A ZONE OF DEATH

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13235, 5 March 1915, Page 5

A ZONE OF DEATH

SCENE NEAR YPRES' FIELD (GRIM REAPER'S DREADFUL HARVEST IN THE DARDANELLES STRAITS BEING GRADUALLY FORCED HOW CONTRABAND IS RUN ACTIVITY OF SUBMARINES ll'ir Oabli.—rwii Asiooialiou.—UoiijrliM)

THE BLOCKADE,

AMERICA'S NOTE,

AMSTERDAM, March I

FORCING THE DARDANELLES. BOMBARDMENT RESUMED. LONDON', March. ."•. l'avis reports that thebomliardment of the .Dardanelles has been resumed. The Paris Temps states that an agreement lias been reached between France, Britain and Russia regarding the future status of the Dardanelles. It is proposed to give Russia a freepassage.

The United States Note hopes that Gcrmauy and Britain will reciprocate ii: concessions, and that they may discover a basis of understanding which will -, free neutral ships from serious danger. '• This suggestion is not a proposal, but ■•' tho United Slates takes the liberty of a sincere friend, actuated by a desire to serve the interests of humanity. .Any agreement must be in the nature of a ■ • tniotlus Vivendi, based more on suitableness tTiiin legal right under international law. The Note suggests that no Isolated drifting mines be laid, ami I hat rallies bear the Government stamp, and bo so constructed as (o become harmless if they break loose from their : anchorage. The Note suggests that f mercantile ships, of both parties cease A ■to employ neutral Hags, and that Britain agree not to include foodstuffs as ■ absolute contraband nor hold up cargoes addressed to agencies in Germany, ' , , the names whereof have been communicated to the United States for (he puvpose of-handing the goods to licensed (Jt-nnau "retailers for exclusive distrl""Sution to tlie civil population. The German reply sees in the Amort- • can suggestion a new proof of friendly • feeling*! as the suggestions corrcspomt / - ' ■ AVith Germany's wishes, Tho naval .J, war Is king waged according to the 'V rules, taking into consideration the Intel ests of humanity and laws as well ds the interests of neutrals. The observance of the Declaration of London by Germany's enemies would create n new situatiou. It is not practicable that belligerent Powers should fully renounce tho employment of anchored mines for an offensive purpose, tmt -■ Germany is willing lliat German submarines will only employ force against merchantmen for Ihe purpose of search If of hostile nationality. H t«c l»«scnec of contraband is proved the submarines would proceed according to the general international rules. It is obvious that hostile merchantmen must not be armed, and should refrain from offering resistance. Regarding the importation of food, Germany MiggeMei! that the regulations should include the itidirect importation via neutral ports of hostile goods, and should allow the free passage to Germany of raw materials included in the free list of tho Declaration of Loudon, and should treat ' foodstuffs and all material contained in the. list as conditional contraband, 'fho Note concludes that the effects on '■■' neutral shipping would be substantially 'diminished if the importation of war material from neutrals to belligerents was stopped. The of a definite attitude, however, must be postponed until Die -, llritish reply is received. ' Gazette, commenting on speech, demands the dostruclion of all goods destined for Eng- ■■'•/ laud, which wants war and shall have

BIG FIGHTING IMMINENT. Received -March I, f».-!5 p.m. LONDON, March I. Renter's Atheu's correspondent reports that nine of the Allies' ships mi Tuesday silenced the forts at the Dardanelles, of llamidieli ami Thimenlik, and advanced two miles, Fifty-two vev scls participated. ATHENS, 31aruh •!■ The first detachment of a mjli'.ary expedition, under General Damade, an I including Canadians and Senegalese, has arrived off the Dardanelles. Essad Pasha is commanding one hua died thousand Turks at the '1: tiimus of Galligoli. ~. ' t „

OFFICIAL M\U

OPERATIONS AT DARDANELLES. High Commissioner's report:— LONDON, March 1, L',2o a.m. Army,casualties:— killed (>, wounded l.'l; men killed -77, wounded Jli!), missing I!!), prisoners ,')1, rejoined 1. The Admiralty announce that operations in the Dardanelles were resumed on Monday morning. The Triumph, Ocean, and Albion entered the Straits and attacked fort Eight and the batteries on White. Cliir, The lire was returned by the forts, and also held guns and howitzers. Airmen and seaplanes reported that new gnn positions had been prepared, but tlie guns were not erected. The line of surface of the mines was located. On 'Monday night mine sweepers, covered by destroyers, swept within a mile and a-half of Cape Kcphez. Casualties during the day were six wounded. Four French battleships, off Bulair, bombarded the batteries and eommuiiications. Operations already reported have destroyed thirty-four guns and two magazines. A further report says that on Tuesday the Cnnopus, Swiftsure and Cornwall engaged Fort Eight. A heavy lire was opened on them by Fort Nine, which was damaged and ceased firing in the afternoon. The battleships withdrew in the evening. Although all three were hit, the only casualty was one man slightly wounded. The attack progresses. A Russian cruiser has joined the Allies' licet at the Dardanelles.

