GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17933, 26 January 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES THE HA VAX BATTLE SEVERE BLOW TO THE SHARP, SUDDEN, AND FURIOUS TIGHT. TEN GERMAN SHIPS REPORTED LOST. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 24. The Daily Chronicle's Ynuiiden correspondent states that within a few hours of the anniversary of the Dogger Bank battle the. Germans again suffered a severe blow on the sea, and were sternly taught that raids cannot always lie undertaken without grave losses. The engagement occurred on a bitter morning a few miles from the coast. The fight was sharp, sudden and furious. It appears that the waters in Zcehruggo harbour were freezing, and the German flotilla feared that it would he frozen In, witli great danger of destruction by long-range lire. It was ordered to quit and make for a German harbour. The flotilla numbered fourteen or twelve. All went well until nearing Scliouwon Bank, when the flotilla suddenly encountered a terrific fire from a large number of British warships, some of the wounded say twelve, while others excitedly estimate the number at a hundred. Coast dwellers heard deep and heavy firing at 1 o’clock in the morning, waking up the coastal population. The first news reached land by the Ems, which brought ten dangerously wounded and announced a severe German defeat. The Ems's crew stated that they were fishing slightly north of Ymuiden, when they were hailed by a badly - damaged German torpedo boat, V 69. They transferred ton wounded, wrapped them in blankets, and placed them on planks. All were terribly injured. The wounded narrated part of the battle in fragmentary sentences, frequently voicing disgust at the whole war business. They said they were taken by surprise, and knew nothing of the British fleet's proximity until shots shattered the bridge, killing the commander and two officers. The captain’s legs were shot away. The V 69 lay helpless five miles from Ymuiden. Dutch tugs and torpedoers hastened to the rescue, and brought her to harbour. She now lies here with her stern almost submerged, and is kept afloat with difficulty. If the flotilla consisted of twelve there can’t be many left, as only two arc unaccounted for. The presence among the survivors of men belonging to several sections of the German fleet suggest that they were taken out of the water, apparently confirming several sinkings. The wounded say the flotilla was so quickly surrounded that there was little hope of many escaping. Another account from Ymuiden states that the VC!) collided with a British destroyer. There were gruesome scenes duo to the frost. Tire dead were frozen to the deck, and freed by means of axes. YMUIDEN, January 24. The Dutch Coast Guards saw a German submarine in the vicinity of the battle, and expelled her from territorial waters. It Is uncertain whether the destroyer VCD will be interned. Apparently it is impossible to render her seaworthy in 21 hours. LONDON, January 24. The Times correspondent at Ymuiden says that Commander Boelg of the torpedo flotilla was not killed. Four officers of the VCD and eighty out of 160 of the crew are missing. The German wounded admit that ten German vessels were sunk. PRESIDENT WILSON’S SPEECH NEW YORK. January 24. There is still the widest difference of opinion among newspapers and publicists as to the desirability of Mr Wilson’s proposal that America should enter the league to enforce peace after the war. The New York World, which is in Mr Wilson’s confidence, endeavours to explain “peace without victory.” It says it means a peace such as that reached in the American civil war, wherein the military power of the south was crushed, but no conqueror’s terms were imposed. Mr Wilson means that permanent peace cannot be imposed by the sword . He does not mean that the Allies should not crush Prussian militarism. THE SUPEERING BELGIANS WASHINGTON. January 24. The United States universities have petitioned Mr Wilson to demand that Germany should stop the deportations and the unparalleled cruelty and unspeakable suffering they are inficting on the Belgians, America, they declare should not be inactive in the presence of so hideous a wrong perpetrated on helpless people. THE ALLIES IN THE WEST LONDON, January 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports; We made a successful raid and took prisoners northeast of Ncuvilie. St Vaast. We repulsed an enemy raid between Armentieres and Ploegstreet. The enemy made a second raid and reached our trenches, but we ejected them, the attackers leaving a number of dead. The French communique states: There has been a lively cannonade in the Champagne and the Argonne. We carried out a coup-de-main In Lorraine in the region of Rochecourt, There has been artillery fighting In the direction of Largutzen. MORE MEN WANTED LONDON, January 24. The Government has decided to immediately release a largo number of men from the coalmines for military service and has posted an order at every colliery calling up the following: Those who have entered the mines since August 14. 1915; surface workers and officials, other than enginemen, puntmen, weightmen, electricians, fitters, and mechanics; also workers of military age who during the last three months have lost an average of two or more shifts weekly from avoidable causes. FRIGES OF PRODUCE, LONDON. January 24. The Associated Chambers of Commerce discussed the fixing of prices for the potato crop of 1916 and passed a resolution ilrawing the attention of Mr Prothero to the hardship of fixing prices after quantities had already been sold at higher prices. It was pointed out that purchasers had given 18s and IGs per cwt.. and now found the Government price 10s. Farmers wanted fair play. A resolution was passed urging that a minimum price for wheat and oats should be assured for at least four years with four years’ notice of withdrawal. A delegate pointed out that the world’s price of wheat would possibly reach £5 per quarter and the British produce would be in a sorry position if the price was fixed at £3. Mr Ktenier, the Chairman, declared that the Government’s delay in fixing a minimum was resulting in the neglect of cultivation of hundreds of acres suitable for wheat A resolution was passed deploring the calling up of fann hands before suitable substitutes had been obtained. GENERAL CABLES LONDON, January 24. Two girls have been sentenced to a fortnight’s hard labour for sraolwig cigarettes at munitions works in the North of ’ ugland. The British steamer Tiomuadow (2862 tons), the Danish Klampenborg (1788), and the Norwegian Reinuga (1147) have been sunk. The Daily News calculates that in 90 days to January 23 470 vessels have been submarined, including 187 Britisii Austrian official: Wo captured a trench near Gorizin. In tho course of an announcement of the re-organisatlon of tho hands branch of the War Office, the Munitions Ministry stales that the War Office owns 20u,000 acres. Tho rental value of buildings acquired during the war is £2,800,00(1 annually. A further 150,000 acres have been taken over since the war began. The Gazette announces that the Grand Cross of the Bath lias been conferred on General Sir William Robertson and Surgeon-General Gogh for war I scr vices.