THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 25

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

AMSTERDAM, June 10. The German offensive started yester= day with a furious attack southward of Ypres. There was a heavy artib lery duel at Dixmude. Troops with= drawn from France had arrived at Bruges. The Germans are terrorising the Belgians owing to their refusal to do military work. Executions on a large scale have occurred. Many public men were arrested at Verxheuzen. The burgomaster of Hessen, near Willebroek, died in prison because the guards forgot to give him food. It was then officially announced that he had committed suicide. A German communique admits the withdrawal of the Germans from Neuville (near Arras), but claims that the Germans bloodily repulsed French attacks south-east of Hebuterne (near the Oise). The communique also states that General von lyinsingeh has arrested the Russian attack north-east of Zwcawno. The occupation of Stanislau (south of Stryj) is claimed, with the capture of 4000 prisoners and 13 machine guns. CAPTURE OF GERMANS AND MAXIMS. PETROGRAD, June 9. Official : In the region of Shavli the Germans obtained reinforcements and made persistent attacks in the direction of Double. The Russians evacuated this village, and concentrated before Shavli. On the left bank of the Vistula, north of Rawa (Central Poland) the Germans used gases. In Galicia there was stubborn fighting

on the left bank of the Wisznia, and we captured 2000 men. On the Dniester front, at Zhidatchen, we captured six officers, 300 men, and two Maxims. The Germans near Sawka fell into a trap, and our bayonet charge killed 200 men. THE RETIREMENT FROM PRZEMYSL. LONDON, June 9. General Witte, Inspector-general of the Belgian Cavalry, has returned from Russia. He declares that the Russians are the most valiant and most highly disciplined armies in the field. They formed the intention to abandon Przemysl about the middle of May, and the retirement was effected in order that they might advance more decisively. GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED. PETROGRAD, June 10. Official: We repulsed the enemy’s renewed attacks on the Ugartsberg-Zhidat-chew front, taking an additional 800 prisoners, including 10 officers, and capturing five machine guns. GERMAN FLEET IN THE BALTIC. PETROGRAD, June 9. The newspaper Army Messenger reports that a Russian submarine made an attack on a German fleet of 10 battleships between Windau and Gotland. She fired several torpedoes, and as she dived the crew could hear loud explosions. The German fleet has recently been active near Riga, but when convinced of the presence of our submersibles and of mine barriers it sailed away southwesterly. A German second-class cruiser struck a mine and was towed intoJJbau. A Russian submarine sank the German steamer Hindenburg near Papensee. AERIAL WARFARE. LIEUTENANT WARNEFOED’S FEAT. PARIS, June 9. On General Joffre’s recommendation the Cross of the Legion of Honour has been conferred Sub-lieutenant Warneford. June 10. The two airmen who accompanied Lieut. Warneford left him in order to bomb Evere, and Warneford continued alone. Ho says : I sighted the Zeppelin at a height of 6000 ft. I got above it, and then dropped. Within 50ft I loosed some bombs. The sixth struck the envelope fair and square in the middle. Instantly there was a terrific explosion, and the displacement of air was so great that it seemed like a tornado. My machine was tossed upwards and then flung upside I was forced to ‘loop the loop’ despite myself. I thought the end of everything had come. In the whirl I had the pleasure of seeing the Zeppelin falling in a cloud of flame and smoke. Then by a miracle the aeroplane righted itself and came to the ground.” BOMBS IN MONTENEGRO. CETTINJE, June 9. An Austrian aeroplane dropped bombs on Podgoritza (in Montenegro, inland from Cettinje), but did uo harm.

