HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES ON THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10105, 12 October 1917, Page 5

HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES ON THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Stated At Over One Million Men. The German Naval Mutiny. Independent Socialists Allegedly Responsible.

{By Elebtrio [Telegraph— Copyright.— Per Preßa Aoeooiation.)

THE ITALIAN FRONT. MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL. AUSTRIA LOSES A MILLION MEN. I Received October 12, 9 a.m. I NEW YORK, Oct, 11. Sen/i-ollicial advices from Rome state that I the Austrians have lost a million men on I the. Italian front, decreasing their force I thavo by one-third. It has been ascertained that the Austro-Gormans now consider the ' Italian front the most dangerous. Austria iis urging Germany to send additional troops. . . Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. i LONDON, Oct. 10. An Italian official message states: We have repulsed repeated attacks, the enemy on Monday attempting to gain ground at Castagnavizza, on the Carso. Furious fight- : ing ensued. All our positions havo been '. maintained. Wo drovo back, with heavy losses, enemy attacks between Vippacco and . Castaguavizza; I ROME, Oct. 10. I It is reported that. Von Hindenburg declined to accompany the Kaiser to the Balkans owing to the situation in Flanders. ! j THE RUSSIAN TROUBLE. (GOVERNMENT CONVENING A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. j THE INTER-ALLIED CONFERENCE. | ARREST OF REVOLUTIONARY ! COMMITTEE. Ajistralian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 12. 11.30 a.m. PETROGRAD, Oct. 11. The Government has issued a manifesto convening a Constitutional Assembly, which lit says must not. be delayed. Meanwhile the ' Provisional Government is indefatigably at I work for universal peace, which is essenI tial. to Russia's reconstruction. Russian delegates to the inter-Allied Conference in ■ Paris are to seek an understanding with the | Allies on the subject of the principles proclaimed in connection with the Russian revolution. They include a SDecial delegate enjoying the confidence of the Democratic Organisations. The Government will exert the whole of its strength in support of the Allied cause, to eject the enemy from Rus--1 sia, and restore the fighting strength of the I army. A punitive expedition has arrived at Tashkent and arrested the Revolutionary Committee and the Governor whom the local Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates appointed. IN THE RICA SECTOR. ATTEMPTS AT FRATERNISATION. TWO VILLAGES CAPTURED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 12. 12.40 p.m. LONDON,'Oct. 11. A wireless Russian official message says that in the Riga region the enemy pressed back some of our companies southward of Pskov on the highroad and attempted to fraternise with our troops. South-east of Jacobstadt we captured the villages of Marufa and Tubul, westward of Urmia, releasing two hundred Syrians. The enemy fled across the Great 'Lake', destroying three bridges. BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLIES. LLOYD GEORGE"APPEALS'TO THE j FARMERS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Reuter'a Telegram.) Received October 12, 10.50 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 11. Mr Lloyd George, in receiving the agricultural representatives, appealed to fanners to increase enormously the food supplies, not. because he was airaid of submarines, as lio> could state definitely the submarine menace was rapidly diminishing, but the world's stock of food was the smallest for years. The diminution of French and Italian cereal production had thrown France and Italy on the markets of the world, lie deprecated as unfair the abuse of the farmer, winch was due to ignorance of the precanoustiess of his business. He was convinced that a majority of the people were grateful for the farmers' achievement last spring, adding that there had been 700,000 acres under cultivation in England alone. He asked farmers now to improve that achievement, and concluded: "We do not waul, to go to the American market to snatch food from the mouths of the Allies." ItHE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN THE WEEK'S LOSSES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 11. The Admiralty report on the submarine campaign during the week gives the following figures, those at last week's report being given in parontheses:— . Arrivals 2519 (2680) Departures 2632 (2742) Sunk, ovor 1600 tons 14 (11) Sunk, under 1600 tons 2 (2) 'Unsuccessfully attacked 3 _ (16) Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 11. _ I Thero was now tonnage launched in British yards last week exceeding tho_ total tonnage destroyed by the enemy in the same week. It is authoritatively stated in shipping circles that ship-buildiug is proI ceeding at a greater rate than is generally admitted.

