GRAVE DEVELOPMENT

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 245, 19 November 1914, Page 7

GRAVE DEVELOPMENT

AFFRONT TO AMERICA

TURKISH FORTS FIRE ON CRUISER TENNESSEE BLUEJACKETS BEING LANDED. ALLIES REPULSE DESPERATE GERMAN ATTACKS HUGE BATTLE IN PROGRESS NEAR THE VISTULA RIVER

According to the latest cables the Germans are making desperate efforts to reach the coast, and.the Allied forces have sustained violent attacks, in nearly all cases repulsing the enemy with heavy losses. £he British line bore the brunt of one particularly violent artillery and infantry attack, which caused them to evacuate some of their trenches, but these they regained by a brilliant counter-attack. Off the Belgian coast the Allies' warships have been active, their bombardment doing considerable destruction. A battle on a large scale is proceeding between the Vistula and the Warta, the Germans fighting stubbornly, but elsewhere the Russians are driving them back. . > Huge armies are in the field iii the eastern theatre, the total being •estimated at 5,500,000 men. Perceiving the disastrous consequences of the revolt, many South African rebels have surrendered, while others have been fought and defeated.

A somewhat startling development is reported, the Turkish forts at Smyrna having fired on an -American -warship, which is landing bluejacfeets to protect the~consulates.

By Cable.— A.

ivociation. — Copyright.

AMERICAN LAUNCH FIRED ON, WARSHIP SEEKS ENTRANCE TO SMYRNA. COMMANDER THREATENS FORCE. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) ATHENS, November 18. The cruiser Tennessee anchored off Vourla, and sent a launch to seek permis- • sion to enter Smyrna. The fort fired on the launch, which returned to the ship. The commander intimated that he . would enter forcibly, if necessary. THE NEWS CONFIRMED. BLUEJACKETS GOING ASHORE. ' CONSULATES IN PERIL. . (Received 'November 19, 12.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 18. The Tenessee incident at Smyrna is Officially confirmed. . . WASHINGTON, November 18. The, State Department has been informed that the Turkish forts at Smyrna fired on the American cruiser Tennessee. "It is understood that the cruiser is' sending bluejackets ashore, in order to protect the Consulates. Mr Daniels, Secretary to the Navy, admitted that fears were entertained for the safety of the American Consulate, but they could not take action until further information was available. Major-General Wotherspoon, a retired officer, writes to the newspapers, pointing out that it is impossible to protect the Panama Canal arid the American colonies with the present forces at their disposal. The United States army ought to t>e increased until half a million troops, including reserves, would ' _ r ;b'e available. Any first-class . military Power could menace Panama, while the Philippics could' easilyfall a prey, as the r |ires6fitforce showed a deficiency pei; cent. ■ : The Tennessee is an armoured cruiser of 14,500 tons displacement, and was built; at Philadelphia in 1904-06 at a cost of £970,630. - She is armoured with Krupp steel and carries four 10-inch, 16 6-inch, v,aild; 22 3-inch guns, 12 3-ppunders, eight 1-pounders, eight machine guns, and four submerged torpedo tubes. Her speed is I given as a little over 22 knots, and her complement numbers 858 Officers and men. Vourla is a small town on the Gulf of Smyrna (Turkey in Asia), about 20 miles from the city or Smyrna.

then by infantry, the brunt falling upon two battalions of the First Division, who were shelled out of their trenches, but recovered them with a brilliant counter-attack, driving , the enemy back in disorder for five .hunr dred yards. An attack was made an a brigade of the Second Division, but'the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses.

