OVERNIGHT CABLES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12081, 9 August 1917, Page 2

OVERNIGHT CABLES

EASTERN THEATRE. BRITISH ARMOURKS CABS. , STILL DOING VALUABLE WORK. -LONDON, August 3. The "Morning Post" correspondent in, Petrograd says that tho British naval armoured cars are still actively aiding the Russians in their retreat on the setath-western front. During the whole week they have puni.shed the memy infantry, who followed the Russians with rifles slung on their backs. The Germans are and threatened to shoot ivery Britisher caught. They offered rewards for prisoners, but the British, though they have lost- a dozen cars,' have not lost a single prisoner. The Germans then sent a lew cavalry, screening light guns, in an effort to knock out the cars, but they have not succeeded. Commander Locker-Lampson's cars were tho last; wheeled vehicles to leave enemy territory, crossing the Husiatvn bridge fivo minutes before it was blown up. REGIMENT COMMITTEES. UNDERMINED DISCIPLINE. " Th® Timeß " Service. LONDON, August 7. Mr Wilton cables extraordinary dexails of the committee system, which he says was the main cause of tho disaster in the Russian armies. Ostensibly it was devised for tho maintenance of discipline, but these military duplicates of the Soldiers' a,nd Workmen's Committee succeeded in destroying every vestige of discipline and usurped the functions ot the command. Non-combatants, especi_ally Jews, clerks and ambulance men, comprised the majorities. All were initiated in the innermost secrets of strategy. So long as 'speechifying was their main occupation they made a brave show. A word from them to Petrograd led to the dismissal of commanders who were not attentive to them, however highly placed. They outrivalled the Headquarters. Inspired by the Press, they commandeered innumerable motors and kept all the staffs busy attending to them, despite General Ivornilov's requests to them to .remain stationary. They_issued bulletins claiming credit for~everything favourable and enjoying handsome emoluments. * RUMANIAN OFFENSIVE. ''The Times" Service. LONDON, August 8. The King of Rumania, replying to M. Poincare's congratulations on the recent Rumanian offensive, states that the offensive stopped for reasons independent of his will. Tho troops are burning with impatience to ro. sums it.