War News.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 39, 22 May 1917, Page 5

War News.

SUBMARINE OUTRAGES. BRITISH TRANSPORT SUNK. 140 MEN MISSING. LONDON, May 20, The Press Bureau states that the British troopship Cameronia was torpedoed in the Eastern’ Mediterranean on May 15. The following are missing: Military, one officer and 128 other ranks. Grew: Two officers and nine men. STATEMENTS OP SURVIVORS. FIRST BOAT SMASHED. DESTROYERS TO THE RESCUE. LONDON, May 20.

A survivor from the Cameronia states that she was torpedoed in the evening. There was some confusion at first among the troops, but discipline and calmness soon prevailed. The first boat was speedily launched, but it was smashed and many were drowned.

The ship floated for forty minutes. Destroyers came alongside, and the troops jumped aboard until the destroyers were full. Other boats picked up men in the w-atcr, and also from rafts. Another account states that the explosion was heavy. The troops were below at tea, and a number were killed. SPANISH STEAMER SHELLED. MADRID, May 20. A submarine shelled the Spanish steamer Patriarch, killing the chief engineer. The crew abandoned the ship. The Cabinet is preparing a protest against the outrage. THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE. KEY OF ENEMY’S DEFENCE TAKEN. LONDON, May 20. An Italian official message says:— AVe captured Hill 652 at Vodico, which is the key to the enemy's defence northward of Monte Santo. AVe maintained all positions eastward of Gorz against persistent attacks. AVe are fortifying the positions captured eastward of Gorz. Repeated enemy attacks at various points were broken. The prisoners now total 6432.

AUSTRIANS REINFORCED. ITALIANS STEADILY ADVANCING. LONDON, May 20. Reuter’s Udine correspondent reports that the Austrians were reinforced and furiously counter-attached along the crest of Monte S.mlo, waich repeatedly changed hands. The enemy are striving to preserve this last stronghold, whence they threaten Gorz and the Middle Isonzo. The Italians, by a series of brilliant drives, are steadily advancing WESTERN OFFENSIVE. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAID. ENEMY RAIDS REPULSED. LONDON, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided north-east of Gouzeaucourt. We repulsed raids eastward of Loos, north-east of Armentiores and eastward of Yprcs. The hostile artillery is more active at Gavrelle and Lens.

Our artillery successfully engaged German troops on the Arras-Cambrai road and north-east of Fresnoy. We drove oil last night two raids north-cast of Armentieres. ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE. LONDON, May 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports hostile artillery activity on the Scarpe and north-east of Epehy. THE TRENCH TRONT. GERMAN ATTACK BROKEN. LONDON, May 20. A French communique says: The Germans attacked north-west of Eraye from Ghevrigny ridge to the Oise Canal. Our barrages broke the assaulting waves, which were only able to gain a foothold in our advanced elements west of the attacking front. ARTILLERY DUEL. LONDON, May 21. A French communique says there has been no infantry action. The artillery duel is sometimes violent on the Che-min-dcs-Dames, and at Murtebise and Californio Plateau.

A GERMAN CLAIM.

LONDON, May 20. A German official message says:— “AVe captured a trench near Braye and repulsed an attack at AA'interberg. AVe brought down ten teroplanes yesterday. ’' GREAT FIRE AT NIAGARA. MUNITIONS PLANT DESTROYED. NEAV YORK, May 20. A fire at the National Electrolytic Company’s explosive plant at Niagara did damage to the extent of £200,000. THE RUSSIAN CHAOS. GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION. t PETROGRAD, May 19. The reconstructed Provisional Government issued a proclamation stating that it will be guided by the spirit of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It rejects the idea of a separate peace, but aims at a general peace without annexations or indemnities, based on the rights of nations to decide their own affairs.

It is convinced that the defeat of Russia and her allies would not only be a calamity, but would postpone world-wide pence. It firmly believes that the Russian army will not suffer the Germans to destroy the AVcstorn Allies and then throw themselves on

Russia. The Minister of AVar has issued the following order to the armies: “The country is endangered, and everyone must do his share in defending it. No requests for acceptance of resignations by the high command in a desire to escape responsibility at this grave time will be entertained. Deserters from the army and navy arc enjoined to rejoin by May 28th under threat of severe punishment. The generals commanding the armies have returned to the I front after conferring with the Government. ’ ’ ARMY RECONSTRUCTION. SITUATION IMPROVING.

