ROUMANIANS THREATENED

Southland Times, Issue 17734, 11 August 1917, Page 5

ROUMANIANS THREATENED

Enemy Advance Continues FRENCH MAKE FURTHER PROQRESS Workers Oppose Stockholm Conference CONFIDENCE IN RUSSIA’S RECOVERY Conscription Bill Passed in Canada On the Eastern front the enemy advance threatening to cut off a portion of the Russo-Roumanian forces continues, progress having been made north of Kimpolung, and also in the Fokchany region. On the Western front there is little change to report. The artillery duel continues, fiercely in various sectors, and the French have gained more ground south-east of Bixschoote. Mr Elihu Root, who went to Russia soon after America came in on the side of the Allies, reports to President Wilson that Russia is growing stronger, and under the present Government can be depended upon to do her part. Germany will not extract much satisfaction from the peace proposals which have been formulated by the committee of the British Labour Executive for adoption by allied Labour organisations. Although not in favour of annexations or indemnities, the proposals include restoration and rehabilitation of Belgium and other occupied territories, the return of Alsace ami Lorraine, the rights of the small nationalities to choose their own future, and, most important of all, the punishment of Governments and individuals for culpable acts, notably for “the inhuman submarine war.” This is just about all that the Allies are fightirf for. British workers will have nothing to do with the Stockholm Conference, and the seamen and firemen are determined that if any small section of pacifists is permitted to send delegates they will be unable to find means of transit. il. Painlcvc, interviewed after the Allied Conference just concluded in England, stated that the Allies will continue to exert steady pressure with occasional staggering blows. He is confident that the Russian trouble will pass, and urges calmness and patience. The Conscription Bill has been passed by the Canadian Senate, and it is expected that 100,000 men will be drafted into the training camps by the autumn. 1103ril Day of ttie War (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

WESTERN THEATRE ARTILLERY DUEL CONTINUES. RAID NEAR LENS. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p,m. Sir D. Haig reports ; The artillery duel continued in the neighbourhood of \ pres. We successfully raided in the neighbourhood of Lens. SOUTH OF BIXSCHOOTE. FRENCH GAIN MORE GROUND. LONDON, August 10. Received Augutt 10, 3.40 p.m. French communique : We made further progress south of Langhemarcq. THE AISNE FRONT. WIDESPREAD ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. LONDON, August 10. Received August 10, 8.40 p.m. French report, ; There has been reciprocal artillery activity on the Pantheon-Chevregny ridge in the mountain region near Aubcrievc, and on both banks of the Meuse. Our air squadrons bombed aviation jcoumL at Coioinar anti Holsheim. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. Wireless German otlicial : The artillery duel in Flanders is of the greatest intensity on the coast, also from Uixschoote to Zolleboke. _ EASTERN THEATRE ENEMY ADVANCE TOWARDS KIMPOLUNG. RUSSIANS PRESSED BACK NEAR FOKCHANY. .(Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. Wireless Russian official : The enemy occupied the heights northward of Szipotkamirale (north of Kimpolung), and pressed back the Roumanians in certain districts between Ojtoz Pass and Kasino. The enemy continued to press us back in the region of Fokchany. MACKENSEN’S ATTACK SERIOUS. ROUMANIAN ARMY JEOPARDISED. LONDON, August 10. Received August 11, 1-30 a.m. Attention is drawn to the seriousness of Mackensen’s attack north of Fokchany, owing to the strategical importance of this locality. The advance threatens an essential loop in the railway line connecting R.oumania’s main railway system with the systems serving the Roumanian army in the Upper Putna and Susitza Valleys. If the link line is cut this army will be in jeopardy. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON,- August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. German official ; We repulsed Russo-Rou-manian mass attacks northward of Fokchany. Our prisoners now number 3300, and booty includes 17 guns and 50 machine guns and mine throwers.

RUSSIAN CRISIS MR ROOT’S FIRST HAND IMPRESSIONS. RUSSIA GROWING STRONGER. ALLIES MUST HELP. (By Telegraph.—-Press Assn, —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.5 p.m. Mr Root informed President Wilson that Russia was growing stronger daily, and will be victorious. If the present Government remains in control we can depend on Russia doing its part in the war if the United States and the Allies aid the Government. The forecast estimates record crops of wheat, corn, potatoes and barley. THE B&LKM STATES VENIZELOS HINTS AT DICTATORSHIP. TO OVERCOME HOSTILE ACTIVITIES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ATHENS, August 10. Received August 11, 12.45 a.m. In the Chamber M. Venizelos said it might be necessary to have recourse to a dictatorship in order to combat hampering activities. AMERICA’S ENTRY WHEAT AND RYE. PROGRAMME FOR NEXT YEAR. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) WASHINGTON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.5 p.m. The agricultural programme for next year aims at the production of a billion bushels of wheat, and eighty-three million bushels of rye. Otherwise there will be a serious shortage. GENERAL NEWS THE ALLIED CONFERENCE. M. PAINLEVE INTERVIEWED. CONTINUOUS PRESSURE WITH STAGGERING BLOWS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. M, Painleve, interviewed after the Allied Conefrence, said that the British, Americans and French combined would exert continuous pressure on the enemy, with staggering blows at such intervals as the High Commands think fit. The Russian trouble will pass. We must be calm and patient.

