WAR NEWS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 9 February 1918, Page 6

WAR NEWS

ARTILLKRY ACTIVITY. LONDON Thursday. British oliieial: There is hostile artillery activity in Ihe neighbourhood of llavrincourt Wood, southward iiud nortli ol' Lous, aind in tin* ueighhourliood of the Meuin road. Our aeroplanes dropped live lon.s of explosives on hostile railway stations, ami other targets, and also T.'» tons on an aerodrome south-east of Cambrai, and on billets. All our machines returned.

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION. LONDON, Thursday. A wireless Ci'-mian official aciounl c* Sunday's sifting at Brest Litov-i: states that, Trotsky demanded the withdrawal of troops from Poland s:> as to enable the people to give five expression of their opinion. Count Czorniu proie.sied again-i Troteky's statement thai ii was impossible to negotiate with the Polish delegation, because Poland had no (ixed boundaries, and had no established independent Government.

Count Czcrnin pointed out thai j tho- same applied to Russia adding, I We did not come here fur ;m intellectual wrestling match."' The continuation of the discussion on Poland being unpro|lVd»lo. Kuldmann peremptorily closed she sitting, stating that, it. was impossible to follow Trotsky's dialectics and apparent contradictions, first claiming (lie independence of Poland, ,-ind later d<'mying Poland's right to be heard separately. Ktdilmann concluded by saying that unavoidable dill its necessitated a short absence from u"'g<>l.!aiiu.r.s b<-v tween the Central Powers and Russia. but the legal and economic commission could proceed.

PKACK WITH UK I? A INK

AMSTERDAM. Thursday

The "Yolks Zeitmig" states ihat the conference at Brest Lilovsk will resume on February 7th the chief object of the Central Powers being to conclude peace with Ukraine.

A CRISIS APPROACHING:. AMSTERDAM. Thursday. The "Kronz Zeitung" hints that the Kaiser and his staff favour a peace ultimatum to Russia. In the event of its resfusal, Germany will march on Petrograd with troop's concentrated op the East for that purpose.

Other newspapers agree that a crisis is approaching, and hold only the smallest hope of a peace treaty being concluded.

The "Lokal Anzeiger" asserts that decisions of the greatest importance are impending, with military demonstrations, owing to the bad* effect of the strikes in Austria and Germany npotti the military situation and foreign policy.

BOLSHEVIK VICTORY CLAIMED

(Router's Telegrams.) PETROGRAD, Thursday. General Aloxioff is reported to bo, marching north. He has occupied n number of stations in the direction of Kharkoff and Voroness.

The Bolshevik Agency reports that tJio .Red Guards have captured Tammerfors in Finland, after a fierce battle, defeating ten thousand White Guards, commanded .by General Ma nner heim.

WAR-WEARY. GERMANS. (Australian—N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Thursday. A significant German communique, evidently intended to cheer up the war weary populace, gives an amaz-

in;; a'vouui of > I rik<'s, leading to riols_ in Kngland t hrou>;hoi|f the mouth of .ianuan, wherein ihere is no shadow of I ruth.

The communique slates that ''hardly a day passed without crouds in ihe town coming into conflict with the police. A riot iu London on January 17th is typical of affairs generally in England. The crowd fought ami worsted the police, putting ihe latt"r io llight. A dclachmeiui; of Scottish recruits was summoned from Inrraeks in Shepherd's Hush and ordered to lire on the rioters iu Oxford street. .The majority refused, and 80 were arrested. All the windows in .Selfridgo's Emporium were brokem. There were other tumults in the evening iu Threadnccdle St rcefr."

AMKIMCAN TRANSPORT TORPEDOED. Au.-:raiian N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, Thursday. 11 is announced here that the Auier.c.rii transport Tuscania has bene lorpedoed oil' ihe Irish coast. Tiie first message* reported that LYw lives had been lost, leaving U)l2 survivors.

l.ah r advices --fated that the death roll was '2lO, but a further telegram from 'London says H>-tt. the loss of hi'e does not exceed 100.

I (SCAN IA STILL AFLOAT. WASHINGTON, Thursday. Admiral Sims cables that, it is belived ih.-it the Tusaciua is still afloat. \ KSSEL OONYOYKl) BY WARSHIPS. MAY YORK, Thursday. The Tuscnina was in charge of Rritish ollicers, and Mas convoyed by British warships. She carried a fourinch gun. She was jn Anchor liner 10.-. Ned by Britain to carry troops.

'.I'D Ii PEACE QUESTION

(Australiau-N.Z. Cable Association.) BERNT,, Thursday.

Count Andrassy, addressing the Hungarian Parliament, denounced the idea of peace at amy price.

Ho said: "Wo must finish with a victory. Our enemies are agitating with the catch words, 'Dismemberment of the monarchy,' but Hungary has not responded to thfa lure." He could mot say the same for Austria.

Count Andrassy declared that Hungary must use every means to combat the proposals for the selfdetermination of nations.

ITALIAN LOSSES

ROMF,, Thursday

"Italian officii)) : The following is tlio sliipphio; record for 11 jo week :—.Arrivals. UO, sailed 113, sunk over 1000 tons 1, sun kunder 151K) tons f). Bix sailors over 100 ions were sunk. Four small sailers woro damaged. Two steamers; evaded ;ithick.

FREXCT-T All? RAID

LONDON, Tliursday

French official: An important railway junction at Snarlinick was successfully bombed, by our squadron, who wore attacked by several groups of enemy aeroplanes.

All our machines jsafolv returned

NAVAL PRIZE FUNDS. Australian—N Z Cnblo Association.) LONDON, Thursday. Tlio Gorornmcmfc is shortly distributing in the navv a prize fund of £12,000,000 derived from the sale of on pi n red enemy ships and their stores. Then* is sufficient to give every seaman £3O. The fund is distinct from the prize 'lountios awarded for sinking hostile vessels