WAR NEWS BY MAIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 6

WAR NEWS BY MAIL

GERMAN GROSSNESS OUTRAGEOUS INSULTS TO RUSSIAN WOMEN 'London, January 15. 'A' terrible indictment of German grossness and brutality is contained in a report issued by the Russian Government of the treatment -undergone by Russian diplomatists and private persons who . were in Germany at the declaration of war. . The report describes the disgraceful attack of the Berlin mob on the. gentlemen and ladies of the Russian Embassy in .Berlin when they were leaving the ( capital for Russia. Mrue. Lermontov, wife of the Russian Minister at Stuttgart, was struck by an old German gentleman, who broke his umbrella over her back. The wife of the naval attache in Berlin and other ladies were wounded, in the face with stones/while the crowd spat in the face of most of the ladies, including the Princess Belosselsky. The Russian Consnl-General at Breslau Baroh Schilling, was arrested and dragged off to gaol, where he was treated like a criminal. The next day he was released and sent on with his family to Insterburg, where, -under the surveillance of an officer or a soldier, they were all, even the. children, stripped to the skin.

Senator Bellegarde, the Russian Com-missioner-General at the International Book Exhibition at Leipzig, and the whole of the Russian delegation were arrested, cross-examined by a foulmouthed sergeant, stripped, and finally locked np in a criminal gaol. The party were released next day. They were sent tj Berlin, where they were told that the Saxon Minister, Baron Salza von Lichtenau, would facilitate their departure. The senator called on Baron Salza"; who was grossly offensive and used the most improper expressions regarding Russia and her policy. ' The Russian civilians at Stettin were driven—women, children, old men, and invalids—through the streets, surrounded by soldiers, like a herd of cattle, at such a pace that often the women fell exhausted to the ground. All their heavy luggage disappeared'at the different German railway stations. In certain cases the women, were searched by officers and soldiers. ■ 1

In one instance a woman, who was held to bo a man in disguise, was thrashed by three policemen. On August 8 at the station_ of Neumunster the aged Countess WoronzoffDashkoff, wife of the Viceroy of the Caucasus, waa turned out of her carriage at four o'clock in the morning by drunken soldiers, who struck her with the butts of their rifles, dragged her by the hair, and brutally searched her.— ;"Daily Mail." WOUNDED BELGIANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA , A POPULAR SCHEME. London, January 15. A new method, and one which seems to be entirely acceptable to those concerned, of dealing with some,of the disabled Belgian soldiers has been adopted by the Wounded Allies' Relief Committee. Air. R. C: Hawkin, who is a brother-in-law of General Botha, conceived the idea of sending out men in- ' capable of further war service, and the first party of ten has left for. the Salvation Army farm polony at Roridebosch'. The popularity of the scheme was soon proved by the hundreds of ■applicants who sent in their names as soon as they heard what was on foot, and Surgeon-Major Gotz, of the Belgian Army, to whom was entrusted the task of selection, was frankly astonished at the eagerness of these home-lov-ing people to take the long journey. Only; Dutch-speaking men | have been chosen, but most of them are rapidly picking up. English; ' The object is not only to : give the men the lbest chance of recovery in a judiciously-chosen home, but by their means to put before the Afrikanders the Belgian aspect of the war. They will not .be able to do a great deal of work, but sufficient to save them from the monotony of continuous.idleness. If funds permit they,will be sent on tour through ( some of the towns so as to get into touch with as many Boers as possible. Tlie.y will be repatriated at tho end of tho war as a matter of course.

This first party is under the charge of a young Belgian barrister, and includes a diamond-cutter, a'brewer, a student, and _ an assistant Btationmaster. Most of them are minus

limbs or suffering from other serious disabilities, and nine of them, are troubled by the fact that they have lost all trace of their families.—"Manchester Guardian."

PORTUGAL PREPARING

TO INTERVENE IN EUROPEAN AREA.

.' Lisbon, January 7. The House of Deputies , yesterday voted £600,000 for the purchase of war material. The Minister of War made a direct and clear allusion to the intervention of Portugal in the European conflict, saying that it could not be effected without the acquisition of more war, material, and a lengthy preparation of the troops. ■ '. ' Subscriptions for the purchase of overcoats and warm clothing for the troops have been opened by several newspapers, and the appeals are meeting with good support. In the session of the Senate of January 6 Dr. Bernardino Machado, the late Prime Minister, proposed the following motion, which was unanimously approved:—

_ Upon entering the new year, the Senate-,wishes to convey to the Portuguese army and navy the expression of its absolute- confidence in the ultimate success of the campaign upon which, at this historic moment, it is their lot to have to embark for the defence of the rights and highest interests of the nation.

" the same hopeful expectancy that we wish to- associate with this vote of confidence our sincerest and heartiest wishes for the just victory of England, our inseparable ally. It was resolved to communicate the latter part of this motion to His British Majesty s Minister in London.—"Manchester Guardian."

but that we would resist with all our strength every enemy, no matter from what quarter he might come " This language, coming from the most German city in Switzerland, ought to bo sufficiently convincing evidence of the fact that the right, of way through Switzerland is to be gained only by an army large enough to put down the resistance of 300,000 trained soldiers, plus that of iiß many of the male population remaining as can handle rifles.—Central News Agency.

