WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

Per Pr ess Association. —Copyright. IKE ALLIES’ BLOCKADE. What it Means Statement toy Lord Cecil(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Jan. 19. • Reassuring details of the' efficiency of the blockade arc given in an interview by Lord Robert Cecil to the Radio Agency and published in the Pay’s newspapers, and which to-morrow \\ ill be transmitted to London by wirelee*.

A press correspondent says fjord t Cecil emphasised that the basis upon which the blockade rests is the Alliesmaritime supremacy. r Without that supremacy it was impossible to cut off the Austro-German supplies, of whi*h (by every indication) both these countries are in such desperate need. It would also ho impossible for the Allies to satisfy their own wants and carry on their overseas operations conducted in all parts of tne world.

So far as the blockade is concerned these operations are chiefly entrusted (for geographical reasons) to the British Navy, but it was proved that we have associated with us many units of the French. Fleet, which performed most valuable and gallant services in the common cause.

Wo arc undoubtedly entitled to us© our sea-power to cut off the enemy’s supplies, and the Germans endeavoured to cut off all supplies for Britain, hut the lack of the necessary power alone prevents Germany from succeeding in this.

Germany had in 1870 such a powor and so far as Paris was concerned slxe exercised it ruthlessly.

Our methods ass strictly in accordance with international law, and undisgraced by the outrages committed in all too many instances hy the enemy s naval forces.

llow do we deal with neutrals' rights? We maintain that the neutrals adjacent to Germany are not penalised sa far as their real home requirements are concerned, and wo facilitate their obtaining the goods necessary. In tills connection the Allies are controlling many sources of raw material and they are clearly entitled to impose conditions before forwarding any part •of the goods so controlled, They are prepared to supply them, however, if the neutrals will agree to limit their demands to their own needs and not become a basis of supply to the enemy. The effect of this polity is seen in uc. counts appearing daily, and with added force in newspapers gathered. 1 from enemy and neutral sources testifying to Germany’s steadily increasing want. The blockade is not a failure wnen we know that the enemy is commandeering all available domestic supplies of copper '; introducing substitutes of a dubious vain for rubber, issuing tickets for food, clotlyng and rations. Every German is supposed to receive half a pound of meat weekly and a few tliimhlcfulls of butter, an egg fortnightly, and even these are frequently not forthcoming. Bread is bad and scarce.

The potato crop has largely failed. The hopes of tho Germans which were founded thereon are largely disappoint, ed. Tho position in Germany appears to be very grave, and there is every reason for the belief that the condition of her Allies is even worse.

Regarding whether this is not ctuc to tho amount of materials allowed iu reach countries adjacent to Germany in 1916, thus assisting her powers of resistance, I give the total imports oi commodities from iScandanavia and Holland for the first nine months compared with the normal pre-war imports for home requirements for the threo years preceding tho war. Of corn and flour, corn fodder, and oil cake the pre-war importation totalled 6,170,000 tons, that for homo consumption being 3,260,000 tons. The total imports in 1916 were three million tons. 15 The prices in Germany are.high and the difficulties of transport to ' Allies’ countries are not small. The question of the disposal of homo grown produce to countries hordering on Germany is more difficult.

The last respective figures for copper are 100,000, 24,000 and 22,000; animal and vegetable oils and fat 440,000, 256,000, and 250,000. Naturally where the produce mentioned is dependent on raw materials or on tli facilities offered by the Allies, tho latter take advantage of the fact. Slteps) moreover, are taken to mane large purchases from these countries, and every effort to ensure that neutrals adajacent to Germany should treat Germany with strict impartiality. These examples are typical of other commodities and values, and they show the efficiency of the blockade, altid prove that apart from inevitable cases of smuggling, the enemy is prevented from obtaining supplies from overseas.

Some of them at one time were y.idined, tempted hv the. large prices offered, into becoming bases of supplies for our enemies, hut this has been stopped altogether so far ns overseas goods arc concerned, and with respect to home grown produce the position is much improved.