ENEMY'S HEAVY BOMBARDMENT

ZOUAVES BRILLIANT CHARGE. GERMANS LOSE HALF THEIR "EFFECTIVES." : *.:^'r-'f '■' * " A communique states:—-''The German bombardment from the sea to the Lys has been continued with considerable activity, especially at Nieuport, and to the east and south of Ypres. We have repulsed isolated infantry attacks, and the Zouaves, with a brilliant bayonet charge, carried a wood near Dixschoote, which had been contested for three days. The British have maintained their front. The bombardment of Rheims has been continued. We regained the western front at Chauvoncourt, despite German counter-attacks; and we forced the Landwehr battalions to withdraw from Sai'nte Marie and Auxmines. The Germans have lost half their effectives;' ■ ; , STRUGGLING IN THE FLOODS. GERMAN OUTPOSTS ISOLATED. DEATH BY RIFLE AND STARVATION. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, 18. In the flooded area,, especially round Dixmude, Oostkerke and Kaskerke, there are many German detachments at isolated outposts ,and farmhouses. [Some have died of starvation, and the \ Belgians have picked off many. Seventeen Uhlans were shot 1 while attempting to capture a floating log. ALLIES' WARSHIPS ACTIVE. A VIGOROUS BOMBARDMENT. FACTORY AND TRAIN DESTROYED. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 18. The "Telegraph" says:—"The Allies' warships on Monday bombarded a factory on the canal from Zeebrngge to Bruges, which was being used for military purposes. They also demolished a military train, and killed many Germans. THE EASTERN THEATRE. HUGE ARMIES IN THE FIELD. GERMANS TAKE CHARGE AT CRACOW. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received November 19, 8 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. "The Times" military correspondent estimates that the Germans have three armies and the Austrians three armies in the eastern theatre, a total of two million men, while the Russians have seven armies, or a total of 3,500,000 The Germans have taken command of the defences of Cracow, and have relegated the Austrians to the Carpathians, thus causing further dissensions. '■■'■■■ A Paris report says the so-called siege

TURKEY IN TROUBLE.

ATTACKS ON SUEZ CANAL. HER COMMUNICATIONS 'THREATENED. COPENHAGEN, November 18. The "Berliner Tageblatt" points out the difficulty attending Turkish attacks on the Suez Canal. The British Mediterranean Fleet endangers the Turkish communications in Syx'ia and the Sinai Peninsula. ROME, November 18. A message from Constantinople states that the Japanese Ambassador departed on Tuesday. FIERCE ATTACKS. BRITISH TRENCHES LOST. REGAINED BY BRILLIANT EFFORT The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, November 18. Official: The First Division of the British was yesterday subjected to heavy attacks, first by artillery and

of Verdun, as reported in Berlin, is entirely without foundation.

THE TSAR AND HIS SOLDIERS.

VISITS TO HOSPITALS. WOUNDED MEN RETURN TO RANKS. "Times" and "Sj/dneu Sun" Services. (Received November 19, 8 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. The Tsar visited many hospitals, and spoke kindly words to the patients. The Austrians and Germans in one ward greeted him with a threefold "Hoch."

Passing a column of inarching Russians, he alighted, and conversed with them. He ascertained that 85 per cent.

of their wounded in th& early stages of the war had returned to the ranks. A Petrograd message states that, following on the prohibition of vodka to the peasants, a wider regulation prohibits the sale of wines to officers and the wealthy classes.

casualties as cabled do not include the Good Hope's 875 men, nor the 1000 men of the Naval Brigade interned in Holland.

GERMANS ARRESTED.

AN INTERNED WARSHIP. EEECTING SECRET WIRELESS. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) BATAVIA, November 18. Commander Lupeke and the wireless operator, Voltz, of the warship Preussen 5 which was interned at Sabang Bay, have been arrested on a charge of violating Dutch neutrality. Although the wireless installation had been dismantled, the authorities discoy-

THE APPROACH OF WINTER.

ANNEXATION OF BUKOVINA.

A DRAMATIC ENTRY. RUSSIANS REDUCE THEIR* DEMAND. (Received November 19, 11.45 a.m.) . . PETROGRAD, November 18. Details of the Russian annexation of Bukovina show that the Cossacks made a dramatic entry into Czernowitz, accompanied by bands and choristers. General Arintinoff summoned the townsfolk to the steps of the Municipal Palace, and levied 600,000 roubles on the town, revenge for the amount, the Austrian 'General Daulann had exacted from Kamenez and Podolski, where General Arintinoff's daughter was obliged to sacrifice her jewels. Otherwise, General Arintinoff threatened to immediately train the big guns and level Czernowitz to the ground. The populace were terror-stricken, but finally the Archbishop persuaded General Arintinoff to accept 300,000 crowns. ADVANCE ON THORN. GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY. REJOICINGS IN BERLIN. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. The Germans claim a great victory for General Hiiidenbuvg over the Russians who were advancing on Thorn. -The streets of Berlin have been decorated. The Kaiser has congratulated General Hindenburg. "/

ered that secret antenna) were being erected on the mast. ?

