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Timaru Herald, Volume CIV, Issue 15903, 6 March 1916, Page 6

Tierce fighting has continued north of Verdun. German assaults were successful in capturing the village of Douauniont, just west of the fort, but the French have been able to re-. possess themselves of part of it, and the main street was, by latest advices, the scene of struggle betweon the opposing forces. From Douauniont to Terdun is less than five miles. West of the Meuse, and in the Woevre, violent bombardments have continued. Since the first assault,; the German progress lias been almost as slow as it could be, but there has been progress from the north, won doubtless by tremendous losses, and the fate of Verdun is still in the balance. The French have been attacking in Champagne, and have won back some ground near Eerry-au-Bac, while east of Seppois. in Tapper Alsace, they have captured German trenches.

Importance is attached to il\e Russian capture of Bitlis. a i'eW miles from the south shore of Lake Van. and more than one hundred miles south-east nf Erzeroum. Its capture severs ibo Turks in the Armenian district from those on -the Persian border, and nuts the entire region of Lake Van under Russian control. Bitlis is situated on a tribuiarv of the Tigris, in a hi sir mountain valley, and has a normal copulation of Ho.ooo Turks and Kurds, with 12.000 Armenians. An old Avab c-istlc is said to occupy the site of a fortress built by Alexander the Great. Van, on the far side of the lake. is supposed to have been a place of residence of the great Queen Semiramis.

ilr Wilson lias won a victory, "which, must be very pleasing' to the Allies, in the endorsement hy tlie American Senate, by G8 votes to 14, of the time honoured prinoirjle that American citizens must be free to travel by belligerents' merchant ships. The resolution is a blow to German pretensions, and will not improve relations between the "United States and Germany- A German paper pavs its tribute to the valour of colonial troops by reviving memories of the Australian '"natal stain," and indulging- in the filthiest abuse of both Australians and Canadians. Xew Zealanders probably are meant to be included in the term " Australians" for the purpose of this savage denunciation. The colonial troops will be quite satisfied to have stung Germany, and done something to assist her downfall. If, as the Germans say, Australasians and Canadians form a majority of the British forces who are guarding Egypt and preparing for a new campaign from Salonika, they have the more cause for pride." The worst convict who was ever sent to Port. Jackson or Tan Diemen's Land will have less to answer for than the Kaiser, Von Tirpitz. and their high associates, who have shown the world new depths of infamy and crime.

Our readers will know how far the complaints, made by a writer in our correspondence columns, of rather careless cleanliness in Timaru mar be applicable to themselves, but the snread of the crave disease of infantile paralysis is reason why the strictest, sanitation should be practised. In the Auckland district therp have been over three hundred eases of this complaint, said to be fostered by unsanitary conditions: in the Wellington district the victims have been numbered by the score, and single cases have been found as near as Christchurch and Fairlie. ]N"o risk should be taken with such a dangerous disease, and while the precautions that have been already agreed to by the Borough Council cover public places more especially, the hints fiven by our correspondent should be profitable to individuals. The open rubbish iins of which complaint is made :i'-e iuii permitted in the cities. They are certainly an eyesore, and they may be unsanitary. The

practice of piling- rubbish of all kinds on to empty sections with a view to raising- them, is also one that should be limited. ]N T o om, can be too clean while the dread disease of infantile'- -paralysis mny bc ready to extend its ravages.