General War News

Southland Times, Issue 17656, 14 February 1916, Page 2

General War News

European Theatre THE USCIECZKO BATTLE. RUSSIANS SPLIT ENEMY ARMIES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) BEtROGRAD, February 11. Puller reports emphasise the importance of the success at Uscieczko. The stronghold was a ridge between the Dniester and the Eurin, near the point of confluence. Thence the enemy were able to deliver a galling lire on the Russian position on the east bank. The precipitous slopes of the ridge, covered with dense undergrowth, were converted into a miniature Gibraltar. The Russians drove numerous saps, from whence they assailed tlic enemy with hand grenades, whilst batteries poured in high explosive and shrapnel with unerring precision. The first Russian srucccss was at the end of .lannary. The enemy, heavily reinforced, kept the Russians at bay for a. week. Then the. Russians won the position, enabling heavy guns to bombard the reserves across the river. I Finally, after four days and nights of desperate fighting, the Russians rushed the bridgehead, and on a Tuesday crossed the Dniester, though the opposite bank was .equally precipitous and strongly fortified. It is reported that Bohmermolli was wounded. Uscieczko was the point of connection between Bothmcr's armies, operating on the North River, and the armies of Pflander and the Germans between the Dniester and Prath. The Russians thus thrust a wedge in parts of the enemy armies. RUSSIANS THREATEN CZERNOWITS. PETROGRAD, February 11. The Russians arc also threatening Czcrnowitz. The plateau to the northeast.of Czernowitz is the scene of strenuous fighting, which is not yet decisive. RUSSIAN ARTILLERY. NOW MASTERS THE GERMAN FIRE. PETROGKAD, February 11. Though not mentioned In the official bulletins, the successes by Russia illustrate the importance of the recent reconstruction of the Russian artillery. Formerly the German artillery overwhelmed the Russian. Now the German lire is beaten down. The Russians are provided with ample supplies of shells. They also have guns on the pattern of the French 7n's. These guns do not require concrete platforms. The Germans, on the other- hand, arc forced to work their guns from two or three positions connected laterally by rails, which the Russian gunners readily pick out. ARMED MERCHANTMEN. GERMANY LAYS DOWN THE LAW AS IF SHE RULED THE WAVES. BERLIN, February 11. A Memorandum has been handed by Germany to the neutral Powers regarding the treatment of armed merchantmen. It states that Britain, prior to the war, gave shipowners guns and ammunition and the personnel necessary for drilling gun crews. It is argued that such a ship maintains its character as a peaceful merchantman while carrying arms-solely for defence. In accordance therewith the British Ambassador at Washington, on the 25th August, 1914, gave America far-reaching assurances that British merchantmen would never fire unless first attacked. On the other hand, Britain held that armed vessels sailing under flags other than their own should be treated as war vessels. The German Government state without doubt that merchantmen equipped with guns acquire a warlike character, whether the guns are to serve for defence or attack: also that such activity is contrary to international law. Germany, however, takes into consideration the contrary conception by treating the crews as belligerents, not as pirates. Some neutrals have concurred in the British view; others’ hold that arrqed merchantmen are really war vessels. The reports of the German naval officers show that British merchantmen are not only offering armed resistance, but that they even attack Germans under the repeated use of false colours. Britain’s Allies are now copying Britain's example, and a British Admiralty Memorandum instructs merchantmen to wage war mercilessly on German submarines, without awaiting warlike action, whenever and wherever they meet those submarines. The Memorandum concludes : “In view of these circumstances, enemy merchantmen, after a short interval in the interest of neutrals, will be treated as belligerents, and Germany has notified neutrals in order that they may warn their subjects.’’ 1 An appendix to the Memorandum enumerates 19 cases in which merchantmen attacked German submarines. GERMANY’S NEW THREAT, A MASH OF BARBARISM. PARIS, February 11. Le Matin, commenting on the new German threat to treat armed merchantmen as belligerents, says that when submarines torpedoed the Lusitania and many other unarmed vessels the Germans did not trouble themselves to make certain first whether they were or were not armed; hence, no importance should be attached to this latest pitiful manoeuvre, which is intended to mask the monstrous illegality of Germany's barbarism. THE SEA BLOCKADE. SUGGESTION TO SEND AN ENVOY TO AMERICA. LONDON. February 11. The Manchester Guardian urges sending Lord Bryce as a special envoy to "Washington with a view of settling in truer perspective the. whole problem of the sea blockade, which the Allies’ most effectual weapon against the foe’s unbridled tvranny on land. Other newspapers suggest that Mr Balfour should be the envoy. LAST OF THE ARMENIANS BEING MASSACRED OB DISPERSED. GENEVA, February 11. Newspapers stale that the massaci lug of the few remaining Armenians has recommenced. Men and boys are shot, and the younger women and girls are being sold in the open market. CHURCHES ■WEA3CENBD. LONDON, February 11. The Baptist Handbook shows a decline in membership of H7(i, partly owing to the war. Many Anglican training colleges are closed for the same reason, and a movement is afoot to enable a clergyman to officiate in more than one parish. WILL NOT REOPEN MUSEUMS. LONDON, February 1 1. Mr Asquith refused the request ot a deputation to reconsider the closing of museums, but lie agreed to keep open the manuscript room of the British .Museum for the use of students .and the popular side of tlie National History Museum lor the use of wounded men. SOLDIERS USING COCAINE. LONDON, February 11. Evidence was given in a Folkestone court case that cocaine is largely used by Canadian soldiers. Forty men in one camp are suffering from that habit. MISCHIEF IN CANADA. A SECRET PROJECT. NEW YORE, February 11. it is reported by Germans that German sympathisers and some residents of Canada have bound themselves by oath to assist some secret project to work destruction in Canada when the time comes.

It is claimed that a vessel which is being lilted oat on JjaUe Kric will raid Canadian ports.

MB PISHEB XNVESTIGA3£ING. LONDON, February 11. The Ilight Hon. A. Fisher is investigating medical arrangements, and proposes to visit Walton to inspect New Zealand's centralised system. ON THE FKENCH FRONT. GERMAN ATTACKS FOILED. The High Commissioner reports from London, 11 tit February <2.SO a_m.) : Two enemy attacks at West Hill, No. 140, were repulsed, and we occupied the crater ;tfter a mine was exploded by the Gentians at the Neuville-Thelns road. We made effective bombardments of the 'enemy's works at Dcnvraigne and Mesnil. Munition depots were exploded by our tire at the enemy’s salient at the forest of Mortmare. PEACE PROPOSALS DENIED. The High Commissioner reports from London, lUh February (2.10 p.m.) : The Belgian Legation declares that the rumour that peace proposals were recently made by Germany to the Belgian Government is unfounded. SENTENCING A SOCIALIST. AFRAID TO MAKE IT HEAVY. LONDON, February 11. A message from Berlin reports that Herr Meyer, editor of Vorwaerts, was prosecuted for inciting class hatred by publishing a pamphlet entitled “Who is Responsible for the War?’’ and another entitled “The Annexation Mania.” The Public Prosecutor demanded a sentence of IS months’ imprisonment, but Meyer was sentenced to a week in prison.