THE CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS. FIELD MARSHALL'S REPORT. 2038 PRISONERS CAPTURED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports that our aviators did much work on the battle on Tuesday, despite a gale and thick clouds. The artillery was thus enabled to deal with the enemy's new-gun positions and other suitable) targets, and they kept touch with our own infantry all day long. The enemy troops were harassed at every opportunity by machine gun lire, and many bombs were dropped on Roulers, Courtrai, Meuin, and Lcdgehom stations, causing a number of explosions. We brought down six German aeroplanes. Two of ours arc missing. In the, course of the day tin l attacks on cur new positions in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Staden railway led to local fighting, but did not effect any material change in the situation. The. enemy made no further counter attacks, and our troops actively organised the captured positions, despite the great difficulites of'the ground. Tuesday's prisoners hitherto reported number 2038, of whom 29 are officers, and also include 400 taken by the French. We captured a few, field guns and a number of machine guns and trench mortars, Australian-New Zeaktnd Cable Association. Telegram.) Received October 12. 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 11. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that heavy rain fell yesternight, There js considerable enejny artillcrying westward of Passchendaele. THE FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. A French communique states:-There is no infantry action in Belgium, and our troops arc consolidating the positions won. Both artilleries arc active north of the Aisnc. After, an intense bombardment the enemy violently attacked on the right bank of the Meuse, north of Chaume wood. The attack was maintained throughout the day, and the enemy gained a footing at some points of our advanced elements. Our artillery prevented him making further progress. In Belgium we are extending our advance east of Draabaek. Wo captured Papagoed farm. Our artillery is regularly active in the region of Latl'au and north of the Aisne.

FIGHTING FOR DAISY WOOD. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 10. The United' Press correspondent says: A pocket of Germans i" Daisk Wood is still holding out, but it is dwindling. Fighting-continues at Polderhoek chateau. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred in the Celtic wood, of which the Australians are now in possession. Bayonets are freely used in the terrific man-to-man clashes. The troops have never had harder tasks than these. The Germans were unable to make a general counter-attack, the best they could do v. as in feeble local reactions. The British advanced'posts in the centre and right retired slightly at. night, in order to better consolidate. Dawn brought tremendous aerial activity,, scores of 'planes fighting amidst a storm of shrapnel, machine-gunning the German infantry and harassing enemy bal loons and batteries. Rain later blotted out our view. NETT ADVANCE OF 2000 YARDS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON. Oct. 11. Mr Porcival Phillips says: —Yesterday's original success has been somewhat modified between Broodseindc<nnd Thouroul. railway, embracing the area of our attack from Passchetldaelo to the southern border of Hotlthulst forest. Some of our troops have fallen back to a line which is still much in advance of that held yesterday morning. The relinquishment is duo to the unfavourable ground, which in some places is an impassable quagmire. Nowhere did the enemy drive us out. The waterlogged condition of the country and the large number of snipers ensconced in trees and concrete redoubts at Pa-SSchendaele retarded our progress. It is impossible to give an exact definition of our present lino. Between Poelcapelle and Broodseinde some fortified farms cleared yesterday have been reoccupied by the enemy, but on an average our nett advance fe 2000 yards. The battle at Poelcapelle will always be famous for the grit of the Lancashire*, who in marching to the attack endured superhuman trials. At, nightfall they crossed the Yser Canal and marched for miles over a country which was formless and featureless, and lighted only by gun (lashes. The night, was pitch dark and the men stumbled on through the infinite tangles of sinister country, full of foul shell-holes. It was impossible to get. food, drink, or rest, otherwise they would be too late for the battle. The troops marched thus for eleven hours, and arrived in time. Despite their enthusiasm they went over with the rest and fought a great battle, winning their objectives and withstanding all counter-attacks. ENEMY REPORT ADMITS LOSSES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Oct. 11. A wireless German official message says: Yesterday morning's attacks were a prelude to a battle on a twenty kilometre front between Bixschootc and Gheluvelt, lasting far into the night. The enemy repeatedly assaulted six times at some iwints. The enemy captured fifteen hundred metres of ground iu the neighbourhood of Draaback, Manghlaerc, Veldhoek, and Poelcapelle to the southward of Gheluvelt. The Bulgarians repulsed the English south-westward of Lake Doiran. GERMANY AND ALSACELORRAINE. AMSTERDAM, Oct, 10. Speaking in the Reichstag, llerr Kuhlmann declared thero was only ono answer to the question, "Can Gormany in any form mako concessions regarding AlsaccLorraino?" The answer is, "No, never. So long as a single German can hold a gun, the integrity of the territory handed down to us as a glorious inheritance by our forefathers can never bo the object of negotiation or concession. AUSTRALIA INVITES AMERICA.