An Excuse. ■ ~ X PARIS, Jan. 20. Commenting on German war experts’ insinuation that France contemplates an offensivo at Belfort, tlie “Echo d© Paris’’ suggests that Germany is using the alleged threat as an excuse, for nsombling men and material in Upper Alsace on tho Swiss frontier. That journal adds that this excuse fails to explain Germany’s new strategic railway at Basle, costing three quarters of a million.

Er.emy’s Food. (AnsHalian & N.Z. Cable Association and Rfcuter.) LONDO-x Jan. 19. The Austrian Premier had a conference with Count Hollweg in Berlin. Zimmerman leaves Berlin for Vienna to-day. The Presidents of the Governments of the Cenpal Powers have arrived in Berlin.

M. Holfer, the Austrian Food Director, accompanies Clanmartinie (the Austrian Premier) to the conference. Herr Batocki, (German Food Directtor) is understood to have discussed tne economic questions notably the Roumanian' food captures.

The German press alludes to the food conference with marked coldness.

Austrian Famine LONDON, Man. 19. In connection with the Austro-Ger-man Rood Conference the details available in London shows that the Austrian distress is the most acute, the potato famine making it especially severe. Vienna has been promised 283 trucu. loads daily, but in November ana i>*eember she got an average of ninety five, and since Christmas there was further diminution of supplies.

The prices of the principal foodstuffs are practically prohibitive for most oi the people.

Hungary Hungry. LONDON, Jan. 19. The position in Hungary is scarcely better. The professional classes are bitterly crying out. The clergy of Budapestli declared to the newspaper “Azujsag” that they cannot feed and clothe the children, while widows exist in the lowest stage of misery. Tho “Azujsag’s” enquiries in other directions reveal the same distress, notably among teachers, civil servants and even judges, who are resorting to trades to eke out their resources.

IN THE WEST, LONDON, Jan. 20. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: We dispersed enemy working parties in tho Ancre area, and shelled positions on the La Basse canal. LONDON, Jan. 20. The Press Bureau says it is absolutely untrue that any cluing© of relations between the French and British command on the Western front is contemplated of even discussed. LONDON, Jan. 20. Major Moralit in tho “Berliner l’ageblatt’” says that the French possession in southern Alsace provides a sallyport which is a grave menace to rue territory on the left bank of the Rhine.

German Report. LONDON, Jan. 19. Berlin official.—The enemy attacks ©n the heights in the region of Naratsi southward of tho Suita valley were repulsed with severe losses. A British company attacked Serves and was easily repulsed.

In Sinai. CAIRO, Jan. iv. The War Cabinet telegraphing congratulations to General Murray on tho expulsion of the enemy from Sinai Peninsula added that the operations promise further successes. The cavalry continues to round up stragglers.

Swiss Fears. LONDON, Jan. 19. Speculation is rife in London as to whether there will he a Swiss invasion. The rumours are assocatcd with the political and diplomatic movements in Berlin.

Count Hollweg had his first secret conference with the Reichstag leaders yesterday, and there is to be a further conference next week-

BERNE; Jan. 20. Germany has prohibited all imports from Switzerland; this action being designed to avert any further fall in. the exchange, or is due to congestion iu t-lic South German railways. LONDON, Jan. 19 Tho Swiss Press states that German concentrations are rapidly continuing near Basle and the Army Staff fear that invasion is intended..

A French Move. LONDON, Jan. 19. Major Moralit in the “Tageblat” says a French offensive is expected from Belfort. The German precautions will resmt in General Foch hutting Ids head against a brick wall.

1 German Taciics. BERNE,. Jan. 26. The Gormans arc along the Rhino between Basle and Lake Constance, and might he connected with an attack on Belfort or for a feint, to induce the French to strengthen Their position m the Vosges, while the Germans make a sudden dash on the weakened front, in Lorraine. allies’ Satisfied. LONDON, Jan. 19. Router learns that the Allies are thoroughly satisfied with the present attitude of the Greek Government. Tho situation is improving daily. ATHENS. Jan. la. A British military mission composed of General Phillips and threo others arrived and called on 11. Lanibros. . The object of the mission is to participate in the Allied military control. Captain Rogers lias taken charge of the shipping movements at Piraeus,

A German Order. (Australia & N.Z. Cable Assocvitionj ROME, Jan. 20. The “Gioninli d’ltalio says the O'ermans have ordered the inhabitants of the Alsatian villages on the Swiss fronton- to evacuate their homes and withdraw behind the Rhine, carrying all their foodstuffs.

