ITALY AT WAR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 491, 6 September 1915, Page 8

ITALY AT WAR.

ANOTHER MOUNTAIN TAKEN.

ENEMY'S STRONG RESISTANCE.

ROME, September 4.

A communique states:— In the Alta Piave and Val Degano region, in the Carnic Alps, despite desperate resistance, we drove the enemy out of formidable entrenched positions on Monte Chiadenio, occupying the whole mountain. We repulsed a strong counter-at-tack.

PLOTS AT RABAUL.

SUSPICIOUS PICNICS.

GERMANS ABUSE PRIVILEGES.

SYDNEY, September 5,

Following on the recent arrest of a number of Germans at Rabaul, a statement has been made that since Australian troops occupied the conquered territory of German Papua and the Bismarck Archipelago, the prisoners were allowed parole and were permitted to hold social gatherings. At first the parole conditions were observed, but during the last few months some of the prisoners on the German reserve list took charge and promoted picnics, which, instead of being simple picnics, it is alleged, became meetings for announcing war news. The picnics usually followed the arrival of the mail and the news of the doings of the German armies was read aloud thereat and was received with demonstrations.

j An enquiry led to the stoppage of the picnics. A search followed not only at Rabaul, but in the outlying islands, and the result was that quantities of ammunition were found buried, in perfect condition, Indicating that it had been buried before the war, but had since been overhauled to prevent damage by dampness.

The arrests of a number of Germans followed on charges of having firearms in their possession. Every prisoner on the captured islands had previously been ordered to deliver up all firearms. •Besides hidden stores of ammunition a considerable quantity of arms was seized in the Rabaul raid. There is evidence that the raid nipped in the bud hopes of seizing a favourable opportunity for a rising, including securing the support of natives. The raid was carried out quietly and effectively. It is alleged that the.plotters were placed in safe keeping before the bulk of the civil population was aware of what was happening. ,

THE BALKANS.

A FAVOURABLE TONE.

CHANGE IN BULGARIA.

ROME, September 4.

The tone in the Balkans is generally favourable to the Allies, and developments are'awaited. It is believed that M. Radoslavoff, Premier of Bulgaria, no longer possesses a majority.

CONTRABAND FOR TURKEY.

RUMANIA STILL FIRM.

LONDON, September 4.

A Reuter telegram states that the Government of Rumania gave permission for the transit of 20 trucks of German hospital material towards Turkey. The officials found six waggons full of explosives and poison gas materials disguised as surgical lint.

The whole of the material was confiscated.

BUCHAREST, September 4.

The prohibition of the export of wheat across the frontier is absolute. The Government is advancing growers 60 per cent, of the value. The authorities also have forbidden the transit of gold, thus preventing Germany sending money to Turkey.

GERMAN DUPLICITY.

SERBIA REPLIES TO ENTENTE.

PARIS, September 4.

The "Echo de Paris" states that M. Malinoff, chief of the Bulgarian Democratic Party, in an interview at Salonika, said that Germany and Austria, while proposing to Bulgaria the partition of Serbia simultaneously offered Rumania the dismemberment of Bulgaria. NISII, September 5. Serbia has handed her reply to the Entente.

IN ASIA MINOR.

A TURKISH MASSACRE.

BRITISH SAILORS LAND.

ATHENS, September 4. Turks set fire to Ismid and massacred the whole population.

Seamen landed in the Gulf of Ismid in the Sea of Marmora, from a British submarine and partly destroyed by dynamite the railway bridge at Gebize, 26 miles south-east of Constantinople. They returned unharmed. [lsmid, or Izmid, is a town of Asia Minor, at the bend of the Gulf of Ismid, 56 miles E.S.E. of Constantinople by railway from Scutari.l