GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 7

GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received January 30, 2.5 p.n). LONDON, January 29. A German official message states: — repulsed three British waves with heavy losses north of Armentieres. Repeated French attacks at Hill 300 were unsuccessful. The Turks repulsed strong Russian attacks on. the Zlota Lipa.

‘FIELD’ OFFICE RAID.

EDITOR’S PROTEST. (Times:) LONDON, January 30. Mr Thomas Cook, editor of the Field, has protested against the military raid on the editorial offices on Tuesday last, and explains that in order to safeguard the Allies he bought the rights of a tier.- and powerful explosive, which an important Ally had successfully tested, but the War Office had refused to adopt it. Mr Cook claims that the . officials concerned at the War Office wore persecuting him, and he demands a public inquiry. JAPAN’S ASSISTANCE. TROOPS IF NECESSARY. ITimes.) LONDON. January 2oBaron Kato, Japanese Minister of Marine, stated in an interview that Japan had proved a trustworthy Ally, and was prepared to send troops to Europe if npt assured that victory for te Allies was certain without them. Private factories, he added, had Seen working day and night, producing munitions of war. chiefly for Russia. Japan had also helped financially in the purchasing of the Allies’ bonds. RUSH HOME AFTER WAR. t ANCOFVER, January 2d. " The Canadian Atlantic- Steamship ar'> iits have warned .Canadian women who wish to follow their soldier-hus-bands to England that they may uot he able to return when they wish. “Peace may come suddenly 'with n great German collapse,” said one agent, “and the Government will then start to send troops home. This work, Australians included, will take a year-’ Already 30,000 Canadian women are in England. PLIGHT OF GERMANY. RUSHING TO DESTRUCTION, RAIDS FOR FOOD SUGGESTED. LONDON, January 17. A letter which has reached London from Cologne states that the economic situation in Germany is growing desperate- The downhill pace is increasing, and fresh deterioration is visible weekly. Tm- people privately confess that Germ, av is faced with the prospect of gitiug up the struggle unless raids are made on Denmark and Holland for food. There are no eases of starvation. Rabies under two years old get sufficient milk, except in munition areas, where milk is made into glycerine. Many babies and invalids have been taken to Switzerland and Holland. The rich are not suffering. The poor complain bitterly. Recently there have been numerous disputes between the town and country authorities hut the Germanic docility is still wonderful. The leather famine is seriousMilitary effects and boots are most L difficult to obtain. Sometimes great PUk-lits occur outside the boot shops, i T’he bread recently improved, but nowold, sodden potato-bread is sold. Chocolate costs XT a pound. Oysters from Ostend are a great luxury. The railways are disorganised owing t>» the shortage of coal, due to labour difficulties. Women workers dress in neat knickerbockers. Russian and French prisoners are constructing nowrailways and buildings. The diet of the soldiers has decreased. Men from the Somme, which is known as “The grave,” complain about not getting oily substances. Military bands are .everywhere, but the military spirit is dead“ln the cities I have visited,” the letter concludes, -‘the only comfort the people get is the bc-lief that the prices and the scarcity of food are worse > n France, Britain, and Russia than in Germany.”

VICTORY BY TIME-TABLE.

■mvelle and dotjaumont. LONDON, January 17. On the eve of the attack against Dououmonfe General Nirelle submitted three plans. Be recommended one, which the Prime Minister, M. Briand, approved, and General Joffre adopted. General Nirelle told M. Briand that he would receive a telegram at 3 o'clock ! in the afternoon detailing the accom- ! plishments of the French. M. Briand was addressing a difficult secret session at 3 o'clock when the telegram arrived /in. the exact language General Nirelle / forecasted, giving toe points reached, p,U .> time occupied, casualties, and prisoners. Next day the prisoners had increased to 12,000. - '