GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17733, 10 August 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES THE WEST FRONT. GERMAN PREPARATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports a successful raid last night near Lombaertzyde. The enemy’s artillery is active eastward and northward of Ypres, particularly in the neighbourhood of Westhock and the YpresStaden railway. French communique ; There was marked reciprocal artillery activity last night on most of the Aisne front. Our fire repulsed enemy detachments east of Vauxaillon and west of California Plateau, attempting to approach our lines. ZURICH, August 8. The Vossische Zeitung says: “Germany’s fate is being decided in Flanders. An English base there would enable an enemy air squadron to annihilate our industrial basin and drive German}' completely from the seas, leaving German industry completely at their mercy. We must hold oiir positions between’ the sea and the Lys or we will lose the war. PARIS, August 8. Marcel Hutin states that the Germans have reorganised their troops at the rear of the Flanders’ front and accumulated more heavy batteries. There is a prospect that there will be renewed big fighting. LONDON, August 8. German official : The British, after drum fire, advanced from Nieuport northward and north-eastward, but were driven back. We repulsed strong enemy attacks in the neighbourhood of Bbcschoots and penetrated Bois des Couriere. ON THE EAST. EVACUATING PODOLIA. PETROGRAD, August 8. The Novoe Vremya states that the Russians have evacuated the towns of Kam-enetz-Podolsk (the capital of the Russian Government of Fodolia) and Proskuroff. LONDON, August 8. Russian official : In the region of the confluence of the Zorucz we captured the villages of Sarychkovey and Wyzeda and the heights westward of the last-named. We repulsed attacks north-westward of the Sereth. The enemy occupied two heights westward of Dzerakne and southwar of ‘Soucm. We retired eastward on both sides of the Kimpolung road. The enemy pressed us back northward of Buigestchi. One hundred and thirty-seven German divisions, 24 brigades of infantry and the whole of the Austro-German cavalry are now fighting on the Russo-Roumanian front. Several divisions are en route from France.

German report : The Austro-Hungarians stormed and occupied several summits of the wooded Carpathians. We extended our success northward of Fokchany after bitter fighting on the Russo-Roumanian front and the counter-attacks were futile. GERMAN PEACE OFFERS. AMSTERDAM, August 8. Seventy-eight professors of Bonn University have signed a petition urging Germany never to make another peace offer, as England had answered recent ones by a challenge to retire behind the Rhine. Speaking at Augsburg, Herr Fehrenback, mover of the Reichstag peace resolution of July 20, admitted that political leaders concocted the resolution on Herr Scheidomann’s suggestion in order to enable the Socialists to reassure their constituents and vote for war credits. SERBIA’S FUTURE. LONDON, August 8. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at the Serbian Society luncheon, after paying a tribute to Serbia’s part in the war, said Serbia, which had been covered with dirt by the Turkish barbarism, was about to be cleansed. A first condition of peace would be complete restoration without reservation. British honour involved seeing Serbia freed. M. Pasitch, the Serbian Premier, in replying, said Germany now spoke of an honourable peace, but such a peace was only securable if the peoples under Austro-Ger-man rule were set free. If the unity of the Serbs, Croats, and Slavines was achieved, if the Czechs and Slovaks were united and independent, and if the Polish-Ruthenian question was solved, then only will honourable peace be secured. FATE OF RAIDERS. LONDON, August 8. In the House of Commons Mr Houston asked for information in regard to ' the German raider Wulff, in the Indian Ocean, and others lately operating in the Atlantic, whereof nothing had recently been heard. Mr Macnamara replied that the Admiralty was not without knowledge of the movements or fate of these vessels, but disclosure might be valuable to the enemy. He especially emphasised the word “fate.” AMERICA’S PARTARGENTINE PREPARING. NEW YORK, August 8. The Government has ordered the construction of an aircraft factory and navy yard in Philadelphia to cost 1,000,000 dollars and to be completed in 100 days. WASHINGTON, August 8. Government circles have been informed that Argentina will mobilise 100,000 troops this month, preparatory to a break with Germany, which is considered inevitable. BUENOS AYRES, August 8. An enormous sensation has been created by the discovery by the Foreign Office of a German espionage plot for securing information as to the movements of Argentina merchantmen and other military secrets. GENERAL ITEMS. LONDON, August 8. In the House of Commons, Mr MacPherson stated that the War Cabinet had decided that the King’s regulations forbidding soldiers t participating in politics would be rigorously enforced. Soldiers were not permitted to join Soldiers’ or Workmen’s Councils.

The War Office has completed arrange - I ments to enrol Jewish regiments, largely f Russian Jews. It is estimated that 40,000 are available for established camps in the environs of London for safeguarding religious racial observances. AMSTERDAM, August 8. Herr Schiedemann, leader of the Majority Socialists, addressing 6000 people at Mannheim, demanded in the interests of peace the speedy creation of u Government really representing the people’s will. ROME, August 8. The Government has requisitioned the Aden Hotel, formerly German owned. There has been discovered a secret tunnel to von Buelow’s residence. Before the war it is believed the tunnel enabled conferences to be held with neutrals who desired secrecy. During the week ending the sth the arrivals were 487 and sailings 442. Sinkings, two steamers and a small sailer. OTTAWA, August 8. The Canadian Government’s war expenditure is averaging £170,000 daily. Canada is also providing £5,000,000 monthly to purchase munitions. July enlistments show a low mark being no more than 4200. The Upper House of New Foundland has rejected a bill for the taxation of business profits for war revenue, precipitating a legislative crisis. LAUSANNE, August 8. Numerous riots have occurred in Poland. The Germans, fearing an organised revolt,

have sent back all the German women, including the wives of the high officers. ATHENS, August 8.. At the first sitting of the Venizelist Parliament M. Venizelos, replying to a petition from deputies of Northern Epirus for an administrative chamber, said the union of Epirus asd the mother land in the near future was a foregone conclusion.