ITALIAN AND FRENCH LOSSES. Australian-New Zculand Cable- Association, (Router's Telogram.) Received October 12, 8.45 a.m. ROME, Oct. 11. The arrivals during the week were 503, and the sailings 467. Two vessels above and two below fifteen hundred tons were sunk. One sailer was unsuccessfully attacked. PARIS, Oct. 11. The number of arrivals was 903; sailings. 811; singings, three above and two below sixteen hundred tons. Eight vessels were unsuccessfuUy attacked. PERU PORTS OPEN TO BRITISH WARSHIPS. Ausirolian-Nov Zealand Otblo Association Received October 12, 9.0 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 11. Peru has notified England that her warships will now be accorded free entry at her ports. THE ARGENTINE STRIKE. (Router's Telegram.) Received October 12, 12.40 p.m. BUENOS AYRES, Oct. 11. The railway strike is paralysing traffic and enormously affecting trade. ON A POLITICAL MISSION. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association; AMSTERDAM. Oct. 10. Herr von Kiihlmann is going to Vienna, Budapest, Sofia and Constantinople on a high political mission connected with peace.

TO CAPTURE GERMAN TRADE. iustralian-Ncw Zealand Cable Association. Received October 12, 9.0 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 11. Mr Movie, a former member of the Now South Wales Executive Council, addressed the American Manufacturers' Export Association, and urged America to take Germany's former place in the Australian trade. Australia, Mr Hoyle says, ostracises Germany commercially after the war. GERMAN SHIPS REQUISITIONED. BUENOS AYRES, Oct, 10. All German ships in Uruguayan ports will be requisitioned. Enemy agents are seeking to create difficulties "between Brazil'and Argentine by reviving the problem of the River Plate jurisdiction.

GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY. SENTENCES AGGREGATE 200 YEARS. (Router's Telegram.) Received October 12. 10.50 p.m. AMSTERDAM, Oct, 11. In the course of a debate in the Reichstag Or. Michaolis admitted, in reply to a Socialist- statement, that sentences aggregating two hundred years with hard labour had been passed on the sailors for the Socialist propaganda in the navy. The Socialist, Herr Vogtherr, warned the Chancellor that ICO,OOC men and women, including men at the front, were behind the Socialist, paity, and the Chancellor's policy was bound to fail. Deputy Ilaase said the Government had come to the end of its tether in trying to unite other parties in its suport by waving the red flag. The Rhcnisch Westfelische Zeitung urges criminal prosecution of the Socialist deputies.

CAPTAIN THROWN OVERBOARD. PUNISHING TUP: MUTINEERS. MICHAELIS INTERVENES. AMSTERDAM, Oct. 11. Details of the mutiny show that the sailors threw the captain of the Westfalen into the sea The bodv was recovered eight days later. The mutineers left the ships and went ashore and marines were ordered to attack them, but refused. An Oldenberg regiment was called out and surrounded the mutineers, who surrendered. In addition to the mutinous crews of four battleships the crew of the Nurnberg. which was at sea, revolted and seized their officers. They headed the vessel for Norway with the object of getting themselves interned. En route the Nurnberg encountered a torpedo boat flotilla, which signalled the Nurnberg. The latter made no reply, and the commander of the flotilla, becoming wirelessed Wilhelinshaven, and received instructions to stop or sink the Nurnberg. The crew of the, latter, seeing their ship surrounded, surrendered and the Nurnberg was convoyed to Wilhelmshaven. The KaiseT. acompanied by Dr. Miehaehs. came to Wilhelmshaven. and oidered one out of every seven of the mutineers to be shot. Michaelis objected that he would be unable to assume such a. responsibility before the Reichstag. Eventually only three were shot, and other s were heavily sentenced. One of the reasons for the mutiny is said to be the bad and inadequate food. LONDON, Oct,. 11. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge considers the German naval sedition a serious symptom. He believes a revolution will come. This amount, of smoke means a rather serious fire. ROME, Oct. 10. Berlin advices show that the Reichstag revelations caused a commotion in Germany. The police charged demonstrators in Berlin. MUTINEERS IN THE ARMY. ROTTERDAM. Oct, 10. A revolt occurred at Wilhelmshaven six weHcs ago. Enquiry showed widespread and organised sedition. It was suppressed with difliculfcv. There have also been several mutinies in the army, but they were less grave.

