GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17934, 27 January 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES THE WESTERN PRONT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian & NZ. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 25. French communique; A German coup-de-main after a heavy bombardment, three kilometres south-east of Borry-au-bac, failed, THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN. LONDON, January 25. Russian official: After violent fighting we dislodged and threw back the enemy eastward of Tirul swamp. We carried out an offensive south-east of the Aa River. The Germans’ counteroffensive threw us back one-third of a mile. Our submarines sank four schooners in the Bosphorus and drove ashore three others. THE NATAL ENCOUNTER. V 69.8 CREW ALLEGE TREACHERY. VMUIDEN, January 25.

The crew of the V6O say they left Zeobrugge apparently on an ordinary patrol on Monday afternoon. She was the rearguard of a flotilla of eleven vessels. The alarm was sounded about 3 o'clock in the morning. They had just lime to reach the deck and discovered the British abeam. They opened fire immediately, with great accuracy, at long range. There, must have been treachery, as all precautions were taken to avoid detection. The crippled ship tried to reach the mouth of the Ems, but the British cut off her escape, and they decided to run ashore. They, however, found that Ymuiden was reachable. SUBMARINE VICTIMS. LONDON, January 25. Lloyds has posted the British steamers Tilda Well and Seafisher and the French Blanc as missing. The Spanish steamer Paranyban has been sunk. RE-OPENING OP PARLIAMENT. LONDON, January 25. The Press Bureau states that on the occasion of the re-opening of Parliament as the country is at war, the King and Queen and suite will arrive in plain carriages attended by, besides the Household Cavalry, Imperial escort, officers, and oversea and Indian forces. The procession within the House will be of a naval and military character. GERMAN BOSH.

AMSTERDAM, January 25. The Berlin correspondent of The Tyd, who is often exceedingly well-informed, asserts that the last round of the conflict is beginning. A new submarine campaign, supported by the German fleet, will be inaugurated to cut off 'England’s vital resources. There will be only sufficient fighting on the eastern front to preserve the status quo. Austria will settle with Italy after the fashion of dealing with Roumania, and Germany will seek a decision in the west, where operations of a formidable character will commence in a month or six weeks. reduction nr beer output. SAVING SUGAR, LABOUR AND TRANSPORT LONDON, January 25., The Food Controller has decided, with a view to augmenting the supply of barley and sugar for the purposes of food, and also for economising transport, labour and fuel, that the beer output from April 1 be 70 per cent of the output for the current financial year. The Government correspondingly restricts the release of wines and spirits from bond. Lord Devonport, in explaining the beer restrictions, says the question is one of bread versus beer, which lias now diminished to half since the war began, thus saving 236,000 tons of barley and 36,000 tons of sugar. POOD MEASURES LONDON, January 25. A deputation of trade unionists urged the Food Controller to issue sugar tickets to secure the most equitable distribution. Mr Bathurst replied that lie was earnestly considering the matter. The Government is proposing to acquire certain Indian tea crops for the troops' requirements. ACCOMMODATION QUESTION. LONDON, January 25. Mr Lloyd George is appointing an in-ter-departmental committee under Sir A Monel to consider the demands for accommodation from various departments. It is understood it has been complained that the extensive taking over of hotels, etc,, has not been warranted. It will be necessary in future to convince the new committee that the extensions are required. GREECE APOLOGISES. LONDON, January 25. The Greek Government has handed the Allies a Note formally expressing regret at the events of December 1 and 2. PRESIDENT WILSON’S u.n.l.ta>D MOVE WASHINGTON, January 25. President Wilson is planning a third move which is believed in diplomatic circles to be the last Its purport is not disclosed. GENERAL ITEMS* WASHINGTON, January 25. The State Department has instructed Mr Gerard to accpt Germany's offer to permit America to investigate the conditions of Belgian deportees. The offer was made in Germany’s Note to the United States. WASHINGTON, January 25. Britain has forbidden Hadfield s contract for the supply of shells for America while the exigencies of war continue. CHRISTIANIA, January 25. The Victualling Commission Is seizing ail coals and cinders imported into Christiania privately and prohibiting the export of all wood. It is also proposing meatless days bi-weekly.