NIGHT ATTACKS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 7

NIGHT ATTACKS.

DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY.

GERMANS IN MASSED FORMATION SUFFER HEAVILY. The High Commissioner reports: — ■ * LONDON, July 4, 4.55 p.m. To the north of Arras the enemy attacked last night, in massed formation, our positions on the road from Angres to Ablain, to the north of the route from Noulette to Soiicliez. Our assailants were repulsed by an enfilading fire and mitrailleuses, losing heavily. On the front at La Haye, the Germans, after a violent bombardment, towards midnight tried to attack the French trenches, but to the north of Regneville our enfilading fire did riot permit the assault to debouch. Before Sey a battalion Arrived near our entanglements, but was obliged to withdraw.

GERMAN HORRORS.

' THE POPE'S DISAPPROVAL. AWAITING OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SYMPATHY. ". ' I (Received July 5, 8.25 a.111.} The -Figaro'' states that tlie spot»' the director of the "Revue Hebdomadare ? " said^— u Everyone i« ■aware of German crimes and blames them, but one cannot be , more precise in one's reprobation, inasmuch as the necessary. , details are absent. . , "I condemn to the uttermost the martyrdom of the unfortu nate Belgian priests and the numerous horrOrs which are coming to light. I am awaiting an opportunity to show my sympathy with the sufferers." His Holiness added: "I love not merely Catholic France, but France pure arid simple." ' ; * - -r

. ' ■ 4 'SICK OF IT." ; V-;~ : ;-y :

GERMANS IN ykFEiGA. THE EMPIRE'S DEBT TO GENERAL BOTHA. " i::/ . ' ■■ • "Times" and ''Sydney Sun?' Service*,-' . ; ; V| ( Received July 5,' 8 a,ml) . ; LONDON; July: 4; A. correspondent, writing from Cape Town, says; Tliere is good reason to believe that the great majbrity of Germans in South-"West Africa are thoroughly sick of the whole business. ; ■ r They were anxious to surrender when Windhoek fell, but the Governor persuaded them to hang on for twp months longer, telling them that -'.the Germans hadv't'Akeir Calais, that the\ Russians were hopelessly enveloped in the Carpathians, and-that the war would be ended in two months. v A Blue Book containing the evidence of the Seleet Committee whicli enquired into the causes of the rebellion shows the. debt the Eflipire owes to General Botha and his colleagues. General Botha saw clearly that the issue in South Africa was. a choice between British connection and German domination.

ORGANISING IABOUR. • - ! * ; » ■ '

NATIONAL BEGISTRATION BILL. "A STUDIED INSULT TO PATRIOTIC IRELAND." 'Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. . (Received July 5, 8 a.m.). - ( LONDON, July 4. Small Liberal groups have been formed to oppose the National Registration BiU. They intend tcT propose an amendment that the Government shall,not proceed with the Bill until there is proof that the powers already possessed by the Government are insufficient. Though a division is threatened, there is no doubt that the House of Commons will overwhelmingly favour the Bill. Irish Unionists are astonished at the special provisions, virtually excluding the operation of the national register in Ireland. "The Times" describes the Bill as "a studied insult to patriotic Ireland." Unionists, and many Nationalists, believe ! that total exclusion would be better than the present humiliating compromise. Nationalist Press comment is cautious and restrained, but it is evidently well pleased. In the House of Commons last week Mr Walter Long, President 'of the Local Government' Board, briefly outlined a scheme for ?the compulsory local registration of men land women between the ages of J5 and 65. The particulars asked for'include the age, what employment persons are engaged in, and whether it is a special form of labour, and whether the persons are willing to volunteer for work apart from that in which they are at present engaged. .The Local Government Soard will control the registration, and there will .be penalties for non-compliance. The object of the Act is not to coerce labour, but to 'secure a complete and generally satisfactory organisation. The Government, said Mr Long, believed that the resources of the country were, sufficient if they were mobilised. It has since been announced that the scheme does not apply to Ireland.