GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17913, 19 April 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES THE AISTTE BATTLE. ATTACK SWEEPS EVERYTHING AWAY, (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, April 17. Tiie Petit Parisien states that the French offensive followed a month’s bombardment. The attack swept everything away. Hundreds of prisoners are arriving at the depots. Half an hour after the attack was launched eastward of Craonne the enemy, terribly battered, retreated along the whole line in panic. The entire first line was captured by noon. Then the artillery resumed, and the German line became an inferno. The French advanced and seized the second line westward of Craonne. The elite of the French troops, after several hours’ terrific struggle, entered the first line, which the enemy had boasted was impregnable. In an extraordinarily violent counter-attack in the afternoon the enemy employed the greater part of his reserves. The French advance at some points exceeded four kilometres. MORE GROUND WON. LONDON, April 17. French communique : An organised position has been won between Soissons and ilheims after a strong German counter-attack. Paris semi-official : The Germans massed at least twenty divisions and all their available batteries on the Sois-sons-Rhelms front. Our advance reached a depth of three to four kilometres. Altogether the Allies have placed hors de combat a hundred thousand Germans each day. THE GERMAN VEBSZOH. LONDON, April 17. A German official message says : One of the greatest battles of this mighty war, and therefore In the world’s history, has been progressing on the Alsne since April 6. The artillery fire and mine throwing has been unprecedented in duration, mass, and intensity. At noon yesterday the French, in deep column, attacked from Sopi to Bethony. During the afternoon the French threw in fresh massed troops carrying but lateral attacks between the Oise and Con-des-sur-Aisne. The artillery fire continued to-day, levelling the positions and rendering an obstinate defence no longer possible. The fighting is no longer against the lino but over a deep, irregular fortified zone. The battle swayed backwards and forwards around the foremost position our object being if war material was lost to spare the lives of our forces and inflict losses on the enfimy. This was achieved thanks to our heroic men. The French attempt to break through failed. We inflicted sanguinary losses and took prisoner over 2100 men. Where the enemy penetrated the fighting continues. Fresh attacks are expected. The fighting between Pruny and Aubcrive has developed, the battle line therefore extending from the Oise Into Champagne. We have entire confidence in the coming heavy fighting.

BRITISH OPERATION'S. LONDON, April 17. .Sir Douglas Haig reports : In the neighbourhood of Epehy we captured Tombois Farm, on the Lempire-Vend-huile road. We progressed along the spur north-eastwards of Epehy station. The weather was stormy. ALLIED AIR REPRISAL. GERMANY ANGRY. LONDON, April 17. Berlin official : Twenty-three areoplanes attacked Freiburg on Saturday and eleven were killed and twenty-seven injured. The University was considerably damaged and the Municipal Theatre and' institutes for the infirm were the areas attacked. Three British aeroplanes were downed. The leader of the attack was a British lieutenant-colonel, who was imprisoned. According to his statements and a fly sheet thrown down the attack was a reprisal for the torpedoing of the Gloucester Castle. In vigorous language the message combats such justification and declares that Britain must take the consequences of despising Germany’s warning against the misuse of hospital ships. A revengeful attack on an open town wherein there are no military important objects is cheap glory. AMERICA’S ENTRY. SUBMARINES ALREADY OPERATING. NEW YORK, April IT. An enemy submarine fired a torpedo at the American natrol craft, but missed, WASHINGTON, April 17. Tho Navy Department confirms the presence of German submarines. A Boston telegram states that a German submarine off Fire Island attempted to torpedo the destroyer Smith, missed and disappeared. The destroyer was unable to trace the assailant. American coastal shipping is alarmed. INTENSE EXCITEMENT PREVAILS. PRECAUTIONS TO GEARS SHIPPING. NEW YORK, April 17. There is intense excitement at the presence of the submarine which places New York within the war zone, coupled with the satisfaction that Germany’s first shot against America missed. It is unknown where the engagement occurred. It is reported that the submarine was off the New Jersey coast. The newspapers announce that the Navy Department has taken precautions to guard shipping. The recent regulations creating barred zones near the principal harbours are believed to be sufficient to safeguard New Y'ork and other cities from bombardment. Little depredation Is expected, there being full confidence In the Navy’s ability to discover the secret base if one is existent. THE VISITING