NEW ZEALAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 17 December 1914, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND

The Primo Minister has received the following by cable from-the High Commissioner : London ,Dec 16, 12.35 a.m. Paris.reports state that the Belgians occupied advanced lines from" Nieup_<Jr.t to south' of 'Ypres. The Allies : gained 500 metres in the direction of KleinzilleI deke. :■ *"."'".'.''■ •- ,' ■: London, Dec: 16; : '5.20 p.m. Paris reports' that Belgium, seven miles south-west of Ostend, was violently bombarded by an.'.' English, squadron.; The Belgians, repulsed! counter-attacks, at St. Georgej occupying the bank on the left.of the Yser. The '.French" : progressed, further at Arras, in the Aishe Valley, and in the Champagne district. lii artillery .d.iiels there was" a clear French advantage. The Servian King entered Belgrade at the head of Iris tro.ojjjs. [ • .' ~_ j No Austrians remain in Servia. j

TROOPS,AT SAMOA - . STATEMENTS BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE. AUCKIiANTV Dec.. 16.J ■The. Minister of Defence made two interesting statements this evening. It was suggested that, since the; oceans had now practically been cleared of German raiders, it might be possible'to.xohibve some of the restrictions on small vessels entering and leaving the principal ports. - -< v The Minister agreed, and added; that the authorities liad under consideration the matter of considerably reducing' the garrisons which, at..present were being maintained in the forts. Mr Allen was asked whether the Sanioan garrison might not be also similarly reduced. He replied that that was different. ' It was absolutely necessary that a sufficient force should remain in Samoa in order that proper control might i be kept over the coloured races resident. in the islands.

DEATH OF A NEW ZEALAN OER. WELLINGTON, This Day,. Cable advice was received by the Defonce headquarters tb,-day of the death of Private John 'Archibald Campbell, of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, at Abassia Hospital, Cairo, on the eve- :r>g oftho 14thv 'Dbceascd, who was 27 years of ago, was a horse-driver, and came from Napier. His next of lin is Donald Campbell, of Wellesley road, Napier. r .■ ■