TURKS NEARING SUEZ

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 304, 28 January 1915, Page 7

TURKS NEARING SUEZ

FIGHT WITH BRITISH TROOPS HOLLAND MAY JOIN IN WITH ALLIES NORTH SEA BATTLE ITALY AND RUMANIA MAKE READY GRAPHIC DETAILS OF BRILLIANT BRITISH VICTORY ON LAND

To-day's cables indicate the fierceness of the fighting in France and; Belgium, where the British forces have scored a brilliant success, but, apparently, at heavy cost. The German losses were very severe. Interesting details are also to hand of the North Sea battle, showing the immense superiorits" of the British Squadron. - Resentment at German barbarities is being freely expressed in Holland. The Premier has announced that a grave crisis may arise at any moment.

".' East of the Suez Canal, the British have had brushes with the Turks. There is great military and naval activity at/the Suez, where warships are assembling.

Italy and Rumania are also said to be making active preparations for an early entry into the conflict. , The British advance on Baghdad has been attended with success.

By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright.

*"'■ HOLLAND'S AWAKENING. PREMIER'S GRAVE WARNING. RESENTMENT AT GERMAN DEEDS. (Received January 28, 8.50 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 27. 'The Dutch resentment at Zeppelins flying over Holland is increasing. The Dutch troops rare now singing *' Tipperary." German brutality in Belgium and their raiding of defenceless coasts aire provoking the populace to hostility. The Extension -of Military Service Bill has been carried. The Premier remarked that a crisis might at any moment ' arise involving Holland in violence. \ GERMANS iOSE BATTALIONS. ALLIES' STRIKING SUCCESS, VIOLENT BATTLES IN BELGIUM. ''■ B- Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Received January 28, 8.50 a.m.) PARIS, January 27. A communique states:— ''' The Germans on Monday to the east of Ypres and Givenchy'lost at least two battalions. We repulsed violent attacks near. Perthes and destroyed the enemy's new pontoon bridges at Saint Mihiel. Many British wounded are arriving at Boulogne. Forty motor ambulances plied all night between the railway stations and the hospitals. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. Amsterdam reports state that the weather has taken up in Belgium. Tim ground is rapidly drying and probably military movements will be much easier in the immediate future. The High Commissioner reports:— « LONDON, January 27 (5.45 p.m.) Paris reports state that a German aircraft was brought down inside the Belgian Army lines. ■■»■ Prisoners' statements show that a "brigade, and not a battalion, attached the Allies trenches east of Ypres. The enemy fa losses were equivalent to a battalion and a half. • 'The Germans' severe reverse at La Bassee, Givenchy, and Guinchy yesterday is confirmed. The enemy left dead six officers and four hundred men. The total German losses were two battalions. . In the regton of Perthes four violent German attacks were repulsed. A% St. Hubert a German attack was. driven back by a bayonet charge. A new German pontoon bridge over the Meuse at St. Mihiel has been destroyed. GERMANS GROW RESTLESS. v THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN. SOLDIERS DISINCLINED FOR SACRIFICE. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. "The TimesV correspondent at Warsaw, describing the fighting at Sochaczew, says that prisoners related how the Germans strongly objected to G& assault on practically impregnable positions, but an officer, scenting ordered an immediate attack. This situation indicates that the German soldiers feel a growing indisposition to waste themselves, without hope of success, in response to the desperation of their commanders.

BOMBS FROM THE AIR.

M. PEGOUD'S DARING FEAT.

GERMANS SUFFER,HEAVILY.

(Received January 28, 8.50 a.m.)

The "Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states that M. Pegoud, with nine bombs, blew up German military stores, dropped bombs on a company of infantry, and destroyed a balloon which was directing the operations of German batteries.

GERMAN SUPERSTITION. CHARMS AGAINST DEAJEH. AMULETS OF ANCIENT ORIGIN. "Times'" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. Colonel Swinton, "Eye-witness" at the British Headquarters, writes:— In this sceptical and materialistic age it iajt surprising to find reliance being placid in charms, which many of our prisoners possess. So-called prayers are really written charms against death, wound?, disease, and every imaginable evil, while one covered protection against shot and sword, visible and invisible foes. Many of these amulets are probably of very ancient origin, and have been handed down among the German j/easantry for generations.

FIGHTING NEAR SUEZ.

BRUSHES WITH THE TURKS. GREAT MILITARY ACTIVITY ON THE CANAL. (Received January 28, 8.50 a.m.) CAIRO, January 27. There is much activity at the Suez Canal, where troops and warships are assembling. It is - semi-officially stated that a reconnaissance party inflicted severe losses on the Turks near Mezera. ' The British casualties amounted to fifty. . Fighting has occurred east of-El Kentara, the British casualties being five. The Turks at El Kantara opened fire with their mountain guns, and the patrol replied with machine guns and rifles. The Turks did not show any desire to come to close quarters. Small bodies of men at three other points east of the Canal did not come into contact with the British troops. A hydroplane dropped bombs on a Turkish column at Birmusadad, inflicting losses. CAIRO, January 27. Fantastic stories of British reverses are being officially circulated in Palestine. A fireworks display in Jerusalem was held to celebrate the '' occupation of Suez." NEW ZEALANDERS IN CAIRO. TROOPER DESCRIBES LIFE. THE "SILVER FERN" BOYS. (Received January 28, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 28. A contingenter, writing home, says: '' The New Zealanders are very popular in Cairo, which is full of life. The troops frequent one cafe, the Grand Egyptian, because of its good music and good ale.' The band plays the 'Marseillaise,' 'God Save the King,' and ' Tipperary,' and then about a hundred of the 'silver-fern' boys let go with their war-cry. It stirs one up, I can tell you." MOVING ON BAGHDAD. BRITISH PORCE SUCCESSFUL. TURKS WITHOUT ARTILLERY. "Times" and "&>udney Sun"- Services, (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. Tiflis reports state that news has been

received of the success of the English force moving upon Bagdad.

