WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17661, 19 February 1916, Page 6

WESTERN THEATRE

enemy offensive anticipated, PRELIMINARY efforts expensive (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) PARIS, February 17. The hulk of military opinion is inclined to believe that the Germans' activity in the West foreshadows a general offensive. In nearly every case the attacks make salients to test the Allied | lines. Practically all the enemy lias i achieved is the occupation of a few i craters, prepared at an infinite expense j of high explosives and labour. j FURTHER ENEMY EFFORTS j UNSUCCESSFUL MINING FRENCH ARTILLERY DESTRUCTIVE LONDON, February IS. Ileceived February 18, 10.25 p.rn. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the enemy exploded a mine .south of Loos. Our fire checked the attempt to occupy tile crater, and we occupied the near edge. The situation at Vpres-Oomincs is unchanged. PARIS, February IS. Communhiue: A destructive lire has been kept up on the enemy organisations towards Stcenstraate and opposite BoeI singlie. AERIAL ACTIVITIES THE CONTROVERSY IN ENGLAND. DANGEROUS CIVILIAN CLAMOUR. (By Telegraph—Press A.ssn. —Copyright) LONDON, February 17. The Doily Telegraph and Chronicle declare that the needs of the lighting services in the matter of aeroplanes must come first. They deprecate the civilian clamour for a“weakening of the militaryeffort. The Daily Mail, while doubting that i all sources of supply have been properly utilised, says that if civilian claims mean the withdrawal of machines -and aircraft guns from the front, then civilians must go undefended. ANOTHER ZEPPELIN LOST. INTERNED IN HOLLAND. AMSTERDAM, February 17. A storm in Belgium carried a Zeppelin adrift and landed it at Venio (Holland), where it was wrecked and interned. BRITAIN’S PREPAREDNESS LORD KITCHENER'S STATEMENT DANGER OP PUBLIC DEBATE REPLIES MUST BE GUARDED PRINCIPLES GOVERNING OUR DEFENCE LONDON, February 17. Received February 18, 5.5 p.m. Several nuestions were asked in the House of Lords, as to Britain’s preparedness in regard to air defence. Lord KitchoneJ* stated that one Zeppelin was lost at sea on the last raid, and it was believed that a second was out of action. Public debate was fraught with the risk of giving information to the enemy. This hampered a detailed reply to questions which were the natural outcome of the dastardly German outrages on helpless women and children, lip to the present the raids had laid no influence whatever on the military situation. Three principles goverhed our.air defence. Firstly, good information of the arrival and movements of hostile aircraft: secondly, defence by artillery from the land; thirdly, attacks by aeroplanes moving faster than the Zeppelins. The construction of anti-craft guns had now priority over other ordnance. To cha.sc Zeppelins by aeroplanes I might be attended by great difficulties. No order bad ever been sent to air pilots to make sucli ascents at night, but notice had been sent to stations when it was considered possible to intercept the Zeppelins. INSURANCE AGAINST RAIDS 1 A MILLION PEOPLE INSURED LONDON, February 17. Received February 18, 5.5 p.m. Replying to a question as to the Government scheme for insurance against aii- raids, Lord Newton said that over a million persons had insured, of whom (150,000 had instired through the post ofiuo, the sum assured being £8,800,00(1 .sterling. THE VAUNTED POKKER 19X3 MODEL OFFERED TO BRITAIN REJECTED AS INEFFICIENT AND DANGEROUS. LONDON. February 17. Reeeived February IS. 11.50 p.m. Mr Tennant in reply to a question, said that Fnkker offered the War Oliiee in 111 ill aeroplanes wliii-li were not accepted as tiny were inefficient and dangerous. i'oirkcr si n<o Hie war had produced two Hew designs. He did not oiler them lo Britain, and they Mere purchased by Germany. DUESAUD'S RAYS FRANCE'S LOST OPPORTUNITY PA It IS, February 17. A sensation lias been caused by tile announcement that the success of the recent German air raids was due to the Zt-ppelin searchlights using J Missaud's cold light rays, which are so blinding that they pierced the mist like the sun, whereas the rays of the French searchlights were lost in the mist.

Dussaud’s invention uses the whole electric current for illumination, instead of losing SO per cent, from heat. Dus- "! sand in 1011 offerer! his invention to the j French Government, but he v.ns a vicj tim to officialdom, ami sold his patent to ! Germany. IN MESOPOTAMIA TUEKISS EEPOET : (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) i AM.STERDAJI, February 17. Beeeived February IS, 0.5 p.m. ! The Turkish communique states Unit ; the British left many dead on the line ! of retreat from Bathia, and during’ that ! battle lost i’3oo camels. 1 I