WAR NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 1 March 1918, Page 2

WAR NEWS.

ENKMV RAIDS REPULSED. LONDON, Wednesday. British oflicial: We repulsed raids north-westward of St. Quentiu and Bulleoourt, ami vast-ward of Vermillot OAS ATTACK ON AMERICANS. (Aiwtralian-N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, Wednesday. The United Press correspondent at Hie. American front states that the first gas attack against the American forces was made on Tuesday. The Germans hurled one hundred ga.s projectiles with suddenness tliat several Americans were unablo to utilise their masks. A second gas attack followed almost immediately, but the Americans replied with heavy lire and held all their positions. Five Americans were killed and ■fifty taken to the hospital.

RUSSIAN SITUATION

PETROGRAD, Wednesday. Only two cavalry squadrons and six armoured curs entered PbLo. The defenders took panic and fled. The- Ijetts recovered and offered resistance when they learned the enemy was so few. There was street fighting till German reinforcements arrived, and then the invaders soon pushed fceyond the town. The People's Commissaries in Petrograd are torn by dissensions. It is understood that Trotsky has retired.

THE REVOLUTION'S TASK

LONDON, Wednesday A wireless Russian official message states; The German Government formally refused an armistice because her desire was not for peace but to strangle the revolution. An obstinate and pitiless resistance to tho German hordes is thus the task of tho Revolution. Our greatest strength is wide territories. The occupation of Revel and Pskoff. and even Petrograd, which is still distant, will in no wise decide the destiny of the Revolution. Should the. threat to Petrograd increase the Soviet Government will retire to Moscow or elsewhere in Russia. But the chief present task is to liar the roads to Petrograd by every obstacle. Wo will prove to the Germans that they must disperse throughout Russia before they can crush the authority of the Soviets. They will never have the forces necessary. The more deeply they penetrate Russia the more surely will they bring on a revolution in Germany,

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE. The British and French newspapers are discussing Japan's attitude to Russia in view of the , Bolsheviks' shameful capitulation. The "Daily Chronicle" says that Japan's refusal to send troops to Europe was natural and inevitable. Japan is not a European nation, but now that Russian-Asia looms before the German ambition as one of the spoils of war, the situation is different. If the Allies can come to a practical agreement, Japan may take a military part in the common struggle. The Paris newspapers generally are of the opinion that it is time for Japan -to act. The German peril in the East is too real to bo ignored. The "Temps" says that Germany's new dream is a road from Berlin to Tokio, instead of from Berlin to Bagdad. Japan understands the danger to the people of Russia and Siberia, and that it is no longer sufficient to police Siberia. War must be waged then 1 . Every day the German influence is dragging tho keys to Yladivostock westward.

HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Wednesday. The Admiralty reports that the hospital ship Clenart Castle, outward hound with all lights burning, was sunk in the Bristol Channel at four o'clock yesterday morning. There wece no patients aboard. An American destroyer landed survivors. Eight boats are still adrift. The hospital ship was a Union liner. Tho death roll, it is believed, exceeds 20f>.