WAR NEWS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 28 April 1917, Page 6

WAR NEWS

WORCESTERS' TERRIBLE EXPJLRIENOE. I LONDON, April 26th. Mr Beach Thomas, tho war correspondent, describing tho experiences of tho Worcestors, says that successful 'Gorman counter attacks swept back their neighbours, leaving tho Worcesters isolated. Successive advancing waves of from 3000 to 4000 Germans swept over them. The Worcestors wore well entrenched, and had no thought of surrendering, though agonised by thirst and a hurricane of* shells bursting overhead. They held out for 36 hours, believing that the ' Germans would ultimately be driven back. After 14 additional hours their hopes were realised. The, advancing British found the Worcestors unable to speak. Their tongues were swollen) and their lips parched, but tlioy we're still defiant. TYIPIOAL HUN METHODS. , LONDON. Thursday. The French newspaper "Petit Parisian" states that the Gorman commander ut Cambrai compelled, by threats and 'blows, the inhabitants, including tli9 majority of tho aged women in tho adjoining communes, to work in tho first line of trenches •and assist the enemy und-vr fire.

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSE?. PAWS, April 26th. ( The jfewspaper "Ls Matin" states that tho enemy trencher; along the Scarpe river are full of dead. Thq German losses are twenty per cent, 'of the effectives. The Pomeranian Division wns almost annihilated. One Prussian regiment was mowji down to the last man. The Prussian -Guards' units replaced by exhausted Bavar aus. The British losses were relatively small, the majority receiving minor wounds.

RECKLESS GERMAN COUNTERATTACK*. LONDON, April 26th. The Morning Post's correspondent states that the German counter attacks were i delivered with, a reckless courage unparalleled since the early days of the war, indicating that enemy affairs a'.'e approaching a supreme crisis. •Prince Rupprecht's v staff . wasted men lavishly in ail 'attempt to restore tho left flank to a position '.f vital importance. Troop trains continue to unload fresh regiments of v Wurteinbergers and Prussian.Guards 011 the far.sido of the Bouai Plain, while divisions have been withdrawn from other '■poiiits to strengthen tho breaches in the' Hindenbnrg line south ol' the river Scarpe. Hill 70, south-east of Loos. Gavrelle, Monchy and Fontaine were four storm centres which involved exceptionally heavy German losses. The Germans apparently thought it possiblp that they might break tho 'British barrier between Gavrelle and tho Douai railway, arid thence to the. Scarpe marshes. 4 Infantry waves flowed over' tho ridges and through corpses between the trenches at Plouvain in solid lines. No gunner could ask for a better target. Appalling destruction was wrought by our explosives. The uilaffected German observers behind the trenches ,and the surviving ißrandeiiburgers who' nanag.;d to regain the shelters .rested themselves for a time, and then uvp ned for another attack .in a fresh batile. They were summoned to undergo the same ordeal. The British garrison at Gavrelle simply sat tight behind their machine-guns and killed Germans in companies will ho ar,f t vbgkjq flilf companies with the artillery. The fields in front were covered with j (iorpseis. .The <entir!> .countryside around Monchy ie. Preux and Fon<taine were strewn with dead. ' Never before have the opposing air fleets been so heavily engaged as during Monday and Tuesday. In battle tlie airmen grappled with each other above the contending armies. German aeroplanes were hurled down from dizzy heights, pursued by Brit- j

ish airmen, who saw them crash in blazing wreckage on the battlefield. Then our planes swept low and riddled the wavering line of advancing groy figures with bullets. Our airmen everywhere fought ! tho (German. I'attries, lino regiments and transport columns, and did not give the enemy any rest. Tanks, aeroplanes and gas shells were wielded by lis in. tin's modern battle. -Altogether ten 'German divisions were withdrawn from one part of tho front and ten new ones are already I undergoing a similar hammering. 1

.RUSSIA CONEIDKLNT OF ALLIED VICTORY. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) MOSCOW. April 26th. M. .Miliukoff, interviewed, said that Russia had not. received any official offer which could be a possible basis of peace negotiations. iß'ussia demanded the complete independence of the Austrian Slavs, and was willing to agree to the neutralisation of the Uosphorus if the freedom of internation trade were provided- (,I'ofr, ibufc'/insisted on the right to exclude foreign warships, which, however, would be impossible unless Russia possessed the Straits.