The situation of the Turks at Azerbeyan has changed for the worse. Tabriz is surrounded by wire entanglements and deep pits, but the Turks are without hea> r y artillery. PRESIDENT AND KAISER. \ CORDIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES. PRESS ASKS A QUESTION. (Eeceived January 28, 11.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, January 27. President Wilson has congratulated the Kaiser on his birthday, expressing cordial wishes for his welfare. The Republican Press is asking if this is not a breach of neutrality. BATTERED TO PIECES. FATE OF THE BLTJCHER. LION OPENS FIRE AT FIFTEEN MILES. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Received January 28, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. ' The Germans were sighted thirty miles .off the English coast. * H.M.S. Lion opened fire at fifteen miles range, and the contestants were never closer than eight miles. . . The Lion, on returning to port, had a tremendous ovation. A bluejacket who was on the Blucher states:—; "One terrible shell burst on the head of the ship and killed scores. The Blucher was battered to pieces." Two hundred and fifty-three wounded | and unwbunded German survivors have been landed in Britain. !"■• The captain of the Blucher admits that she participated in the shelling of Hartlepool, when her casualties were 90 killed and twenty-one w6unded. OFF THE GERMAN COAST. BRITISH DESTROYER'S ACTIVITY.

; FRENCH PRAISE OF BRITISH FLEET. (Received January 28, 9 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. A, British destroyer 1 on the German coast on Sunday saw the periscope of a submarine and charged to the spot. Those on board afterwards saw oil floating on the surface. The French papers are filled with laudatory articles on the success of the British Fleet. M. Hanotaux, in the "Figaro," stresses the superiority in tactics, gunfire, and personnels / Twenty-two naval officers perished aboard the Viknor, which was completely wrecked off the Irish coast either as the result of a gale or by striking a mine. SAFE BACK IN PORT. ALL THE BRITISH SHIPS. THE TOTAL CASUALTIES. The Prime Minister lias received the following from the High Commissioner:— The Admiralty announces that all the British ships and destroyers engaged in Sunday's action returned safely to port. * , The battle-cruiser Lion, which had some of her forward compartments flooded as a result of a shell hit below the water-line, was towed by the Indomitable. / The destroyer Meteor was also disabled and was towed, by the destroyer Liberty. Both vessels Were guarded by strong i

The Sinai Peninsula became definitely part of the territory of Egypt by the Convention of October, .1906, with Turkey. This gives' Egypt a desert track, east of the Suez Canal,, as a useful barrier against invasion in force from Syria. The southern part of the Peninsula is a mountain region of volcanic rocks. North of the Sinai group of peaks and ridges is the Desert of Et Tih, a limestone plateau sloping to-

escorts of destroyers. Repairs to both these vessels can be speedily effected. Th total number of casualties were: — Lion, 17 wounded. Tiger, 1 officer and 9 men killed, 3 officers and 8 men wounded. Meteor, 4 men killed and 1 wounded. It is not believed that there were any other casualties, but if it is found that there Avere any, they will be immediately pul'' - * •"" '. As soon as Sir David Beat it is received a fuller accoin.. o action will be given.

SMASHING THE RAIDERS.

SOME TERRIFIC BROADSIDES.

AIRCRAFT SHELL RESCUING «

DESTROYERS,

LONDON, January 27

The "Scotsman" reports that the Lion fired a broadside while passing the Blucher, which caused frightful damage. But the Lion's quarry was further ahead, namely, the raider of Scarborough. The Tiger, in passing, also hit the Blucher, and the Princess Ebyal, which followed, discharged a terrific broadside. The Blucher was already doomed, and had been abandoned by her sister ships. When the bigger German ships were overhauled and pounded their light cruisers did their utmost to escape. The fire of the Derfflinger and Seydlitz weakened as the fight proceeded, and within half an hour of-reaching the mine area, the former was afire forward. of flames were sweeping her foredeck, and all her decks were strewn with wreckage. When she reached the mined area her guns were unable to answer the hail of projectiles following her. Her lqss\ of life must have beerf serious. A third vessel, the Seydlitz or. Moltke, suffered more se-. verely. One by one her guns were smashed, and great execution was caused among her crew. She was a silent ship, steaming desperately for shelter, wyith the whole of her afterdeck ablaze as she entered the mined area. Meanwhile the Lion endeavoured to head off the enemy's light cruisers towards their pursuers, and damaged them. , But they escaped, some seriously damaged, their hulls battered, and their guns swept from the mountings.

