ALLIES ADOPT STRONG MEASURES

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1276, 15 March 1918, Page 5

ALLIES ADOPT STRONG MEASURES

NETHERLANDS MUST CONCEDE TONNAGE DEMANDS Bii Cable. —Press Association.- — Copyright. iA. & N.Z.) (Reo. March 15, 10.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 1-1. The United States and Britain have notified the Netherlands that Dutch ships in American and Allied ports will be seized unless the Entente's demands regarding tonnage-.are granted by March 18. An overnight message from Amsterdam stated: —The Government announces that unforeseen ditticnities threaten the proposed economic agreement between the Allies and Holland. It is believed that Germany objected to Holland placing tonnage at the Allies’ disposal. A message published yesterday stated that Holland had advised the owners of Dutch vessels on the Rhine to recall them from German waters, fearing their seizure. SHIPPING TO BE TAKEN OVER. (A. & N.Z.) (Ree. March 15, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. It is understood that the Allies are arranging to take over the Dutch shipping now lying in Allied ports. The ships will be insured, armed, and convoyed, and returned to the owners after the war. Any sunk in the .I danger zone will be replaced after peace. The Dutch Government, owing to German pressure, has not yet ratified the agreement arrived at with tlie Dutch Commission in London two months ago, whereby Holland was to be rationed with fodder and foodstuffs in return for placing 600,000 tons of Dutch shipping at the disposal of the Allies. NERVOUSNESS OF GERMAN AIR RAIDER. OPERATES AT GREAT HEIGHT FOR ONLY FEW MINUTES. (A. & N.Z. & Reuter) (Ree. March 15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. The Press Bureau reports:—One airship crossed the coast last night and dropped four bombs on Hartlepool, demolishing six dwelling-houses and damaging 30. The airship operated at a great altitude, and only remained overland for a few minutes. The remainder of the bombs appear to have fallen into the sea. The bombs killed one man, one woman, and three children, and injured three men, one woman, and five children. Ac overnight message stated: —Aeroplanes carried out a raid over the North-East (’oast of England. A FIGHT OVER THE NORTH SEA. (A. & N.Z.) (Roc. March 15, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. During an air fight in the North Sea three German aeroplanes were destroyed by the British. GERMANS LOSE HEAVILY ON WESTERN FRONT. (A. & N.Z.) (Rcc. March 15, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. A total of 79 German machines have been brought down in 10 clays on the Western front. TERRIFIC EFFECT OF COBLENZ RAID. (A. & N.Z.) (Rcc. March 15, 11.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 14. The Coblenz raid had terrific results. The city is completely isolated, nobody being allowed to leave or to enter. Tv/o munition factories are reported as burning, and vast quantities of explosives are continually exploding. FIGHTING ON THE WESTERN FRONT. GUNS ACTIVE OVER A WIDE AREA. (A. & N.Z, & Reuter) (Rcc. March 15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We raided the enemy’s trenches south-east of Epehy, and successfully repulsed a raid northward of the Ypres-St. Aden railway. There has been reciprocal artillery activity south-west of Oambrai, and increased hostile artillery fire in the Neuve Chappell e and Fauquissart sectors. GROUND GAINED IN BELGIAN SECTOR. {A. & N.Z. & Rcutei) (Roc. March 15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. A Belgian communique states: —After a violent bombardment, our troops gained a footing in the German trenches southeast of Lomhartz Dyke. We re-advaneod, and in violent hand-to-hand fighting stopped the counter-attack. There were artillery actions on the whole front yesterday and to-day, which were particularly violent in the Nieuport and Dixmude regions. FRENCH REPORT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. (A. & N.Z. & Reuter) (Rcc. March 15, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. A French communique states that there is marked artillery activity in the Argonue and on the right hank of the Meuse. KAISER VISITS SCENE OF COMING CONFLICT. (A. & N.Z.) (Ree. March 15, 10.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 14. ■ The Kaiser, the Crown Prince, Marshal von Hindenhurg, and General Ludendorff are coming to Brussels at the end of the week to visit the Flanders front in connection with the impending offensive, which will probably he most violent at Yprcs. The Germans’ next objective will he Dunkirk. SUBMARINE ATTACK ON HOSPITAL SHIP. A COWARDLY ATTEMPT THAT FAILED. (A. & N.Z. & Ecutor) (Rcc. March .15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 14. The Admiralty reports that the hospital ship Guildford Castle, homeward hound, was unsuccessfully attacked by a submarine at the entrance to the Bristol Channel on the evening of March 10. She was flying Bed Cross flags, and was showing all the hospital ship lights.