was thought by the Germans to be a sufficient barrier to hold up the Italian armies and in addition the Austrians held the advan- ; tage of position, their defences being as powerful as human hand coulfl make them. Nevertheless, General Cadorna provided -himself with" very powerful artillery and built up his aerial service to a highly efficient positica, with ,

the result tUaMN f great river was successfully crossecf t$- tlic of jthc Austria;! ., ajuL fi££.man Comlnaml's.' tfre "ETlciny-ifaViltg" to yield about ninety- scluare". miles of country. One report states that the. gap torn- in t!ie enemy's side is eleven miles in. width, Avhile the Au'strians admit that they are evacuating Laibach. The bat'tlu has been described as the greatest of the war and there is every hope of the enemy suffering a still greater defeat. The loss of 100,000 men is very important at this stage of the war and to replace them will tax the enemy very severely, especially now that the Russo-BoumaniaSs are main; taining a more dependable* defence, thus preventing the withdrawal of Austrian troops from .that quarter. The military loss will have its effect upon the morale of the • Austrian peoples, but the fact that there is every probability of the Italians definitely invading their country will cause the most far-reaching alarm. , Once General Cadarna can ;pass the remaining obstacles the Austrians ydll have' to withdraw a considerable, distance,losing Trieste andi their territory fronting the Adriatic, white their tenure of Montenegro will also be in jeopardy. Small wonder is it that there are reports of revolts in many parts of the Dual Monarchy. Germany is either unwilling or- unable to provide her Ally with reinforcements and the people of Austria and Hungary, see disaster ahead. The powerful blows on the West Front have forced the Germans to retain their greatest power in France and Belgium, and it is reasonable to suppose that they have no troops to spare to aid Austria in her hour of need. The idea held by the Italian General that his enemy will soon seek a separate peace once a decisive victory is. obtained is therefore justified, and the Allies can depend upon it that the Italians will spare nothing to achieve 1 that; victory. French writers are .elated at the possibility of Austria being put out of action and they; consider v that once the invasion definitely begins overtures for a sepaarte peace will sotai be forthcoming. The work of the British monitors -has been a. feature and , in company with the Italian Navy they haVe been a .great :factor in the ad> vance hear the coast, at the same, time doing iriueh damage, to > Trieste. No better news. has. been .received from the Italian front since Italy entered the war and if the success continues, we shall have great cause for honouring our Ally who wa^ one .of the Triple Alliance, until Germany's ous' : ' rages against humanity forced her it the Entente^ side.' The world vV hopea! that Austria will be forced to^ seek: peace, for it is clear/ that without her' Germany would be unable to continue, the struggle longl Bulgaria arifl Turkey would be cut off from Germany and their love of war would soon . die." With Austria out o"f .aetipn, the Germans would find their food and oil insufficient, owing to the separation from Roumahia, and without those important supplies it would be impossible for Germany to continue. Austria-Hungary . is 'so reduced that Germany wonld*^b"ejj unable to buy from' those countries, and it is doubtful when the facts are mown if the Aus-tro-Hungariaus would be willing to; sell to the nation which had ruinned thenu Austria is still in the war and if is well not to expect too 1 much. The enemy has shown himself capable of enormous sacrifices in the past anil it may bo possible .for- Austria to weather the storm on ■- this occasion, though it is certain that the severe blows now being, struck "by the Italians will hasten considerably the end' of tne war, not only -with Austria, but , ■with^.the four Central Powers. The enormous task, which^the Italians' have undertaken will rank among the greatest in history, and: everybody* will hope that no hitch occurs to mar the effort. No doubt as soon as conditions permit there will be an early resumption of heavy fighting in the .West and the Germans will be given very little opportunity of -transferring troops .from that quarter to assist the Austrians There can be no question now about the position. The Central Powers are doomed to be definitely defeated this year from the military poinf of view, 'but,' as Sir Douglas Haig said in his interview with ' French journalists, whether this year will bring peace cannot be stafed.