COMMISSIONERS. NEW YORK, April 17. Elaborate patriotic preparations have been made to entertain Mr Balfour and the other Commissioners. The Mayor of New Y'ork has appointed a distinguished committee headed by Mr Choate. Beautiful private residences have been placed at the disposal of, the Commissioners at Washington, thus averting hotel publicity. The Navy Department particularly is awaiting the arrival of the naval members. The Commission . intimates that there will be a discussion of anti-submarine measures and the speeding-up of food shipments for the Allies. DEMONSTRATIONS IN BRITAIN. LONDON, April 17. Every town in the kingdom was beflagged on Friday with Stars and Stripes and there were patriotic demonstrations at all theatres and music halls. Mr Lloyd George and Lord Curzon will on Wednesday move in the House of Commons and House of Lords appreciation of America joining the Allies. BRITISH SHIPS RELEASED. NEW YORK, April 17. The British Government has requisitioned eighteen British ships of the Atlantic Transport, Leyand, Dominion, and White Star lines. RUSSIAN TANGLE. FIVE GENERALS ARRESTED. PETROGRAD, April 17. General Kuropatkin, Governor-General of Turkestan, and four other Generals have been arrested at Tasbkend by order of the local branch of the Council of Workmen’s and Soldiers' delegates. They are charged with distributing arms to the Russians for defence in the' event of an attack by the natives. General Kuropatkin has telegraphed to the Premier asking to command a Grenadier corps at the front. MESOPOTAMIAN ADVANCE. LONDON, April 17. Mesopotamia official : General Maude, telegraphing yesterday, reports that in a night march an advance was made on the right hank of the Tigris to within one and a half miles of the position oo-

I cupied by the Eighteenth Turkish Army Corps, covering Instabahat station on the Baghdad-Samarra railway. The enemy fell back without offering opposition. General Maude continues to drive back the Turks. It is reported that the Turks are again in Jebelhamen Hills, whence they started on the 9th. The Turkish Thirteenth army corps met with severe losses, 315 dead being counted on the battlefield. ALLIED LABOUR DEPUTATIONS. ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. tPETROGRAD, April 17. Tlie English and French Labour deputations received an enthusiastic reception by the Congress of Workmen’s and Soldiers' delegates. The president, Mr O’Grady, replied that henceforth Britain and Russia would fight side by side for a destruction of the oppressor of the world, William Hohenzollern. The delegates joined hands and sang ‘‘The International.” THE WORKERS’ COUNCIL. PETROGRAD, April 17. A general congress of the Council of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ delegates from all parts of Russia passed a resolution appealing to the democracy to support the Provisional Government as long as it continues to consolidate and develop the gains of the revolution and does not cease its foreign policy on aspirations for territorial expansion. THE BERLIN STRIKE, OFFICIALLY ADMITTED. AMSTERDAM, April 17. Berlin officially admits the general strike in Berlin. Troops are in readiness at the barracks, being concentrated at the danger points. Women attended the workmen’s meeting and discussed the food and political situation. COPENHAGEN, April 17. The Politiken’s Berlin correspondent states that the workmen in all the factories dropped their tools at nine in the morning and demanded a general strike throughout Germany. Similar demonstrations are reported at- Hamburg. KINO REVIEWS AUSTRALIANS. LONDON, April 17. The King reviewed a large force of Australians and training units at Salisbury Plains, in the presence of many Australians. The march past the saluting base occupied an hour. It was a fine spectacle. The weather was bright, though there was a bitter wind. When the King inspected the various units he received a great ovation, the troops cheering enthusiastically, during the march past. The King invested fourteen officers and men with decorations gained at Gallipoli and the Somme. He conversed with several men in regard to the deeds which had gained them distinction. GENERAL ITEMS. LONDON, April 17. The War Office is setting up a Trophies Committee to allocate captured guns and trophies. Many will be sent home to the districts of troops which effected the captures. It is hoped the committee will secure many trophies. The Halaklte inquiry }ias closed, the inventor not further contesting the Crown’s allegation that the explosive was bogus. Two thousand guests attended the reception to the oversea Prime Ministers at the Imperial Institute. In the House of Commons Mr Pringle, supported by a large number of members, secured leave to move an adjournment in order to discuss the prohibition of the exportation of <hc newspaper The Nation. Mr Bonar Law said the Government considered the articles calculated to help the enemy, who was widely using them for propaganda purposes. The adjournment will be discussed this evening.