EARLIER CABLES

Southland Times, Issue 17468, 24 March 1915, Page 5

EARLIER CABLES

HIGH COMMISSIONERS REPORT MEMEL HELD BY RUSSIANS FRENCH SUCCESSES PALL OF PRZEMYSL CONFIRMED (By Telegraph—Bress Assn —Copyright) WELLINGTON, March 22. The High Commissioner reports under date Condon, March 22 (2.50 p.in.): Betrograd reports Ilia), troops reached Momfd on Thursday ('veiling after crossing the frontier at Gordshady, healing the Gormans and capturing their machine guns and motor cars laden with stores. Memo! was defended by two regiments of tin'; BandsUirm, which, after being driven hack, mingled with (lie population. The Bosnian troops, when entering the town, were received with fire from tlie houses and behind barricades, the civil population taking part in the fighting. Tlie Russians withdrew, and bombarded the town witli shells, thus ending the resistance. Tlie town was then evacuated, (lie inhabitants lieeing to Konigsberg along the Baltic coast. Army officers killed 10. wounded 0; men killed Sli. wounded 26!!. missing 1 Id’. Baris reports that at Notre blame do Lorotte the Germans, in their counterattack. retook sections of the trenches on Saturday, hut tlie Allies recaptured them on Sunday, At La Hoiselie the mine war continues. The enemy’s gallery exploded, and the Allies occupied the greater part of the ground. Blfty shells were fired into Rheims on Sunday. In the Argonne two serious defeats were inflicted on the enemy near Bagatelle. Three mines were exploded. Two French companies carried by assault a German trench, which was maintained, despite a strong counter-attack. Five hundred metres distant the enemy exploded two mines, bombarded the trenches, and made an attack, After hot hand-to-hand fighting they were driven back, despite German reinforcements. During the retreat there were very heavy German losses from French artillery. British official information received states that the fortress of Pr/.emysl has fallen, tho garrison having surrendered to the Russians. FRENCH HONOUR UPHELD A WISE RETICENCE (Times and Sydney Sun Service). LONDON", March 22. Official reports are reticent regarding tlie numbers, disposition, and achievements of the handing parties. Tito French Admiralty report emphasises the important and brilliant part played by the French division. The French were given the honour of attacking the forts at close range. Rear-admiral Gueprate telegraphs that the honour of the flag was fully upheld, though dearly purchased by the loss of the Bouvet. THE FRENCH PRESS VIEW THE ADVANCE WILL GO ON LONDON. March 22. Tlie French Press unanimously record nn unshaken determination to carry through the Dardanelles operations. It was not expected they would succeed without losses. France and Belgium pave pledged their word, and both will still to Constantinople. Tlie arrival of tlie greater part of the French Expeditionary Force may make their task easier.

