War News.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 40, 25 May 1917, Page 6

War News.

THE BRITISH FRONT. ENEMY ATTACK BROKEN. LONDON, May 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artillery broke an enemy attack against our advanced posts south-eastward of Bphy. FURTHER ITALIAN GAINS. ADVANCED POSITIONS HELD. LONDON, May 21. Italian official reports state: We extended our positions at Monte Vodigc, where we drove back dense masses of the enemy who were attempting to stop our progress. The enemy in the evening abandoned his counter-attacks and concentrated his artillery on the lost positions, which, however, we maintain. We entered the enemy lines eastward of Gorizia. SUBMARINE VICTIMS. TWO SWEDEN STEAMERS TORPEDOED. TEN LIVES LOST. COPENHAGEN, May 21, The Swedish steamers Vestcrland (3832 tons), Viking, and Aspen (3103 tons), with cargoes of grain from England- to Sweden, were torpedoed at sea. Two of the Vesterland and eight of the Viking’s crews were drowned. AMERICAN WAR VOTE. ARMY AND NAVY APPROPRIATION. WASHINGTON, May 21. The Senate has passed the Army and Navy Appropriation Bill totalling 3,342,000,000 dollars, including 750,000,000 for taking over shipbuilding plants and ships in course of construction. AMERICAN TROOPS. SECOND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. WASHINGTON, May 21. The War Department is arranging for a second expeditionary force to go to France in the near future. It will probably be larger than the first. General Pershing will command 250,000 troops, exclusively regulars, and probably including those on service in Mexico; also 2500 marines who were recently on active service in Hayti and Cuba. The newspapers generally approve of tho despatch of the expedition to France. Colonel Doyen commands the marine section. SUBMARINE SIGHTED OFF CUBA.. NEW YORK, May 21. The San Francisco Navy Department reports that a submarine has been sighted off San Diego (Cuba). STANDARDISED MERCHANTMEN, READY IN JULY. LONDON, May 21, In the House of Lords, Lord Lytton stated that some of the standardised merchantmen would be ready in July. SOCIALISTS’ CONGRESS, UNITED EFFORTS FOR PEACE. AMSTERDAM, May 21. “ Vorwaerts” states that representatives of both the German majority and minority Socialists’ parties were granted passports to attend the Congress ai. .Stockholm. The “Deutsche Kirkenzeitung ” states that Catholic clergymen in Gervt, any have inaugurated a powerfully organised peace movement. The paper adds that after despatching the Socialist delegates to Stockholm tho German Government presses cte Catholic u u its hypocritical peace efforts.

The paper also says that the clergy in Germany intend to create a worldwide union of Eucharists. The Catholic arch ci shops and bishops in other countries have premised warm support. INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST MEETING. ANTI-GERMAN SENTIMENT. STOCKHOLM, May 20. A wireless message states that Herr Branting presided at a great International Socialist meeting. He 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 Troelstra, the Dutch Socialist leader, said Germany was hardly likely to follow Russia’s example. Each country was settling its difficulties in its owu Avay. 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 separ^

ate 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. A GERMAN CLAIM. LONDON, May 20. A German official message says: “We captured a trench near Brayo and repulsed an attack at Winterberg. Wo brought down ten teroplanes yesterday. ’' GREAT FIRE AT NIAGARA. MUNITIONS PLANT DESTROYED. NEW YORK, M»y 20. A fire at the National Electrolytic Company’s explosive plant at Niagara d'd damage to the extent of £200,000. THE RUSSIAN CHAOS. GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION, 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 peace. It firmly believes that the Russian army will not suffer the Germans to -destroy the Western Allies and then throw themselves on Russia. The Minister of War 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 are enjoined to rejoin by May 28th under threat of severe punishment. The generals commanding the armies have returned to the front after conferring with the Government."