Towards the end of the Arethusa discharged'a torpedo, which struck' the Blucher. The latter's men leapt into the seas

One-of'the Blucher's senior officers was assisted aboard the rescuing vessel, but when one Of the latter's officers advanced the German spat in his welcomer's face. A larger proportion of the Blucher's losses was due to the terrible effects of the British gunfire. But for the intervention of German aircraft, scarcely a man of those thrown into the sea would have been lost. A huge Zeppelin and a number of aeroplanes from Heligoland avoided the larger British vessels' anti-aircraft guns, and discharged bombs at the rescuing destroyers. %s SAILORS' GRAPHIC STORIES. GERMANS. FLEE AND FIEE WILDLY. "*■ ' SEA STREWN WITH BODIES. LONDON, January 27. A member of the crew of a light cruiser says:— • "The light cruisers fell back and the battle cruisers did> the work. The. enemy were two miles off when they were first seen, and immediately turned tail. "The Lion was the first to come into effective range, and soon did tremendous damage. The fight lasted two

wards the Mediterranean, -with a sandylevel between it and the sea. It is not entirely" waterless, and besides several Bedouin tracks there are two main routes across it: —(1) The coast road to Syria by the Mediterranean shore, with a few wells. It runs from El Kantara on the Canal, by El Arish, to the frontier at Bafa. (2) The pilgrim road to Mecca, from Suez to Ft. Akaba. At each end it reaches the high ground by

hours. The Germans put up a gallant fight, but their firing was reckless. They fired faster than us, but our chaps were wonderfully cool and steady. There was a good light and a calm sea. Our shots hit the target. "It did not take many shots to finish the Blucher. The last one took her on the water-line, and she slowly heeled over and went down like a glass sinking in Avater. "Our destroyers went to the rescue of the crew, but some of the Germans fired on them. The destroyer Liberty was deputed to rescue the survivors." A bluejacket recounts that when the Blucher was crippled her gunfire became more < ? a menace to her own ileet than to the English. As she settled her guns went off for the last time. The water was strewn with bodies and spars, and presented a ghastly sight, many of the bodies being mutilated beyond recognition. The firing was so heavy that the ocean was covered wit.i dead fish, and flocks of shrieking gulls holding a banquet.

Two German aeroplanes dropped bombs and drove off the Liberty. A trawler's crew states that fishing on the Dogger Bank was suspended when firing was heard. About thirtyfive German vessels sped past, followed by the British in line. The Germans were firing their stern guns wildly, but the British shells constantly struck the Germans, desf>ite their speed. The British tried to head the Germans southwards. AMSTEEDAM, January 1 27. The captain of a Dutch trawler counted twenty-four German ships, which the British were trying to cut off. The^firing was indescribably terrific, and the concussion jarred the trawler. Water spouted high in the air round the British ships where badly-aimed German shots fell. The British guns were better afld more regularly served. Both squadrons : w.ere envelpped in smoke. He saw a great burst of smoke and bands of flame .coming from pne of the German ships. ;|. v

THAT' OF PAPER. SIR E.' GREG'S CRITICISM. AMUSING AMERICAN CARTOONLONDON, January 27. Sir Edward Grey it is riot surprising that Herr is arixibus to explain away his scrap of paper phrase, whjch tends to debase the legal and moral currency of civilisation, but his new Arguments are in flat contradiction of plain facts. WASHINGTON, January 27. ( The '' Herald'' publishes a cartoon depicting Herr Betlimann-Hollweg trying to burn a scrap of paper, which is proving incombustible.; . NAILED TO THE COUNTER. t. T . . GERMAN DUPLICITY EXPOSED. SIR E. GREY'S ACCUSATIONS., (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. Sir E. Grey's'statement dealing with Herr von Bethniann-Hdllweg's explanation of the "scrap of paper" incident, traverses that and ' other statements seriatim. < The newspapers are widely,discussing this last- exposure of Germany's misrepresentation, which has now been nailed to the counter.

interviewed at his headquarters in the north of France, on Sir Edward Grey's 1 reply to the American Note, declared that Sir Edward Grey intended his reply to stand as a record of England's magnanimity, and he had inserted a paragraph wherein the question of permitting shipments of foodstuffs not intended for the armies of an enemy was left open. While condemning others for the abandonment of the rules of civilisation and humanity, Britain set out to starve sixty-five millions, directly, by cutting off their food supplies, and inI directly, by closing their arteries of j commerce. English diplomacy sought to mould a precedent that might serve a day when her control of the sea might not be absolute. He assailed the nicety of British scruples in regard to The Hague Convention, affirming that under The Hague rulings a blockade should be declared against neutrals, 'which, however, was not done, becaxise was powerless to enforce it. The coast of Belgium had been bombarded, and civilians' homes wrecked by the British Fleet; yet, by some mastery over publicopinion, * the world shook with horror when a hostile fleet successfully bombarded English towns equipped with defences, and when dirigibles threw bombs on the fortified town of Yarmouth # and warded off an attack from, below.

THE PROBLEM OF CONTRABAND.

FEELING IN AMERICA. GERMAN MISREPRESENTATIONS. WASHINGTON, January 27.. Mr Bryan's statement on "the subject of contraband elicited voluminous comment, which clearly shows that German misrepresentation has been given a sharp set-back.-

The "New York World" declares that America's neutral rights will not be sacrificed to the glory of any foreign Press Bureau; . ";

ANGLE-AMERICAN ..RELATIONS.

THE AMERICAN NOTE.

GERMAN EFFORTS FOR STRIFE.

