EUROPEAN WAR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13601, 4 November 1918, Page 4

EUROPEAN WAR.

THE AUSTRIAN CRISIS.

(A. and" N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuters.) Received November 4. at 9 a.m. BERNE, November 3. The Austrians have begun to evacuate Odessa. The Czech National Committee have taken possession of Skoda works and ■dismissed all the German employees. Vienna announces that the grain reserves are exhausted, and the citys supply of flour will last only three • days.* Received November 4. at 10.10 a.m. NEW YORK, November 3. The World's correspondent telegraphs from Copenhagen that the Austrian Army has appointed soldier Soviets. The new Government has given the •soldiers every privilege without delay, tho3 hoping to maintain some semblance of order. until the demobilisation of the army is possible. The authorities havo permitted the formation of soldier councils. The newspapers urge that the State Council act quickly to prevent excesses. The Emperor has returned to Vienna, but the new Government has announced its policy and ignored him. Vienna, is talking of the possibility of Entente troops entering the city, bat the inhabitants fear more the arrival of the Green Guards, who are deserters from -the army. They are now 150 miles south-west of Vienna._ They pillaged and burned! several cities. ARMISTICE WITH AUSTRIA: (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Novebmer 4. The Governor-General has received an urgent message from Mr Lloyd George stating that an armistice has been signed with Austria, and takes effect at 3 p.m. to-day (London time). (Special to Oamaru Mail.) WELLINGTON, November 4. The Premier has received confirmation that an armistice has been signed and that it will take effect from three o'clock to-day. GERMANY AND PEACE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) Received November 4, at 9. a.m. LONDON, November 3. The German Foreign Office issued lasti week an official communication declaring that one of the main tasks will be to regain the German colonies. This will be kept in the forefront. The opinion of American leading statesmen, reflected- in many quarters here, is that Germany will probably yet make a desperate defence. Some' correspondents in Flanders write similarly, commenting on her narrowing fronfc and the strength of the Rhine defences. It is deemed improbable that she will go under without one desperate effort with, the fleet. Repatriated men all declare that the Germans in the inland towns know little outside their own food shortage, and will never understand they are beaten unless subjected to something like Germany's treatment of Belgium. Received November 4, at 9.10 a.m. « " NEW YORK, November 3. There is a talk in Germany of the abdication of the Kaiser on every hand, and the newspapers are openly discussing the question. The Times Washington correspondent says: It is believed by naval authorities that the terms of the armistice adopted by the Versailles Council arcsubstantially tho same as submitted to the Allies by the United States _ Government. Advices received in Washington indicate that the terms will compel the Germans to wifEdraw thirty miles beyond the Rhine, and leave behind their munitions and rolling stock in the evacuated territories. AMSTERDAM. NovembA- 3. It is believed in. well informed quarters that the German people will riottolerate the refusal of the armistice conditions, however severe. Information; received (in _ diplomatic quarters says that there is talk in Germany of punishing those responsible for the failure to hasten peace. The conviction that the end of the war is approaching is growing. .MR ASQUITH ON THE SITUATION. fA. andN.Z. Cable Assu. and Renter.) Received November 4. at 9.-5 a.m. LONDON, November 3. Mr Asquith, a.t St. Andrew's Hall. Glasgow, strongly deprecated the interests of the country being distracted by the artificial turmoil of a general election. Personally he claimed he still possessed the confidence of the Liberal j Party, who were united in favor of Home Rule for Ireland and Freetrade. "I am anxious to serve my country, and not the least ashamed because I | believe the best way in the long run ia to serve my party." Turning to the ( war, Mr Asquith said the most remarkable fact in the present situation is the collapse, which was complete and ; irreversible, of the autocratic thrones of Russia, Germany, and Austria. They cannot be rebuilt. "It is not for us to prescribe for our enemies, neutrals, or our Allies as to their form of government, but we can say the war haw buried 1 beyond hope the ■resurrection of the autocracy and its satellite, militarism. The immediate release of the prisoners and security for the condign punishment of those responsible for their maltreatment should be a primary condition in the armistice. I will say nothing further about the terms of peace, but our general aims can still be summed up in the words 'reparation and security.' It is_ not a quesition of huckstering for territory and fining snug principalities for the cadets of royal houses, but the placing of the whole policy of the world on a sure foundation of righteousness and freedom." •A resolution of unabated confidence in Mr Asquith was carried by acclamation. I

INOFFENSIVE SUBMARINES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assu.) Received November 4. at 9 a.m. MADEtED. November 3. A British steamer which arrived ab Ferrot reports that it met several German submarines, trhich submerged the?: sighted her. and did not attack. ' FRIENDS BECOME ENEMIES. ° '(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) * Received November 4. at 9 a.m., AMbT±/R.I>AM, November 3. | .Diplomatic relations between Bulgaria. and; Germany have been severed, j

WEST FRONT.

The Armistice With Austria Ratified. Austria in the Throes of a Revolution. Abdication of the Hohenzoilerns and Hapshurgs Demandsd. Heavy Fighting on the West Front. fß* Electbio Tiljsobaph—Copyright.] P*b Fbiss Association. (The cable n«ws in thia issue accredited to The Times, London, has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of lie Timea.)

