RUSSIAN VIGOUR.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5357, 15 February 1916, Page 5

RUSSIAN VIGOUR.

MORE EFFECTIVE WORK BY TROOPS AND THE FLEET.

ROUMANIAN MOBILISATION COMPLETED. M. BRITIANO REFUSES TO JOIN THE CENTRAL POWERS. INTENSE FIGHTING ALONG THE WESTERN FRONT. Frees Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyrigtav

VIGOROUS GERMAN ATTACKS.

CRUSHED BY THE ALLIES. DESTRUCTIVE FRENCH FIRE

Paris, Last Night. A communique states: A series of German attacks were made in the Artois sector from Hill 40 to the Su-ville-Lafolie road and at four other different points in the afternoon. Our curtain of tire stopped three attacks, but the fourth penetrated our first line trench westward of Hill 140. Immediately a counter-attack drove out the enemy. We also secured a footing in portions of advanced trenches eastward of 'Paliure to Sommepy road. We carried otit a destructive fire against organisations northward of Four De Paris, and our artillery crushed an enemy attack eastward of Seppois, in Alsace. London, I*ast Night. Sir Douglas Haig reports considerable artillery and aerial activity on both sides, about Authville, Hohenzollern redoubt, Guirichey. Arntentieres and north of Hooge and Ypres.

THE BERLIN CLAIMS

ALLIES SHELL LILLE

Amsterdam. 1 ust Night

A German communique states: Strong reconnoitring forces penetrated enemy trenches and caused effective explosions south-east of Boeaiughe. The British, during the last two days, shelled Lille with good material results. We did not suffer loss or military damage. In the fighting in the Vimy district on February 9th we captured 682 men and thirty-five machine guns. We stormed seven hundred metres of trenches south of St. Marieapv, in the Champagne, taking prisoner 200 men. Two severe enemy attacks north-west of Mcssines failed. Air squadrons heavily bombarded the enemy’s communications and railway buildings at La]xmo and Poperinge.

HUGE BRITISH LOAN.

London, Last Night

The “Daily News” announces that the Government will ask for a vote of at least €250.000,000 to carry over the end of the financial year.

MUNITIONS OUTPUT

ITALIANS TO GO TO FRANCK

Rome. Last Night

As the outcome of the FrenchItalian agreement the Government has authorised two thousand skilled workmen to go to France to help in munition-making. A protocal shows that France and Italy have established a positive and durable alliance in the fields of politics, economics and commerce.

TRANSFORMING DISTILLERIES

INTO MUNITION FACTORIES

.London, Last Night. - Mr Lloyd George is taking over and transforming all distilleries into munition factories. The transfer inchub's the jvot and still distilleries. Distillers will bo compensated. It. is understood that the spirits in lx*nd represent, a two year supply.

NO SURRENDER BY BELGIUM

MIN ISTER’S I) ECI.A RAT LON,

I/ondon, Last Night

M. Renkin. the Belgian Colonial Miniser, who given a luncheon in I/ondon, .Mr Bonar Law presiding. M. Renkin decland that, Belgium htul not listened to timorous voices i'choing German promptings and urging the surrender of the Congo, bocauso Belgium was unable to develop the proposal and to hand over the Congo Chartered Company. This wins intolerable for Belgium who did not wish to diminish her opportunities anil fond hopes of nrpansion. ‘ Belgium,” he said, “will never abandon the least portion of h«vr rights and will never surrender an inch of territory. She intends to l>o faithful to heir sacrificed heroes.” R,HUMAN I.VR ATTITUDE. THREAT BY THE K AISHR. Rom.c, Last Niglit. The “Secolo’s” Bucharest correspondent reports that diplomatists have received in formation Hint the Kaiser, replying to tTio King of Bulgaria’s questions regarding Rouniania, remarkfd : “If Roumnnin disbelieves in flu l fate of Belgium because Belgium i* distant I Ik>|H‘ she will not be blinch'd to the spectacle of Servia. If tint does not awaken her front her dream,s, the AustroGcrm.nn.s, Bulgarians and Turks have sufficient troops to throw across the Danube into Bucharest.” It is understood that tin Bulgarians and Germans are anxious to clearly ascertain Ron mania's final attitude before attacking Salonika.

