GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17918, 25 April 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES

THE WEST FRONT. BRITISH ATTACKING AGAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports : We attacked in the morning on a wide front on both banks of the River Scarpe. Fighting is proceeding and our troops are making satisfactory progress. We captured during the night the remainder of the village of Trescault, southward of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. We gained possesion of* the greater part of Havrincourt Wood. TANKS UNCONQUERED. LONDON, April 23. The Morning Pose's correspondent says that German experts spent the winter devising ways to combat the tanks, whicli are still unconquered. During the Arras advance they roamed around and smashed redoubts. When put out of action the tanks’ usefulness was unfinished. One crew continued firing and killed Germans long after the craft was helpless. The commander and another then took the Lewis gun and opened fire killing whole detachments of twenty-first Bavarians who were besieging them. Both returned unhurt. Another tank toured the Scarpe marshes two days after it had exhausted its ammunition, and amused Itself by smashing concreted shelters and then returned. AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONS WITHDRAWN. MELBOURNE, April 24. Mr Hughes announced that Australian divisions had been withdrawn from the front because of their heavy losses and the absence of reinforcements. The divisions had been withdrawn from the front line lor nearly three months, and their places were being taken by the British. FRENCH HEAVILY ENGAGED. LONDON. April 23. The French communique states: There was a great reciprocal artillery activity during the night south of St. Quentin and between Soissons and Rheims. Our batteries effectively beat down a violent enemy bombardment east of Craonne preparatory to an attack. Our artillery and machine gun fire broke an attack last evening at the salient north-east of High Mountain, in Champagne. The enemy renewed his attack during the night on crests we held on Moronvillers massif. Here the struggle was keen at certain points, resulting everywhere to our advantage GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, April 23. German official: The English on Sunday penetrated our first line northwestward of Lens on a 500 metres front, but a counter-attack drove them back. Infantry fighting recommenced in the morning on a wide front. A strong French attack north-westward of La Olileux Bois was heavily repulsed. We downed eleven areoplaues The Bulgars repulsed a British attack at Lake Dorian. The Dally Mail states that unless an ultimatum is sent to the Germans Laon Cathedral will be destroyed within ten days. The paper proposed that Germany should be Informed that Cologne Cathedral will be destroyed as a reprisal. PROGRESS IN MESOPOTAMIA. ■' LONDON. April 23. Mesopotamia official ; We stormed portions of the Istabulat position on the 2st, and the enemy evacuated the remainder during the night. We continued the pursuit at daybreak on the 22nd, capturing prisoners and a heavy howitzer. General Maude Is attacking the position on the right bank of the Tigris, six miles nearer Samara AMERICA’S FAST. WASHINGTON, April 23. The debate has opened on the Conscription BUI. Varying reports from committees were presented recommending a volunteer army v. the Presidential plan The Administrator is bringing pressure on members to induce them to support conscription which is now likely to pass the House of Representatives Its passage is practically assured in the Senate. The Allies’ immediate demands from the United States are for food alone. The despatch of an expeditionary army to Europe is unnecessary in the immediate future. The Bond Bill has passed the conference of the House of Senate and awaits the President’s signature. NEW YORK, April 23. The super-Dreadnought New Mexico, the first electrically-driven battleship, has been launched at Brooklyn. PARIS, April 23. There were great demonstrations on Sunday in honour of America’s intervention. The crowds accorded an ovation to the Ambassador. BUENOS AYRES, April 23. Fifty thousand demonstrated in the streets singing patriotic songs of America and the Allies. WASHINGTON, April 23. Mr Houston asked the Senate’s Agricultural Committee for powers to make a complete food survey of the United States with a view to the conservation of the Allies' interests. During the debate in the Senate on conscription Senator Williams asserted that the United States fully intended to despatch an army to Europe "if ever we get it drilled and equipped.” An amendment was introduced permitting Mr Roosevelt to raise a volunteer army for service in France. MR