(A. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuters.) Iteeeived November. 4. at 10.15 a.m. LONDON. Nov. 3 (12.40 a.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was determined fighting throughout the day, east, of Valenciennes. We made good, progress north-weet of Maresches ana east and north of Presean, capturing the hamlet of St. Hubert and farms in the vicinity. Eastward cf Valenciennes we captured Marly Village and entered St. Saulve. In the course of this operation we captured two tanks, which the enemy had used in his unsuccessful counter-attacks on November Ist and also took several hundreds of prisoners. We advanced our line by successful minor operations westward of Landrecies. A French communique (timed 6.10 in the morning) states: Vigorous attacks by the Fourth Army, on the Aisne front, combined with a victorious American effort between the Argonne and the Meuse, compelled the enemy to retreat through the Argonne Forest. His rearguards resisted dtesperately, but were unable to arrest- our advance. On the left we occupied the southern bank of the Ardennes Canal for two kilometres between Semuy and Neuvillectday. Further south we captured Vaudv Woods and Ballay Village, and reached the outskirts of Alleux. Des pite the- fiercest resistance our right captured Longwe Primat, and passed Ghinepate, and we are vigorously pursuing the enemy despite the serious obstacle of the Argonne Forest.. The enemy is abandoning huge quantities ot material, and hundreds of prisoners have been taken. An American communique states: The First Army continued to advance, overcoming all" resistance, and capturing among other towns ChampagneMoathomme. Verpel, Buzancy, Villers Devatdinnvilles, and Clery Le Petit. The prisoners taken now exceed four thousand, including a battalion .commander with ' staff. The enemy has abandoned' huge quantities of material. Sixty-three guns and hundreds of ma-chine-guns were captured, including a complete Bavarian battery with its personnel and' horses.

Received November 4, at 10.15 a.m. LONDON, November 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We dropped lo£ tons of bombs, and made directhits on rail.vays. We shot down 13 enemv aeroplanes and drove down seven uncontrollable. Ten British machines' are missing. _ • . A British and Belgian communique states: The attacks of the Second British Armv and the Franco-American Army on the. 31st October and' November Ist bore fruit. To-day, pressed by the Belgian Army and the left. of the French Army, the enemy was forced to retreat hastily in : the direction of the Ghent.Ternenzen Canal. At the end of the day the Franco-Belgians had reached the" line of the Eecloo, Wr.ershoote and Lieve Canal, and further south, as far as Seevergheta. We within four kilometres from the outskirts of Ghent, the left bank of the Schldt being occupied north to Somer. cem. The Allied aviators throughout maintained the mastery of the air. The results obtained by the British aviators were particularly remarkable. . A French communique says: Despite a dense fog on the whole front our aviators were most active. Two of their reconnaissances were pushed 75 miles iiito the enemy's rear, exploring and improving our knowledge. As great activity of troops and convoys was reported in the enemy rear opposite the Argonne front, 148 bombing planes in successive groups, protected by 120 fighting planes dropped 40 tons of explosives and fired thousands of cartridges, causing a panic and dispersing enemy concentrations. Seventeen German aeroplanes were shot down, and 21 tons of explosives dropped on enemy stations at night.

: COMPLIMENT TO NEW ZEALANDERQ. (Australi:) 11 and N.Z. Cable Association) Received November 4, at 9 a.m. LONDON. November S. General Rosenthal, of the. Australian Armv, addressing the Overseas Journalists,' said the Naw ZeaLanders -were oasiv the bvst troops on the West Front. AFTER-THE-WAR; TRADE. (Australian andN.Z. Cable Association) Received November 4. at 9.5 a.m. LONDON, November 3. .Mr Forster presided at the adjourned Wool Conference, which unanimously recommended that the Council should include 41 trade members. 23 representing the employees and 18 tho employers. The Council's functions are !to include advising concerning the . needs of the industry in regard to raw ! material during the transition period, and prepare plans to facilitate the turnover from "war to peace conditions, axivise the War Office relative to the purchase and sale, of raw wool and other matters xjoniiected- with control, and to deal "with anv matters referred to the Council by the War Office, the Board of Trade, Ministry of Reconstruction, I Board of Control, or any recognised trade or labor association connected l ■with the T.ool industry. RUSSIAN APE AIRS. (Australian ancl N.Z. Cable Associatio^ Received November 4, at 9 a.m. BERNE, November <3. The Poles in Siberia have gained their first sticcess; at Omsk, defeating the Bolsheviks. It is expected' the Polish army "wall. rejoin the Czechoslovaks on the Volga. Received November 4. at 9.10 a.m. AMSTERDAM, November 3. Russian diplomats point out that the opening of the Dardanelles "will have a tremendous effect in the Allies' favor, and will" enable the Provisional Government to move, from Omsk to European i Russia, -which will so strengthen the | Provisional Government that ■ it ; "will mean the death blow of the Bolsheviks. TURKEY'S POSITION. ('Australian and N:Z. Cable Association) Received November 4, at 9 a.m. . LONDON, November 3. Several correspondents . point out that Turkeys ..peace ministry includes men who have been extremists. It is suspected: that thedr secondary ob-. jeez is to inaintaln the Comlnittee of Union .and Progress,? for Enver Pasha has not 'yet lost ull authority. .