WESTERN FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9248, 15 January 1916, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT

ATTEMPTED COUP DE MAIN GAS DRIVEN BACK ON ENEMY. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, January 13, 4.40 p.m. Between the Somme and the Avre, in the course of the night, the enemy attempted.a coup de main, which was completely checked. In the Champagne, two grenade attacks on French positions were stopped" dead. New information-of the gas attack tried yesterday in the sector of De Forges shows that in the course of the operations a gust of wind drove back the cloud on the enemy trenches. Our bombardment of the enemy lines has been very violent, ARTOIS-LILLE ROAD ENEMY TRENCHES DESTROY^. The High Commissioner- reports: LONDON, January. 13. In the Artois-Lille road, the French destroyed enemy trenches at several points. "Between the Somme and the Oise, a German regiment caught our fire entering Roye. ■ ■•-•• ENEMY'S INTENTIONS SIMULTANEOUS ATTACK ON MESOPOTAMIA 1 AND EGYPT. ■"Time*" and Sydney "Sun" Service*. LONDON, January 13. Mr W. Jefferies (the "Daily Mail's" correspondent at Athens) says that the latest information,indicates simultaneous enemy attacks on Mesopotamia and Egypt, with probably a diversion in Macedonia. MILITARY SERVICE BILL MINERS' FEDERATION OPPOSES IT. By Tolegrapu—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, January 12. The Miners' Federation unanimously decided to oppose the Military Service Bill. ' . The -conference authorised the executive to summon the conference again to consider what further .action is to be taken if the bill is passed. MR HUGhImXORCISER ! AN UNFORTUNATE SIMILE. By TeJecrapb—Press Association—Copyright .(Received January 14, 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 14. Mr Hughes, the Federal Premier, at a recruiting meeting, passionately denounced the "foul parasites who attached themselves to the vitals of the Labour party." ''-'«_■■ He said: "There is between Syndicalism and Unionism a gulf as wide as hell. In the name of Unionism and Labourism I cast thenl out like devils out of swine." Referring to trade union enlistments, Mr Hughes stated that the waterside workers had sent four thousand men, and the Australian Workers' Union twenty thousand men, to the front EXTORTEDJW THREATS DANISH TRADERS AND EXPORT AGREEMENT. ily Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LOiNDON, January 13. The "Daily .Mail's" commissioner says that many traders in Denmark, including reputable &Tms t do not consider themselves bound by the trading agreement, which forbids export to Germany, on the grounds that it was extorted by threats. Aloreover, the agreement was thwarted by exporting from Denmark to Sweden, and viceversa", then , transhipping to Germany. Money guarantees were of little value- since the German banks were willing to take up the guarantees. Innumerable . tricks were employed to circumvent the agreement. Oil and fat were exported by shipping one sardine in a tin of oil as sardines, or by shipping soap containing a specified quantity of fat. The German Minister was always ready with veiled threats to persuade the Danish authorities to grant export permits.

STRIKE IN AUSTRALIAN MONITIONS FACTORY iy Toleirraph-Press Assooiation-Copyrlghl SYDNEY, January 14. Work in the Broken Hill Munitions Company's factory has been held-up owing to a strike. AUSTRALIAN PATRIOTIC FUNDS By Tolcgraph—Press Association— Copyright SYDNEY, January 14. A comparison of patriotic funds in New South Wales and Victoria shows that the New South Wales total is £2,204,136, and Victoria's £1,268,78i, to December 31st. NATIONAL SCIENCE BUREAU THE FEDERAL SCHEMEi By Telegraph—Press Association— CopyYlfbi MELBOURNE, January 14. Cabinet has adopted the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industries Committee's report, providing the control of the present Commonwealth laboratories is not ; disturbed, but; that they be generally improved and better equipped. Any new laboratories are to be controlled by the institute. An Advisory Council was appointed to immediately collect industrial and scientific information, initiate research, and promote industries. PEACE MEETINGS IN BERLIN ANTO-MILITARISTS' CAUSE SPREADING. •"Times" and Sydney "Bun" Servloes. LONDON, January 13. Various accounts which have reached liondon and Paris show that peace posters, bills, and circulars are" posted iin the streets of Berlin and slipped under doors at night. Secret meetings are being held, and the antimilitarist cause is spreading. 1 Fifteen thousand people attended a meeting in spito of the police, and the Crown Prince was frequently insulted. BRITISHERS IN BAGDAD ANXIETY AS TO THEIR FATE. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Service*. (Received January 14. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. There is anxiety concerning the British colony in Bagdad. Two men, nine women and numerous children, whom the Turks cast out, were last seen travelling by primitive methods towards Mohul, a distance of three hundred miles. The American Consuls are everywhere inquiring as to the Britishers' fate. NEW CALEDONIA ALL MEN GONE TO FIGHT. By Toleeraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 14, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 14. A visitor from New Caledonia states that every, man capable of doing anything whatever has gone to the war. Only women, children and old men are seen in the streets. Pleasures and sports of all kinds have been laid aside. There is considerable depression owing to the falling off of commerce and shipping, but the mining industry is well maintained. ; The demand for nickel is greater than ever for the manufacture of munitions. NATIONAL TaRtT WANTED AN APPEAL TO UATRIOTIC . PARLIAMENTARIANS. 3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriehl LONDON, January 13. Mr H. A. Gwynne, editor of the "Morning Post," speaking at the Constitutional Club, deplored that the Government was ineffectively conducting the war. He proposed as a remedy an appeal to the patriotic members of the House of Commons to form a National party, which alone should petition the King to remove the twenty-two members of the present Cabinet and appoint either three or five Cabinet members in their stead, and the party programme to be: No peace unless the Dominions and Allies agreed to the terms ;prohibition of a German becoming a partner in a British firm or becoming domiciled in the Empire for twenty-five years a tariff of 5 per cent, against Germany, and an additional 1 per cent. for every month) the war continues.