ALLIES' DECISIVE HOUR

FULL GERMAN EFFORT BUT NOT OURS.

Paris, January 14. M. Deschanel, the President of the Chamber, on taking the chair at the opening of the sitting to-day, delivered a 6hort but inspiring address. M. Deschanel set forth what he conceived to be the 'first task of the Chamber. That was to help the combatants and their families, to repair the ravages of war in the invaded departments, and to collaborate with the nation and the Government in driving the enemy out of their country, in freeing Belgium, and in restoring Alsace and Lorraino to France. At the same time preparations must be made for the work of peace and the economic regime of the future, and for the foundation of a. new France more brotherly and more prosperous. "If we are to carry out these tasks successfully, let us tako example from the calmness and coolness and perseveranc of the country and the Army." After emphasising the necessity of tenacity ana patience, M. Deschanel said: "Time in- this long-drawn test is on the side of the right. The Dual Alliance has made its maximum effort. The Triple Entente has not, anjl the decisive hour has not yet soundod.

"New sympathies are manifesting themselves beyond our ■ frontiers. I salute the two Garibaldis who have died for France, and I desire to ex-press-my ardent gratitude to General Garibaldi. Once more the noble blood of Italy has been shed with the blood of Prance on the battlefield in order that from the horrors of war and from the shades of the dead rtiaj- arise victorious light and eternal justice." The reference to General Garibaldi and his sons and to Italy was loudly chcered, all the deputies and-Ministers rising in their seats and applauding with enthusiasm for some time. It was unanimously decided to placard the speech throughout the country.— Reuter. KAISER DEPRESSED BY LOSSES ■ DECIDES TO CHANGE LINE OF ATTACK. Londoni February 11. The situation in the Eastern arena of the fighting is occupying the attention of the military authorities in Berlin in very largo degree, if reliance may be placed on news dispatches reaching London from the Continent. Acoordiug to these Emperor William returned hurriedly to Berlin from the front in Poland, and at once held a prolonged military conference, summoning for this purpose General von Moltk'e, Count von Aulenberg, General von Kessel, and numerous other v/ell-known leaders. According to the correspondents of certain; neutral Danish newspapers, Emperor William finds the situation generally; hopeful, but he'is described as greatly depressed over the terrible cost in men Germany has had to pay in return for comparatively limited advances aganist the entrenched Russians. One account reaching Paris by way of Warsaw places the German losses on the Bzura and the Rawka, fronts at 45,000 dead. This report is without confirmation, and it has not even been re- 1 peated from any other source. Nevertheless, Danish military oritics ! say Emperor William has protested; against this slaughter, and that, as, a result, an effort will be made by the German War Staff to transfer the fighting to some point where the Russians are less formidably entrenched.—New York "Evening Post." I

NEW BALKAN COMBATANTS

FRENCH PRESS FORECASTS. Paris, January 18. Public opinion here remains concentrated on the.situation that is slowly beginning to define itself in Austria-Hun-gary, Italy, Rumania, and the Near East generally. The apparent inactivity of Prince Bulow in Rome is considered in relation both with the resignation of Count- Berchtold and the visit of M. Diamandy (the Rumanian delegate) to Italy, and the prevailing view appears to be that the Triple Alliance is now absolutely a thing of the ■ past. _ The "Figaro" this morning, commenting on the situation, emphasises the difficulties with which Austria is faced, and adds: —

"The agreement between Rumania and Bulgaria seems, in fact, complete. The forthcoming interview between the Kings of Rumania and Bulgaria is confirmed, and when kings meet it is not to negotiate but to set the seal to' an agreement. . . . Rumania is ready, and

her army is in a Btate of preparation that it never reached even in 1912, when the military, attaches at Bukarest Bpoke of it as remarkable. Like Italy, she; is already organising her military hospitals. "Everything, therefore, seems ready for the release of events in the East and South of Europe. Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, and. Greece are about to enter on the scene, the. two first in order to c-xert on Austria the double pressure of their armies, and the two latter to resume with the camion the intercepted conversation with their old enemy at Constantinople, and this time to end it definitely. "We shall then see how strong are the new armies that Germany declares she is ready to bring against her enemies in the spring, once she can withdraw her troops, from Austria, who, incidentally, with all her forces, will not have too many men to reply to her, new adversaries, Russia can throw all her weight upon the East Prussian front, while the Western theatre will be the affair of the Franco-British armies, which will then be increased by fresh contingents. This will triply bo the beginning of tho end." The "Temps" this evening states: "Rumania is completing her military preparations, and the reservists-are to b# called to the colours. As Dr. Cantacuzene, Professor at Bucharest, and M. Costinescu, who are carrying out a medical mission in France, and. at this moment are' visiting the ambulances at the front, state: 'It is practicallya mobilisation, though not so in nam<3, and 'our entry into the .field has been decided on.' The attitude of Bulgaria is less well defined, but there is now reason to believe that she will not interfere with the action of neighbouring States.'

"There is no doubt as to the arrangements of Greece. Five hundred Greek volunteers are fighting in the ranks of the. French Army, and the Greek population applauds French successes as national successes. Tho Greek Army lias been mobilised to the extent of 125,000 men, and the fleet is ready for action. Turkey is naturally her first objective, as she has recent grievances to avenge against this ally of Austria and Germany."—"Morning Post."