LABOUR PEACE VIEWS BASIS FOR COMBINED PLATFORM RESTORATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. PAYMENT FOR DAMAGE DONE GUILTY GOVERNMENTS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BE PUNISHED. LONDON. August 10. Received August 10, 8.40 p.m. The committee cf the Labour Executive has issued a report suggesting a basis for British Labours’ peace views. The report will be presented at Friday’s conference, discussed at a special conference in London on 21st August, and finally submitted to the Allied Labour and Socialist Conferences. The report welcomes the Russian declaration against annexations and indemnities. and urges the further democratisation of all countries as a means of preventing future wars. It declares that peace conditions should first and foremost, include reparation to Belgium, the payment of all damage, and the complete restoration of independence. Serbia and Montenegro should also be restored, and the Balkan question solved by means of an international commission on the basis of free national choice, plus Balkan Federation. The report includes the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine. The report also states that the peace terms should include the satisfaction of Italy's legitimate interests in the Adriatic and the Aegean, the liberation of Palestine, and the administration of Armenia, Mesopotamia and Arabia, also tropical Africa, by a Commission representing a League of Nations. The application to all other disputed cases including Luxembough and Poland, of the principle of free national choice, is proposed. The report denounces an economic war after the war by tariffs or otherwise, considering the alliance of military Imperialists and fiscal protectionists in any country a grave menace to peace, but the right of each nation to defend its economic interests cannot be denied. Guilty Governments and individuals should be punished for culpable acts, notably for the inhuman submarine warfare. DISPOSITION OF ENEMY’S FORCES 88 GERMAN DIVISIONS ON EAST FRONT 148 DIVISIONS ON THE WEST FRONT NEW YORK, August 9. Received August 10, 5.5 p.m. The New York World’s correspondent learns from the Russian mission in Paris that Germany has 88 divisions, or a total of 1,144,000 men on the Russia-Roumanian front, and 148 divisions, 1,924,000 men on the west front. Additional troops on the east front comprise 41 divisions of AustroHungarians, four Turkish, and four Bulgarian divisions. CANADA CARRIES CONSCRIPTION 100,000 IN TRAINING THIS AUTUMN OTTAWA, August 9. Received August 10, 5.5 p.m. The draft Bill was finally passed by the Senate. It is expected that 100,000 will be drafted into training by the autumn. THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE BRWISH WORKERS PROTEST DELEGATES WILL NOT SECURE A PASSAGE (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. The British Workers’ League held a meeting to protest against the sending of British delegates to the Stockholm conference. Mr Havelock Wilson, President of the Seamen's and Firemen’s Union, declared that the seamen and firemen would absolutely decline to carry delegates to any peace conference. Mr Appleton, Secretary of the General Federation of Trades' Unions, said he failed to see how any conference would help Russia. The German democracy was not in a position to send delegates who could say anything binding on Germany. If Britain sent delegates it would be giving an exhibition of disunion disheartening to the Allies and heartening to Germany. ABSURD CONFERENCE SUGGESTION. BRITISH WORKERS DETERMINED. (The Times.) LONDON, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. Mr Will Thorne, M.P., states that amongst the suggestions made in connection with the Stockholm Conference is the creation of a fund of £1,000,000,000 for the reparation of Belgium, France and Serbia, of which the Allies would contribute £700,000,000. The wage earners of Britain will not listen to such absurd nonsense, by which Germany would escape the results of her crimes. Mr Thorne was informed that Belgium, America, Italy and France will not attend the conference. MR HENDERSON SWAYS LABOUR EXECUTIVE. LONDON, August 10. Received August 11, 12.45 a.m. The Labour Executive, after hearing Mr Henderson, reaffirmed by a narrow majority the decision in favour of the Stockholm conference. Messrs Barnes and Roberts, Labour Ministers, sent anti-Stockholm messages to the British Workers' League meeting. ALSACE AND LORRAINE. GERMANY’S INTENTIONS. AMSTERDAM, August 9. Received August 10, 5.5 p.m. Herr Schiedemann is touring the country on Imperialistic propaganda. Addressing 6000 people at Mannheim he declared that Germany intends to retain Alsace and Lorraine. WORKERS’ AND SOLDIERS' COUNCIL. GLASGOW MEETING ABANDONED. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) LONDON, August 10. Received August 10, 8.40 p.m. The Press Bureau states that the Workers’ and Soldiers’ Council meeting to be held at Glasgow on Saturday has been prohibited under the Defence of the Realm Act at the instance of Glasgow magistrates. The cable news in this issue accredited to The Times has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such the editorial opinion of The Times.

HOLLAND SELLING CATTLE. SCARCITY OF FODDER. 1 LONDON’, August 9. Received August 10, 5.15 p.m. The Dutch Government has decided to get rid of half u million eattle. Many thousands will be exported alive owing to the scarcity of fodder. The British Government is considering the situation concerning Britain’s share. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNING. LONDON, August 9. Received August 19, 5.15 p.m. The Birmingham Daily Rost states that Mr Neville Chamberlain is resigning owing to the transfer of recruiting to the National Service Department in a manner contrary to his suggestion. RESIGNATION CONFIRMED. OTHER OFFICIALS FOLLOW SUIT. LONDON, August 10. Received August 11, 1.30 a.m. Mr Neville Chamberlain’s resignation is confirmed. The Daily Chronicle adds that the entire agricultural section of the National Service Department has resigned on the ground that the Army Council has deprived it of effective power by transferring the control of military labour to the Board of Agriculture.