The European War.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XVIIII, Issue 449, 17 November 1916, Page 4

The European War.

Pot Press Association—Copyright. THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN. THE SOMME FTGHTINGI. P.IHTISII FRONT. (High Commissioner's Cable.) LONDON, Nov. IT) (1:2 a.m.). ; British official.—During the day we 'urther advanced our front north of tho ;\ncre. The prisoners taken since Monday total 5678. The troops employed showed conspicuous skill, dash aid fortitude. Our success was won in : ( hard struggle. Our losses, consider- j ing tho extent of the gains, are not high. j i GREAT ENEMY EFFORTS. ! RESULT IN SMALL GAINS. LONDON, Nov. 16 (2.40 a.m.). French, official.—On the Somme front the battle continued all day violently. The enemy made a powerful effort north and south of the river. North of the Somme he gained a footing m our advanced elements in the north corner of the western boundary of Saint Pierre Vaast Wood. Everywhere eKe our lire crushed the enemy's ehc-i ts. <ou;h of the river the Germans renewed their attacks on a front from Ablaincouri. to Hois de Guanines. The Germans were driven back to their trenches with sanguinary losses, except eastwards of the village of Prcssoir, where ihey progressed. TIIK lILOODIEST BATTLE OF THE WAR. THE ENEMY'S LOSSES. Pes Presa Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received 10.55 p.m.. Nov. 16t!i. PARIS, Nov. hi. The "Liberto.'' states that the light for Beaumont Hamel will go down to history as one of the bloodiest in tho war. The Germans regarded the village as even stronger than Thiepval or Com'ules. When the British had carried five line- of trenches they encountered concealed machine guns behind the ■.•illage walls; also intense artillery. The hand to hand Mni.cglo lasted for u-n hours. The Germans must have lost at least 8000 at. Beaumont Hamel alone. Mr Miircel Hutin, in the "Echo de Paris." says that there is no doubt that Germany's unreserved .admission o f defeat and heavy losses on tho Anere was intended to justify the general mobilisation plans. BRITISH MAINTAIN GAINS. A DIVISION'S GOOD WORK". Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Router. Received 9.30 p.m., Nov. 16th. LONDON, Nov. 16. General Sir Douglas Haig, reporting on tho recent offensive, states:—One division advanced «a mile, taking prisoner 1000, at the expense of 450 casualties. We established the positions won on Tuesday. Eastward of Butte de Warlencourt our artillery dis<

persed the enemy, who was massing at 07ie point for a counter attack. Aeroplanes successfully attacked an aerodrome, railway stations and rolling stock.

SALONIKA.

VIOLENT FIGHTING

SATISFACTORY RESULTS. (High Commissioner's Cable.) LONDON, Nov. 10 (2.40 a.m.). Fronc.h official.—The violent fighting lias been renewed in the region of the Cerna. In the Serbian offensive on Monday and Tuesday they had new successes north of Vehiseuo. The victories of the Franco-Serbian troops continue. FRENCH AND SERBIAN SUCCESSES. Per Press Association?—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cablo Assn. and Reutor. Received 9.35 p.m., Nov. 16th. LONDON, Nov. 16. French official—After a brief lull fierce fighting was resumed in the Cerna region in connection with the Serbian offensive developed on the 13th and 14th, resulting in fresh successes. The Germans and Bulgarians retired in the vicinity of Hill 1212 to the north-east, ever closely pressed by the Serbians, who captured the village of Cincol. The victorious march of the FrancoSerbians continues in tho direction of Tepavoi. The fighting on the west of tho Cerna has spread to the Kchali region. In the Cerna loop 3200 prisoners were taken from the 10th November to tho 14th, including 600 Germans. —» ■ ' * ■ i ITALY. THE PADUA MURDER RAID. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received 7.10 p.m., Nov. 16th. ROME, Nov. 15. Ninety were killed- by tho Padua air raid. ,

KOUMANIA.

SERBIANS WOULD BE FREE

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received 7.10 p.m., Nov. 16th. BUCHAREST, Nov. 15. Wireless.—Two companies of Sornian volunteers swam the Danube and enlisted in the army of liberation. GERMAN TROOPS FROM RUSSIA. The 100th Prussian division, from Dvinsk, has been identified on the Jiul fiont. TTT'R SUBMARINE WAR. BRITISH DEFENCE POLICY. CRITICISED BY THE LORDS. Aus'ralian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received 5.55 p.m., Nov. 16th. LONDON, Nov. 15. ; To the House of Lords, Lord Syden- i ham asked the Government for a <\c- j Unite declaration of policy on behalf of the Allies in regard to the monstrous proceedings cf German submarines. i There was an uneasy feeling in the ■ country that the submarine menace had ; oeeome more serious, and the authorities admitted this. He would like the Government to make a declaration oxacting ton for ton. J'hey should also give greater freedom to the Fleet. I Lord lieresford said tho Foreign Of--1 fico had entirely taken over the Naval policy and handicapped the Navy's work. We had abandoned the policy of a-,tack and. substituted the policy of defence. The mercantile marine was ir. great danger, and food and material supplies were in peril. The Board of Admiralty must be strengthened by die introduction of new blood, younger . u.cn, fresh from the sea. REPARATION FOB GERMAN CRIMES. TOO EARLY FOR DISCUSSION. Received 8.115 p.m., Nov. lGth. Lord Crewe said it was useless to say that we would exact this or that reparation unless we were able to impose iho turtn.s of peace by obtaining a complete victory. The only voice which umld speak with authority now was that of the cannon on the Allied fronts. The misdeeds of submarines were only a small part of the German crimes. There was the sinking of the Lusitania, the murder of Nurse Clivell and Captain Fry alt, and the Belgian and Polish atrocities. Before anything could be done wo must complete the J victory. ! The Government was making the neee;-sar, preparations to arm the mercantile marine. The Admiralty had j been singularly successful in the deI struction of submarines, 'out the ditTtculties of dealing with them had increased. CENTRAL POWERS. CKBMANY'S GREATEST EFFORT. PREPARATIONS IN HAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.; Received 5.55 p.m., Nov. 16th. AMSTERDAM, Nov. 15. The newspaper "Tyd" states that all German citizens will be mobilised for ; army or factory work in December. ' The preparations to be made to placo • a barrier before the Entente's assault 1 will astonish Europe. An air fleet is being built which will lead to un- ■ dreamed of air battles. There is a lack of soldiers and war material at

