GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17788, 18 July 1916, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES A WAR SAVINGS WEEK. CHATTCELLOB OF EXCHEQUEB’B APPEAL. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 16. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr McKenna), in a letter, states that he is glad that the war savings week has been chosen for a date when the thoughts of the nation arc directed across the Channel, whore our troops and Allies are making the greatest military effort in our own and their history. The present would not be a battle of a few days, hut the beginning of a long, patient, arduous offensive, demanding from our soldiers heroic exertions and unimaginable sacrifices. We who arc homestayers cannot rest content to be mere spectators. The greatest financial effort in our history is needed. Extravagance and waste are treason, and indifference is a crime. Our Exchequer bonds arc the heavy artillery, and the smaller bonds arc equal to rifles and grenades.

RUSSIA UTILISES PRISONERS. LONDON. July 16. Half a million Austrian prisoners gathered the enormous Russian harvest in the southern districts. RUSSIA BUILDS RAILWAYS. COPENHAGEN, July 16. Russia has decided to construct 65 new railways, with a total length of 31,000 kilometres (over 20,000 miles). MORE TURKISH CLAIMS. LONDON, July 16. A Turkish communique states: Our submarines sank three large Russian transports and forced another ashore. SUBMARINE VICTIMS. LONDON. July 16. The 11 survivors of the three sunken trawlers have been landed at Aberdeen. GERMANS AT NOVEL. RUSSIA COHTTDBirr. (The Times.) LONDON. July 16. Mr Washburn, from the Kovel front, advises that more than half the 42,000 captures there are Germans, thus dissipating the fiction of German invincibility against Russia. Although the Germans are constantly adding to their heavy guns and machine guns they are finding a difficulty in filling up the human blanks, while the Russian depots are Jammed with reserves, and there are plenty of rifles, excluding the 300,000 that were, captured during the offensive. The weather is intensely hot, and many of the captures arc due to physical exhaustion. It is impossible with such intense fighting to continue long without breaking the German line.

The cable news in this is rue accredited to The Times has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of The Times. A DELIGHTED PARIS singing john bull's praises. THE BOSCHES OH THE BUH. PARIS, July 16. The city was never in such joyous spirits. Large Sunday crowds are swarming the streets, and voluble tributes are paid to the British in the form of songs and placards; ‘John Bull has the Bosches on the run.” General Haig’s name is affectionately mentioned, and all agree that the British fought with unequalled courage, dash, and vigour. The results of the fighting are remarkable, because, the Germans had. prepared a most strenuous resistance. XING OP GREECE INJURED ZH PUCE ROME, July 11 . The Giornale d’ltalia’a correspondent states that King Constantine was injured in the face, eyes, and one leg in jumping from a bridge in the park during the burning of the Tatoi forest. It is reported that 10 people perished, and that many were hurt. The tire continues to spread in the direction of Athens. AT HEN.S, July la. Three officers, including the chief of the King's bodyguard, and 90 soldiers were killed at the Tatoi fire. PZTZPUL GERMAN CLAIMS LONDON, July 16. The Admiralty denies a German official wireless claiming that the Germans sank .a large British auxiliary cruiser m the. North Sea. Regarding a further German claim that they sank three armed British guardships, taking their crews prisoner, the Admiralty describes these as armed trawlers. PBOHOTZOH LONDON, July 16. The Prince of Wales has been gazetted deputy-adjutant and quartermaster. THE CONTEMPTIBLE HUN PARIS, July 16. A Belgian politician has received a letter from a relative in Belgium, describing tlu; starving conditions there, and the ruthlessness of the German regime towards the. stracing people. The writer states that in many towns in Flanders there have been demonstrations. In the streets are placards “Bread or death.” Many riots have occurred. The Germans sabred the demonstrators, and have forbidden further demonstrations, under a penalty of five years’ gaol.

They continue extensive requisitions, and do not conceal their intention of a systematic policy of starvation to compel Belgium to raise her voice in favour of peace. THE SAT bp SECKOITCRO SAWxrxara oh oebkaht COiMCNHAGBN, July 15. 'l’he ominous monotony of the AngloFrench success on the Somme is reflected by the new tone of the German press. Long, significant articles appear In the Berlin newspapers exhorting the Germans not to listen to those who are campaigning the country demanding a general strike with a view to ending the slaughter. The articles appeal to the populace for a single-minded loyalty, and not to hamper the military organisation by conn*elllD£ them .to deal with