BULGARIA WANTS PEACE

Athens, Last Night

The statement is confirmed that Bulgaria! made overtures to the Entente fot u sejuirate pence. A BASILICA BOMBED.

Rome. Last NighC Din ing an air mid the ancient, Wvsed’ea. of Santo Appolirutxo at Nnovo Ravenna was partly demolished.

AMERICA’S POSITION.

OUT WITTED BY GERMANS

London, Last Niglit. The “Times” correspondent at Washington says: “The eat is out of the Prussian diplomatic bag. Count Bernstorff, with rare cynicism, made delivery of the famous Lusitania memorandum on the occasion of the announcement of the war on merchantmen memorandum. This explains the lack of jubilation in American official circles over the apparent sentiment of the Lusitania case. It is feared that America has manoeuvred into the most difficult position and it is assumed that Mr Lansing will put out Ids memorandum to the Allies believing that they will accept it. Hi- is presumably yielding to the insistent nagging of the Central Powers in'the ho]>e thereby, to facilitate the settlement of tho Lusitania case. Berlin’s records seem ominously strategic and Germany has not only found a convenient way of nullifying the practical results of President Wilson’s Lusitania victory, but lias stirred up a controversy fraught with unpleasantness to Anglo-American relations and with considerable danger to American prestige.”

The German press unanimously applaud the memorandum, describing it as extremely important and stating that the step may ]>rove the turning point in the war. Captain Perseus, writing in the “Tageblatt.” says that he thinks the new policy removes manv submarine snares. Tho “Lokal Anzoiger” says that it will hit England directly by wearing away her vital nerve.

GR A V EST APPR EH E NSI( >N

London, Last Night. The “Evening News” correspondent says: “The Austro-German Note caused the gravest apprehension in administrative circles. President Wilson knew the Note was imminent. Colonel House, who visited Germ.any, told President Wilson on the 25th January of Germany’s decision : hence President- Wilson’s remark on the 27t.h: ‘I cannot tell what America’s international relations may be tomorrow. President Wilson realised the impossibility of distinguishing between armed and unarmed ships at •sea, and was convinced that if another unarmed vessel was sunk diplomatic relations must cease, and the severance be followed, so Colonel House informed him. by an immediate declaration of war by Germany.”

The “Times” correspondent at Washington says the Hearst press is discussing tin- imminence of a drastic policy towards the blockade. Anglophobic leaders are marshalling their forces in Congress. President Wilson's recent sensational speech<*s have startled the public, who. seeing tho German difficulty easily settled. imagine that President Wilson’s talk of externa] dangers refers to Britain. Nevertlieless, then- is little popular dissatisfateion; the blockade is sufficient to outweigh the general desire that there should be no war.

VIENNA REPORTED GAY

BUT MAN SUPPLY SHORT

tamdon Last Night. M uni burs of the Scottish ambulance state that Vienna is as bright anti guv os ever, ami there is no indication of a shortage of food. Austrian soldiers treated the party infinitely hotter than the Germans. The latter were trt»n\eridousiy confident and said that the war was practically finished, and that the English were beaten. “You cannot 'starve us. Wo got aa much as wo want from Asia. Our munitions are hottor than yours, and your air service is ‘footling.’ ” Austrian officers confess that Austria cannot carry on for more than eight months through lack of men. BRITISH STEAMER TORPEDOED Malta, Last Night. The British steamer Springweli, bound ifor India, wins torpedoed wit limit warning. The officers and crow numbering seventy-three were picked uj) and landed here. MISSING CRUISER... •’ London, Isist Night. The French Admiralty state that grave fears are entertained for the fate of the cruiser Admiral Cliarnei, which was stationed off the coast of Syria in view of the German claim that a submarine sank a French wmship.