INDEPENDENT SOCIALISTS DENOUNCED. A GRAVE DANGER TO GERMANY. DEPUTIES CHARGED BY CAPELLE Australian-New Zealand Cnblo Association. AMSTERDAM. Oct.. 10. Derr Dittmann (Independent Socialist), in the Reichstag, said that a systematio propaganda existed to defeat a ncace by agreement. Dr. Michaelis' socech convicted the Germans of a policy of falsehood an<t dunlicity, Meanwhile Hie Independent Socialists were being imprisoned because of this propaganda of treason. The speecli frequently evoked an uproar. Dr. Michaelis, in reply, declared that the Independent Socialists were a grave danger to Germany. Tlie punishment inflicted on the naval mutineers -was not excessive. Documents found showed that the mutineers vreTe pledged to recognise the principles of the Independent Socialists, and had been conducting -a widespread agitation among the crews. The sentences must be severe, because it was necessary to break all resistance in these critical days. Admiral Yon O'appelle said: "I cannot make a statement in regard to events at the front, but the rumours are exaggerated. Ilerr Dittmann has been a party to the mutineers' plans." Three deputies. Dittmann, Haase, and Von Therr, denied their proposals were revolutionary. They declared they had a perfect right to speak to the sailors regarding their conditions. The Conservatives urged that these depu. ties should be tried for high treason. Dr. Michaelis admitted that, some sailors had committed regrettable crimes. They possessed tickets binding them to support the Independent Socialists' principles, and carried on a propaganda aboard the warships. He declared that Independent Socialists were now outside the pale to which all German officials must belong. GERMAN NEWSPAPER COMMENTS Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. AMSTERDAM, Oct. 10. Leading German newspapers deal guardedly with the mutiny. 'I ho Vossische Zoitung considers the affair very regrettable, but regards the manner ot the revelation as an important Government coup, in view of the outcry against the Government's pro-war propaganda in the army and navy. Tito Berliner Tageblatt deplores the disclosure of this profoundly sad naval tragedy in the midst of a political struggle. It hopes the Reichstag will hand over to justice the Independent Socialist leaders, if they are proved guilty. 'ihe Vbrvvacrts, in an article entitled ''Michaelis' End,'' censures the Chancellor for dishing up the revolt, without proving his against tho Independent Socialists. GOVERNMENT POSITION STRENGTHENED. MICHAELIS FIRMER IN THE SADDLE. Australian New Zealand Cablo Association. LONDON. Oct. 11. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent says: Admiral Von Capelle's declaration has caused a split in tho Democratic bloc, leaving tho Government the decided masters of tho situation at a time when a political crisis threatened them with great trouble. As a result of the debate, Michaelis is now firmer in the saddle than ever. The pan-Germans scored a great success, and loudly applaud the Chancellor for his firm handling of the situation. On tho vote on the want of confidence in tho Government motion, at tho close of the debate, many of the malcontents rallied to tho Government, leaving the Socialists in a hopeless minority. Though the revelations will probably infuse new bitterness into the political struggle, the net result is that the pan-Ger-mans for some time to come have complete command of the German foreign policy.

EAST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association LONDON, Oct. 11. An liasfc African oSicial message states: The last remnant of the guerilla hand in tho north surrendered near Eassi lake. The Belgians have occupied Mahenge. The rearguard of the enemy's main force is retreating through tho Mbemkuru valley, pressed by the British in difficult waterless country towards Nyangao lake and the Ledi valley, where the enemy retains prepared positions at Mtaina. SENTENCED FOR LIFE. Australian-New Zealand Cable A.-sochtion. ROME, Oct. 10. Sergt. Benafti, whose trial in connection with the blowing up of a munitions factory commenced on September 18, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. His wife was acquitted, and his father-in-law and two hotel porters sentenced to death. Another accused, Drovandi, was sentenced lo twenty years' imprisonment;