THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 August 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

(,Australta-Ncu' Zealand Cable Scrvico) (Received This Day 8.45 a.m.) THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. London, August 17. The 'House of Commons 1 is discussing a motion for adjournment. Mr 'Ramsay Mac Donald drew attention to Mr Kerensky's views of the Stockholm (iSocialiUt) ICnuf'jrence, notably the Daily (News' interview, and complained that tlio British Government had been misrepresenting his views. When men of international interests conferred it would be found that little remained worth fighting about and that pence soon would come. The Rt. Hon. A. Bonar Law denied that the "House of Commons had bee!? misinformed: the Hon. D. Liny! Georg- been ,«--n struck w't.h "\I r Kerensky''- "pontane'-'.is teVsrrn-r that he asked Mr to d!.-c-]o<-c it, pointing out th;it tlir* confrrcure wn? a party cni-crn. nd it:; decision would not bind t''« l?.us'.l •" fiovernment. Mr Bonar Law udded that- the Government attHu'lo as to p;i.<-sports was unchanged. Mr Snowden contended that Mr Kerensky''; statement thnt he was not opposed to the Conference made the British TJovornment's attitude inconsistent; Mr Kerensky's view was that no obstacle should be put in the way. Mr Snowden n oved an amendment that owing to the critical outlook the period of the Parliamentary recess bo reduced. The amendment was negatived.

The 'lit. Hon. A. Bonar (Law announced that in tli© event of a crisis (for example, an armistice occurring during the recess) Parliament immediately would reassemble. Tt is considered in the lobbies that tlie lit. Hon. 7). Lloyd George's speech will tend to consolidate the political situation and be the best answer to tlio Po/pe's note; and strike a blow at the pacifist propaganda that has been making headway in Grent Britain in the past fortnight. The Labor Party Executive will submit a resolution to the conference when it reassembles next Tuesday, reiterating the desirableness that the party participate in the Sockholm conference ; regretting the refusal of passports, and recommending tha£ representation bo made to the Government regarding the proceedings at Copenhagen. (Received This Day 11. a.m.) THE BUG BATTLE. London, August 17.

Mr Philip Gibbs states: Our gain, ;ut 1500 yards on a wide front, includes langebarck; thence runs south towards the French. Wo 'advanced along a. iswampy neck dubbed The Peninsula, bounded by deep floods, on three sides. The fighting our right was most violent. The enemy repeatedly counter-attacked over high ground between N>ihik Wood and Glencorso Wood, to Hunebeke river. Bis losses were high, for although the weather was stormy, making tlie ground bad for -us, there was light for our flyers, and the assembly of enemy troops quickly was signalled, the guns smashing the enemy formation wiith great slaughter. The enemy's newest method of holding front lines lightly, and concentrating the best troops behind for counter-attacks saves the man power and reduces casualties, but while it is sound, it is the policy of an army fighting a retreat and relinquishing ground at the highest cost, and not returning by counter-attacks to quite the same line over which the ! assailants flowed. Merccwer, the

sucoss in life-saving is not .great, because tho Germans Buffered hidecmsly by shellJire, and counter-attacks were costly in blood, as illustrated in the oounter-attaieks of the Canadians at Lens. Successive waves were broken, where/in more 'boys' were marching chomucr lo siiouiuer according to tradition. Wp destroyed great numbers. Fighting ut Langemarok is greatly impeded by lkwdcd ground. the Irish extreme right engaged in tho uiercesl fight near Polygon Wood over frightful ground. The enemy was in greatest strength, but the Irish made headway before they were faced by masses of fresh German troops advancing in the wake of an infernal sliellfire.

The battle continues and the result is uncertain. Many battalions of both sides are heavily engaged. The enemy is prepared to sacrifice thousand;, rather than lotse these defensivo positions. The French progresed rapidly; their only trouble was at Champ Audert Farm which has been transformed into a stronghold. They turned all their guns upen it, and ultimately a flag appeared ab'sve the ruins, and 60 survivors surrendered. The frightful gunfire bad demoli.he l the enemy. A German colonel was made prisoner. He was dejected and lurvo shaken. He spoke freely of his men's sne:it 1 He belonged to the reserve division that hitherto was holding Langemarek. The greatest sufferer was a battalion of the 2(32nd Regiment which wa<? broken to pieces by a .British attack across Steenbeke.