THE SWAYING CONFLICT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXX, Issue 11188, 2 March 1915, Page 5

THE SWAYING CONFLICT.

INTEKSELY DESPERATE FIGHTING. VILLAGES CHANGING HANDS. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. The High Commissioner-reports : London, March 1. Petrograd reports that on the left taint c! the Niemen north of Grodno fighting is increasing in intensity Md has been carried far beyond the fortifications. On both sides the attacks are supported by heavy artillery. The heights and villages constantly change hands. In tho assault on oco hill the Russians captured six guns and several hundred prisoners. The artillery action at Ossowleo continues. The enemy, reinforced, re-entered marmysz after desperate fighting for possession. The Russians recap-. •Med the town, and a large number ,c* German defenders surrendered. in the same region the anstian progress is important. The enemy has abandoned supply columns and wounded. The Russians are gallantly strivdevelop their successes,, «hty-eight officers and 6400 Ger®*?n were made prisoners. RUSSIANS DEFEAT THE AUSTRIANS. On the Eastern Galician front at wnovetz and Roznatow, the Russeverely defeated the Austrians lorest- fighting. They captured r®* prisoners. Derations in the west. . OUR TROOPS GAINING GROUND. j?? r i a reports that at Dixmude Lj*! 8 ®) the artillery demolished intr enem y’s earthworks, in•«irL^ on Pyiug a farm on the right AOf lheYser. ' ' lirir* iator threw a bomb on the ,‘inie railway station at Osteud. to, 5 e ®h bombarciment of Rhelms, w ,° e ys were fired, partly at the L |he Champagne district two v-J® earthworks were taken. ■ «nnd was gained at several V*/* a d prisoners. taken. ‘ of the enemy who iji^cendered- during the last ten ‘ | over one thousand.

[RUSSIANS ASSUME OFFENSIVE GERMAN UNITS MIXED. Official: We assumed the offensive to the north of Grodno and made marked progress. In the Przarmysz region we ad vanoed eleven miles, some sections during the week capturing villages in rapid succession, making prisoners of 500 and. 800 at each. German prisoners state that the units are inextricably confused, and that the ammunition supply became dislocated a*nd often ceased. - A FOREST FIGHT. The Russians in the Tobetchva Valley without artillery advanced into the dense fprest, forcing their way with rifle butts and bayonets. The fight resulted in the taking prisoners of 4000 Austrians. BRITISH CASUALTIES. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE. /, The Premier has received the following from the High Commis; sioner:— London, March. 1. The War Office notifies casualties to-day;— OFFICERS. • Killed .. 10 Wounded .. 3 MEN. ■ Killed .. 65 Wounded . . 560 Missing .. 60 Prisoners" .. 6 Rejoined .. 3 Paris reports that the enemy has Jbombarded Soissons with 300 small Sil6llS« ; In the Champagne district the Allies mada marked advance, on the whole of the fighting front, North, of Perthes we repelled a counter-attack, retained works taken Ob the previous day, and extended our positions, occupying new trenches. The Allies gained ground in all the. woods between Perthes and Boansejonr. The gains north and north-west of Beauflejdur comprised two thousand metres of trenches which were yesterday considerably enlarged. Today, in a single tienob the enemy left over two hundred dead.- „ y In the Argonne the • Allies- have taken three, hundred metres of trenches by a brlllianfc infantry attack. ’ In the Vosges north‘of Chapelotte a lively German attack was repulsed.

GERMAN ADMISgTON OF DEFEAT., ■ .'.London, March 1. • A Berlin official "message admits the retreat , from Przarmsyz before superior Russian forces.

TAKEN AND RETAKEN. Petrograd, March 1. Tbs Germans on Saturday morning brought op reinforcements and re-entered Przarmyez. There was a desperate light ail day. The Russians recaptured the town m the evening, the Germans who were defending the town laying down their arms in great numbers. SERVIA AND ALBANIA. Nish, March 1, Official: The Albanians attempted a fresh attack on Servian territory on Saturday, but were quickly thrown back. Our losses were small. SNOW PROHIBITS FIGHTING. Vienna, March 1. Snow for forty-eight hours in the Carpathians brought,. the lighting to a standstill. - GERMAN RESOURCES. A LONG WAR PREDICTED. BRITAIN’S DIFFICULTIES. -London, March 1. The Press Bureau says that a British officer with the French troops writes:—“The war will last until either the German armies are beaten or the nation is starved. Germany is short of wheat and has taken drastic measures to prevent the supply from entirely failing before the next harvest. Germany can reckon on being able to continue the war until the middle of 1916.” Another writer declares that to ensure the defeat of the Germans while the-nation is still hnngry, France requires from Britain more reserves and more explosives. The French people were impressed and astonished when told that a million more men bad been recruited in England' on a voluntary basis, and when informed that their potting into the field was delayed owing to the difficulty in producing rifles and explosives and other necessities, they were , incredulous. They had believed that Britain’s manufacturing power was unbounded, and considered that if a million men were ready to give their lives the remaining millions should . be prepared to give their labour for a pittance if they were needed to attain the desired end. THE SLOWED GOEBEN. CONSTANTINOPLE SHORT OF GOAL. A resident of Constantinople states that owing to bad coal, the Goeben’s speed has been reduced to sixteen knots. The two after guns are out of action and the rudder out of gear. There is only two months’ supply of oofcl in the city, on the failing of which there will be no electric light or trams.

GERMANY SEEKS MuNEY. FAILURE OF A COMPROMISE. New York reports that Germany is endeavouring to float a large loan, probably among sympathisers in the United States. Washington’s news, contained in London despatches, that the Allies have decided that they are at liberty to stop all shipments to and from Germany, is given credence in view of Germany’s outrageous behaviour, necessitating comprehensive retaliation. It is taken for granted that American informal communications to London and Berlin, suggesting the possibility of a compromise between the British and Teutonic war methods, failed. - POISONED WELLS. BOTHA AS CHRISTENER. The Union forces at Swakopmund found the drinking water at Nonidatf deliberately poisoned. Bottles containing chemicals were found in the well. ; General Botha, when proceeding to the front early in the month, was diverted by the names of the blockhouses along the railway. One where boring was unsuccessful be christened “Dryasell,”

BREAD SHORTAGE IN AUSTRIA. Vienna, March 1. One hundred and fifty bakers’ shops ont of 700 Jiave been closed owing to inability to obtain flour. The Governbaent has ordered the land bordering railways to be sown with', potatoes, and gravediggers have been instructed to sow the unused portions of cemeteries with potatoes. Rome, March 1, A decree has been issued at Vienna makipg -tlie daily consumption per ten ounces of corn or seven ounces of flour.

OFFICIAL QUARRELS. Cairo, March 1. An inquiry is proceeding at Damascus as to Djemal Pasha's conduct of the Egyptian campaign. It is believed that Enver Djemal to lead the hopeless expedition in order to ensure Djemal’s downfall. THE KING VISITS THlf GRAND FLEET. Loudon, Maroh 1, . The King has returned to London after visiting the Grand Fleet.' •