REBELS SURRENDER.

. > ■ A DISASTROUS REVOLT. OTHERS PURSUED AND DEFEATED. (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) OAPE TOWN, November 18. Vaurensburg, with 154 Brandfort rebels, after an interview with De Wet, became convinced of the" disastrous sequences of rebellion, and surrendered to General Beyers. Wolmarans, leading 1500 rebels to the westward! of Bulfontein, was pursued for eighteen miles, losing four killed, twenty-two wounded, and one hundred taken prisoners.

A GStfM VosfA ROLL.

IN THE WEST

GERMANS RE-ENTER ANGOLA. LISBON, November 18. The Germans again entered Angola, There were some casualties.

BELGIAN CHILDREN.

AN AMERICAN SCHEME.: THE HOMELESS. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. , (Received' November 19,-8 a:iu.) LONDON, November 18. The Chicago '' Tribune'' has started a scheme for adoption of Belgian children by American families, or providing them with homes for three years, subsequently returning them to Belgium.

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

LOSSES OF THE NAVAL MEN. ONE MAN NOT~ ACCOUNTED; FOR. (Received November 19, 8.45 a.m.) 'LONDON, November 18. Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons, announced that the total naval losses so, "far'are:; — Officers Men Killed ' .. 222 3445 , Wounded .. 37 428 Missing / 5 1 _ Total casualties 264 3874 A later message states that the naval

GERMANY 'S LOST POSSESSIONS. "HANDED OVER BY JAPAN. MELBOURNE, November 18. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, announced to-day that the Japanese Government had intimated to the British Government that it was ready to hand over the islands recently held by the Germans in the Pacific and seized'by the' Japanese, to an Australian Force. The British Government had been informed that it was the intention of the" Australian Government to act accordingly, and the British Government had so informed the Japanese Government. To this end an Australian Force would be dispatched, and remain in occupation of the islands till the end of

THE BATTLEFIELD IN FLANDERS,

BRITISH PROWESS;

the war, when the matter of their ultimate disposal would be a question for the consideration of the allied Powers. The Commonwealth will have the responsibility, not only of military occupation, but of trade matters. Colonel Pethebridge, Secretary of Defence, will accompany the Force as officer in charge. He has been appointed Australian Commissioner in the North-West Pacific, with authority to make suitable : and.necessary arrangements with other Powers.

A HANDSOME COMPLIMENT.

HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVED. (Received November 19,'9 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 19. The papers appreciate the handsome

One of the cleverly built and cosy little bomb and shell proof shelters, erected by the Belgian soldiers ; on the banks of the Scheldt. (Central News.)

compliment paid to Australia by Japan and Britain in handing over the adminis* tvation of the Pacific Islands, which also will involve a heavy responsibility.

THE GOEBEN'S ESCAPF.

A DASH BY NIGHT. J \ PRISONERS FROM THE EMDEN. 'LONDON, November 17. Germans aboard .the Goeben state that they \ escaped from Messina on a pitch-dark night. The warships, without '.lights, i went right across the bay, and on both sides they could see the lights of- British warships. Search-

lights often explored the sea a few metres from them. Luckily, a fishing boat attracted the attention" of the British ships, and. their searchlights concentrated on that spot. Slowly and silently, the Goeben and the Breslau sneaked past and got to the open sea* When out of danger they forced the speed and fled to the Greek coast. SINGAPORE, November 17. It is officially stated that 150 of the Emden's crew are prisoners.

TRAGIC, BUT HEROIC END. "A NEW EMDEN WILL ARISE." (Received November 19, 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. The Kaiser,; in replying" to a' message of condolence from the town of Emden, alludes to the tragic, but Heroic, end of the cruiser which gathered'laurels, even in its last battle. He adds :, — "A new and stronger Emden will rise, to the bow of which an iron cross will be attached, in memory of her predecessor." ' • " '.' '" •■■■

VICTORIA CROSS HEROES. IRISHMEN : AND THE WAR. :•'... PARIS, November ,17. : During the fighting . southward of Ypres .on the 11th, eighty , British infantry were isolated and were unable to rejoin the main body. They took refuge at night in a wood, and at dawn found a German column being driven towards them by the Allies. They waited till 'the column was near, and charged with the bayonet. Eour hundred Germans were taken prisoners or put out of action.

