NAVAL FIGHT IN THE BALTIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 21

NAVAL FIGHT IN THE BALTIC.

COPENHAGEN, July 21. There was violent cannonading be« tween Landsort and Gottskasand© en Wednesday night, and a large German torpedo boat was seen next morning steaming rapidly southward. It is supposed that the Russians were px<rsiiing the Germans, as firing was still aiu'ible in a more southerly direction. Firing was also heard near Smisvall. LONDON, July 21. It is reported that there was a naval engagement in the Baltic on Wedriesday night. There are indications that the Germans were renulseil. IN EAST AFRICA. LONDON, July 19. General Smuts on July 18 reports : The

enemy forces which endeavoured to operate against our communications northwards of Handen and the Usuambara railway have now been driven down the Pangani River, abandoning a field gun. The clearance of this area and of Agrogrep is progressing satisfactorily. On the southern shore of Lake Victoria Nyanza a force under Brigadier-general Sir G. Crewe disembarked at Muanza on Friday night. The enemy evacuated the town after a light resistance, leaving rifles and a portion of a supply column, also a gun from the Konigsberg. The majority of the German Europeans embarked on a steamship, and fled southwards by Stuvlmann Sound; they are l being pursued by our armed lake vessels. SOME NOTABLE CAPTURES. LONDON, July 23. The War Office states that General Smuts, on the 21st, reported that enemy forces, endeavouring to interfere with his communications west of Tanga, were driven southwards over the Pangani River. Muhetza and Amani had been occupied, and he now had effective possession of the whole of the Usambara railway, which he was repairing. A Belgian official report stales that a strong enemy force was dislodged by the British occupation of Bukoba-Kartwge, and found its retreat barred by a weaker Belgian' force at the south-west corner of Victoria Nyanza. The Germans and other Europeans were killed or captured, and the remnant fled in the direction of Mariahilf. The German commander was captured. We found the German steamers Nwauza and Otto Heinrich scuttled., but the Studlmann was sound Quantities of arms and munitions and 40 boxes of specie were captured. The vessels arc easily raisable. GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S LATEST POLICY. NEW YORK, July 17. A United Press despatch says that the Berlin press is divided as to the wLsdon" of the Chancellor's opposition to the annexation of Belgium. The Cologne Gazette defends the Chancellor, asssrting that it will be a mist-alee to swap horses in the middle of the stream. This paper also acknowledges that the British Lave huge reserves hi Flanders, en^

Jibling them to make continuous attacks Jfith fresh, troops. Count Roventlcw considers that the Chancellor's policy is unwise, as the'Allies Vili interpret it as a s)£n *f Germany's Weakening. The newspapers a.re discussing the possibility of peace fallowing the Allies' offen#lvet Tho Tageblatt opines that the Allies

will nov.' endeavour to induce Greece and Rumania to participate in the war. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. LONDON", July 17. In the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil said that correspondence as to the status of the Deutschland was proceeding with the United States.

Mr M'Kenna said that the expenditure was now over six millions daily. The Finance Bill passed its third reading.