The Germans are concentrating heavily on the Alsatian borders and Lake Constance, presumably to use Trcntino as a front.

i-ood Prices. * LONDON - , Jail. 19. Owing to increased food prices the. Government has increased the separation allowance for soldiers and. sailors involving an additional sum of £10,000,000 annually.

Labor Order. LONDON, Jan. 19. ’Representative a agriculturalists have repealed to Mr Lloyd George against the calling up of agricultural labours«.

The War Office claims that the census reveals a surplus of agricultural labour in some areas.

Several agricultural committees have memorialised Mr. JtTothero stating that men cannot be spared, because the CO. substitutes would bo useless. LONDON". Jan. 19.

Mr Lloyd George presided over a Ministerial conference, including Lord Derby, Messrs Protliero, Ilodge, Long and Bonar Law. It is understood that the order will be modified to the effect that only the C 3 men wlio have agricultural knowledge will bo utilised as substitutes for militarily fitter men.

Britain’s War Loan. LONDON, Jan. 19. The War Loan is mostly new money. The North-Eastern Railway takes £2,000,000; tli® Edinburgh Life Assurance, Coy., Andrew Weir and Coy., the 'Equity and La\y Assurance Coy.,- sacli £1,000,000, and the National, the Mutual of Australiasia £BOO,OOO.

Russian Troublss LONDON, Jan. 19. The “Manchester Guardian says tho Russian Duma and the people who hold the governing bureaucracy are responsible for the economic disorganisation. .

The present troubles arise from the Duma’s endeavours to secure a government with its and the people’s confidence, but the reactionary (M. Protopopoff) remains Minister of the Interior.

31. Schuvaieff’s retirement is a great blow to the Duma, because he, with tho Minister of Marine, when M-.~ Stunner was dismissed for intriguing a secret peace, assured the Duma of a strenuous prosecution of the campaign. Schuvaieff’s retirement perpetuates the internal troubles.

Norway's tosses. COPENHAGEN, Jan. iy. Norwegian newspapers have bitter anti-German comments in connection with the publication that in 1916 Norwegian shipping losses were three hundred ships of 408,000 tons, mined or torpedoed.

A Spanish SubmarineLONDON, Jan. 19. Late evening papers state that a Spanish submarine of five hundred tons arrived from America, bound for some Swedish port.

Sinkings. ATHENS, Jan* 20. A German the Greek ship Armarid of 650 tons, the crew being saved. LONDON, Jan. 20. The Spanish steamer Valle, of 2,363 tons, and the Norwegian Bergeneus, ol 3.606 tons have been sunk.

Russian Official. LONDON. Jan. 19 A wireless Russian official states that the enemy took up the offensive in the region of Zborov. Part of a detaclimen entered our trenches, hut was promptly driven out. The enemy bombarded Okna and Bordaneshti and the valleys of Trotus and Oituz.

Improving Position. PETROGRAD, Jan 19

Telegrams from Roumania indicate that the situation is steadily improving. The Austro-German offensive has been arrested. The Russo-Roumanians are developing a vigorous counter attack., driving the enemy back several kilometres on almost the whole of the front and removing the menace to Calatz. LONDON, Jan. 20. A wireless German official says the Roumanians made desperate attacks northward of the Susita valley five times, but wore sanguinarily repulsed. General Maekensen captured Meanest! on the Sereth, despite snowstorms.

American Munitions. LODON, .Tan. 20. German newspapers aver that the Pnited States from August, 1914, till September, 1916, shipped £394,000,000 of war material, of which 11 per cent was shells and ammunition and the remainder artillery, machine guns, rifles, •motor cars, horses and ambulances. The American shipments of war material to Europe for eight: months in 1916 was £170,000,000.