"FUTILE, BUT MISCHIEVOUS..'' (Received January 28;*9 a.m.) PARIS, January 27. "Le Temps,'' discussing the Dacia incident, says:— , Germans thought to-put Anglo-, American relations to. a - test; and to guarjd against the effects of a blockade which was stopping the provisioning of Trermany. One can hardly believe their futile but mischievous efforts to stir up strife between John Bull and Uncle Sam." . ■ v WASHINGTON, January 27. The German Government's commandeering of corn is regarded in official, circles as preventing the Wiltielmina's owner from conveying supplies destined for 'Germany. [A cablegram published yesterday stated: "The 'Morning Post' says a test case i's being prepared which, if allowed, will be more injurious to the Allies than the Dacia, namely, "the case of the Wilhelmina, of NeW York, which is reputedly German owned. She will clear for Hamburg with food supplies allegedly for the civilian population. The consignee is an American resident of Germany, and the presumption is, that the food consumed by civilians will release equal quantities for the troops."]

HOLLWEG ON BRITAIN'S REPLY.

GERMAN OUTRAGES "EXPLAINED."

(Received January 28, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 27. Herr von Bethmann-Holjweg, on being

a zig-zag pass, and the chief watering place is Kalaat en Nakhl, a junction of several desert tracks, where there are large rock reservoirs. The railway from Damascus to Mecca, and its station at Maan, gives an invader from Syria a base of operations, from which it is possible that an attempt might be made to lay a light railway across the desert. -

SHIP PURCHASE BILL. THE PRESIDENT'S DETERMINATION, .'..;-.. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. ,' (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27. ''The TimesV Washington correspondent says:—President Wilson is more than ever determined to pass the Ship Purchase Bill. His action is backed by a strong body of Oppositionists.

MAKING READY FOR WAR.

ITALY AND RUMANIA. * FOOD AND AMBULANCE ARRANGEMENTS. LONDON, January 27. The Rumanian Government is buying large quantities of ambulance requisites in Switzerland. Already 24 truckloads have been dispatched to Bucharest, via Brindisi.

The Italian Government has decided to commandeer merchantmen for the transport of cereals. (

NO TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS.

AUSTRIAN MINISTER'S RESOLVE

"Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received January 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 27.

Advices from Rome state that Count von Burian, the new Austrian Foreign Minister, has declared that he will refuse territorial concessions to Italy and Rumania even should such action provoke their intervention in the war.

IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

"FALCON OF THE TAUBE."

THE SUPERHUMAN.

WAR IN THE AIR,

THE WAR FUNDS.

Bogeys!

V INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. ( •—.—.—

NATURALISED ALIENS' TREATMENT. SOLDIERS BACK FROM BABAUL., SYDNEY, January 27. The Court granted an interim in-' junction restraining the Wharf Labourers' Union from interfering with a wharf labourer, named Neilsen, a naturalised German, and preventing him obtaining employment, pending an action for £lso' damages being taken in* the matter. It is stated that nearly two hundred naturalised aliens are affected by the result of the action. A second detachjnent of the 1 Expeditionary Force at Rabaul has" returned before the expiry of jts time, owing to an outbreak of malarial fever. '

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

DEFENCE MINISTER DESIRdTJS.

(Received January 28, 10.20 a.m.)

SYDNEY, January 28. The Hon. G. F. Pearce, Minister of Defence, oh being interviewed, says he strongly advocates the holding of aiu Imperial. Conference / this year, which, he holds would-be useful to the Dominions and the Imperial Government; Certain things have happened during; the war which • will have an important bearing on the future naval policy in. the outer seas, and it would 'be well i if _ they, could be discussed while things are fresh in their, minds. ' y SHORTAGE OF EXPLOSIVES. GOVERNMENT MAY MANtJ* \ FACTTJRE. ' ''- , (Received January 28, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 28. In view of the fact that commercial explosives threaten to become unprocurable in a short time if the war continues, the Hon. Mr Griffiths, Minister of Works, states that the Government is' considering the advisability of ,s;tart- ? ing their manufacture. It is'-'tprite probable, if private supplies fall below the demands, that the Government will take over the manufacture and supplyneeds at cost price.

HOT FIGHTING. ! BRITISH BEAT THE GERMANS. ENEMY'S COMPLETE CONFUSION. By Catile. — Press A.ssotfution.- :L -Gopyr{ght. PARIS, January'27^ An official statement says:— * "The British reoccupied positions at Givenchy. There was hot fighting on the Bethune-La Bassee Road. "Germans who penetrated into our trenches. westward of Craonne ■ were thrown intd confusion by aerial bombs. ' We then counter-at-tacked .and recovered a portion of the ground. "We recovered trenches near St. Hubert and Fontaine Madame." GERMAN MASSES REEL.

A STRUGGLE TO THE^DEAtS

BRITISH GAIN COSTLY VICTORY.

LONDON, Jasuary 27.

Twenty-five thousand men T on.both sides were engaged in the «Givenehy battle. ' ; ", :;,'

An officer says :-r-:''After thirtyrtwo hours of all sorts of hell we retook ; the trenches. The first indicatjlpn. of "attack came from a Hanoverian soldier, who deserted to a British trench," and announced that the Germans would attack in force early in the morning. He spoke the truth. The quitted, their trenches and advanced in a dense mass. They reeled under a withering fire and machine-gun fire. Th'ose who managed to get unscathed to within fifteen yards of our'trenches threw grenades,, which death and destruction in our v ranks. -V The Germans swept into our advanced line by sheer weight of and a* mortal combat at close quarters ensued.

