RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 31 December 1915, Page 5

RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN

AUSTRIAN REPORTS. ""LONDON, Dec. 30. A Vienna message says: —Repeated Russian attacks on the Bessarabia front and on the*Dniester;:north-east of Zaleszczyke, were repulsed with sanguinary loss, ""j-lie enemy made special efforts between ' the path and the wooded zone north of Toporantz. Five infantry attacks, in masses of 15 to 16 rows deep, broke down- under our artillery fire'.-" ' A later * Austrian, communique states that the Russian • .attacks were renewed and ag'arnjcollapsed. It adds: "We withdrew east of Burkanow, on the Strypa. J ' NEW RUSSIAN "ARMY. • COPENHAGEN, Dec. 30. Petrograd telegrams indicate that Russia's new army will be fully equipped in a few weeks. A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 29. X German communique says : A strong Russian detachment attacked north-east-ward of Tukuro, Jhut failed.

COMPULSORY SERVICE

| BRITISH POLITICAL SITUATION. i - _ CRISIS MAY PASS WITHOUT .RESIGNATIONS. LONDON,. Dec. SO. The "Daily Chronicle" -save the situation has eased, and the crisis may pass without resignations. Sir Edward Grey, who specially dreads any weakening' of the solidarity of the nation, is endeavouring to act as conciliator. Much depends upon Mr MoKenna and Mr Ruiiciman, wriose withdrawal would be gravc._ Their retention of office would facilitate the smooth passage of the Compulsion Bill. It is still believed in some quarters that actual conscription will be unnecessary, and that a compromise will probablv vet suffice.

The '"Westminster Gazette" hopes the compulsionists will not regard the Government's decision as the triumph of their principles, but purely as ( an emergency war measure. The "Evening News" says the traditional objections to compulsion are swept aside by the revelations of the w-ar and the Empire's need. The "Globe" says that only fools and fanatics question the justice of the decision, which will have the desirable effect of making the Allies realise that England is at last warring in earnest. The "Evening Standard" believes the decision will be thoroughly popular in the count-rv, generally. The "Pa'll Mall Gazette" says the method most.favoured is to compel iinmarrkd meii to attest' under Lord Darby's group scheme within a fixed period. Thus volunteer and conscript will be placed in the same position. ', The King, in, a letter to Lord D«rby, says tliat "now the work in connection with the lung's appeal for recruits is over, his Majesty hopes that every man entitled to do so will wear an armlet as a, proof to his fellow-countrymen of his. Tespouse to the call.

LABOUR RECRUITING COMMITTEE LONDON, Dec. 29. The Labour Recruiting Committee at a '.special;'' meeting considered the Cabinet's decision. <lt is understood that some of the-in embers urged an immediate; .'national conference'of trade unions, declaring that unattested; unmarried men were, unfit and that the remainder >were conscientious objectors. MR ASQUITH'S CABINET MAJORITY. LONDON, Dec. 30. . It transpires that the majority in the' •Cabinet supporting Mr Asquith is larger than had been expected. -It includes Mr Henderson, Lord Ivitchener, and Mr Balfour, whose prediliction for the voluntary system is well'known. Other questions of, -ptrblic discussion, are the possibility! of Cabinet resigna[tions, and the-voting strength of the' Opposition in. the House of Commons. It is understood that Mr McKenna bases his opposition- partly on personal doubt as to the size of the army (Britain requires .to win the war, and partly on the financial commitments. | ■■■■ Mr Runciman regards the volume of trad© as an indispensable factor in war equipment. - Mr McKenna's and Mr Runciman's supporters generally anticipate their' resignations/ but Mr Asquith has a won.derful knacki of keeping" his flock together.. !''.'. ; The "Manchester Guardian," in a leader summing up a considerable body of Radical opinion, says'■:' "W-6 recognise that for the purposes of tbe : present; war Britain is no longer an island. We must meet Continental armies with an army on the Continental scale. We admit that compulsion may be necessary in certain' circumstances,' buA we are not going to accept it on the demand;of clamour. We are .not going to'be hustled into coriscripr tion. Lord Derby's -has not ,yet been fully utilised and analysed." -j.

