FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR LA BASSEE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2384, 13 February 1915, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR LA BASSEE.

! IMPORTANT BRITISH SUCCESSES i i, RUSSIAN RETREAT 3 y l' ■ ■ f . ; GERMANS MASSING IN EAST '.PRUSSIA , 1 *' '■ WAR FEVER I ITALY REVOLUTION THREATENED IF WAR NOT DECLARED ATTACK ON SUEZ CANAL / f■v - : ABANDONED BY THE TURKS It was stated the other day that military critics were watching the German movements in East Prussia, and at Bagatelle, in the Argonne, and this morning there are indications that the offensive movement in East' Prussia is developing in favour of the Germans. The Russians have retreated from the region, of the Masurian Lakes, but claim to be holding the enemy. In Poland the position of the Germans is admitted , by' German', war correspondents to be difficult. Against the Austrians the Russians continue to be victorious, and have captured another . strategic position near one of the Carpathian passes. On" the Western theatre the British forces operating in the La Bassee district have cap- : tured important positions after fierce fighting. There was also a violent . engagement 'with German bomb-throwers near Bagatelle, and a massed attack attempted by the Germans was smashed by French artillery The , talk of peace is becoming more'noticeable,"and the Danish papers are astonished at the license permitted the German Press to discuss the . . question of, peace. A number o£ Hungarian Deputies have petitioned .the Austrian Foreign Minister iii favour of an early peace. From Italian sources there comes tho. information that the Turks have exhausted their supplies of provisions, water, 'and ammunition, and are abandoning their plans to attack the Suez Canal. The war fever appears to 'be increasing in Italy,/and a Republican group urges recourse to revolutionary • methods if the Government fails to join in the war on the side of. the Allies. IMPORTANT BRITISH SUCCESSES IN THE LA BASSEE DISTRICT STRONGLY ENTRENCHED POSITIONS CAPTURED By TelegT&Dh—Prees Association—OoDyriglit , _ . . ... Paris, February. 11. The British success at Violaines,. two miles north of La Bassee, was important. '. : The Germans were strongly entrenched, but were surprised. Unnerved by the deadly fire from tvo British fieldpieces, they speedily surrendered when the British charged. • The British, on Saturday night and Sunday, by fierce fighting, captured two trenches at Festubert, three miles west of Violaines, taking five hundred prisoners, many of whom were young boys who had just reached the front. m , , . Paris, February 11.' '' The ''Matin" says that the French have captured a hill at Notre Dame de Lorette, and have. 1 strongly'entrenohed themselves. The hill dominates tie whole of 'a region which, has been contested for several weeks past. • . ■ ' ;. .• London, February 11. The British captured another brickfield near La Bassee: The Germans had a thousand killed and wounded; the British barelv a hnn. dred. —("Times" "and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' London, February 11. _ A rommunaiue states There has been a violent .struggle at Marie Theresa in the Argonne. We maintained our position. ' The enemy's losses were considerable; ours were serious. .VIOLENT ENGAGEMENT WITH BOMB-THROWERS. • ' (Rec. February 12, 9.30 p.m.) . • . m , . ' Paris, February 12. ■ Official.—There was a violent bombardment against Nieuport and the banks of the Yser, to which our artillery replied with good effect. A violent engagement'with bomb-throwers at Bagatelle -lasted all the morning. TheGernian attack on the Marie Therese works was carried out by columns of four five hundred metre-front, which wore smashed by our artillery. GERMAN ADMINISTRATION QUITS OSTEND. (Rec. February 13, 0.35 a.m.) . m Amsterdam, February 12. The "Telegraaf's' Sluis correspondent states that it is reported tfiat the German Military Administration has quitted Ostend for Bruges. -1 The Belgian Army is now estimated at oiie hundred thousand. GERMAN PRESS DISCUSSING. THE QUESTION OF PEACE. (Rec. February 12, 5.30 p.m.) . , , .v. London, February 11. The Danish papers are astonished at the license permitted the German Press to. disouss the question of peace, and hazard the opinion that Germany, in concentrating all her energies against Russia, and declaring a blockade of the North Sea is for the purpose of having some foundation for offering to come to terms of peace.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun". Services.) SITUATION OF THE GERMANS IN POLAND ADMITTED TO BE DIFFICULT ; SUCCESSFUL RUSSIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS (Rec. February 12, 5.30 p.m.) ■„ ■ London, February 11. Gorman war correspondents at the Bznra admit that the situation of the Germans in Poland is very difficult, the Russians often making the most successful counter-attacks.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) GERMAN OFFENSIVE DEVELOPING IN EAST PRUSSIA RUSSIANS FALLING BACK FROM .THE MASURIAN LAKES. . (Rec. February 12, ,9.30 p.m.) Petrograd, February 12. Official.—A very great German concentration in East Prussia if. developing the offensive in the direction of Wylkowyszki and Lyck. Our troops arc falling back from the Masurian Lakes, but are holding the encmyi • • We captured the hoighta east el th« fuss Aliei' Si atlibtafl! light) awl Btcuittd a thousand prisoners*