"Meanwhile the Germans swept the.% space between our firing and supporting trenches with shrapnel. We lost heavily in retiring, twx> companies of iamous ..Scotch regiments being badly cut up. The German tide rushed on at two points for four ; hundred yards, before it was shattered by a crack British! corps behind.

"The Hanoverians did no better than the . Bavarians and the Prussians, in the hand-to-hand fight that followed.'' Britons with clubbed rifles and bayonets fell upon what remained of the Germans, who were crumpled up and surrendered in groups," . ,

IN THE BALTIC SEA,;

RUSSIA'S NEW SUBMARINES. FURTHER MENACE TO GERMANY'S SUPPLY. ' ""' COPENHAGEN, January 27. Several Russian submarines unex-

postedly appearod off Ruegen, in the Baltic Sea, whore the German cruiser Gazelle was torpedoed yesterday. Traffic between Sweden and Germany has been stopped. ■ Twelve large submarines were built in Petrograd during the past year, and ft is hoped it will be possible to stop imports of copper and petrol to Gerjuiany via Scandinavia.

RUSSIANS DESTROY ZEPPELIN.

HELP:'FOB NORFOLK RAIDERS. The High Commissioner reports:—- 1 LONDON, January 27. Petrograd reports that on Monday a Zeppelin appeared above Libau, and; managed to drop nine bombs on an "undefended part of the town,- but after ' being fired at by the forts fell into the " water? Small craft destroyed the Zeppelin and took the crew prisoners. LONDON, January 27. Mr Ingleby, M.P. for King's Lynn, -*■ adduces evidence of a convincing character to substantiate his statement ' that .the Zeppelin was directed by .flashes from ( motor cara. A farmer ..at 'O'jiSaettishttsn saw" upward flashes &t~ six K?\?bsbfoito points in3th«j neighbourhood -"V .$&& 'bMjwsycd • thdy were intended to I. direct;sk» alrsbip to Sandringham. : : TO HEfc* SERVIAi .'. Russians sT&Einyous efforts. g^*S/^;%fcSfathit;in order to attack on the : great ro ■ jic&etftie-. ;Hurigary to help riansV' ■ '^O^ikfg;-to ■ snow on the &W-'slri> solace of the Rusmdst difficult, that the Austrian ?sacQ'£<trip to Berlin failed to fcetfted* results. The Prince met §^i*si : ' a>,bold, reception, only one officer itf]':. xw&ivt&g nyn' s.t the station. Relations '{.- , between-the two Courts are strained-, CENSORSHIP IN TURKEY. HOSTILE OPINIONS DANGEROUS. WARNING TO SYRIANS IN ' ' ' ' ENGLAND. ' - * LONDON, January 27. The Foreign Office warns Syrians that letters sent to relatives in the Ottoman Empire are opened by the Turkish Censor, and that when they express opinions hostile to the, present regime in Turkey, the recipients are* tried by military courts." j Several sentences of fif te-on years' imprisonmenj; haye been imposed. THIRD-REINFORCEMENTS. APPOINTMENT OF N.C.OVs. _Th following;■temporary'■appointments of non-commissioned officers for the Infantry Battalion of the Third Reinforcements have been approved by the Camp. Commandant- (-L.ieut.-001. H. R. Potter):— / "A" Company: To be Sergeants, ,- Corpl. H. W. D. Bold, Corp. J. R. Boyes, Corp. H. Hogg, Pte. L. R. Kitchens, Corp. T. Maxwell, Corp. F. Moltini, Pte. W. R. ttlsen, Sergt. A. V. G. Rolfe. To be Corporals, Ptes. W. I. Burne, J. E. Berry, G. M. Crickett, J. Flannigan, E. H. Hunter, J. Kerr, L. Kibblewhite, E. Lee, R. W. Macdonald, V. Mead, T. O. Baisey, F. McGill, H. S. Polglass, Spittle. "B" Company,: To be Sergeants Corp. V. W. Brown, Corp. F. W. Bealing, Corp. H. Renwick. To be Corporals: Ptes C. Arguile, J. Bain, T. M. Blake, T. J. Ellis, F. Mouli, A. Quinlan, J. Stringer, J. Renwick. "C" Company: To be Corporals, Ptes. L. Le Noel, G. H. Olsen, W. Sherman, L. J. Addison, W. McDonald, J. McArthur, L. Peatling. "D" Company: .To bo Sergeants, Corp. G. W. York. To be Corporals, L.-Corp. Fijfcyson, L.-Corp. C. S. Green, Ptes. Hudson and Borley. FIELD ENGINEERS WANTED. .« Fifty men are required for the reinforcements for the Field Engineers. Applications must be made to the GroupCommander, King Edward Barracks. ■•g= ■ ■■■ ■/'■ " '■

THE MEN OF THE TRAMS. At two meetings of the Christchureh Tramway Employees' Union, the two "shifts" meeting at different times, it was unanimously resolved that the union should forward to the proper authorities a request that the Arbitration Court should resume its functions with respect to dealing with disputes concerning the regulation of wages and working conditions, as, owing to the j enormoiK increase in the cost of living, the worker was gradually getting into a grave and unenviable position. It should be explained that the Christchureh Tramway Employees' Union has a dispute filed in the Arbitration Court. The matter was before a Council of Conciliation some considerable time ago, but the parties failed to agree, and the case was referred to the Arbitration Cou*t. It should have been heard at. fne recent sitting of the court in Christchureh, but for the court's decision not to hear any disputes since the outbreak of'the war. It is stated that the labourers working for the Christchureh Tramways Board are the lowest-paid in the Dominion, they receiving only one shilling per hour.