the present moment, but these conditions will soon cease. It is expected that the Reichstag will extend tho operation of the Bill .-to women. Eight thousand Russian prisoners at Licgo have been compelled to work in the coal mines, replacing deported Belgians. A TITLE FOR WAR BRIDES. The Saxon Government lias derided that girls engaged to soldiers killed in action shall he allowed the title of "Fran" if it is proved that they had an earnest intention to marry. Special Government permission is required before a girl assumes tho name "fiancee." REPRISAL PROPERTY SALE.

In reprisal for the forced sale of property in Nigeria, the German Government is selling the palace of Sir Francis Oppenheimer, former Consii'General at Frankfurt. It is valn\l at two million marks. BRITAIN'S FOOD. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. ENFORCING ECONOMY AND PREVENTING WASTE. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Assn. Received 7.10 p.m., Nov. 16th. LONDON, Nov. 15. In the House of Commons Mr Hewiiv. moved that it is the Government's duty to adopt further methods of organisation to increase the national food supply, so as to diminish the risk of shortage in tho event'of the war being prolonged. It was stated that we are faced with a permanent increase in prices which will last many years. The pro'olera is primarily one of production, and we should adopt a national agriculture policy. Mr Runciman said the strain this country will have to bear in 1917 will bo primarily connected with food supplies. Tragic as it might be, it will bo more severe in Austro-Germany. He declared that it is unnecessary to stimulate the production of Canada or Australia. Canada's orop i is abundant and transport easy. Next I year we shall have to depend on Aus-

tralian supplies. In fact we had commandeered a large fleet at artificial rates .and had eased the problem of transport. We had also encouraged Australian production. The food problem Mas shared by Franco and Italy. The Government regarded the whole question of the shipment of wheat for the Allies as one problem, to he dealt with by o7io requisitioned fleet. He expected that half the year's production of shipping would approach half a million tons. He was arranging for the pooling of engineering effort on the Tyne and elsewhere, bringing back hundreds oi skilled workkers from the Front. lit a normal year wo could build piactically the whole of the tonnage lost since the war began. Germany knew that we had chartered neutrals' ships, hence the submarine warfare. The Government was taking powers to prevent undue profits being ma.de Viv potato growers and milk sellers. FOOD CONTROL.

Ir would be necessary to dispense j ivith some, forms of food, especially j elaborate confectionery. A Food Controller would be. necessary to co-ordin-ate all activities, and powers would bo taken to pi-escribe the purposes for which articles could be used, and to prosecute persons wasting or destroying food. If voluntary effort for conomy failed drastic measures would be necessary. it was proposed to prohibit the milling of fine white flour, thus raising the yield eight and a half per cent. The Government was taking powers to regulate the market and prevent cornering, and to deal with the sale and distribution of articles, in order to be in a position to act immediately. l( the necessity arose the Government would use food tickets. They did not propose to fix minimum prices, but asked for pover to fix fair prices. He had been told that the country wanted to be governed. lie asked the House to give the Cabinet I ower to govern. Sir Edward Carson said the House expected more drastic proposals. 'lhe (otintiy :,hould be told that the difficulties were due to the reduction of tonnage by submarines rather than illegitimate profits. He hoped the Fowl Controller would '.ie a dictator with power to snub Departments if they failed to do what he required. Mi- Wardle, on behalf oi Labour, v, deemed the proposals. He was of opinion that the country's resources ought to have been organised at the outbreak of war. He expected that Air Eunciman would have to go yet farther in. this direction.

BILL TO BK PASSED. GIVING EFFECT TO PROPOSALS. Mr Runcinian explained that a Bill would be passed at the earliest opportunity, embodying the Government's proposals, some of which were immediately practicable under the existing powers, notably those relating to milk contracts, potatoes, stocks of flour and milling. A Food Controller would lie appointed immediately a suitable man could be found, who would have drastic powers. The Board of Trade regard hitn as the most essential man in the Empire. In demonstrating the necessity to neat the big sliip building centres as one concern, he instanced the sixteen vessels at the Wearside yards awaiting engines. He had arranged to concentrate on tho most advanced vessels and hoped that by the end of the year no vessels would lie half finished.

Mr Runcinian s.'.'. he regarded new construction rs an important part of the shipping problem. There was a temporary steel shortage, but he hoped that aa a result of the Munition Ministry's action there would he ample supplies ni the New Year.

AUSTRALIA

■JHIRTY DAYS TRAINING

FOR HOME DEFENCE FORCE

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn

Received 8.35 p.m., Nov. 16th. MELBOURNE, Nov. 16.

As tho Government has decided that called up men will be required to undergo only thirty days of training, the necessity for the bulk of the exemptions no longer exists and practically all eligible now are required to do a month's training.

AESTRALTAN GENERAL KILLED

SYDNEY, Nov. 16

Brigadier-General Glasfurd, commanding the Seventeenth Australian Infantry Brigade, has been .killed in France.