General War News

Southland Times, Issue 17485, 28 July 1915, Page 7

General War News

European Theatre IN POLAND SECOND NAEEW CROSSING* FORCED HIGHER UP RUSSIANS RETREAT FIGHTING (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright) BERLIN', July 26. A communique states : Von Bulow is 60 kilometres south-east of Shavli, and is beating the enemy whenever they offer resistance, taking prisoner over 1000 men. tVe forced a passage of the Narew above Ostrolenka (X.E. pf Warsaw), and are slowly pushing the enemy towards the Bug. The Russians are offering an obstinate resistance. We took prisoner 1000 Russians and over 50 machine guns. We are advancing on the Xovogeorgievsk fortifications (X.W. of Warsaw). The Germans further pushed back the enemy in the Cliolm region (W. of Lublin). capturing 1457 men and 11 machine guns. GAS FUMES THE RUSSIAN ANTIDOTE PETROGRAD. July 26. When the Germans employed gas clouds on the Xarew front the Russians rushed out to meet the cloud, and dived through it. holding wet rags to thenfaces. They fell on the surprised Germans. giving no quarter. Their general mode of defence against gas is to fill a shallow trench with brushwood and soak it with petroleum. When the gas approaches the petroleum is ignited, thus carrying the poison gas up aloft. BALTIC PROVINCES THE GERMAN OBJECTIVE PETROGRAD, July 26. The Germans continue to advance in the Baltic Provinces, their immediate goal being Poneviezh, and their ultimate goal the Petrograd-Vilna railway. Their operations there at present are of only secondary importance, and the Russian forces have been called back in order to maintain touch with our forces in the Mitau and Shavli districts. (Poneviezh lies between Shavli and the line mentioned, being about 70 miles S.E. of Shavli and some 110 miles west of the railway). IT ALT’S CAMPAIGN GORIZIA’S FLIGHT GARRISON DEMORALISED ROME. July 26. Three Italian workmen interned In Gorizia have escaped. They state that the garrison is entirely demoralised, and several officers have committed suicide. Supplies are short owing to the destruction of the roads and railway. LABOUR TROUBLES HAS RUSSIA SUFFERED ? PETROGRAD, July 26. General Russky (invalided) declares that arbitrary cessation of work is tantamount to treason, and urges that decisive steps be taken to compel the resumption of work in any factories. ARCHANGEL TRAFFIC SUBMARINES’ CLOSE ATTENTIONS LONDON, July 26. A submarine sank the American steamer Leelai\daw. bound from Archangel to Belfast with a cargo of flax. Her crew landed at Kirkwall. The British steamer Grangewood. from Archangel to Havre, was also submarined and sunk in the North Sea, The crew were saved. THE COLMAR AIR RAID PARIS. July 26. Reports from Alsace state that the recent aeroplane raid on Colmar greatly damaged the military workshops. Bombs also fell on a train full of soldiers from Strasburg. with terrible results.

The High Commissioner reports, London, 26th July (4.30 p.m.) ; —Artillery actions continue on many parts of the Allies’ front, also trench fighting 'with grenades. French airmen bombed a military station at Hantillois. north of Montfaucon (north-west of Verdun). ITS PALL RUMOURED LONDON, July 26. Tile Geneva Tribune publishes a despatch from Milan stating that after severe fighting the Italians have taken Gorizia. ON CARSO PLATEAU ITALIANS MASSED ABTILLBBTT WON THE DAT LONDON. July 26. The Daily Chronicle’s Dome correspondent was an eye-witness of the Carso Plateau battle on July 22. He states that the victory was due to the Italians stupendous artillery superiority. The Italians massed 500 cannon against the enemy, and these continuously fired for several hours, spreading confusion and dismay. He estimated that over SOOO Austrians fell. • The Austrian prisoners presented a pitiable spectacle, being thoroughly worn out. They declare that their defeat was. due to the Austrian inability to send sufficient reinforcements from Poland, also to the non-arrival of heavy artillery, the newest guns being needed at the east front. PKENCH NATAL WOES SUBMARINE BASE SETTLED PARIS, July 26. The French destroyer Disson destroyed an Austrian supply depot for submarines and aeroplanes at La Costa Island and cut the cables. Several Austrians and one Frenchman were killed. A navy order records the energy and coolness of the officers of the Disson in finishing their task and re-embarking their landing party under violent fire. IN SOUTH AFRICA BRITISH AND DUTCH SEABED BUBDEN EQUALLY PRETORIA, July 26. Official : the Union casualties in the rebellion and the Damaraland campaign totalled 127 Dutch and 127 British killed, and 299 British and 127 Dutch wounded. The rebellion accounted for 4009 (? 409) casualties. The forces engaged in suppressing the rebellion amounted to 30,000. of whom 20,100 were Dutch forces. In the Damaraland 50.000 troops were engaged, of whom 27,600 were British.' HOSPITAL DISCIPLUTB WAB OFFICE AGAIN LONDON. July 26.