INTERNED ZEPPELIN OFFICERS. COPENHAGEN, June 10. Five interned Zeppelin officers, assisted by four civilians, attempted to escape in a motor car, but the police arrested the lot. THE MUNITIONS BILL. RICH MEN SHOULD HAVE TO WORK. LONDON, June 9. In the course of the debate in the House of Lords on the Munitions Bill, Lord St. Davids said he regretted the Bill did not give power to requisition rich men as well as workers. He dissociated himself from the attacks on the great organised working classes, and said that the upper classes would come wonderfully well out of the trial, but still there were idlers among them. Even among the members of the House of Lords there were men who had never done a day’s work for themselves or anybody since they were born. Their sons were still hanging round theatres and music-halls, and while that was so it was no use going to workmen and talking conscription or compulsory service. All men who refused to work should be made to fight. (Questioned whether the Government had decided, to" introduce compulsory military training for young men not required for other Government work, Mr Asquith ro plied in the negative. Hundreds of City business and professional men have enrolled as volunteers for the Munition Brigade, to put in the weekends at Woolwich Arsenal ammunition making. WAITING TO BE USED. LONDON, June 10. In the House of Lords to-day, Lord Curzon, in moving the Munitions Bill, said investigation had proved that the entire army of labour, skilled and unskilled, was waiting to be used and anxious to be used. QUESTION OP GENERAL ELECTION. ■ LONDON, June 10. Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons, said he was not yet in a position to announce the Government’s decision regarding the general election. FOUR VESSELS SUNK. MOST OF CREWS SAVED. LONDON, June 9. The British collier Lady Salisbury was torpedoed off Harwich without warning. Sixteen of the crew were saved, but two are missing. Two trawlers and a French barquentine were also torpedoed yesterday, their crews being saved. The Lady Salisbury’s missing crew have been picked up, ANOTHER SUBMARINE SUNK. LONDON, June 9. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Arthur J. Balfour), in the House of Commons, said that a German submarine had been sunk, and her six officers and 21 of a crew had been taken prisoner.

DEALING WITH CAPTURED CREWS. - LONDON, June 9. Mr Balfour, after announcing the sinking of a German submarine, made a statement as to the treatment of submarine prisoners. Arrangements were being made whereby their treatment would be identical with that of other prisoners. This did not indicate any change in opinion as to the character of the acts in which the prisoners were concerned. Their practices were not merely a flagrant contradiction of the laws of war, but were most cowardly and brutal. It must be remembered, however, that attacks on defenceless vessels were not the only violations of the laws of humanity of which the Germans were guilty. The Government was therefore of opinion that the submarine problem coulcLnot be treated in isolation" from other breaches, and the general question of the personal responsibility of those concerned could be reserved until the end of the war. SOLICITOR-GENERAL KNIGHTED. LONDON, June 10.. Mr F. E. Smith, Solicitor-general, has been knighted. MR BRYAN’S RESIGNATION. THE SECRETARY’S STAND. WASHINGTON, June 9. Mr Bryan has made the statement that his resignation of the Secretaryship was due to President Wilson’s refusal to consider the investigation of the Lusitania/ question by an international commission or to issue a warning to Americans against travelling by belligerent vessels or vessels carrying ammunition. President Wilson has announced that no reply to Mr Bryan’s statement will be made. NEW YORK, June 9. Mr Bryan’s resignation has caused a •ensation in Washington that is unparalleled in recent years. The majority of he newspapers consider it ill-timed and he result of Mr Bryan’s passionate and oftentimes quixotic devotion to peace ideals. Germany is likely to regard it as a sign of division of sentiment in the country. The proposed cruise of the Atlantic fleet to San Francisco has been cancelled. It will remain in eastern waters and engage in manoeuvres. STATEMENT BA* MR BRYAN. ' WASHINGTON, June 10. Mr Bryan, in a written statement, explains that he favoured inviting the action of an International Commission in accordance with the treaties with 30 countries, thus making war impossible. Last year Germany did not sign the treaty, but adopted the principle. Regarding the German warning against travelling by belligerent nation vessels, Mr Bryan asks why Americans should be permitted to involve the country in war by traversing a danger zone in a belligerent ship. The question was not one of right under international law, but whether Americans ought not, out of consideration for the country, to avoid danger when avoidance was possible. BERLIN, Juno 10. Mr Bryan’s resignation has created a

deep stir here, and the newspapers ard not allowed, to comment upon it. CONSCRIPTION IX AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, June 10. Senator Bakhap, in. Parliament, advocated the introduction of conscription at the earliest opportunity. Senator Lynch, in supporting the proposal, said lie was sure there v,« nothing to fear in its introduction. Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence, in replying, said no dominion had done so much as Australia. Ho did not think the time ripe for conscription. Ho added that Australia had seriously taken up the question of the supply of ammunition for small arms and big guns. A committee was inquiring into the matter now. ENEMY SUBJECT EMPLOYEES. SYDNEY, June 10. Tho Finance Committee of the City Council to-day discussed a proposition in favour of dispensing with the services of enemy subject employees. The council adopted an amendment that no employee of the council of enemy nationality be driven from the council’s service until ho is proved to have been guilty of disloyalty to the British Empire. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLES. LONDON, June 10 (2.50 a.m.). Dardanelles Casualty List. —Navy: Offl< cers—Killed, 26; wounded, 17; missing, 8, Men—Killed, 21; wounded, 39; missing 3