LONDON, May 20,

The “Daily Chronicle’s’’ Petrograd correspondent says General Alexieff interviewed M. Kerenski, who has been appointed War Minister. This is intensely satisfactory to all ranks. Already there are signs of improvement in the army. If the Government is invested with undisputed authority and is not hindered by irresponsible outsiders, the army will soon be restored to its former strength and organisation. RESTORING BATTERED FRANCE. VALUABLE WORK BY BRITISH AGRICULTURISTS. PARIS, May 10.

“Lc Temps’’ correspondent on the British front says each British army has 500 agricultural workers supervised by officers who were agriculturalists before Ac uar.

They are cleaning the battered ground with special machines from England, thus helping to increase Franco’s food production.

The people greatly appreciate the British help in restoring agriculture in the liberated territory. Already 100,000 acres in the Somme Department are under cultivation. AMERICA AND THE WAR. • THE SENDING OF TROOPS. WASHINGTON, MAY 20. President Wilson, on refusing to sign a Bill giving Mr Roosevelt .permission to raise volunteers, said it would seriously interfere with the carrying out of the chief and most immediate and important purposes. The contemplated legislation v.ruld contribute practically nothing to the strength of the Allied armies. He would be glad to send the ox-President, who had rendered most conspicuous public service, but this was no time to pay compliments. The business in hand was not dramatic, dut of practical and scientific definiteness. The War Department announced that one division would be sent to Franco as soon as practicable under the leadership of General Pershing. AUSTRIAN DESTROYER RAID. FOURTEEN BRITISH DRIFTERS SUNK. LONDON, MAY 20. The Admiralty reports that on Tuesday Austrian light cruisers and destroyers raided an Allied drifter line in the Adriatic and sank fourteen drifters. They claim to have taken prisoner 72 members of the crews. Allied warships and destroyers chased off the raiders. THE CZAR AND KAISER. REPORTED SECRET TREATY. PARIS, MAY 20. The" ‘ ‘ Matin ’ ’ quotes from the ‘ ‘ Russkoe Slovo” a revelation made by Count Witte to a journalist at the beginning of the war, showing that the

Czar made a secret offensive and defensive treaty with the Kaiser when France was embroiled in the Moroccan affair. Count AVitte declares that he secured the abrogation of the treaty because it was not signed by the Foreign Ministers of the respective countries. INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST MEETING. ANTI-GERMAN SENTIMENT. STOCKHOLM, May 20. A wireless message states that Herr Brauting presided at a great International Socialist meeting. Ho declared that neutrals’ duty was to work, not for peace at any price, but for a peace that was just and durable, and founded on principles of universal democracy. Ho added: “The German Government refuses to allow opposition Socialists to come to Stockholm. Perhaps it will be forced to permit them. If it remains obdurate that will be a great moral victory for us, revealing Germany's uneasy conscience and fears.” Mr Troclstra, the Dutch Socialist lender, said Germany was hardly likely to follow Russia’s example. Each country was settling its difficulties in its own way.

M. Akelrod, a Russian Socialist, said M. Lenin’s propaganda for sabotage in the army was an act of folly. Its only possible consequence would be to crush the Russian revolution by German absolutism. Neither was a separate peace thinkable. That would be treason to Belgium and other small and oppressed nations. M. Huysmans, a Belgian representative, demanded reparation and independence for Belgium. M. Sachasoff, a Bulgarian, emphasised the powerlessness of the Bulgarian workers against the bellicose spirit of the leading classes.

THE WHEAT SHORTAGE.

SUPPLIES FOR NEW ZEALAND.

SYDNEY 1- , May 21

It is officially notified tliat the price of wheat as grain for export to New Zealand in May, June, and July has been fixed at os 9d f.0.b., Darling Harbour, and whe-'t for flour on trucks at Sydney at 5s Bd. The price in each case it an advance of 2d per bushel. MOTOR CYCLIST KILLED. MASTERTON, May 20. A young man named McArthy was killed in an accident last night. He was riding on a motor bicycle when bo came into contact with a horse and vehicle, and was thrown on to his head with fatal results. GOLDMINING. REEFTON, May 20. The Ziman Syndicate (North Blackwater), which is engaged in sinking a deep main shaft to open out the Blackwater reef, has just reached a depth of a thousand feet. The shaft is the largest on the Rcefton field. The first contract was let in February, 3916. A small parallel reef shelving gold was cut by the reef unexpectedly at 970 ft.