ACTIVITY IN THE WEST.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5358, 16 February 1916, Page 5

ACTIVITY IN THE WEST.

A BIG ATTACK IMMINENT

ON THE WESTERN LINE. RAPID INCREASE OF ACTIVITY Bill STRUGGLE EXPECTED.

Paris, Last Night

The rapid increase of activity on the western line is the principal topic. The men throughout the line are girding their loins for the struggle, and questions ate asked as to whether the Germans are trying to find a weak spot, or are the various attacks preliminaries to a larger offensive and intended to conceal its direction. 'Hie presence of the Crown Prince in Alsace encourages rumours of an offensive there, hut “Lo Temps’ ” military correspondent believes that a great attack must necessarily be directed against the centre of the French line. A CURTAIN OF FIRE. STOP ENEMY ATTACKS. Paris, Last Night. A French communique states: Wo blew up an ammunition depot northward of Bvesinghe. Our curtain of fire stopped the enemy’s attempt to debouch at 'ferny road and on the right hank of the Aisne. The enemy eastward of Seppoi carried out an intense bombardment and advanced to trench elements which we have re-taken. Four were evacuated because they were entirely wrecked. Our curtain of fire caught enemy reinforcements advancing from the direction of Niederlarir.

VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS

GAINS BY THE GERMANS

W Paris, Last Night. A communique states: South of Frise on Sunday evening we occupied portions of German trenches and repulsed a counter-attack. We deedmated a German company during the enemy’s attack on Sunday. East of Taihure and Sommo.sy road we exploded three mines under an advanced section where the enemy had pushed his attack far towards our supporting trenches, where he completely failed. Notwithstanding serious losses by explosions and artillery fire the enemV maintained himself in these advanced sections. In upper Alsace after a violent bombardment tin* enemy gained two hundr«*d metres trenches. A connter-attack restored most of the ground. Artillery actions in this district have been very violent. THE ENEMY VERSION. Amsterdam. Last Night. A German communique states: North-west of Taihure we stormed and captured over seven hundred metres of Frencli positions. Near the French frontier at Pfirt we captured four hundred metres of trenches. French counter-attacks were renuls<*d SEVEN M I NFS EX PT.O DEB. HEAVY BOM BA RDMENT. Tondon. Lest Night. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the enemy exploded seven mines south of La Bassee Canal. In a heavy enemy bombardment south of Fosse eight mine explosions were followed by a small infantry attack. A few Germans entered oiir front trenches, hut were driven out. ERZEROTTM CAPTURED. BY THE~RUSSIANS. Petrograd. Last Night. A communique states: We captured Erzeroum. in Asia Minor. HUNS AND TURKS FALL OUT. ENVER BEY DISSATISFIED. London, Lust Night. The “Echo do Paris’” Salonika -correspondent states that a lively disipute arose la-tween Enver Pasha, Turkish Minister of War, and German generals at the last War Council. After tlie Turkish defeat in the Caucasus Enver I’aslia vigorously insisted. us Turkey had not asked the German army’s help, that Turkey ought to he left free to defend her own territory and demanded that port of the Turkish army in Thrace and Bulgaria should tie transferred to the Caucasus. We have lx*en lighting nearly a year and a half,” said Enver, “ami the Bulgarians have only just startl’d. They alone should help the Central Powers against Salonika., s«-eing that wo alone bore the brunt of the Dardanelles.” Despite Enver’s protest the German generals insisted on keeping the Turks in Thrace.

SITUATION IN KUTEL-AMARA

London, hast Night. The War Office states that Generals Aylmer and Towrtshend on February 73th reported that the weather had cleared and the situation was unchanged. An aeroplane dropped two bombs mi Knt-el-Amara without doing any damage. LOSS OF ADMIRAL CHARNER. ONLY ONE SURVIVOR. UNABLE TO LAND BOAT’S Paris, laist, Niglit. The loss of the cruiser Admiral Ohamcr is officially ctvnfirmed. A raft, was found nff the eoo-,f of Svr'a. Inuring the Imdies of fifteen of lht> crew. Only one was alive He stop's

GREECE PLACED UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

RUSSIANS PROGRESS IN ASIA MINOR.

BRITISH BLOCKADE DECLARED INEFFECTUAL.

Preea Association. —Electric Telegraph.—Copyright

ARM ED MERCHANTMKN

GOV ER NMKN T ASSAILEI >

that the ship’ was torpedoed at 7 o’clock on the morning of February Bth, and sank in a few minutes. The torew was unable to launch the boats. There is apparently only one survivor of the Admiral Charner out qf 370 officers and men. POSITION IN ALBANIA. AU STRIAN CLAIM S. Amsterdam, Last Night. An Austrian communique states: Our troops in Albania reached the lower Arzon. The enemy retreated to the southern hank. COMPULSION IN ENGLAND. THE DERBY GROUPS. MEN FAIL TO RESPOND. London, Last Night. The Army informed the recruiting committee at Birmingham that a very small percentage of attested men in the called-up Derby groups have responded. The defaulters must therefore be brought in compulsorily in order to secure every available man for the field. AUSTRALIA’S WAR CENSUS. CALLING UP FIRST BATCHES. Sydney. Last Night. The calling up of the first hatches of men who answered “yes” on the War Census cards commences on Thursday.

