LATE CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 12768, 10 February 1916, Page 4

LATE CABLES.

[B\- Ejcectbio Telegraph—Copyright.] * I'eb Pbess Association. BALKAN MELEE. Received February 10, at 1.55 p.m. London, February 10. -•■ The Servians announce that Austrian troops, conttinuiing theiit adva/ice <, u Duratao, the. first Mountain Brigade of Austriaus, in co-operation with ;i number of Albanian bantfej came in contact with some Servian troops' rearguard!. There was violent and blooh fighting next day, and the enemy succeeded in pressing the- Servians. The latter, receiving reinforcements, retook by a night attack the- positions lost, putting the enemy to flight. Tho battlefield was covered 1 with bodies of the enemy and hundreds of prisoner were taken, mostly Hungarians.

STRUGGLE IN THE W'EST

London. February ,9 (4.50 p.m.i Artillerv fighting is active on the Ar. tois front from Hill 140 to the rua-i at Neuville la. Fille. Yesterdav afternoon the Germans exploded two" heavily-charged mines west of La Folie and were enabled to penetrate portions of the French firing trenches overthrown by the explosion and also certain points in the support trenches. They were expelled by u grenade attack in tho course of tho night. The combat continues. RUSSIANS ACTIVE ON THE BLACK SEA. Loudon, February 9 (5.50 a.m.l Petrograd reports that The BlackSea ships bombarded the Turkish posi. tions on the Anatolian coast, while ;l squadron of Russian seaplanes bombed a steamer anchored at Hunguldak. SENSATIONAL AMERICAN BKPORT. ROON SAID TO"BE CAPTURED. Received February 10, at 0.35 p.m. New York, February !'. It is reported here that the British cruiser Drake captured tbo GeniMn cruiser Room after a three-hours' ivAi off Bermuda. Two merchantmen a: v also reported to hav e been-seized. The. British Embassy is unable to verify the report. (The German battle cruiser Roon w ;); built in 1902, and has a displacement of 9500 tons, her. main armament l>uing 4 B.2in and 10 6in guns. Tho Drake's displacement is 14.000 tew, and her'armament 29.2 in and 10 6in guns.)

Received February 10, at 1.50 p.m. New York, February !). Advices from Bermuda appearinu in the New York Globe circumstantially recount that Captain Seagrave. mm. mantling the British cruiser Drakr. announced liis intention, when a bom to attack the lloon, of avenging Admiral Craddock, with whom ho t'oniui. lv served. " The British lost 18 men, but captured 32 officers and 719 men on board tb'> Roon and two accompanying merchantmen.

AIR RAIDING. Received February 10, at 1.50 p.m. London, February H. Two German seaplanes dropped tluo bombs on the outskirts of and four near a school at Broud.staii* vritTXui causing a casualty. GERMAN-BULGARIAN CONFER. ENCE. Received February 10, at 1.15 p.m. Amsterdam, February ',!. King Ferdinand, with Dr Radoslavulf and M. Jekoff, Bulgarian Minister-. have arrived at the German head<|\i;iiters. Dr Betlfmann-HoUweg and Hcrr Jagow will also attend the conference. GERMAN SUBMARINE STATIONS SUPPRESSED. Received February 10, at 1.15 p.m. Rome, February !'. The Allied fleets operating round tli" Greek islands have suppressed numerous provisioning stations for ih>: enemy submarines. GERMAN LOSSES. Received February 10, at 2.40 p.m. London, February !'. Reliable information has readu>! diplomatic circles that the number of German wounded transported tliroudi Belgium after the recent- attack at Friese is greater than after the Loofighting. MOVEMENT OF TROOPS IX THE WEST. Received February 10, at 2.40 p.m. London, February P. Observers state, in connection '.villi the reported imposing movement oi troops towards the- Western front, that although it is desired to create simli an impression these movements are by no means as important as those earlier v. the -war. What is taking place j- ; constant shifting oE units along tli; Western front.

AUSTRO-GERMAN ACTIVITIES Athens, February H. Some circles affirm that the Ausn"; Germans have temporarily abaiuloiwi the campaign against Salonica, (livening all their efforts on the Italian nor,'. •and against the British in Fliuhl<t--hoping thus to obtain some saw-- im!cuiated to influence the neutrals. IN EAST AFRICA. London, February 9 (8.10 p'ii.i General Smith-Dorrien, owing u> iiihealth, has' relinquished the h;K African command, His place wiil ')■- taken, by General Smuts.