FRENCH AND ITALIAN PRESS GRATIFIED ' *

INTEREST CENTRED IN LABOUR. LONDON, Decs 30. The French and - Italian newspapers applaud the Cabinet's decision on - the recruiting problem. ' ' Interest-in Britain is'concentrating on the action Labour is likely -to take. The conference meets to-day, representing the Labour Party, .the Trade "Union Congress, and the Trade Union Federation::' The Cabinet meeting arranged for to-' day has been postponed until Friday. It'is suggested that -this was done to i enable the Cabinet to consider Labour's attitude. The "Daily News" recalls Labour's a.nti-conscription resolutions, and adds that the situation has changed. It trusts that the Labour conference will not ; be influenced by tue sharp'practices of'the compulsionists if it' finds''that the facts justify the Cabinet's decision. » The "Daily Mail".hopes that Labour leaders wilL . reniember: their own manifesto in the newspapers on October 7th". The gravest responsibility attaches to anyone stirring up strife after the Cabinet's decision. ~' AUSTRALIAN* POLICY NOT ' - AFFECTED. j -MELBOURNE, Dec. GO. J Mr 'Hughes, when asked if the ~defcision of the British Government would affect the policy of the Commonwealth Government, replied, "Certainly not 1 ; why should it? We have appealed to men of fighting age, and I am confident that the appeal will not fall Upon deaf ears.".'; , ' r '■ ' '' . AUSTRALIAN SENATOR'S OPINION I • '■'■'* SYDNEY/ Dec. '3o.■•'/ Senator Gardiner cannot see any necessity to talk of-conscription in. Australia, He'believes'the".-'democracy- will respond voluntarily whatever the. calls, even if it means doubling the quotas already sent. -. V

FORD'S ARK

, A CONTRABAND CARRIER: LONDON, Dec. 30. The Foreign Office announces that 55 bags of rubber, weighing 4000 pounds, consigned to Sweden to a ■ well-known enemv forwarding agent, were removed from "Mr Ford's ship. The-remainder of the mails were handed to the Post Office for immediate transmission.

WAS THE RUBBER ON FORD'S ARK

ANOTHER-OSCAR TI. ' (Rec. Dec. 3i. 9.15 a.in.) ■ " LONDON, Dec. 30. The newspapers atti'ibute , the rubber seizure to Ford's Ark. 'but' the Foreign Office only states that it was seized aboard the Oscar 11., included 7 " in the parcel mail. The newspapers point out ■that this is the second important selizufe of rubber sent to Sweden by parcel mail recently. It was known that Ford's Ark was carrying 6500 tons of freight, but an assurance was given- thait, ft included no munitions. There is a liner named Oscar 11., belonging to the Forenede Company. ".'.''

TiEiiiii's ILLNESS

ANOTHER VERSION

AMSTERDAM, Dec. 30. A telegram' from. Berlin states that the Kaiser is suffering from a non-malignant tumor. He is not confined to bed, but is remaining indoors owing to unsettled weather. He receives the usual daily reports.

GERMANY'S AIMS

NOT SUPREMACY, TBUT PRESERVATION. ; BUCHAREST, Dec. 28. Professor Zorn, with the sanction of Here von Bethmann Hollweg ? ' the Imperial Chancellor, states' that Germany does not think of world supremacy. The Germans only want to live in {Jeace in their own country, and when it is understood that Germany is only warring to save her existence,' peace' will come.

DOMESTIC CONTROVERSY

CENSORSHIP IN RUSSIA. GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO SUMMON DUMA. LONDON, Dec. 28. The Russian censors have prohibited, the despatch of external telegrams ' for several weeks. The messages now coming through report considerable dissatisfaction at the failure of the Government to summon, the Duma. The discontents do not regard as convincing "the official [reason for I>he postponement- that the Bridget is - not ready. The: malcontents are an hifiuitasimal minority. The influential press and' the majority of x the nation are determined to prosecute the war to the .utmost, declaring that .this is no time- for domeistic controversy. ; - CHARGE AGAINST CANADIAN. (Rec. Dec. 31. 9.15 a-m.) ' LONDON, Dec. 30. Robert Mills Simpson, -; wearing the uniform of a lieutenant-colonel of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, has been remanded at Bow-street on a charge of stealing £20,000, the .King's property, at Manitoba. ' ■■" i. ■•■■■.

AUSTRALIA

ENLISTMENT- 1 OF" A* 'LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR. MELBOURNE, Dec. 30. Mr Russell Clarke, a - Legislative Councillor, and half-brother to Sir Rupert Clarke, has enlisted. RUSSIAN SUBJECTS CALLED UP. SYDNEY, Dec. 30. Russian subjects have been called to join their units or enlist in the Expeditionary Forces. (Rec. 9 a.m. ) SYDNEY. This Day. It is stated that 20,000 Russians are in- Australia .

SUPPLY OF OFFICERS.*. (Rec. Dec. 31. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 30. The difficulty of supplying officers for the higher commands in the new levies is being overcome by conferring the positions to senior officers already at the front.