BALFOUR'S ARRIVAL. GREAT WAVE OF ENTHUSIASM. WASHINGTON, April 23. A wonderful wave of spontaneous enthusiasm greeted Mr Balfour and party. Thousands lined the streets. Mr Balfour, accompanied by his suite, drove to the State Department to call on Mr Lansing, Sir C. A. Spring-Rice, the British Ambassador, made the presentation, Mr Lansing, laying aside his pipe hurriedly. Afterwards Mr Lansing and Mr Balfour called on President Wilson, Mr Balfour smiling as he noticed the suffragette pickets on either side of the White Plouse entrance. The meeting of the President and Mr Balfour was simple, but extremely cordial. A meeting of the naval and military members of the entourage was held with the American departmental leader. THE RUSSIAN FRONTS, LONDON, April 23. Russian official : The Germans used glass bullets In the region of the Aa River. The Kurds show increased activity against us in Persia. The Arabs attacked a squadron at Cherabaa, escorting an English military agent, but the squadron forced a passage. PETROGRAD, April 23. Inundations on the Riga front separate the adversaries, and fighting is impossible. There are heavy German concentrations below Riga. COPENHAGEN, April 23. Large squadrons of German battleships and cruisers are steaming northward in the Baltic. This is causing speculation in Petrograd as to a possible German landing north of Riga. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. PETROGRAD, April 23. The situation as between the Provisional Government and the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers’ delegates is explained by the speech of the president of the latter body, who declared that his Council was simply a sort of constitutional opposition which was necessary as a check to every government. AUSTRIAN EMPRESS FAVOURS PEACE. ROME, April 23. The Couriere cl’Ttalia's correspondent states that the Austrian Empress accompanied the Emperor Karl at her own request during the recent interview in order to speak her mind freely to the Kaiser and Kaiserin against a continuation of the war. She declared that the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs were on the verge of the crater of a dangerous volcano.

QEEEK TREACHERY. LONDON, April 23. In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil, in reply to a question, said that Irregular Greek bands committing depredations upon Venlzellsts were armed and organised In Athens. He added that General Sarrail was taking measures to deal with them. DESTRUCTION OP U BOATS. WASHINGTON. April 23. A member of Mr Balfour’s party admitted that twenty German submarines were captured the day previous to Mr Balofur’s departure. The U boats were searching for a destroyed base and were unable to find it. The starving crews gladly surrendered. Britain is capturing and sinking more submarines than anyone imagines. The base sought out was destroyed almost as sopn as it was established. The Consul for England reports that a U boat, upon sighting a British patrol, submerged, leaving nineteen prisoners on the submarine deck struggling in the sea for an hour. They were rescued by the patrol, and it was found they included five Americans. GEXMAIT BTBTKBS. ZURICH, April 23. The munition strikers In Berlin held fresh demonstrations at the week-end. although the military posted notices in Spandau factores declaring strikes punishable under the military code. AMSTERDAM, April 23. Trade union leaders at a meeting in Berlin declared that four hundred thousand participated in the strike. They secured the Government’s promise that a Labour Committee would co-operate in future rationing. The aim of the strike has been attained. The Vorwaerts states that the police at Cologne confiscated quantities quantities of hoarded corn and potatoes, closed 68 bake-houses, and has summoned 300 bakers in connection with hoarding. ftEIfEEAI ITEMS. ZURICH, April 23. The railway workers at Warsaw, Lodz, and other Polish towns have ptruck. The Germans threatened to deport, but the number of strikers is in creasing. WASHINGTON, April 23. Les Darcy has enlisted at Memphis, in the United States army aviation reserve corps unconditionally. He previously stipulated for enough furlough for two fights, but abandoned the stipulation latCr ' LONDON, April 23. The Maharajah of Bikanir, in a speech on receiving the freedom of Manchester, speaking as one from India where teaching, traditions and sentiments are deeply inspired by veneration and devotion for sovereign, said Mr H. G. Wells views and suggestions as to republicanism will be repudiated with scorn and repugnance throughout India. AMSTERDAM, April 23. General Falkenhausen has been appointed Governor-General of Belgium, to succeed von Bisslng, who recently died. A number of naval wounded have arrived at Bruges.