PRENOHOFITOIAL REPORT TWO SERIOUS GERMAN REVERSES PARIS, March 22. A communique states that the Germans had two serious reverses near Bagatelle. Two French companies stormed their trenches after blowing up three mines. Later the Germans exploded two mines 500 metres away, and bombarded our trenches. Then they attacked 250 metres of our front, but were hurled back after hot hand-to-hand lighting. Despite their reinforcements, the artillery caught them falling back, and inflicted very heavy losses. BRITAIN’S NEW AEMT GREATEST IN HER HISTORY LONDON, March 22. The Times’s military correspondent says that we are working up to an army of 3,000,000 men. and we shall have a million men in the decisive theatre before the campaign Is much older. This, he says, is HO times the number of English who fought at Agincourt, S3 times that of those in the Crimea, 25 that of the Peninsular War, 14 times, that of the second Afghan War, four limes the number In .South Africa (1809). THE DARDANELLES ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS LOSSES MAKE NO SZTPERENCE THE FLEETS WILL GO THROUGH (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON. March 22. The Dally Chronicle, referring to the naval losses in the Dardanelles, says that they in no respect affect the ultimate success of the operations. "We can well bear them, and. happily, (he operations are well in hand.” The Daily News's naval expert says: “These vessels would not have been sent to the Mediterranean if we could not well spare them from the North Sea. They are among the oldest we have, and the fact that at least one of the very newest of our ships is also there shows that, the naval position in home waters is not giving Lord Fisher any cause for anxiety. It Is necessary to remember above all that in the past it was regarded as impossible for ships to attack modern forts successfully. It is obvious, in any case, that the Anglo-French fleet have now to get through the Dardanelles at all costs.”' AT HEU7ECHAPELLE THE CANADIAN LOSSES 83 OFFICERS HILLED. LONDON, March 22, A Toronto paper publishes a message showing that six colonels were killed during the fighting at Neuve Chapelle and St. Kioi. indicating that the whole battalion was taken into action by its leaders. The fallen colonels are Laurie, of the Irish Ititles; Andrew, of the Lincolns; McLean and I'niacke. of the Gordons; Nicholson, of the East Lancashires; and Prichard, of the Northampton. Seven majors and 23 captains were killed, and the balance of the 83 officers killed were lieutenants. The first conclusion was that it was a thoroughly Britisli victory, but (lie details showed that the presence of the Candian and Hindu troops made it almost an Empire victory. THE PRICE IN BLOOD NEARLY 8000 BILLED LONDON, March 22. On the basis of 195 commissioned officers who have been killed or died from wounds since Marcli 10, the proportionate loss of men is T650, not computing the wounded and missing. FIGHTING AT MEMEL THE GERMAN VERSION .AMSTERDAM, March 22. A German official message says that the Russians were expelled from MenU'l after obstinate street fighting. AIRSHIPS DRIVEN OPE PARIS. March 22. Guns drove off (wo Taubes at Nancy on Saturday, and also a Zeppelin at Fort Verb, north-east of Calais. FRENCH OFFICIAL SURVEY FRANK ADMISSION OF FAILURES THE TURNING POINT LONDON, March 22. The first instalment of a retrospect of the war compiled from official French sources frankly admits that the northern campaign in France in the early stages was characterised by individual and collective failures, rash deployment, precipitate retreats, premature waste of men, ami tlio inadequacy of certain troops and leaders, whereby the enemy turned a difficult terrain to their own account, and secured the maximum profit. General .loffre thereafter concentrated his energies on a strategic retirement, and September was fixed as Hie limit of his retreat and tin- time suitable for the offensive. On (he sth Ihe desired situation existed, and that night General J off re sent a message to all the armies that iho hour hud now come to advance at all costs, and to "die. where you stand rather than give way." ITALY PREPARES HOME, Marcli 22. identification badges that are customarily carried only when the men are on active service are being distributed to the soldiers. In sonic quarters this is regarded as highly significant of Italy's preparedness for any eventuality. SUBMARINES AND AEROPLANES 40,000 TROOPS GATHERING ROME, Marcli 22. Twenty submarines have been added to (lie Navy in the last six months. There are now 300 aeroplanes and 20 dirigibles. AUSTRIA PREPARES FOR PROBABILITIES VENICE, Marcli 22. Telegrams from Trieste stale that a proclamation lias been issued asking the people to rally round the Emperor. Concentration on the Austrian littoral is proceeding apace, and shortly there will be 40,00(1 men at Trieste, including many well-equipped Germans. All ablebodied men up to 52 years of age tiave been summoned. UNHAPPY ARMENIA DESOLATES BY TEE KURDS MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN FROZEN IN THEIR OWN BLOOD THE MAIDEN TRIBUTE TO WAR (Times and Sydney Sun Service). LONDON. Marrh 22. Appalling accounts of the condition of Armenia have been received from the Armenian Red Cross Society. The plain of Alashgird is covered with the bodies of men, women, and children, which lie frozen in pools of their own blood. Women and children, half alive, creep from beneath the corpses and the ruins of houses. When the Russians retreated the Kurds shut up everybody in the mosques. They kill the men, and after making the women and girls go through untold agonies, they stripped them and stood them against walls, and selected those they wanted. These were placed on horses and taken away, those resisting being mercilessly beaten. There are 120,000 destitute people in the Caucasus. UNDER DISCIPLINE LONDON, Marcli 22. Dr Leibknecht, the Socialist leader, lias been subjected to military discipline. He Is not allowed to write articles nor to speak in public except in the Reichstag and Lardtag. A SEIZED CARGO COPENHAGEN, March 22. The Bryssel has been released, but the Germans seized the cargo.

DUTCH WOMEN’S APPEAL ON BEHALF OP DB WET THE HAGUE, March 22. Twelve thousand Dutch and Flemish women have appealed to General Botha to show leniency to De Wet. A ZEPPELIN DESTROYED LONDOk, March 22. The Central News reports that a Zeppelin was destroyed at Liege. It is supposed it was returning from the Paris raid. An aeroplane which bombed Zevenbergen also chased and bombed an English merchantman in the Downs, missing it. Latest War News on Page 6,