In correspondence in the Morning Post on the subject of the restrictions on the wounded in hospital, several writers complain of similar restrictions imposed .on Canadian and New Zealand wounded. The Rev. Mr Woodcock, a Canadian, declares that the War Office hospitals treat the wounded as prisoners. while the Red Cross give them latitude and make them contented. VOW HISSING'S INTERNMENT LONDON. July 26. Tlie order for Baron Von Hissing's internment was issued on Friday, but lie lias been released on parole, pending an appeal. WHIGBE OUEIiT COURTESIES AMSTERDAM, July I’6. Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday was celebrated by the churches throughout Belgium. The town council of Brussels and Antwerp sent messages of loyalty. Several persons wearing the Belgian colours were arrested. SPANISH SENTIMENT MADRID, July 26. Don Jaime has withdrawn his support from the Carlist organ Corre Espanel, because of the virulent attacks on Great Britain by German writers which it published. LABOUB’S BBSOITTB “ WHAT WE HAVE WE’lil< HOED ” LONDON, July 26. Twenty-eight unions affiliated with the Transport Workers' Federation have instructed their executives to complete the projected alliance with the miners and railwaymen to resist by a national strike any attempt to take away the war bonuses after the war. AMERICA AND GERMANY PEELING INFLAMED CHANCELLOR SOFTENS BLOW HOT TO NO PURPOSE AMSTERDAM, July 26. Von Bethmann-Hollweg at first published extracts from the American Note, accompanied by a semi-official statement insisting on the correctness and politeness of the Note. This manoeuvre, however, failed, and publication of the complete text produced an explosion of anti-American sentiment. Both the newspapers and the public are almost unanimous in favouring Admiral Von Tirpitz’s policy of ruthless submarining. A VAGUE TIT REA? OR A FRIENDLY WARNING AMSTERDAM, July 26. Tlie Berliner Tageblatt warris America not to embark on enterprises for which she may be sorry later. GERMAN DIPLOMACY WALKED INTO TRAP NEW YORK, July 26. Tlie Chicago Staats Zeitung, a Ger-man-American organ, declares ; "Germane can ifbver submit to the Tone of the United States' Note, and will, much as she will be sorry for it, find.no other answer titan by breaking off diplomatic relations. We well know, as the German Government fully know, that with such a step site fulfils not only the wish of this Government, hut also that of Lugland: and knows, also, that it will create a very painful situation for GermanArnericans."

SIGHT or SEARCH BRITAIN AND AMERICA, WASHINGTON 7 , .Inly 26. Great Britain, replying to the American Note of March 30 protesting against the Order-in-Council restricting neutral commerce, holds that Britain s actions are within international law, although she admits that they may involve anew application of legal principles. Britain urges that it would be proper to await a judicial interpretation. PERSIAN QTJir TORCH EUPHRATES STRONGHOLD "WON LONDON, July 26. Mr Austen Chamberlain (Secretary for India), in the House of Commons, said the British attacked and took the enemy's main position on the Euphrates on July 24, and captured 11 guns, 2 machine guns and several hundred prisoners. They also counted 500 Turkish dead. Our casualties in the 20 days' fighting were between 200 and 400. Our troops exhibited the greatest gallantry and endurance under most difficult conditions—intense heat and fighting in a network of marshes and canals. AUSTRALIAN BRIGADIER WOUNDED SECOND TIME SYDNEY, July 27. A cable has been received stating that Brigadier-General McCay. commanding the Second Australian Infantry Brigade at the Dardanelles, has been wounded a second time. The nature of his wounds is not stated. XYARRA INQUIRY’ DEFECTIVE PORT ARRANGEMENTS SYDNEY. July 27. The Kyarra inquiry refers to alleged neglect to provide proper facilities for the sick and wounded upon landing at Melbourne and on the train journey northwards, regarding which there were many complaints in the press. LIVERPOOL CAMP MEN LARGELY BLAMEWORTHY SYDNEY, July 27. At the Liverpool camp inquiry Lieut. Colonel Perkins gave evidence that the camp was freer of flies and gastro-en-teric complaints than any he had ever seen. Other evidence revealed that many of the complaints wore the result of the men’s own neglect. carelessness, and rawness in matters of military duty. HIGH EXPLOSIVES STARTING MANUFACTURE MELBOURNE. July 27. The Imperial Government have now supplied plans for the manufacture of high explosive ISpr shells. These plans will be immediately distributed, enabling a start to be'made.