-. ',' A LIKELY GERMAN TALK AMSTERDAM, March 3. A report lias loon circulated lh|t a pji'vale yacht fired at the German sub- • marine V'2\ in St. George's Channel, •;,,.'i'lie statement ivas possiWy prouwlga- :''■ ted by'dermaay's desire to justify the. Eiukiiig of everything by submarines. SOUTH AFRICAN REBELLION. ; "LOL'D-MOI'THED UEHTZOG". | Q' CAPETOWN, March'"3. ' ' • ' The Assembly accepted Mr M'crri--man's amendment that a Select Com- </ : niittec be appointed by the' Speaker in "' ' preference to Mr Hcrlzog's motion that £;■''.". a Select Committee be appointed to in- ?■■:■'■■'<; qiiire into the causes of the rebellion; ■."■-<■.',■- .-ri-nctlief it was due to German iiitryiue, ••-. .j y [ or whether the object was to restore ■:C:3 ■•'-•'. independence. Vjjk ;-; Mr Smuts declared that for years Mr •-■■'■; Hertzog was the loudest-mouthed poli£f j ticiauin South Africa, and now he was %H ; the most silent. He was one of the primary causes of the recent disaster, f §p%-:: : >-- and still lie sat in ■ ilS :^; did.uot intend to repudiate that the rebeljiou was piovoked by the expedition fe''Svl'liltp German territory, which sheltered fefj?-;thc : rebels;after the Boer war.

l'iirib reports tliat tho Germans have recommenced the bombardment of, Rheiinswith incendiary bombs. In tlio Cliiiiii|)i!{fi)o district 1 lie Allies' jirojjiTss continues. Wo hold all (lie frontal atlacs over a length of six kilometres. There was marked progress on "Wednesday west of Perthes, German trenches being taken in the woods.' Several violent counter-attacks were repulsed. A regiment of German guards snll'cred enormous, losses at l'erlhes. Pchograd reports I hat several attempts to approach the fortress of lissowiec were repulsed. In the noi'in t'n Kussian advance continues. Ju tin* Cvr palhiaus, between Ondava and tin. 1 Sim furious Austrian atlarlis were icpuhcd completely. Gennan attacks in til-' ,e----gion of jKoszicowa and Jtodanka were equally fruitless. At the latter point two German companies were surrounded and annihilated. The Aiistrians defending the passage of the river l-oiiiiuca met with a serious re'verse. The Russians crossed the river, ami captured six thousand prisoners, eleven guns, and quantities of transport.

THE GRAND FLEET. KING'S MESSAGE TO ADMIKAL. LONDON, Mar;h J. ' The King has sent a message to Ad: miral Sir John Jellieoc as follovs:--"I am much impressed with the efficiency of the Grand Fleet and the splendid spirit of its officers and men, I.have not the slightest doubt but that'my Navy will uphold its great traditions."

AWFUL ZONE OF DEATH. WHAT-"EYE WITNESS" 11AS SEEN, LONDON, March 1 The British'."Eyc-AYilhcss" reports that tl/c accidental• explosion of German magazines, north-of Armcntiercs, in the'eountry between the hostile lines at Yprcs, defies description. " fmigina a wood, with most of the trees felled or"half-sawn, lying, with■ branches onlite ground. Moreover, a wood that \v;.s sianding'in soft muddy flay, wherein there were pits every few yards, s<-v ( <h,| feet deep, with a whole tangle of dead vegetation, the mud-pits heaped f"o'n end lo end with thousands of '(ie.iuri .co.rpses, tin' majority of which have litili■ since November, ijuch is the awful zone of death.'' " ' •

RAMMING A SUBMARINE.

INVKSTKIATING.A CiiAlM,

Jiceeivcd March 5, 0.5 a.m,

LONDON, March 4

The Admiralty is. dry-docking : the Tliordis, in order to prove whether she is ciiliiicd I(i"(lie .CIHID offered' for the first vessel sinking an enemy submarine.. The captain ami crew are emphatic that I hey saw the submarine in broad daylight,' on the sea, two ships' lengths a way. The Tliordis was almost stationary, in a rough sea, A torpedo narrowly missed her, and the captain, expecting another, determined to try and ram the enemy. The wind and sea fortunately drove the Tliordis upon the submarine, and the rending of the hitter's plates was heard.

SUBMARINES IN EVIDENCE,

Received March 5, l.lii tl.ni. • LONDON, March •!