PEGOUD'S CHARMED LIFE.

A RECORD OF 620 BOMBS.

PARIS. Walking along the almost deserted boulevard one morning, whom should I meet but Pegoud? (wrote the special correspondent of the "Daily Express")

There is only one Pegoud, and he has a charmed life. After many a war chase, his comrades know him now as "the Falcon of the Taube.?'

After a most cordial greeting, I said, "Come and breakfast with-me. A few lines and your photograph for the' Daily Express,' or you arc a dead man.'-' "Thirty minutes," he answered quickly, ' ' is my limit of time, for in two hours I am flying my new Morane mono-, plane back to the front; the Prussians shot my last one down a week ago at

"I haven't seen you," I broke in, since Hamburg, when you were about to sail for America in the Imperator.'' "I remember," said Pegoud. "I was waiting, for my three machines to arrive from „ Paris when I got the war hews. Notwithstanding my big contract in the United States, I rushed to the .ship, secured my luggage, got back to the station, and threw money right and left to get my machines shipped back to Parisj and I "barely-got them across the German frontier in time. They nearly had me—it was a close shave, T can tell you." '' But you must have had many closer since?" I ventured.

[ "Many. "He talked rapidly and sincerely, and this is the gist of what he said: — "The German Aviatik, .with a Mercedes engine can do seventy-five miles an hour, and at present that is a little faster than our best. The Tanbe can do sixty-five to seventy miles an hour—and they have got some fearless, pilots, also. "We have many more, however, and better; for calmness and courage, the English boys are too splendid for words. Only the other day I saw one bring his biplane through a hurricane of shells, and on landing he joined in a conversation as if nothing unusual had happened."

"And what about the Zeppelins?" I enquired. ' . "Geese racing swallows," Pegoud replied. frighten cities; owls afraid of the day; too slow, unwieldy, and can't rise out of gun-reach. Now! you were all through the thick of Antwerp. What did you think?'.' "Well, "I answered, "I saw "Zeppelins blown up half a dozen houses in as many week 3, and possibly twenty people were killed. A few hundred thousand people were frightened at first, but finally enjoyed the spectacle; and a few tons of the Kaiser's Munchausen literature was dropped , harmlessly' for the general, amusement of the city." "What does that amount to in four months of war?" Pegoud said. "Why, I have dropped 620 shells since August in the centre of enormous groups, of Prussian infantry and artillery, and have destroyed three captive balloons, besides making several forts feel uncomfortable."

"I have seen you thrill many thousands," I said, "and-make them hold breath while your machine somersaulted out of the clouds and lauded you safely on the earth with the same serene smile you are wearing at present. But, tell me, in your war flights have the Germans ever made you feel—a little '' "Anxious?" he broke in. "Very. I started from early one morning, and when I crossed the Rhine at 9 a.m., about 120 miles from my base, a rattle of rifle shots came up' out of a small thick wood and hissed all round me. .My machine had many holes through the canvas, but not a rib was touched. Another volley missed me entirely, and in my anxiety to get beyond range I had not noticed that my tank was pierced, and a bulletsized stream of petrol was spouting in the air. '.'ln less time than it takes to tell you I plugged the hole with a rubber cork carried for that purpose, and made the shortest cut I could for France.

"The damage to. one Wing was greater than I thought, and an increasing head wind made the machine wobble like a small boat in a choppy sea; and just when I was over miles of German lines I heard the engine missing fire, and knew that the tank was nearly empty.

' l Thank Heaven I was high enough, for when I planed down into our- lines the tank was as dry as a boue. The Minister of. War congratulated me on this escape. "A short time ago I started with the sun to make a survey of the German reinforcements coming south. ©-It was a wonderful sight. As far as? the eye could reach I could see them till the hazy weather hid them. Then it became so thick that I lost my bearings. After flying for an hour more than I had intended without finding a beacon, and as my petrol was getting low, I made for France, depending entirely on my compass.

To the Last Yard. '' I went the last yard my fuel would carry me, and landed on some grass land on the very edge of the park to a ruined chateau. I was in France, but in that part where Germans are thickest. "I managed to zig-zag my machine until I got it. under cover of the trees, and I hid there till night. Then I crept like a cat around the empty ruined chateau, and finally found a mito of a boy —a shepherd's son —who spoke French. He told me that I was near the small village of , and that the mayor was at home. "The brave little fellow, with the biggest piece of money he had ever seen, soon found the mayor and brought him to me. The mayor said that there was not a drop of petrol in the place the Germans had not taken, and that I was simply hemmed in by them for miles around.

