THE WAR IN PALESTINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1016, 8 November 1917, Page 5

THE WAR IN PALESTINE.

GAZA CAPTURED, NEW YORK. Nov. 7. Gaza lias boon captured by the British. BEERSHEBA EIRMLY HELD. Australian-New Zealand Cnblo Association, .. LONDON, Nov. 7. _ | Mr telegraphs that Becrsheba i> ' ,low ' ir,: .ily held. All the high ground in the north is in our possession. The Turkish front G f thirty miles has shrunk consider- , The enemy is able to concentrate in ' "/rcatef strength at threatened points. Gene- / ral Alienin’ has now attacked the seaside j defences in the Gaza area. Warships harasI sed tho enemy communications and dostroyammunition dumps. They put 5 tip a terrific bombardment with all guns just before the infantry rushed Umbrella I Hill, capturing every living Turk; the j tanks assisting. Tho enemy made desperate ! Attempts to regain the lost ground, throw- . ing in four counter-attacks, but the Scottish [ and East Anglian troops broke every Turj kish lino with rifle and machine-gun fire, j Our casualties were considerably smaller than anticipated.

THOSE PEACE PROPOSALS.

A GERMAN-MADE TRAP. JIA NCH ESTER. GU A R IMA X'S MESSAGE. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. Received November 8, 8.40 a.m. „,. LONDON, Nov. 7. Ihe Manchester Guardian's Paris- correspondent confirms the Daily Telegraph's Milan message cabled on tho"24th October, and adds M. Briand strongly wished to go to Switzerland to see Von Bulow or the Chancellor, as Germany suggested. but I render Ribot would nob allow him to do so, believing the proposal to be a trap M. Briand then demanded that all ihe Powers should be informed, and this was done, but in such form as to suggest the offer was a trap. Hence the Powers declined to negotiate. In addition to Alsaee Lorraine, tho proposals included the cession of Trieste and the Trentino, the complete independence of Belgium and financial compensation for damage to Belgium. Germany insisted strongly upon the abstention of belligerent nations from a commercial boycott after the. war and complete equality of treatment in import duties and commercial facilities.

The message referred to. published in the "Standard'' on October 26th. was as follows:—The Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent gives the following de-tails of the German peace proposals, which were largely the cause of M. Ribot's resignation, as the Socialists allege that Ribot should have made the proposals public. The German proposal was to restore Belgium and cede Alsace and Lorraiin in exchange for compensation by Russia. The proposal was made to M. Briand bv an accredited Belgian diplomat from Switzerland. Count Bulow had nothing to do with the proposal, which came direct from tho German Government through a regular diplomat-is channel. M. Briand immediately made it a- condition that, all the' Allies must be informed. He thought; the proposal would not. be acceptable, lie conferred with his colleagues, who agreed. The Italian Government (,'ave a similar negative reply. All tho Allied Governments answered with n full knowledge of tho matter. The pourparlers lusted a month, ending on the Ist October. Germany was most anxious to have the proposal accepted, but it. was not. acceptable, not only because it implied annexation of huge slices of Russia, but contemplated no concessions to Italy, Serbia, and Roumania, and no disavowal of German militaryism. The German offer of financial aid to Belgium was coupled with demands: for privileges in regard to Antwerp, Acceptance of the proposal would have been a huge triumph for German militaryism.

PEACE OVERTURES.

MOVE IN THE COMMONS. FIND ONLY 23 SUPPORTERS. LONDON', Nov. 6. In the House of Commons in the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill, Mr LeesSmith (Liberal) moved: "That provided satisfactory guarantees are obtained regarding the independence and restoration of Belgium, and the evacuation of other occupied territory, no obstacle i-hould be placed in the way of preliminary peace negotiations which might embody an equitable settlement of the Alsace-Lorraine question, and provide machinery for the avoidance of further wars.'' The mover declared that a secret, agreement existed between France and Russia that in the event of the Allies being victorious Germany, in addition to Alsace-Lorraine, would lose great tracts of territory on the west bank of the Rhine and the whole of the Saar valley. Mr Balfour interposed: "Britain entered into no such agreement," and added that the statements related to an agreement between France and the Tsar. Mr Robert Lambert, referring to the League of Nations, declared, "Wo must welcome Germany into it." Cries of "Never!" "Remember the Lusitaniu !"' Mr Ramsay Mac Donald, who wished to adopt the Russian formula of "No annexations or indemnities.," said the country should clearly state its war'aims and make those aims real. Mr Balfour said these discussions did lot ussibt. the Government in its object of obtaining an honourable peace. The supporters of the motion appeared to desire that peace should not take [dace until ill Europe was democratised according to Ramsay Mac Donald's pattern. Nothing wotdd unite Germany more against Iter enemies than the idea that her enemies desired to force upon her, not a form of Government, ishe desired, but a form winch her enemies happened to admire. Mr Balfour characterised the alleged secret, treaty tor handing over German parts of Germany to Franco or to some independent community, as a "mare's nest.'' No sucli treaty existed. "No," lie exclaimed, "we are lighting in order that Europe may be free from German militarism !" He went, on to say that. Germany declined to .-late her war aims ill her reply either to the Pope's Notes or to President. Wilson. He condemned the misrepresentation in the [louse of the Government's official statements. Mr Asquit-h combated tin; view that if life Alsace question were, out of the way or settled separately the other war aims were within reach of attainment. 'litis was a complete fallacy. Mr Bonar Law moved the closure, which was earned by 282 votes to 20. Mr Lee-Smith's motion was negatived without a division.

VENIZELOS'S MISSION. Received November B, 10.5 a.m. PARIS. Nov. 7. Veni/elos is coming to Paris and London. THE KAISER'S HEALTH. Received November 8, 8.-10 a.m. AMSTERDAM, Nov. 7. The Kaiser lias cancelled his visit to Gorizia, the doctors ordering him not to overtax his strength and saying he must do less travelling. THE PAPER FAMINE. COPENHAGEN. Nov. 6. There is a greal reduction in paper pulp making, and Hie wirlv closing of man} works is anticipated.