AMSTEKDAM, November 17. German deserters report that the

Germans have great difficulty in moving guns, and arc unable to carry out swift and. sudden concentration at selected

points. Bavarians on the Yser are struck by the remarkable physical fitness of the British troops, and are puzzled by the British battle cries, which apparently consist of football slang. Germans are shot and bayoneted to cries of "On the ball!" "Here's for a goal!" and no« thing can withstand the British charge.

LONDON, November 17. Berlin is placarded with posters calling for volunteers.

Amongst the recipients of the Victoria Cross are Captain F. O. Grenfell and Captain G. F. Reynolds, of the 9th Lancers, for saving guns; Captain Wright, who was mortally wounded while rescuing a comrade; Surgeon Rankin, for attending wounded under fire.

Mr William O'Brien, M.P., replying to his constituents' protest against suggested conscription, .wrote:'—'.'We;have either got .to bid: good-bye to- Home Rule or help England honestly. In this war Irishmen are being cruelly'led astray. '■ Their attitude towards the Government is inexplicable, and is furnishing certain English politicians with the only excuse for deserting the Home Rule cause."

Major G. S. Richardson, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, has been appointed lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Marines.

[The promotion of '. Lieut.-Colonel Eichardson has been won through sheer merit. He is an officer who has risen from the ranks, winning every step by hard work. He is still best known to. many members of the New Zealand Defence Forces as Master-Gunner Eichardson, the rank which he held in the Royal New. Zealand Artillery for many years. When lie was granted a captain's commission some seven or eight years ago, his promotion was widely acclaimed as one of the'wisest steps that could possibly have been taken by the authorities. A little Over two years ago Major Eichardson (as he had then become) , was sent Home to undergo a course of training at the' Staff College, Camberley, and was successful in gaining the diploma of the College. He also earned the certificate for the long course; in gunnery. After the return of Colonel A. W. Robin (now the commandant of the Forces) Major Eichardson was appointed to the War Office as the representative of the Go--, vernment. In 1912 he was granted the rank of Major in the Imperial Army. His present promotion is a tribute -f the confidence of the Army authorities in his capacity as a gunner. A few years ago one of Colonel Richardson's sons (a gunner in the E.N.Z.A.); was killed by a gun explosion in one of the Dominion's forts.]

THE WAR LOAN.

GREAT PUBLIC DEMAND. FINANCE FOE OTHEE COUNTRIES. (Eeceived November 19, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. There has been a great public .demand for prospectuses of the war loan, but there has been no rush, as they are obtainable at every bank and money order office. The principal banks have subscribed £100,000,000 irrespective of their customers. ' "Times" and "Sydney. Sun" Services. (Eeceived November 19, 9 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. Mr Asquith stated that it was not proposed to. charge Belgium and SeVyia.interest on their loans, but they would see how to deal with the matter at the end of the war. Besides 20,000,000 drachmae raised in Paris, England has advanced' the Greek. Government 40,000,000 drachmae for the payment of warships to be constructed in Britain. [A drachma is a gold monetary unit of modern Greece, valued at about ninepence.] ■; '-'.''.'..''

IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

SEIZING THE. WHEAT CROP. ' .-■->■■ GOVERNMENT'S ACTION CAUSES COMMENT. SYDNEY, November 18. . When the Assembly met, Mr Holman announced that a Bill authorising the Government to seize the wheat crop would bo introduced to-morrow and finally passed on Tuesday. The Government's proposed action is causing much comment. The point is raised whether it is constitutional.

"BOBBING THE PRODUCER." SEIZURE AFFECTING TRADE. (Received November 19, .9 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 19. The wheat seizure has considerably affected trade, and several firms are stopping buying, causing the unemployment of a number of men. The Opposition consider the scheme robs the prdducer for the benefit of the city consumer. Mr W. M. Hughes has stated that so far the raids have disclosed no evidence of trading with the enemy. The Commodities Commission is circularising colliery proprietors with a view to fixing the price of coal. ' MELBOURNE, November 19. Official: The four members of the First-Expeditionary Force who died at sea, succumbed to pneumonia.

ENORMOUS EFFORi'S.