The Daily Chronicle states tli'at + .-'t yacht which shelled a submarine Jins been enmloycd as a patrol since ll:> \m\ began. Tlie yacht sighted a •suliiiiarinc at.'five'thousand yards, ami lircd .Ynie shots from her eight-pouHdi'i 11 . I'lic crew are certain some of the shots wcie effective. T'AHIS, -M.nVl! I. j A German submarine, was sighted live | miles from Calais on Saturday.'A (oil j discharged twelve shots, ami the submarine look refuse behind a Hospital ship and escaped.

HOTTKKUAiM, Maich 1

1 JtUSSIA'S HAMMER. ; A'NAVIATOIt'S lW ';

PETROGRAD, March C Paschaloff) an Aviator tvitli'Qenoral Ivanoff's army' in Polnud, "ticcompahicd by a mechanic, whilst conducting-uVp-eomiaissancc, descended on necoimt .-.of motor troubles ' behind " tlib 'Aitstri'itu lines. ■' Whilo repairing thciv nVsichflic the • aviator, opened ■nmfcl.iiriC'gim lire on an Austrian patrol, killing fivd"but,'of six of tlni Tncih'liefs. The survivor stirrendered ••' arttl' was 'taken'" aboard the aeroplane back totliu'RtiHsiairliiicH.t ';; : ;;;-\;;;L0KMNJ,ifeM|i;4,i The Daily Maii's'PctrOgViidveori'cspoiiilent reports ihal a Russian eiiynlry iiioveineiit' at''Kradiiioliole - last' i''ridjiy tut 'the German East. Prussi'aii rirniy/in two,.while there'is a''eousidbfa , blojgnp between ■ the • separated' parts' Kiiilj tho main 'Austrian' army.''Thc'p'bsitiomiis ilnngennis.fqi: .the. enemy .owing tli, the sudden Russian offensive moveiiieiit,;: fresh Russian artillery''is. reports,! as arriving at- Provusetiea, oil, the northern' end of the Roumani^n ( froii{ibi'i',

■ WORK 10ItS AND THE; WAR! •• ■ * LONDON, March ui: The shipyard' representatives ed Sir G. Askwitli's, Sir Francis Ifo'pwood's, mid the' lion. M.'.P.Gilbjjs' award of a 4s increase and 10 per,cent increase for piecework/ The {Hyde Strike Committee have ordered the'men to retiini on condition ihat jlierehtill be no overtime; also, if an impartial tribunal by Tuesday .ilocs.iiqt.gruiit .tiic workers an extra twopence, then a stayin strike wilLcoiiiineiit'i!, wherein tlio workers will do as little as possible.

'SMUGGLIN(I contraband;

HOME, March I

' Four hundred' and seventy quintals of copper destined for Berlin ivcro.dis'covered under vegetables j'li a railway ear .at Chiasso station. Tho sender is an Italian chemist residing at Turin. Quantities of copper wire were discovered on his premises. COPENHAGEN, March 3. A quantity of provision's and metal were found on four' Herman tugs in the roadstead. The crews were arrested.

AUSTiIIAN'WAKSHH'S HIW.

A submarine chased the steamer Wrexham forty miles between Harwich and Rotterdam, but was shaken off.

CKTTINJU, March 3.

Official—Five Austrian warshipi tillered Anliviiri and bombarded the purl and town. The Royal yacht wan sunk and a large ipumtity of valuablestores burnt. One civilian was killed and several wounded.

CONTRABAND. GERMAN HEADQUARTERS IX SI'A IN. HOME, March I. I> Messagero stales that the head,|„„i'lcrs of German contraband are at Karcelona, whence merchandise is .shipped 11) Amsterdam, via Genoa, as cargoes leaving a neutral maritime station Cor another neutral purl, and Iheirl'ore immune from capture, German emissaries'al Genoa despatch the gouds to Amsterdam ~ via Switzerland, When the train reaches Germany these goods are taken out first, and- Amsterdam never complains of their non-arrival.

LABOUR LEADER IN DEFENCE. LONDON, March ";i. 31 r 'Ramsay Macdonald describes the cabled announcement- of his pamphlet as a distorted version of- his articles, which were written seven months ago, against the balance of power policy.

BULGARIA INTERESTED. A BHATTEBKD BELIEF. Received March I, 11.10 p.m. SOFIA, March 1. The operations in the Dardanelles are engrossing attention, particularly as it was believed that ''the advent of the Germans rendered Ihivforcing of, the straits impossible. 11''is believed that if Tclianak balls'llio Porlc will be obliged lo retire to Koniah.-

PARIS,-March I. (Official.) Further progress has taken place on (lie SouainMesnil-Braiiscjoiir front. We iullicled enormous losses on the Prussian Guards at Mcsiul. "

LONDON, March'2. • The Press Bureau's correspondent at Cairo slates jhal there are no signs of a renewal ol" the Turkish attack.