"Things were looking desperate when the sweetest little voice I ever heard said, "I know a man who live 3 three miles from here. He had a motor car, but the Germans took if. He is a good man, and maybe he has "essence." "It was a dangerous journey for the little chap, but he walked out through those- German camps with the courage of a saint, and I felt like a coward for letting him go. In the darkness before dawn back he came, tugging a five-litre tin aaj)ig almost as himself, and set the precious liquid before me witlua smile. "I didn't smile! and no mother ever embraced a boy as I did that little prince, that little field-marshal. "Uhlans Coming." "Then he hurried away, as he said, 'to keep a watch for uhlans.' I had no sooner poured the petrol in the tank and dragged my machine into the open tfaaa

I saw him tearing frantically back. "Hurry! Uhlans coming." "I had just time to start the ongine, jump into my scat, and move off, when I saw them turning down the park road a hundred yards away. "I didn't look back, but I heard the-, shots, and bullets sang all around me. By the time they reached the clearing I was 400 yards away, gaining speed every second, and rising over a ridge of ground only a few hundred feet ahead. Then when they let go a second volley without damage I wobbled my machine so that they would cease firing, thinking it was vitally struck and falling just over the ridge. "I glanced behind and saw them drop their rifles, and make a mad rush for the prize. By the time they reached the ridge I was' flying low and very fast a mile away, and, rising in a curve, I saw them dancing with rage and blaming, each other for my escape. My machine had a few holes in it, and my coat had one.

"When I passed .the Prussian fort at shells fell round me like snowballs filled with fire, but I was more sad* than anxious, for I was wondering what had become of the little prince of the ruined chateau.

"But time's up," said Pegoud sud denly. '' Good-bye! "

''God be with you, Pegoud!" I said, and he was off to the firing line.

LATEST SUBSCRIPTIONS. RED CROSS FUND. The following donations* have been received by the St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade towards the fund to provide dressings, drugs, medical "comforts, and clothing for sick u,JK<i. wounded sailors and soldiers: — £ s;; d. Amount previously acknowledged .. .. ~ .. 950 16 .11" Sale of flowers (five children) .. .. 2 0 0 C. Gwatkin '.. ...... .. 010 0 Sale of flowers (per Mrs H. A. le Cren, Fairlie) .. .. 5 5 3 Christrehurch Ambulance Division (per W. Wallis).. 0 5. 0 Mrs A. L. Barker .. .. .. s<} 0 Menzies Bay offertory (special intercession service) ... 012 4 Red Cross Stall at Canterbury-' Sweet Pea and Carnation Stall .... .. <>s 4 6 11. E.M. '.. .. 100 0 0 £1099 14 Q The following contributions in kind have.also been received, in addition, to gifts previously acknowledged: : —Anon., 1 scarf, 3 pairs slippers; Mrs W. H. Simms, 2 pairs bed socks, 4 pairs cuffs; Miss V. M. Greenwood, linen; Mrs Garrick, 3 nightingales, 1 muffler; Mrs R. Shand, 24 'nightingales; "Ponto and Toodles," 6 toilet* gipves, 6 fomentation flannels, 3 pairs socks, and 1 shirt. In connection with, the Red Cross Stall at the Sweet Pea and Carnation Show the following services are acknowledged:—Messrs Martin and Fiatsignwriting;/Messrs Lewis and Anderson, and Minson and Co., loan of articles; T. Brassington, carting; "Lytteltoh Times" Company, wrapping paper.

GREENDALE COLLECTIONS. Mrs Warren, of Grecndale, interested herself on behalf of the Sumner Red Cross Carnival, and collected throughout the Greendale district in aid of the fund the following:—Fowl wheat, one sack each from Messrs G. Ridgen, J. Dent, W. Shipley, and C. Rudd; butter, jam, honey, eggs, pickles, potatoes, etc., from Mesdames G. Watson, G. Ridgen, F. Cullen, E. Ridgen, Faige, Kilburn, Sandford, Russell, Gough, Lamb, Greig, Locker, Collee, J. Adams, C. Rudd, J. Bull, H. Wells, F. Early, J. W. Streeter, and J. W. Warren, Misses Early, Wilson, Giddings, Needham, and K. Rudd; cash from Mesdames "VfestWood 4/-, Cute 5/-, Locker 2/-, S. Gough 5/-, and Stevenson 10/-. Thr"ee little boys (Masters Allan Smithson, Trevor Harris, and Murray Hobbs) took a gramophone out at the carnival, and were successful in collecting 17/6, mostly in coppers. The Carnival Committee are indebted to Messrs Coup and Hunt for giving a sheep each.

SALVATION ARMY- FUND. The War Relief and Emergency Fund which the Salvation Army** authorities in New Zealand are raising for the relief of the Belgium refugees, and to help General Booth to tide over a period of exceptional anxiety, has now reached £4OOO, the Army having set themselves to raise £IOJOOO. The latest donations include: — £ s. d. JS. Riddiford ..100 0 0 V. Riddiford 50 0 0 T. Bullock (Ashburton) .. 50 0 0 Messrs Nicholl Bros. (Ashburton) , .. 25 0 0 " A Friend" (Ashburton) . . 50 0 0 Elthain Boys' S.A. Home demonstration 40 0 0 J. H. Preston "(Otago) .. .. 100 0 0 C. M. B. Williams (Napier) .. 100 0 0 Canterbury Club 10 0 0 Curtailment expenses Territorial headquarters .. .. 500 0 0 WAIKUKU CONCERT. An open-air concert is to be held on the Waikuku Beach this evening, in aid of tlye Britain and Belgium Fund. The Rangiora Brass Band will take part in the programme. Supper will be provided at a small charge, and-ar-rangements have been made to convey visitors from Rangiora and other parts of the district, and if the weather proves favourable a large and successful gathering is predicted.

