GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17736, 14 August 1917, Page 2

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES

THE WEST FRONT. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports : The weather is wet. There has been strong fighting for the possession of a mine crater eastwards of Givenchy, also in the direction of La Bassee. We established ourselves in the crater. The enemy artillery has been active east and north of Ypres. The French communique states ; We completely recovered the elements of trenches captured by the Germans on the 9th east of Favet. Two enemy attacks south of Allies were repulsed. We held all positions and renewed progress at night time. As reprisals for the enemy bombardment of the Nancy region two French machines bombed Frankfurt-on-Main. THE RUSSO-ROUMANIAN RETIREMENT LONDON, August 12. Russian official ; Following a stubborn attack the Roumanians retired to Okna sdong the Enile-Moshoreli road and westward of Gorozesce. A superior enemy force attacked the Focsani-Merechesci railway. We counter-attacked and took twelve hundred prisoners. Later we retired to OrecheseFurcene. We captured an enemy position at the mouth of the Bugeo river. ODESSA, August 12. The enemy’s operations on the Roumanian front arc rapidly diminishing in intensity owing to their heavy losses and the desperate resistance of the Russians, who only fall back unwillingly and in obedience to strategic necessity. PETROGRAD, August 12. General Korniloff has ordered the Guards regiments, which bolted at Tarnopol to forfeit all privileges, and he will replace the disgraced regiments after the war with those having a better record who will form the nucleus of the Republican Guard. UKRAINE REGIMENT REBELS. PETROGRAD, August 12. A Ukraine regiment entraining at Kieff for the front fired on the Cuirassiers guarding the station,and after a fight fourteen were killed and fifty wounded. The Ukrainers then surrendered. An official telegram from Odessa denies that the evacuation of the town is imminent. KORNILOFF CONFIDENT. PARIS, August 12. General Korniloff has telegraphed General Foch :—I am convinced, after the restoration of firm discipline, that the Russian troops will very shortly bring full support to the Allies. THE STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. MR HENDERSON CRITICISED. LONDON, August 12. There is much excitement in Labour circles throughout the United Kingdom. Scores of impromptu conferences discussed the Stockholm Conference vote when they received news of Mr Henderson’s resignation and upon the facts disclosed, the Labourites generally condemn Mr Henderson’s failing to inform the Labour Conference of the Russian communique. The House of Commons considers the situation on Monday. Under the auspices of the Glasgow Trade Council thousands participated in a demonstration of protest against the prohibition of the Workers’ and Soldiers’ Conference. Mr Shirwell, President of the Trades Conference, declared that Labour had returned to sanity in deciding to send delegates to the Stockholm Conference. Mr Ramsay Macdonald said their enemies had tried to bamboozle the Labour movement over the Stockholm Conference, but got their answer yesterday, the meaning being not peace at any price, but peace at a democratic price and settling Europe’s problems.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT. LONDON, August 12. The newspapers stress Mr Henderson’s not disclosing information regarding M. Kerensky’s attitude. The messages made it clear that M. Kerensky did not desire the Stockholm Conference, and that the Russian delegates in no sense represented the Government’s views or were able to pledge it. The Labour Conference regarded Mr Henderson as the mouthpiece of the Government and supported him, believing they were thus backing up the Government. Mr S. Gompers cabled Mr Appleton declining Mr Henderson’s invitation to the American delegates to attend a general conference on the 28th and 29th, not regarding it as representative. He adds that the American delegates will only attend the Allied International Conference on September 10. CONFERENCE DECISION MAY BE UPSET. LONDON, August 12. Important Labour societies have already arranged a protest against Friday's verdict, which may be reversed by a referendum of the Trade Unions, or by general consent. That Mr Henderson is deliberately provoking a trial of strength between organised labour and the Government is regarded as improbable. It is no indication of the growth of pacificism among the workers, and it is unlikely Mr Henderson will more closely identify himself with Mr Ramsay Mac Donald. It is expected that Mr Barnes will succeed Mr Henderson in the War Cabinet. MR HENDERSON’S RESIGNATION. IXSNDON, August 12. Mr Henderson’s letter of resignation to Mr Lloyd George says : —“I gathered at our interveiw that my retention of the Secretaryship of the Labour Party was no longer compatible with my membership of the War Cabinet, and recent experiences have impressed me with the embarrassing complications arising from this duality of offices.” He expresses the hope that in a non-Goverament capacity he will be able to render some little assistance in helping to fulfil the Government’s desire to carry the war to a successful conclusion. UNCONVINCING EXCUSE. LONDON, August 12. Mr Henderson, in an interview, said he had no arrangement with the Cabinet colleagues whereby he undertook to convey the latest attitude of the Russian Government, as outlined in M. Kerensky’s telegram to Mr Lloyd George. He added that he had received no messages from Russia on Friday. He had several messages before him, but not of Friday’s date. LABOUR PATRIOTISM. LONDON, August 12. A White Paper has been issued containing Mr Barnes’ summary of the reports of the commissions on industrial unrest. Mr Barnes says the commissions found a strong patriotic feeling amongst employers and employed throughout the country, who were determined to help the State in the present crisis. The revolutionary feeling is not entertained by the bulk of the men, but, on the contrary, they appreciate the national difficulties.

INTENTIONS OF FRENCH SOCIALISTS. PARIS, August 12. Socialists declare that they are going to Stockholm to ask all Socialists whether they should not condemn the Governments responsible for the war anil act against them in order to shorten (ho war; also to demand that Socialists shall compel Governments which still refuse to agree thereto to state their war aims; and further to inquire whether Socialists who persist in supporting culpable governments shall remain members of the international party. The Administration Committee of the Socialist party has adopted a motion to send ten delegates to the Stockholm Conference instructed not to seek peace by compromise, which would leave the people s destinies at the mercy of fresh wars, but to make plain the belief that respect for all people's rights, respect for treaties, and the submission of all possible matters in connection with the confiict to the nations adjudication can alone form a basis of acceptable peace.

NO PASSPORTS FOR AMERICANS. NEW YORK, August 12. Mr Lansing announces that no passports have been issued to Americans desiring to attend the Stockholm Conference because it would be likely to assist the German peace manoeuvres. RAID ON ENGLISH COAST. LONDON, August 12. The Press Bureau reports that a squadron of twenty enemy aeroplanes in the afternoon skirted the coast towards Clacton where they divided, part turning towards Margate. The remainder crossed the coast and dropped bombs in the neighoourhood of Southend and also Margate. Reports of damage and casualties have not been received. Our aircraft pursued the enemy seawards. GENERAL ITEMS. LONDON, August 12. The Lord Chancellor expressed the opinion that Germany’s submarine methods were absolutely illegal. Although international law hail been suspended it was not dead, and when the Allies dictate peace terms they should insist that Germany’s commands should not be a defence for one who had perpetrated piratical outrages, and persons guilty should meet the fate of pirates. NEW YORK, August 11. An official rable from a neutral country contiguous to Germany states that the economic conditions in Germany and Aus-tria-Hungary are most serious. The newspapers express regret that prisoners in Aus-tria-Hungary are being permitted to die from starvation in ever-increasing numbers owing to the inability of their keepers to obtain food for them. The New York Times’ Washington corresopndent has learned that the Allies will soon begin a series of conferences for the purpose of harmonising plans for co-ordin-ating efforts on all fronts and also securing more aggressive naval action. ZURICH, August 12. The Trade Department of Berlin has informed a Swiss firm that it is useless to longer send goods to Germany unless they agree to accept payment in marks three months after peace is signed. SYDNEY, August 13. The Australian casualties at the front for the current year exceeded the number who enlisted.