EARLIER CABLES

Southland Times, Issue 17469, 25 March 1915, Page 5

EARLIER CABLES

SIB JOHN FRENCH UNDOUBTED optimism BOX A 8080 WAS, (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright) PARIS, March 21!. Sir John French lias been interviewed by the Havas Press Agency. Ho said; "This is a rough war, but the problem is simple—namely, munitions, always more munitions. Tills is the, essential condition to all progress. The Germans need them more than the Allies, and by economising their artillery fire the German morale has deteriorated. Their troops are showing weariness, due to the collapse of their plan for lightning victory; while luck of food is also hampering them." Sir John French added: "I do not believe in a protracted war. The spring lias begun well for the Allies. The damp, foggy winter in nowise damped the British troops' good humour and cheeriness. while the French troops are in excellent form, and are well provided for the campaign." AB ABTILLSBY WAR. QUESTION OE MUNITIONS. FACTORIES A BIG FACTOR. (Times and Sydney Sun Service). LONDON 1 , March 2.'!. "Fye-witness" emphasises the imperative necessity for securing the highest possible output of guns and ammunition in Britain. Nowadays, lie says, Providence lies on the side of lug batteries more than big battalions, Neuve Chapelle sliflws that the strongest entrenched positions can he carried witli less loss to tlie attackers than to the defenders if the assault is sufficiently prepared by artillery, while a counter-attack to regain the lost ground is almost bound to fail with immense loss to those attempting it. GERMAN RESOLVE TO CLING TO ANTWERP WHEN BELGIUM IS CLEARED. (Times and Sydney Sun Sendee). LONDON, March 22. An Amsterdam message states that the Germans scattered in Bruges and Ghent are being gathered into the garrison at Antwerp, because the Germans expect the Allies to make an early movement; and if the Germans prove unable to bold the lines along the Tser it is not expected that Ghent and Bruges will be defended. HOLLAND’S BURDEN ARMY STILL MOBILISED. (Times and Sydney Sun Service). LONDON, March 2:1. The Timos’s Amsterdam correspondent says that all Holland is engaged In a struggle against unemployment and the increased cost of living. Life, in (he capital is unruffled, except for the presence of a number of soldiers in uniform. The whole Dutch army is mobilised ready to immediately take the Held. While preserving their neutrality, the Dutch keep their characteristic self- control . ZEPPELINS DRIVEN OFF. THE PARIS RAID. PARIS, March 22. Besides the, Zeppelin at Fillers Dotterels. other airships attempted to reach Paris, but they did no harm, it is believed that tho French aeroplanes drove them off. Forty-eight bombs were dropped in Paris during Saturday's air raid. THE PRZEMYSL SORTIE A FORLORN HOPE THE THREAT OB CRACOW EASES NORTH POLAND. PETROGRAD, March 23. . The Germans have withdrawn several heavy batteries from Osowiec (North Poland). General Kamanek stirringly addressed the garrison at Przemysl on Thursday, saying: “We have shared our last provisions. I lead you to pierce the enemy’s iron circle. You must crush everything and open a way out.” Each soldier was given five days' rations of biscuits and some warm underclothing, as well as new boots. It was arranged that 20.000 troops should sortie, hut several units refused, and only tho 23rd Honved Division and parts of the Landwohr and the Fourth Hussars sortled. 'They were repulsed principally by

