GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17969, 9 March 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES BEFORE EAPAUME, SNOW HAMPERS OPERATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 7. The correspondent at Headquarters says driving snow hampered the operations on the Ancre yesterday, a thaw at noon badly affecting the roads. The enemy continues his slow retirement, but the strategical riddle of the movement Is not clear. He is now right back on a line of defence in front of Bapaume. The next problem for the British is to discover whether he intends to strongly defend this line or retire till quite clear of the present salient, shortening his front by thirty miles. A Paris expert commentator anticipates a fresh enemy attack north of Douauraont, hut is confident his efforts won't counter-balance the British advance on the Ancre, whose remorseless pressure, and inceS* sant attacks are responsible for the enemy’s increasing retirement. GERMAN BOSSES INSUPPORTABLE. LONDON, March 7. An eye-witness describing the evacuated ground in the Bapaume region declares it impossible to doubt the reason for the retreat, which was simply that the loss of life was too terrible. Our gun-fire was unend.irable and the horrors of the field Indescribable. He can vouch that our losses in the winter were nothing remotely resembling those of the Germans. GERMAN CONCENTRATION.

LONDON, March 7,

The Headquarters’ correspondent says the British are confjonted by double the number of German divisions compared with a year ago, including what remains of the flower of the German corps. FRENCH REPORT. LONDON, March 7. The French communique states: We effected a coup-de-main at Queenevieres, between the Oise and the Aisne, and brought back prisoners. The enemy attempted a coup-de-main north-east of Flerey and Bols Douchot, north of St. Mihel, in the direction of Ammertywieler. Our barrage stopped him and inflicted losses. MESOPOTAMIAN DEBACLE. LONDON, March 7. Mesopotamia official : Our cavalry engaged the Turkish rearguard at Jajj, near Ctesiphon. Enemy booty is strewn over eighty miles of country, and it is Impossible to give accurate figures. The captures include thirty-eight guns up to the present salvaged from the river. General Maude has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General for distinguished services in Mesopotamia.

TURKISH RETREAT IN SINAI. CAIRO, March 7. Official : The Turks abandoned a strong position at Fheiknurp, westward of Shellal, whereupon they spent two months constructing defences. Yesterday our aircraft dropped a ton of high explosives on troops and railway trains. TEE AMERICAN DEADLOCK. CLOSURE PROPOSED. WASHINGTON, March 7. The Senate Rules Committee has agreed to a two-thirds closure rule, by which two-thirds of the Senate may limit debate to a one-hour speech by each Senator. The rule now goes to the party caucus. The Democrats and Republicans in the Senate met in caucus and jointly appointed a committee to draw up a scheme to prevent filibustering. AMSTERDAM, March 7. German newspapers gleefully refer to Mr Wilson’s defeat, and praise so-called genuinely neutral Senators. They declare that Mr Wilson has little hope of securing the desired powers from new Senate. NEW YORK, March 7. Thomas Collins, a local blacksmith of. Biloxi, Mississippi, forged an Iron Cross; weighing forty pounds, and despatched' It to Senator Vardaman, with the inscription, “Lest the Kaiser forgets.” Senator Vardaman aided the anti-armed neutrality move. DESPERATE OUTLOOK IN BELGIUM. LONDON, March 7. The Germans have ordered all factories in Belgium to close owing to the lack of coal and the difficulties of transport. The majority of Belgians will be unemployed, and the outlook is ate.

A fire at Hasselt destroyed twenty thousand kilogrammes of coffee belonging to the Belgian Relief Committee. RUSSIA'S TROUBLES. LONDON. March 7. The Daily Telegraph’s Petrograd Council of the Empire unanimously adopted an interpellation asking for a statement of the Government’s proposals to check the disorganisation of transport and guarantee supplies of food, fuel and raw material to the army and the people. M. Guekoff, President of the War Industries’ Committee, declared that the isolation of the Government from the nation was the fundamental cause of all the present troubles.

GERMAN BARBARITY*.