GERMAN OPERATIONS HAVE FAILED. (Rec. February II), 0.10 u.m.) London, February 12. The "Times" military correspondent. roviowing tho heavy lighting in tho Eastern, theatre, considers that tho wholo Cienimii operations' have failed because they had'been planned without proper regard to the strength of tho re-spov-tivo forces, tho season, and the ground. Tho failure will make the Western offensive more difficult for them owing to I,ho loss of men and prestige, and tho inability to withdraw men from oast to west. Tho Germans aro terribly anxious about tlio spring campaigns, and it will therefore bo necessary for tho Allios to proparo for the enemy's furious attempt to forestall tho offensive and reach Paris. . FRATERNAL RAPPROCHEMENT OF RUSSIA AND POLAND THE DAWNING OF A RADIANT FUTURE. . . ,j t, . Petrograd, February 11. At the opening of the Duma session tho Premier (M. Kokovtsoff) declared that the conquest of Gahcia had rendered stronger the union of tho Russian people and the fraternal rapprochoment of tho Russian and Polish people. At the same time the Slav tribes woro growing closer to one another. The Russian anny was strongor than over, and a radiant future for 'Russia was beginning to dawn on the walls of Constantihoplo. Tho war had had little influence on the domestic and economic M e 0 f Russia. Tho country had not yet exerted nor fuJl strength. . M - Sazanoff (Minister for Foreign Affairs), traversing Germany's declaration that she was forced, into war, declared that Germany had sought to embroil Russia and tho neighbouring countries In tho course of her intrigues in Scandinavia, Gahcia, Rumania, Turkoy, China, and Japan. DAILY COST OF THE WAR TO RUSSIA. t. , , • it. - .I' Potrbgrad, February 11. j>i inSfj ■! lu a m the Duma'that the war is costing Russia £1,400,000 daily. AUSTRIAN TROOPS SURRENDERING IN LARGE NUMBERS HUNGARIAN "DEPUTIES PETITIONING FOR PEACE . _ ' ,11! Paris, February 11. The Press Burea states that a correspondent, dealing with tho fighting in the Carpathians, says that the Austrian armies did not hold: out against the Russians unless they were promptJfr lad bv Germans. In Bohemia and Moravia-, regiments of mixed Slavs and Austro-Germans are constantly quarrelling. Even some of the Hungarian regiments are commanded by Germans. The great wish of all is that tho war should be ended. He adds"Numbers of the Austrian units are so reduced that they aro mere shadows of ,what they were. Soma seem to havo disappeared altogether. From the beginning, the Bosnians surrendered in large numbers; then the Poles began to arrive fast, and now Bohemian, Rumanian, and Italian soldiers in Austria have also come over very easily. Before Cracow a large number of Bohemians marched to tho Russian linos singing songs and shouting greetings, and surrendered." A number of Hungarian Deputios have petitioned Count von Burian do Raiecs in favour of an early peace. • Hungary is threatened by famine and insurrection.— ("Times" and Svdnev "Sun" Services.) BULGARIA'S ROLE: "STRICT NEUTRALITY." , r _ , . . Sofia, February 12. M. Radaslavoff (Bulgarian Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs) addressing the Parliamentary majority, declared that Bulgaria would maintain strict neutrality. ■ ' ITALIANS ANXIOUS TO ASSIST THE ALLIES IMPOSING PROCESSION IN FAVOUR OF WAR Five hnndred political delegates, including members of an imposing procession at Padua in favour of Italy assisting tho Allies ill tho war, A Republican group carried a resolution urging recourse to revolutionary measures if the Government failed to join in the war. ATTACK ON THE CANAL TO BE ABANDONED TURKS HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR PROVISIONS, WATER AND AMMUNITION (Rec. February 12, 5.30 p.m.) London, February 11. Refugees assert that Djemal Pasha, who was appointed to command tho Turkish forces to invade Egypt, broke his leg in a motor accident at Beersheba and surrendered his command to General von Bach. , ' The "Tribuna," Rome, states that the Turks are abandoning their plans for fresh attacks on the Suez Canal, and appear to have exhausted their provisions, water, and ammunition.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. February 13, 1 a.m.) ' Copenhagen, February 12. Berlin advices state that the Turks have decided to abandon the invasion of Egypt, and transfer their army to Bagdad, Erzerum, and Constantinople. Small forces may raid in the direction of Egypt occasionally.