The local railway workshops are at present very busy fitting the Westinghouse brake to cars and wagons. Mr. -K. Kobertson, Westinghouse expert, is supervising the .work}, which is being /lone by the staff under Mr. F< H lhonias. The material availahle i« limited, but the Otira. Express will be provided with the brake in about a month. Up to the present only the' engines have had; the brake attached. The next count for flower queens in connection wiih the St. Johns Daffodil Show will take place at. noon to-morrow instead of 'at 3 p m Jhe housewives' section for/ home--made bread at ithe show is likely to b- very successful, a .large number or_ entries having so far= been received. . v v ' . •-/■■■■'"■; The whole cost to New. Zealand .of the military occupation of Samoa is shown in the following, figures:— Total t_o February 28, 1917, £5d%604: total tor March, 1917, £8119 V total to March 41, 1917, £311,724. ■ .At the Central Yards, Pireston Road, Greymouth, Messrs. Mark , Sprot and Co have a quantity of ' store cattle,' dairy cows, bulls, etc., advertised for sale on Saturday next. The entry has been considerably j added to and further entries are ( solicited. Sale takes place promptly j at one' o'clock. For particulars see advertising columns.. Eight trucks of cattle and sheep ! went overland from the Grey Valley ; yesterday- to Addington ,in addition < to another 3 trucks of fat cattle from 1 Greymouth, while on the other hand 300 fat sheep from Canterbury came over- the hill last week from Adding- , ton these latter are reported to have cost buyers 45s each and on the killed weights the mutton costs the ' trade about, iod per lb. . Negotiations to repair or renew ] Cobden Bridge have been 'going on tor 6 years said the Mayor at yes- j icrday's meeting and it is impossible to sa v when the work can be started, therefore, the delegates from the \ local bodies and thfe. three engineers , considered it a decidedly good busi- ' ness deal to arrange with the con- ( tractor to immediately- take over the 1 keeping of the -old bridge open to J traffic and this decision had his full support. , ' J The/ usual quarterly meeting of the \ Grey Licensing Bench 'was held at c noon yesterday, there being present s xMessrs T. Hutchison (chairman), J. . Steer and E. Scantlebury. The fol- t lowing licenses which had been ad- .. journed from the annual meeting for I sundry repairs and alterations to be ' effected, were granted viz. Israle f Rhodes (Buck's Hfead Hotel Reef- !; ton), Jeremiah McCarthy (Gilmer , f 1 Hotel Greymouth), and Jessie F. * Sweet (Criterion to Peter John Beat. ° on was granted. ' J

The Public Trustee has an advertisement in this issue of interest to creditors and, : others having _xlaim.s against the respective estates of the late- Frederick- Arthur .Keown' and the late : Eliza: Green. Butter is now advertised for sale retail in ChriWtchurch at is* 6d per lb less 5 P er cent, for cash. Evidently the stored supplies are being ' treed upon the market. The public are wondering when the huge supplies of beef and mutton now in store will be offered in the Dominion; -to the public at a fair price . I At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning David Taylor, a. deputy at the Paparoa Mine, was charged under the Mining Act, 1968 with that at Paparpa on August 15th he did use abusive language. The accused pleaded guilty under provocation. Cyril Turk, was similarly charged, Mr J. Newton Inspector of Mines, conducted the prosecution. The Magistrates after, shearing a sample of the . language used, said that -it was not abusive but disgustingly obj scene. Written statements of both "accused were handed in and the evidence of 1 another deputy, who was I present when the was made 'use of. was also heard. Turk was fined 40s and costs qs. Qd and Taylor , 20s and costs q-; od, and Taylor 20s j and costs os qd. The Helping Hand Shop w ; as open again on Saturday, but owing to the ; wet ,dav the usual large number of donations were not sent in, '.only £8 iSs.. being realised.^Next Saturday the takings will . be given to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. As we all know this fund, his a constant call on it, and it is our duty to help. .The district responsible for next Saturday's supplies -are Cowper. Turumaha, Herbert, and side streets all-round : the Foundry and Trotting Park South' Beach, Kaiata,. Omoto Road and Camerons. The ladies in charge are Mesdames H. Harley, Griffen, F. Harley and Shallcrass, The Committee will always be very "grateful for empty jam jars and pickle bottles, also empt^ Pascal or other sweet bottles. \