MOTOR AMBULANCE PRESENTED.

A motor car, to be converted into a motor ambulance for the use of the New Zealand troops, has been generously, given to the Defence Department by Mr A. K. Firth, of Christchureh. When ready, the car will be sent to Trentham and practised witli there by the Reinforcements, afto* which it will be sent to the front.

WEARY BROKEN BATTALIONS.

BEGGED TO BO THE IMPOSSIBLE. THE THIN RED LINE. (From a Second Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps.) As you say, the destruction of does bring things near to one. If possible, I hate the Germans worse than ever when I think of those glorious buildings in i-uins. One could weep over the horror and desecration of it all, and yet it is only a small part of their iniquity. Let the stay-at-homes and those in high places who never heeded the voice of our great little Bobs think that just a few thousand more men with us in our division might have saved — : —.

I could take off my hat to every man in the fighting line of the division. As you say, they were superhuman. One day they wore begged to do the impossible and hold back the flood of Germans for a:few hours, and they held them for two days and nights. One day the brigadiers went to the general and told him they had done all. They would have given anything for a few more men, and there were none. himself went, so it is told, among the weary, broken remnants of our battalions, men who had fought sleepless and incessantly to the end of their strength and beyond, and rallied them, and again they did the impossible and held back the enemy. I tell you there? is no finer story in otir history than the ; tale of that thin line that fheld the trenches from —— to ——; and lam not ashamed thfit my heart; was J too full for words I saw thai; mudstained, dirty, unshaven' remnafts of the full battalions I watched march out of come up the road to -— —- for their well-earned rest. , And that boy of the , who halted his men and told them they were dirty and were to shave and so forth as soon as possible—that bonny lad "was the incarnation of our country at its best. Yet these men who had ? done wonders got no rest, for the next day they had to be called out again and reinforce another part of the line, and, weary to' death, they hung on for endless days and nights until the French could relieve them. v The Brave Belgian Captain. [From ,a Belgian Lancer interned in Holland.} I am in Holland, a prisoner now, doomed to inaction, but by my history you 'll see that only at the last moment, when there was really no chance left any more, we crossed, the border because our captain. was badly wounded. Well, our history begins since the* fall of Antwerp. We (about 200 Lancers) had a very important and dangerous part in the covering of the retreat of our main army when the situation in Antwerp became hopeless.

Twice after some good work we had done our captain got through the/German- lines with us, but at a certain moment we were really cut off from our army and saw no way to join them, as thousands of Germans were between us and the front. ; We were then in the woods around Maldeghein, not far from Holland. However, our captain would not hear of our getting into Holland, and we quite agreed with him. We took a position up in the woods, hoping soon or late to be able to join our army somehow along the coast.

But spies seem to have been :at work, and the Germans found us out,, for masses of them were at St. Laureyns (only a few miles from where we were).

The German commander sent the burgomaster of the village to tell us to surrender, as the struggle would be too unequal and he had strong artillery forces. Our captain, however, answered him'• proudly:" <f Tell the commander that we are not waiting for his mercy but for his attack. And. tell him they are soldiers of Liege whom he will meet."

Well, the attack soon began. Our eap,tain did the scouting himself, standing on a hill trying to find out the enemy's position. He soon got a bullet in his coat. A short time later he was wounded in the head, but still kept on giving his orders till a third bullet brought him down.

"Don't forget 'the bridge on the right," he still shouted, but his voice soon became weaker while he said, "Don't bring me into Holland; if I have to die let it be here. "Vivo le Roi! " and very soon he was unconscious.

We carried him away, and he was too dear to us not to bring him into safety, so we took the road to Holland, and reported ourselves to the military authorities. Our captain was received by the ambulaiico and well attended,, to.

The others kept on the struggle a bit longer, but the encouraging presence of our captain was silent and missed, and they had to give it. up, and joined us afterwards. We had done our best till the very last, and had been worthy of the fame of our regiment, which had really not been spared since the beginning of the war. A Cold English Prisoner.

[Two postcards received by an Englishwoman from her fiance interned in the civilian prisoners' camp on the race-

course at Ruhleben, Berlin.]

November 16.—1 am with three other nice fellows in a stall. lam recovering from a cold. I need warm boots, and as 'soon as my few marks melt I shall be in a tight corner. I do my own -washing. We can write only once a week (two postcards). No parcels will "be allowed to come after November 20. The British Government ought to send us monetary help. We want clothes and tobacco. I am freezing and miserable. Your letters give me life. ..." November 28. —I am in good health, but without money, and am therefore unable to get tobacco and other still more necessary things. We have been told to-day that after December 5 parcels could be received again here, so if you can manage, send me tinned stuff, cigarettes, jam, biscuits, etc., and a winter cap, size G£. I want, also, warm overshoes, size 9. I hope oiir Government will soon exchange us, and then I would spend Christmas in our dear country. ... I want a hair-brush badly, also a hand-mirror, and shaving soap. I could also do with a warm blanket and a pillow. The'weather is bright, although cold. I am anxiously waiting for your letters. I have here a library, so that I can kill the time, although my thoughts are always with you. You can write, as often as you plea/J, but I can write only twice a week.