General War News

Southland Times, Issue 17659, 17 February 1916, Page 2

General War News

European Theatre TAHURE TRENCHES RE-CAPTURED (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) PARIS, February 15. The communique says: We re-captured portion of the advanced trenches lost near Tahure on the 13th. EIGHT MEW DIVISIONS IN PRANCE ADEQUATE EGYPT PREPARATIONS MESOPOTAMIA POSITION IMPROVED LONDON, February 15. Lord Kitchener, in Uie House of Lords, said the British forces in France liad been increased by eight divisions. Adequate preparations had been made to resist the threatened invasion of Egypt. Mr Asquith announced that a conference of the Allies would be held in Paris to consider the political and strategical aspect of the war. He says the situation of the British force in Mesopotamia has improved materially. PROGRESS OP THE NEW ARMY. 1,500,000 IN FRANCE 3.000,000 MORE READY ANOTHER 1,000,000 TRAINING ENEMY OUTNUMBERED NEW YORK, February 15. Mr Edmond Bristol,- a Canadian member of Parliament, on returning from a visit to England, told an interviewer that there were 1.500,000 British troops in France, and that 3,000,000 more were ready in Britain, while another 1,000,000 were drilling. General Watson told Mr Bristol that Lord Fhench, before returning to England from the western front, said to him, “Cheer up. General, You will be sailing some time in July.” LONDON, February 15. Reuter’s correspondent at the British headquarters states that a year ago drafts from Home were nearly always sent promptly to the trenches because the enemy outnumbered us everywhere. Now we substantially outweigh them and still new drafts come. We are able to complete our training within the sound of war. Level stretches in Flanders, for miles behind the lines, have been transformed into a vast Aldershot, where field exercises and manoeuvres are carried out tirelessly. Our front line supports and reserves are only a proportion of our field armies, the remaining legions being always training and learning something new in warfare. It has been found that constant training is the best kind of rest from the trenches, and that nothing so preserves men’s fitness. ON THE EAST FRONT RUSSIA STAVES OFF ATTACKS PETROGRAD, February 15. Violent artillery duels followed by infantry actions have been going on for a week on the Dvina - Riga front. The Russians holding fast, repulsed all attempts. The offensive was even taken on some lines. Owing to the murderous Russian fire a violent disturbance broke out on the 12th in the German array at Vilna. Forty officers and many soldiers were court-martialled.' AFTER THE WAR RECOGNITION OF THE DOMINIONS NEW YORK, February 15. The Tribune’s London correspondent had an interview with the Hon. W. Long, who said; After the war we shall find ourselves confronted with questions which cut across the old party divisions. Even our Parliamentary system must undergo a change, and our colonies must have further recognition and adequate representation upon our councils. FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION MANCHESTER CHAMBER CLINGS TO ODD BELIEFS LONDON, February 15. Six hundred out of 1800 members .attended the annual meeting of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Hitherto the attendances had averaged about a hundred. Interest was aroused by the directors’ memorandum to the annual report, declaring that the Chamber would require unmistakable proof before the sacrifice of its freetrade policy, which had been productive of such beneficial results. The meeting, by a large majority, passed a resolution referring the memorandum back for reconsideration, whereupon the directors decided to take a ballot. Mr H. Barclay, the president, accused protectionists of taking an unfair advantage of war time. He deprecated reprisals which, after the war, would divide Europe into two hostile camps and building up of huge armaments against the day when commercial war would again give place to the military conflict. Other resolutions were postponed pending the ballot NAVAD OFFICER HONOURED LONDON, February 15. The Army and Navy Gazette states that the Admiralty has named a new destroyer after Admiral Morcaby. This is the first time that such an honour has been paid to a living naval officer. The Gazette recalls Admiral Moreaby’s work in surveying New Guinea in 1873-4, and is regarded as a belated recognition for that work. FOURTH GERMAN DOAN COPENHAGEN, February 15. The fourth German war loan of ten milliards (about £45,00,000) will shortly be issued. "WOMEN’S UNION RAIDED LONDON, February 15. The police raided the Women’s Social Union’s premises in Mecklenburg Square, and seized copies of the “Britannia.” ASHUEAS BARTLETT’S VIEWS GERMANY’S PREDICAMENT SYDNEY, February 16. , Mr Ash mead Barlett, at the Journalists’ luncheon in his honour, said that Germany was in a bad way, and waa holding territory it was impossible to keep. He trembled for the future of the Mohenzollerns when the people knew the truth about the enormous losses.