DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS FACING ENTENTE COMMISSIONERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13860, 21 April 1917, Page 6

DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS FACING ENTENTE COMMISSIONERS.

BL-J ■ L.J. AMERICA SPEEDING UP MILITARY PREPARATIONS. (Australian And New Zealand Cable Association and Ileuter.) ; ' ■'.;.'. WASHINGTON, April 19. The British Commissioners' include Mr Balfour, Hon. Eric Drummbnd (Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs); ,Mr lan Malcolm, M.P.; Lord Dormer, K.N.; Mr' George Butler; 'Admiral.de Chair, Fleet-Paymaster Lawford,. Major-General Bridges, Captain Spencer Clay, and Lord Cunli'ffe. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that one of the most difficult questions Mr Balfour will discuss is the United States' policy towards the Paris Conference, particularly the economic agreement as to tariff discrimination, against German goods and Germany. The correspondent recalls that Mr Wilson has said he disapproved of a trade war after the war. , . ' '

Some naval officers believe that four, submarines were despatched to American waters.

There is no further official statement regarding the gun-fire off' the coast, but there are conflicting unofficial explanations. The House, Committee will time the Conscription Bill with a view to first listing the volunteers. It is believed that Congress will over-ride the amendment and adopt conscription.. The French Commission comprises M. Yiviani, . Marshal Joll're, Admiral Gliochepoiit, and the Marquis do Cambnin. The New York Times points out the fact that Herr Max llarden's warnings have passed the censorship. This, it claims, shows that the German ruling class js prepared for the worst, and is preparing the people for it.

■ President Wilson refuses all compromises on the Conscription Bill. He intends to force it through the Senate,* 1 and then endeavour to induce the House of Representatives at an interllotisc conference to agree to the measure. Mr Chamberlain's Bill, providing for a selective draft, has the Presidential backing, but Colonel House's Bill, leaving an opening for voluntaryism, is gaining support. ■

President Wilson is convincedthat the nation needs an army immediately, and that voluntaryism is unable lo provide it.

The Council of National Service is considering the advisability of preventing the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages during the war, tlnjji saving three million tons.for foodstuffs annually.

Senator Lodge lias introduced an amendment in the Senate, liberalising .the Government's Censorship Bill. The War Department announces that men marrying since America entered the war will rank as bachelors for war service.

FUTILITY OF GERMANY'S SUBMARINE THREATS. . PLANS FOR ANGLO-AMERICAN CO-OPERATION MATURE, (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association;) LONDON, April 19. Admiral Sims, of the United States Navy, lias conferred with the British Admiralty, and reports to Washington the plans for American-British co-operation against submarines. The Government has ordered a census of horses, mules, cattle, and pigs, prior to the Ist May. Despite the submarine campaign, the volume of British ' traffic during the past eight weeks has been maintained, but not increased.

DISORDERLY DEMONSTRATIONS IN LATIN REPUBLICS. ANTI-GERMAN FEELING INCREASING. . . and New Zealand Cable Association.) BUENOS AYRES, April 19. The police suppressed fresh pro-war disorders, and guarded German buildings. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) RIO DE JANEIRO, April 19. Mobs burnt several German stores and buildings at Forla " Legre. ANGLO-FRENCH WESTERN PUSH. ' f. .. ■> ENEMY GIVING GROUND BEFORE ANGLO-FRENCH PRESSURE. ■ BRILLIANT FRENCH SUCCESSES IN THE CHAMPAGNE. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter.) Received April 20, 6.30 p.m. f LONDON, April 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We improved our position slightly southward of Monchy-le-Preux and made further progress eastward of Fampoux and in the trenches south-east of Loos. The i guns captured total 228. ' A French communiq.ue reports: Between the Somme and the Oise .there liave been lively artillery encounters. The' enemy

north of. the Aisup, under'vigorous pressui'e, continued to retreat towards. Chemindamcs.; ■; We occnpied -the^villages/of ■ Aixy, Goury, and Laffaux, and captured a "fort" at'Oonde;.-.= inaiii-; tain close contact with the; crieiiiy; ;¥c captured, after a sharp | action, a strong point .north of Hurtebise, taking five-hundred 1 prisoners and two guiis. We-mado-great progress west of -Bermcricouri There is: i most violent ,artillery : duel in the Champagne. In the Moronviller's-Massif 'we extended our positions north of Montliant, and •repuised two counter-attacks. Wc brilliantly carried a strongly-fortified trench system on a ' front of two kilometres, connecting Auberive .Woods •.with Moronvillcrs. We drove back the enemy towards the southern outskirts of Vauclesincourt. The artillery is active on the left' of the Mouse, in 'the direction of Moi-t/Homme.. , : i. A wireless German official report says:' Several French at- - tacks were made along the Aisne and the Aisne Canal. The; strongest, which was made against Brimout, failed. Our-counter-attack in the Champagne'compensated''lor the enemy gain north-east of Auberive.