Russian Territorials and reserve Infantry, for the Russian forces round Przemysl were never large at any time, IT AIT PREPARING MANY COLLIE KB CHARTERED (Times and Sydney Sun Service). ■ ’ LONDON, March 23. The Cardiff Coal Exchange reports that the Italian Government have secured a number of steamers on a month's charter to carry extensive importations of American coal. WOMEN AND V THE WAR PATRIOTIC SPIRIT SHOWN (Times and Sydney Sun Service). LONDON, March 23. Ten thousand women in London alone have intimated that they are prepared to undertake war work, and thousands of applications are coming It dally. The Scottish pulpits have directed attention to the national call on women. Probably the Government will set an example by releasing batches of second division male clerks and copyists in numerous departments who are available for war service, so that women may take their places. SOUTH APRXCA INVADING GERMAN TERRITORY , BOTHA’S SUCCESSES CAPETOWN, March 23. Colonel Collins’s force on Saturday captured a train at Jakalowter, in German South-west Africa. They cut the enemy’s ' communications with Kubas. Though they were unable to dislodge the, enemy from their strong entrenchments, they prevented them assisting Pforteberg, where 200 Germans surrendered. Meanwhile General Brits, accompanied by General Botha, attacked an exceptionally strong position at Rlet. The troops fought all day, many being without food and water 1\- 30 hours. Eventually the enemy retreated, abandoning their guns and ammunition. They blow up the pumping plant, but a large well was left Intact. MARTIAL LAW MAINTAINED BUT STRINGENCY BEING RELAXED CAPETOWN, March 23. General Hertzog’s amendment, terminating the regime of martial law when the Indemnity Bill is enacted, was rejected by 63 votes to 15 in the Union Parliament. General Smuts (Minister of Defence) said it would be inadvisable to repeal martial law, but the Government Intended to relax the rogulatons and release the rank and file of the rebels, notwithstanding the risk, RUSSIA’S GREAT CAPTURE AROUND FRZEMYSL LONDON, Marcli 23. Reuter’s correspondent at Petrograd advises that the Russians, at the full of Przemysl, captured nine generals ami 117,000 men. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE The High Commissioner reported under date London, Marcli 23 (4.30 a.m.): — Army casualties : Officers—killed 7, wounded 31; men—killed 11 a, wounded 230. missing 17. Paris reports- that the enemy bombarded Itheims, and a German aviator dropped bombs, two or throe civilians being killed. In llio Champagne the French progressed slightly. In the Argonne two violent attacks of the enemy were repulsed. SUEZ CANAL ANOTHER TURKISH ATTACK SMALL PARTY REPULSED SYDNEY. March 24. A Times and Sydney Sim special message states that 1000 Turks attacked tfie Suez Canal on Monday, but were routed, and are in full retreat. SIR JOHN PREHOH'S REPORT MATTERS VERY QUIET LONDON, M a roll 23. Sir John French's bi-weekly report states that the enemy's aircraft have been active. They bombed Lillicrs, Saint Omer, Estaircs, and Fremnie from a height of nOOUfI. and killed llireoe women ami four civilians, and wounded six civilians. No results of any military value were achievd. Otherwise matters have been quiet. AIR WAR BRITISH SUPERIORITY HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE The High Commissioner reported under date London. Marcli 23 (7.5 p.m.t;— The Canadian casualties are: Killed, 15: wounded, 27. General French reports quiet generally on the front. On Saturday and Sunday the enemy's aircraft showed unwonted aelivily. the weather being partieularly favourable. Bombs were dropped on Lille (?), Saint Omer. and Es-taire-s. Some buildings were damaged, but they were neither occupied by soldiers nor used for military purposes. The total damage l<> personnel ijas three women and four civilians killed and six civilians wounded. The bombs were dropped from a great height in one case from 1000 ft.. preventing the airmen from aiming deliberately. The absence of any military objective of this procedure is a tribute to the respect in which the enemy hold British airmen. DEVASTATED POLAND PADEREWSKI’S APPEAL TO AUSTRALIAN FARMERS LONDON. Marcli 23. The Polisli pianist Paderewski, in thanking the Victorian Stale Schools Patriotic League for their contribution of £SOO. says that Hie war in Poland is exterminating human beings and animals alike over an area cqnarl to England and Scotland. He appeals lo the prosperous farmers of Australasia to assist agriculturists in Poland, THE SUEZ CANAL THE NEWS CONFIRMED CAIRO, Marcli 23. The Press Bureau announces that at dawn on March 22 the British aeroplanes discovered 1000 Turks, under General von Traumer, near Ecknhri, opposite Suez. The guns at Eckubri compelled them to retire, and a force tinder General Younghusband routed the Turks next day. They are now in full retreat.