PARIS, March 7. A Frenchman, Dr Cresson, who was prisoner in Germany for twenty-one months and employed in organising a hospital for sick prisoners, tells an awful story of German cruelty to Invalid captives, who were sent from the front packed in cattle trucks naked, except for a blanket. As the camp was shelterless they dug holes in the ground with plates to keep out the cold. Subsequently huts were constructed, but the food was so bad and scarce that the men became in a shocking state owing to hunger and disease. Some German doctors frequent, ly used Russian prisoners for the purpose of experimental amputations. Dr Cresson protested, whereupon he was confined in a room so small that he had to remain seated, while the barred window was only opened pnee in three clays. Another refinement of cruelty was forcing healthy men to sleep in rooms full of typhoid cases. THE POPE'S ATTITUDE. LONDON, March 7. The Daily Telegraph’s Milan correspondent says the Pope has summoned a special Consistory before Easter. It is believed it will have political aspects. The Pope will make an important pronouncement on the war, particularly his abhorencc of the iniquitous submarine campaign waged with such barbarity,, especially against neutrals.

king of monteneoko confident. NEW YORK, March 7. King Nicholas of Montenegro, In a message to America through the New York Times, says ; “At the moment when the great struggle against our common enemy is about to burst out in all its fury. I greet the United States and recall the sufferings of my small nation, which we are bearing in silence, but we have ardent faith in the speedy resurrection of my country and its reconstitution as an independent and free State. I have confidence God will not allow victory to desert us or to crown the diabolical work of our enemies. I believe your powerful, liberty-loving nation will lend my country sympathy and comfort like a strong brother towards a younger and weaker one. The President’s action has greatly revived my hope and faith in the final triumph of justice.”

FACU.ITATINO WOOL IMPOSTS. LONDON, March 7. Mr Forster states that the Shipping Controller proposes to facilitate wool imports for military and export purposes, but not for essential home consumption. It is expected that the tonnage needed for Australian food will appreciably reduce wool shipments. It Is pointed out that other raw materials (for example, timber and jute) have already suffered similarly.

TBS BRAVE STORY OF TEE SHARK. LC/K T DON, March 7. A full account of the loss of the destroyer Shark, from Jutland survivors, shows that when the Shark was nearing the end ten German destroyers and light cruisers came up and opened fire at 600 yards. When Captain Jones's leg was blown off two seamen ran up with wood and rope to stop the bleeding'. Jones asked them to leave him, but they replied they must do it “for your good, sir.” While the seamen adjusted the tourniquet Jones sat on deck and suddenly asked : "What's wrong with the ensign?” The seamen replied : “It’s shot down, sir.” Jones replied ; “Hoist another." The midshipmen and seamen obeyed. Their captain remarked: “That’s good,” and he seemed content thereafter. When the Shark sank the survivors found a raft and hauled Captain Jones aboard.

GENERAL ITEMS. STOCKHOLM. March 7. Following a series of vigorous attacks on the Premier since January, the Cabinet has resigned. The last incident was a reduction in the Government grant for defence of neutrality. The constitution of tlie new Cabinet is uncertain. The King has been appealed to. The Dagcns Nyheter understands that the differences between the Premier and Foreign Minister caused the resignation of the Cabinet. WASHINGTON, March 7. The Japanese Emperor sent the following message to Mr Wilson on the occasion of his inauguration ; “I offer niy sincere congratulations and express the ardent wish that your administration will be attended with brilliant successes in future, and that the United States will grow more and more prosperous. NEW YORK, March 7.

A private in the Minnesota National Guard has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for furnishing military information to Germany. CALCUTTA, March 7.

The Viceroy refused to repeal the Press Act, which is still necessary in order to prevent sedition. ROME, March 7.

The Tribuna understands that the Central Powers are preparing a great simultaneous offensive in France and Italyi The Corriere DTtalia learns from a German source that Germany Intends to follow up the submarine campaign by sending out the whole fleet to engage In a decisive battle. COPENHAGEN, March 7. In order to prevent leakages in Germany regarding the departure of food ships for England the Government has prohibited publication of shipping movements. LONDON, March 7. The National Service organisers are arranging a special rally before voluntaryism closes at the end of March. Special exhortations will be addressed from all pulpits on the 24th. Italian official : We repulsed with heavy losses a night attack on Costobella, and penetrated the enemy lines at Mosiciagh on Asiago plateau.