CRICKET AND WAR SYDNEY, July 27. Tlie annual report of the N.K.W. Cricket Association shows that the year started with a credit balance of £2064 and finished with a credit balance of £1229. The chairman, in his speech, said that irrespective of the claims of sportsmen for sport, it had no claims whatever when the country called. He hoped everybody would enlist where eligible, and where ineligible devote themselves to drill in the proper way. THE HOSPITAL COMPLAINTS AUSTRALIAN CONVALESCENTS EXCEEDED THEIR LEAVE * LONDON. July 26. A majority of the wounded Australians in England rese.nt the controversy regarding their food and treatment, believing that tlie result is that the Australians are being considered “grousers.” They point out that there are very few grumblers, and some of them are experiencing discipline for the first time. When the convalescents were first able to leave the hospitals some who were given leave until 5 p.m. returned at 10 p.m. or 11 p.rn., with unfortunate results to their health. Under the circumstances the great majority immediately assented to necessary changes in the rules. Since Sir G. Reid supplemented it. the dietary scale has been ample at Harefield, a country house. The change necessitated remodelling the kitchen and the cooking arrangements, and making a transfer of wounded from outlying hospitals to Harefield and other convalescent hospitals. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie has received no complaints from the New Zealand wounded regarding their diet and treatment in hospital. Inquiries were made at Weymouth, where the men were interviewed, and all said they had no complaints as to food or treatment. REWARDS POR AVIATORS LONDON. July 26. Baron Michelham has offered £3 000 to the first British aviator or aviators destroying a Zeppelin in the air, and £IOOO apiece for the next nine Zeppelins destroyed. GREERS AND THE CENSORSHIP WELLINGTON, July 27. Complaints have reached Mr Dyer, Vice-Consul for Greece, that the military censors are refusing to accept letters for Greece in Greek by Greek residents in New Zealand, Greek not being one of the authorised languages. Mr Dyer has interviewed the authorities, and has arranged that in future correspondence in Greek will be accepted, provided it is written on postcards enclosed in addressed envelopes, with the flaps turned in . RUSSIA’S STAND TO BE MADE ON THE BUG GERMANS IN ROUGH COUNTRY PETROGRAD, July 2G. The Germans have crossed the Narew near its confluence with the "Orjitz. They floated pontoons down some snifill tributaries which they bad previously seized, and the crossing was facilitated by an islet in the middle of the river. There are extensive forests on the left bank of the Narew in this region, intersected by streams. The Russians hope that their success on the north bank of the Dniester in Galicia under similar conditions may be repeated on the Narew. In any ease, the Germans

are confronted by 16 miles of roadless country before they reach the Bug, which is a much more formidable obstacle than the Narew. The Germans are now within 24 miles of Warsaw. A German aeroplane dropped bombs on Warsaw in a vain attempt to destroy the Vistula bridge. There were several civilian casualties. ANOTHEB AMERICAN NOTE TO GERMANY WASHINGTON, July 26. American opinion is greatly shocked over the torpedoing of the Leelanaw, as it is considered a case similar to that of the. steamer William Frye. Germany has promised compensation. Another American Note is pending. TBS DARDANELLES TUBES SEE NO HOPE RETALIATION ON GERMANS SOFIA, July 26. Turkish deserters state that there is a strong demand for peace. The Turkish officers and men all consider that they have no chanec of success. Four German officers shot at a group of soldiers leaving the firing lino, whereupon a Turkish officer and his men immediately killed the Germans. Colonel Von Leipzig was killed under similar circumstances. The reserve troops in the Chatalja lines, under General Von Sanders, mutinied, and Enver Pasha had to intervene, and finally sent the troops to the interior, replacing them by Asia Minor contingents. BRITISH SUBMARINE MORE MUNITIONS JJESTBOYED LONDON. July 26. Mitylene reports that a British submarine sank two barges laden with ammunition in the Sea of Marmora. The submarine entered the Golden Horn, but failed in an attempt to sink a destroyer lying at the quay. BLACK SEA FIRST RUSSIAN DREADNOUGHT PETROGRAD, July 26. The Russians’ first Black Sea Dread nought has been commissioned.