-AMERICA AND THE [WAR. (Aiistmlinn-N.Z. Cable Association ) WAMIfXG'rON, April 'JGtii. Marsh, -.1, (i'oPJre and Ml j\Jvia-i)i (French Commissioners to America met President Wilson at the White House linformally and briefly. Marsha! .J off re wore a picturesqu 1 Fiencli lin.'l'oini. and was cheered the crowds when recognised.

FXREST IX GERMANY. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Associat inn.) April 23tli> German newspapers disclose a chaotic political situation. While tlio army leaders are boasting; oi' victories on the west front the situation in iGermany is characterised as that of disunion. ' Class hatred is increasing, and is unprecedented in character. The industrial unrest and strikes were undoubtedly more serious and prolonged than was admitted. , Work lias not yet been fully resumed. After a stormy meeting the Reichstag despite the fact that the Socialists demanded an immediate debate on home and foreign affairs'. •Both the Socialists groups voted •against the Government;' It is evident that there has been a strong rally of reactionary forces,, which still intend to pursue a policy of a.-pea.ee with annexations and indemnities.; Tin/ reactionaries have •exercised such pressure on the Government that Hei'r von BethmanuHolweg (German Chancellor) has boon thrown over. The pan-Uonnan newspapers angrily denounce the Socialist peace proposals. Professor Schiedmann, the Kaiser's confidential adviser, states: "A peace that leaves Us without gain of territory, and without our eolonies, would be treason towards the future Germany. ' It is impossible to bear the load of taxes if there are no indemnities." Professor Schiedmann angrily denounced the adjournment of tho {Reichstag. He says that a holy war is bciijg preached aiiaiiTit Germany throughout the world, opening tho prospects of a decade of fighting which would end in Germany's total destruction. On the other band the Russian revolution opens up pros-,, pect of a speedv world peace. This of a Socialist Russian revolution fills manv of Germans with great enthusiasm. ' "

AX A>:<T,l-W.V!? MOVE. WASHINGTON". April 26tli. Tlio State Department has been informed that the Germans have, formed ii committee in Switzerland to propa■gat.» and -work for peace. Meyer,' a former editor of the Berlin "Moraen Post," is believed to 1)2 the leader, .From other sources the State Department learns that the Germans are ijioronsinirly for neaco. The I'vend rati!"• tis reduction ftr'ko of •2oO,tX)'J Inboti'-ei.< at Berlin \va« really ananti-ivar move.

AUTHORS OF STRIKES TO iBE PUNISHED. AMSTERDAM, April 26th. Hen* von Rethmann-Hollweg lias instructed the .Governors of the Federal States to ■ take proceedings against the authors of the munition strikes. Dishonourable and perfidious offenders Mill be subjected to the greatest possible punishment. THE' WAR FOR LIBERTY. (Australinn-N.Z. Cable Association.) PETROGRAD, April 26th. There were stirring scenes «t the departure for the front of the first detachments of the revolutionary troops. Crowds of soldiers carried flags inscribed "War for Liberty!" DEMONSTRATION EN SWEDEN". COPENHAGEN; Aparil 26h. twenty thousand persons participated in a Socialist demonstration at JMalmo, and passed a resolution dehanding a treaty with Britain facilitating export and imports; also an eight-hour day and exemption from the taxation of small incomes. A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. (Australian-N.Z. Cnbb Assvkmi inn.) LONDON, April 2(3tli. A naval communique states: : A squadron of Gorman destroyers 'bombarded Dunkirk for ten minutes on Wednesday night, while sailing past the port. The coast .batteries replied. AngloFrencE patrol boats engaged the enemy, who .retired towards Ostend at high speed., [ ' ■ . 'A French torpedoer was sunk ,in the course of the short engagement. The enemy losses are unknown.