BRITAIN’S AIR DEFENCES

IN CHARGE OF LORD FRENCH

London. Last Night. The organisation of anti-air raid measures is absorbing the attention of the authorities. Lord French has token over the supreme command of land and air defences. The Admiralty is controlling naval and coastal defences.

Lord French is considering a scheme for the suspension of telephones and mad traffic in certain districts and an elaborate system r»f outposts fur warning aerodromes of the Approach of ‘ Zeppelins and aircraft. ft is believed that the creation of an air Ministry has been assured.

AMERICA AND THE ALLIES

Washington, List Night. The United States is likely to withdraw the pnqxisal made to the Allies that armed merchantmen must not cany guns in future on pain of lx*ing treated as warships. The United States will await developments, in other words do nothing further. During the debate in the Senate on the Nicaraguan Treaty it was announced that Germany had offered a larger sum than the United Stat<*s to secure an option to the Nicaraguan Canal zone. The United States, however, induced Nicaragua to wait. The “Daily Mail’s” New York correspondent states that Count Bernstorff in response to President Wilson's suggestion lias promised the post;*uieniont of the armed merchantmen policy pending America’s exchange of views with the belligerents.

AN INEFFECTIVE BLOCKADEFIERY WORDS OF PROTEST

London, Last Night A largo meeting was held at. the Cannon Street Hotel to protest against the ineffective blockade of Germany. The greatest enthusiasm was shown when speakers advocated that the navy should prevent any article reaching Germany. Condemnation of the Government’s policy was greeted with eries of “Throw them out’* and “Give us new leaders.” Groans were given for Mr Asquith and Sir Edward Grey.

The meeting carried, with cheers a motion viewing with alarm the enormous quantities of oomm<Hlit,ics reaching Germany through the North Sea, and urging the Goveruftnent to juake lull use of British, sea power in forcing an absolutely effective blockade.

Lord Devon port, who presided, said tin' nation was determined that, nothing would prevent our prepress. Was the British fltx't in supremo emu run ml ol the seas? Were we utilising to the full that jxnvor? We ought to Im- depriving Germany of the essentials of trade and livelihood, without which no nation could sustain resistance. Mr Asquith had declared that; all commodities had been prevented from entering Germany. An Order-in-(’mmeil pave all the power mx-essary, hut the power was not used. Neutrals weio having the times of their lives at our expense. Sir Edward Grey over-esti-mated the ini|x>rtanco of not interfering with the rights of neutrals. During seventeen months of war a. million and a half tons of iron oro in 300 ships were allowed to enter Hot tenln.m. ’Hie ore mainly came from Sweden and Norway. It' was taken in barges on the Rhino, eventually to Essen, where it was iisihl in making bombs. (Grieg of “shame ”) lx>rd Devon jxirt quoted records showing that 507 ships with over two million tons of oro had gone to Dorman ports in the Inst eight months, and asked: “Will the Governmentdraw the attention of neutrals to this breach, of neutrality. We are fighting their war as well as our own. Where will Holland and Denmark ho if left to the tender mercies of num militarism. If the navy is ul-

lowed to act, the mailed fist will soon be smashed.” Mr T. Gibson Bowles attacked the policy of Mr Asquith and Sir Edward Grey and Lord Haldane, who knew ten years ago the possibilities of the war, and took no action. He believed three-quarters of the neutrar ships brought in by the navy were set free. Mr A. Shirley Bemt (Unionist M.P. for Devonport) said that neu%Hals would .respect us more if we made the blockade more effective.

MARTIAL LAW IN GREECE.

AN ASSERTION FROM BERLIN,

London. Last Night. A Berlin message asserts that King Constantine of Greece has empowered M. Goumarts to be chairman of a special committee to govern Greece under martial law. M. Gounaris has recommended that military commanders should replace the civil Governors. King Constantine refuses to receive the French Ambassador.

FORD’S PEACE MISSION. Stockholm. Last, Night. The Ford Peace Mission opened a conference and passed sweeping antiwar resolutions. Meetings will be held bi-weekly, and cabled reports sent to Mr Ford.

ATTACKING PASSENGER SHIPS,

HUN ASSURANCES

London, Last Night

“The Times” correspondent at Washington says that Count Bemstortf in an interview, said it was inconceivable that submarines would attack passenger ships armed or unarmed, and that this principle had been permanently by the Lusitania settlement which the German Admiralty would religiously obey. The new order related primarilv to armoured freight ships supplying Allied forces.