GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17942, 23 May 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

I EARLIER CABLES BRITISH SUCCESS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, May 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Operations between Bullecourt and Fontaine-les-Croisilles were successfully continued during the night. We captured a support trench last evening after fierce hand-to-hand fighting, and heavily beat off counter-attacks, our massed artillery engaging the enemy in the open. A large number of enemy dead were found. Two German divisions have been engaged in this neighbourhood | since yesterday morning. We success--9 fully raided near Loos. 9 CORRESPONDENTS’ ACCOUNTS. I GREAT NUMBER, OF PRISONERS. 9 LONDON, May 21. x Correspondents at British Headquarters state that the fighting at Bullecourt and Roeux continues intense, equalling Pozieres, or the most serious struggle of the Somme. The Germans have thrown in large masses of troops, but Bullecourt and Roeux are more strongly in our hands than ever/ A surrendered German officer excused himself by saying that it was impossible to do anything else. "You attacked with such overwhelming force, - ’ he said. A British officer told the German the number of attackers. The German officer said: "It is impossible. We came into line, 2600 strong.” As a fact the British took more prisoners than the whole number of the attackers. The prisoners include ex-convicts released from long terms of imprisonment in order to fight. There was considerable rivalry as to which British corps would take most prisoners. The Canadians reached 5000 first. A neighbouring mixed English and Scottish corps now has a short lead. Already two German Divisions have been cut to pieces around Bullecourt. The Anglo-Aiistralian success has resulted In a curious situation. We have cut into the Hindenburg line around Bullecourt and eaten off the end towards Arras, so the enemy is left with an island section four miles between our two forces. This the Germans have been ordered to hold to the death, a special order saying they might rely with absolute certainty upon rescue, as the Gormans are much stronger than the British in attack. PRENCH ALSO PROGRESS. LONDON, f May 21. The French communique states: The artillery duel was continued during the night south of the Chemin-des-Dames, in the region north-west of Braye-en-Laonnois and the Cerny-Hurtebise fronL A German attack on Froidmont Farm was broken before reaching our lines. We carried out last evening in two sectors of Moronvlilers masif a fairly important operation which brilliantly succeeded. We carried several lines of trenches on the northern slopes of Mont Cornillot on one side and ten on the other. We hold all important observation posts in this region. Our fire hurled back German counter-attacks with huge losses. We took prisoner 800, and found the enemy’s dug-outs piled up with dead. AMERICAN NOTES. WASHINGTON, May 21. Two American Red Cross nurses were killed aboard the liner Mongolia, en route to Europe, when portion of a bursting shell struck them while watching practice at sea. An encounter between Americans and Mexicans is reported from the border. Orders have been issued for the formation of nine regiments for the railway builders service in France without delay. The Government aims at an Increased output of aeroplanes in the first year, and to double the number in the second. Nino aviation fields are being prepared at a cost, of a million dollars each. NEW YORK. May 21. A message from San Jose (Costa Rica) states that a German firm in New York Is alleged to have provided 100,000 dollars to promote a pro-German revolt, but the effort was unsuccessful. Officials discovered a secret radio station. Mr Roosevelt, in a statement, regrets President Wilson’s decision, but accepts it loyally. He contends that four divisions of his volunteers could be in the firing line by September 1. V BOAT XKPBOTEMENTS, LONDON, May 21. The fact that U boats are able to fire torpedoes while submerged, with increased accuracy of 50 to 75 per cent, and are also sowing minxes of extraordinary power, Is admitted. In order to conceal losses the submarines return to a different port from their starting place, Mr Jacobsen, M.P., speaking at Norwood, said: "We have discovered a way by which the submarine menace can be finished.” THE IMPERIAL CABINET. LONDON. May 21. Mr L. V. Harcourt, in a letter to a correspondent, warmly approves of the annual meeting of the Imperial Cabinet. He claims that a practically identical proposal was made to the Dominion Governments in 1912. It may still be found if the annual attendance of Prime Ministers of such distant dominions as Australia and New Zealand is inconvenient that it will be possible to have continuous representation by another Minister duly accredited to meet the difficulty. AMERICA SHOULDERS BELGIAN BELIEF. LONDON, May 21. The National Committee for Relief in Belgium announces the suspension of its appeal to the public of the British Empire, the American Government having assumed all financial responsibility for the work of the Relief Commission. FRENCH INTERCEPT DESTROYERS. LONDON, May 21. A French naval communique states that on the morning of May 20 a patrol of four French torpedoers encountered a flotilla of German destroyers making for Dunkirk. After a short engagement the enemy cleared off at high speed towards its base. A French torpedoer was damaged. The German official version claims that the Germans were undamaged while the French vessels were repeatedly hit. EMPTY APOLOGIES. COPENHAGEN, May 21. The German Minster at Stockholm has expressed regret to the Swedish Foreign Minister for the torpedoing of grain steamers. Swedish newspapers warmly attack Germany, and Radical papers demand the expulsion of Germans living in Sweden. LIGHTNING CAUSES EXPLOSION. LONDON. May 21. Official: Lightning caused an explosion resulting In considerable damage to a small factory in Kent, working for the Allied Government. Three were slightly burnt. All on one wet, cold winter’s day Three home-bound children, tired of play, With noses pressed to window-glass, Watched all the rain-soaked people pass. And one among them they observed, Who passed and seemed unnerved— It made them sad, for they felt sure Ho needed Woods' Great Peppermint Cure,