GERMANS WANT THE COAST* ALLIES' MARKED PROGRESS. * ■' ' The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, November 17. The battle has been resumed with great violence in West Flanders. " The Germans are making enormous efforts to reach the coast. PARIS, November 17. The following official statement has been issued:— -■'.." * "The enemy has renewed attacks eastward and southward of Ypres, but these have not modified the situation. During the last two days we have made more or less marked progress at every point we attacked from the Yser to the Meuse.

INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.

PRUSSIAN GUARDS SMASHED. GLORIOUS BRITISH VICTORY. < LONDON,' November 18.' The military correspondent of "The Times" says that the Prussian Guards, the Kaiser's pride, were defeated by the French at Charleroi, and again on the Marne. -They had not been mentioned for two months, when they .reappeared in an attack on the British ' on the 11th. They were fresh after their rest, and had paraded with a magnificent appearance • before ihe Kaiser in his recent western visit. The British, since October 20, had held- out - against superior numbers., The German * higher command, unable to make an impression with the new formation, called "', up the Guards, in the hope of giving the finishing blow. They attacked the British with conspicuous gallantry, despite heavy punishment, and penetrated the outer advanced line. Our war-worn regiments immediately counter-attacked and put the Guards to flight. There , cannot be much left of these historical < Prussians.

PARIS, November 18. Another account says that the smash- ')■ ing of the Prussian Guards at Zonnebeke was beautifully timed. The Ger- t mans shelled our trenches with lyddite and shrapnel for eight hours,, and' it was impossible to relieve the men until * '- nightfall. The Germans massed the Prussian Guards and drove us back by

sheer > weight of numbers trench by trench. The contest was stubbornly - fought until they came within 60 yards of where our artillery was hidden. Suddenly the British lines divided, leaving a huge gap through which t the Guards poured,-wildly cheering.' Into the jaws of death came the finest -of the Kaiser's troops, to within 50 yards of our field guns, which beleh,ed hell at point-blank range. The Black Watch savagely charged for a mile. A thousand of the enemy were killed and 3000 wounded. The artillery followed up and shelled the enemy's lines a mile further away. Many hundreds of the. Prussian Guards were imprisoned with four heavy cannon, 27 machine guns, besides some motor machine guns. '

STUBBORN GERMANS.

SOME DESPEEATE CHARGES. THE PRUSSIAN WAE MACHINE. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. LONDON, November 17. " The eyewitness with the British Headquarters Staff, as an instance ,of the stubbornness of the Germans, -describes how during the fighting at

Yprea a company of infantry was en-, filaded by our machine guns, and all < were killed except six men, who crawled away wounded. After nightfall .another • company of Germans dug themselves in on the line where the bodies-of their, comrades lay.

Again, some of the enemy's cavalry , at dusk charged the French trenches. Every horse was killed, but the dismounted riders continued to charge afoot. The last survivors were slain on the very parapet of the trenches. Whatever deterioration there may be in the material being drafted, into the ranks, it must.be admitted that the Prussian war machine has obtained the most remarkable results. It is able to make good' its losses and continue to deliver repeated, blows with fresh men when and where required, and concentrate large forces in different directions. • A Berlin report states that at Langmarck the Germans occupied the Allied* trenches, and captured 2000 prisoners. The real facts are that the Germans advanced in overwhelming force, and were allowed to approach within. range of a murderous fire, which mowcd£.\ down the first line. Then the second line came, and the fire ploughed great gaps "in it. A third, and yet a fourth, attacked, and reached the trenches. The Allies refused to budge, and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. Thta Gordon Highlanders supported with a stirring charge. The Germans were repulsed with great losses.

A SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT. >

IS IT A RETREAT? ; GERMAN CASUALTY-LISTS.-AMSTERDAM, November 18. Direct communication between Hoi' land and Berlin has been suddenly interrupted. This is interpreted to mean

that-a- great movement of German troops is in progress. PARIS, November 18.

A German spy about to be executed <*,t Arras offered to give information if he was spared. This was promised if the information turned out to be correct. He asserted that the Germans had planned a retreat during the next four days. COPENHAGEN, November 18. The official lists of German casualties give 549,247 names. This is exclusive of the losses in the Bavarian, Saxon, .and Wurtemburg armies, which is estimated at over 400,000.