enemies at home while the British, French, and Russians an; standing on her vast fronts threatening to penetrate the Fatherland in the coming autumn. One article says: “Our enemies outnumber ns by two to one- Japan is sending them enormous quantities of food and ammunition, while Germany depends on her own production. The British bombardment, lasting seven days, was murderous, and our own Staff admits the inferiority of our artillery. Have wc any surety that the furious attacks on the gateway of our Empire will all fail’.' Therefore we must be united.” V OUB EGYPT GABBXSON Habbyxetg the tueks 3a)XDON, July 1 *5. Official: Two columns starting from Tor Abuzcneima, on the Sinai shore of tlie Gulf of Suez, traversed (!0 miles of difficult country and raided enemy bases in the Sinai Peninsula, capturing stock and prisoners, without suffering any casualties. THE GBANO DUKE NICHOLAS AGAIN PUSHING THE TUBES PETROUS AD, July Id. A communique, states; In the direction of Erzingan we attacked tlie heights southward of Mamahatnn, and dislodged the Turks from their fortified positions. South - eastward of Mush a Turkisu division, which recently arrived from Thrace, is retreating fh tlie valley of the eastern brancli of the Upper Euphrates. FIGHT POB KOVEL LACONIC GERMAN BEFOBT LONDON, duly HI. A German communique states: The Russians unsuccessfully counter-attack-ed against our line in the region of Syrobowa (east of Kovel), which I’rince' Leopold captured. General Von Linsingen is counter-at-tacking the enemy south-westward •of Lutsk. MESOPOTAMIA MUDDLE (The Times.) LONDON, July 16. Surprise is being expressed at the increasing exposure of Mesopotamian mistakes. One extraordinary instance occurred on March S. At dawn, after a brilliant night march, a British column commanded by General Kembail reached Great Dujailah redoubt, at Easessin, two hours’ march from Kut-el-Amara. The redoubt and the adjacent trenches were found empty, the Turks being on the other side of the Tigris; yet no attack was launched until 3 0 in the morning, when the Turks had time to crowd these positions. Mr Candler, official correspondent, describes the long march In the darkness and the discovery of the empty redoubt. No.furthe.r particulars are, even yet, allowed to be published.

TNX CENTRAL POWERS RUSSIAN FEELING (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, July 16. The Morning Post’s correspondent at Petrograd says the departure of the Council of Ministers from Imperial Headquarters Is much commented on. A strong feeling exists In influential quarters that when Austria again Issues feelers for a separate peace these should be welcomed by the Allies. It is also felt to be Ume_ that the Allies should come to an agreement as to the basis of future peace terms. an traivcrr capture. AMSTERDAM, July 16. Dr Battiste, former Austrian Reich srath representative for the Trentlno, who enlisted in the Italian army, has been captured by the Austrians and executed. . THE ADRIATIC. snuußUE scenes oebiboysx. ROME, July 16. Au Austrian submarine torpedoed the Italian destroyer Impetuoso, the majority of whose crew were saved, rrfljvr and germant. DECLARATION 07 VIB LTJLBLT. ROME, July 16. The Giornal d’ltalia states that Italy has denounced the German-Italian commercial treaty, owing to the arrogance of Germany towards Italian, subjects. This is expebted to lead to a declaration of war between the two Powers, with the result that Italian soldiers will go to other allied fronts.

ITALIAN PBONT. austbxa's losing game. LONDON, July 16. An Italian communique states; Heavy fighting is taking place on the Poslna line. Despite thunderstorms hindering our artillery, we progressed at several points, and. have occupied Vansl, upon the northern slopes of Monte Luggio. The enemy strongly reinforced this sector and launched several valiant counterattacks. but were driven off with heavy losses. An Austrian counter-attack on Tofana was repulsed. Small encounters occurred along the remainder of the front to the sea, and resulted in our favour. THE GXSUAH ACCOUNT. LONDON, July 16. A German communique states; Strong artillery activity prevails on both sides of the Somme. Four British attacks on Ovillers and Pazentln le Petit during the afternoon broke down in front of our lines, as did also an attack commenced in the rooming eastward of Bazentln. Lively fighting developed on Saturday evening to the southward of the Somme and southward of Blaches. We reoccupied portion of Biaches, taking prisoner over 100 of the Frenclv. We repulsed with very heavy' losses some French attacks near Barleux and Estrecs. The French were (? Un) successful on the east bank of the Meuse, despite bringing up strong forces against Froideserre Hill and Floury. The French repeatedly assaulted to the south-west of Tliiaumont, and in the evening penetrated small sections of our first lines, where fighting continues. Our infantry fire brought down an enemy aeroplane westward of Loos, and damaged a biplane, which landed within our lines at Vesle. THE TRENCH SECTOR. TRANSIENT ENEMY SUCCESS. PARIS, July 16. A communique states: The Germans by a surprise attack under cover of fire (?) recaptured La Maisonette and Biache.s. But our troops counter-attack-ed vigorously and retook both places, also a small wood to the northwards. We brought down six German aeroplanes in the Somme region.

The High Commissioner adds: —A French official message, states: South of the Somme in the evening the Germans, profiting hy the fog, slipped along the Somme Canal and launched violent attacks on La Maisonette and Biaches, which they captured hy surprise; hut the French, counter-attacking vigorously, regained the position tut far as a small wood to the northwards, where the enemy arc still resisting. In the region of Chaulnes (between Pcronne and Roye), after a violent bombardment, an enemy detachment penetrated our first-line trenches north of Chilly, but were promptly thrown out by our counter-attack. North of the Aisne, near Quiches, we effected a surprise attack on the enemy trenches, which cleared them out. Tn the sector round Fleury (east of the Meuse) tire artillery activity on both sides remains very marked.

GEKKAH HEAVY GTTNS. ABAZTDOZTEZ) IK BETBXAT. LONDON, July 1«. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Heavy bombardments on both sides continue; otherwise there has been nothing important. We are continuing to find large quantities of armament and other abandoned war material In the positions we have captured, including five heavy howitzers and foot 17-.millimetre .guns.