v FRENCH FORCES MAINTAIN STRONG PRESSURE. .■■ ' -r- .-r-i' ;■■ ■,-;.. : GERMANS CLAIM FAILURE OF FRENCH OFFENSIVE, i BRITISH SUPERIORITY OVER GERMANS DEMONSTRATED. i . ..'.-.■ T.• •• • i (Australian and now Zealand caMe Association.} . LONDON, April 19. A French'communique says: There is great reciprocal artillery action south and soiitli-west of St. Quentin. We continue to make progress northward of Vailly and Ostel and between the Aisne and Clicmins-dcs-'Danies. Our machine guns stopped an enemy attack in ,the region .of Coiirtecon.. 'Die Germans' last night attacked our positions-on the plateau of Yer-au-Clere, further east, and were mowed down by our "'five;-' sothat the assaulting waves had to retire with great losses without reaching our lines.

There was lively artillery action last night in the sectors of Sapigneul, Le Godat, and La Pompellc. We have continued our successes at Moronvillers-Massif, in the Champagne. Our attacks everywhere have been successful, and we have captured Highmouth, together with several heights eastward of that place, including Hill 227. On the outskirts, of South Moronvillers we captured two more German batteries. Twelve new German batteries have been identified on; the Sois-ions-Auberive front. ' .

A'wireless German official message says: French army orders found indicate a far-reaching object.iu their attack on the 16th, which failed. The Frenchjiave .approximately attained their tactical aims, to say nothing of their strategic object. A French attack on the 17th-18th near Bray succeeded, Repeated attacks on our elevated front at Chemin-cles-Dames, with special violence near Cravonne, failed sanguinarily. NearLaville-aux-Bois forest our position became unsuitable, and we have established a rearward fortified line. New-fighting developed in' the Champagne, north-west of Auberivc, and wa.s,-intense during the morning, owing to the introduction of further forces. (Australian and Weir Zealand Cable Association.) . . ' LONDON, April .19. \ Sir Arthur.Conan-Doyle,,in, an article in The Daily Chronicle in support of the contention that British soldiers have completely gained supremacy over the Germans, shows that, while: Germany holds 34,000 British prisoners, Britain holds 70,000 German prisoners; (lie British guns captured by the Germans do not exceed 70, while the British- have captured over 400 of theirs. VIGOUR OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE. ONE HUNDRED MILES OF FRONT A8LAZE....... ■ ..'.-. i .... ("The Times" Service,) . ', , Received April 21,12.35 a.m. x - LONDON, April 20. The Times' correspondent.at the French Headquarters says: Despite the most abominable weather, with rain, sleet, and snow;. . churning the shell-ploughed soil into morasses, making air work impossible, and greatly hampering the infantry, the Allies made a considerable advance in half, a dozen different' sectors-from Bt. Queiitin to the Chnnipagnc, repelling tlic- couiitcr-attficks so effectively that we either killed or Captured in several attacks every man. : Meanwhile a terrible bombardment continues incessantly along one hundred miles of front. An Amsterdam message states that after the capture o.i' Vimy Ridge, Marshal von Hindcnlnirg rushed'by special train to the West Front.to endeavour to re-establish the line. The Kaiser followed. ... ■ ' • "'; «;

, IN THE EAST MORE GEBMAN 7 BUTHLESBNEBS, DESTRUCTION OF RUMANIAN TOWNS. PETROGEAD, April 19. The report that Germans are burning the towns in Rumania is interpreted to mean Hint they may lie preparing to evacuate it, . . ' Rumanian,circles in London discredit the -theory that the fires at Brnilla and FoQsani 'indicate that the Germans are preparing to retreat. LONDON, April 19. A German official messags says: The Russian tiro has becomo.more active bohveen the Pripot. and tlio Dneistcr. ,

BRITAIN'S PART

SECRET. SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. TCAIi PROBLEMVTO BE DISCUSSED, (Australian and N.Z, Cnblo Association) Received April '2O, at 10.2 ■ sp.m. . LONDON, April .19; It is understood, that a, secret session' of Parlianient will be held immediately following the Budget.. Tho session will jprobnbly lastr two or threq days and the discussions will.consider maii-pojvcr, submarines, shipping and aviation, : '..'■ ..