NORTH SEA MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2440, 20 April 1915, Page 5

NORTH SEA MYSTERY

——t STATEMENT- BY FIRST LORD , OF THE ADMIRALTY / ITALIANS IN A FRONTIER , . FIGHT , BRUSH WITH AUSTRIANS ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN THE DARDANELLES , TORPEDO-BOAT AND TROOP SHIP Public interest.in the war news to-day attaches mainly to a statement made by Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, with regard to the rumours of a disaster in the Dardanelles—which rumour had not reached our ears—and the North Sea mystery. There has bee;! no action of any moment in the Dardanelles 'since March. 18, ex- , copt a local bombardment, and with regard to the North Sea mystery, ho says that there has been no naval loss in a North Sea action—he docs not say that there has been no action, in the North Sea. There has been a frontier oncounter, with fatalities, between Italian Bersagliori and Austrian outposts, and this, with other news from that ' storm centre, seems to bring the moment of Italian intervention in the war appreciably near. In the Eastern theatre there is a grim strug- , gle in progress for the possession of-the Uszok Pass, and the German • defences in that region have been reinforced by ten army corps. In the 'Western theatre there are no conspicuous developments. There is a good deal of peace talk, and hints of what Germany might do if the Allies, would initiate pourparlers, but Russia's reply to an unofficial'representation on behalf of Austria has been; "If Austria wants peace, let her ask for it.'" ITALIAN BERSAGLIERI ATTACKED BY AUSTRIANS - REPORTED ENCOUNTER WITH LOSS ATTACKERS DRIVEN BACK OVER THE FRONTIER (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) ; . • ~ , London, April 18. ■ The newspaper "Figaro" asserts that Austrian troops attacked a- Bersag-' lieri (Italian light infantry) regiment and Were driven back to Austrian soil. Many were killed on both sides.: _ < The Italian Government is replacing a number of pro-German Prefects. STORY OF THE SKIRMISH. (Rec. April'l9, 11.45 p.m.) , , " , .. Paris, April 19. The lieutenant of a platoon crossed the frontier at Vallees Abbia on Friday. The lieutenant, with his revolver, shot and wounded a- sergeant of Alpine troops when: ordered to withdraw., '. The Italians repulsed the Austrians with the bayonet, founding and taking prisoner a lieutenant and three Austrians. metal Consignments seized by italy. (Rec, April 19,. 10,25 p.m.) ... ,London, April 19. Tho Italian authorities are daily seizing metals consigned to Germany. WAR STORES OF WHEAT IN HAND. y - ■ (Reo. April 19, 10..25 p.m.) London, April 19. Reports from Rome state that of tho wheat reserve of ten million quintales desired by the Government, eight millions have already been: stored. It is expected that when fully convinced that Italian intervention is ; inevitable, Austria will open a strong offensive campaign. REPORTED DEPARTURE OF AUSTRIAN EMBASSY. (Rec. April 19, 10.25 p.m.) • _ , • Rome, April 19. Reports from Rome stats that Baron Amkrosi t-dvisos that the Austrian Embassy has left Romo, ' AUSTRO-ITALIAN NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. ■ (Rec. April 19, 9.20, p.m.) „ , , , . ' London, April 19. Reuters agent states that despite Germany's efforts, the Austro-Italian negotiations have failed. GRIM FIGHT FOB THE USZOK PASS TEN GERMAN ARMY CORPS BRODGHT DP SURPRISE ATTACK AND BAYONET CHARGE ■ : v -' • . .... ~ , . . . Petpograd, April 18. The Germans, by timely reinforcements—ten Army Corps—have thus far sstved the Uszok Pass from falling into the Russians' hands; but the latter almost surround the pass, and are gaining new heights daily.. ! The Telephocz-Zuelle battle began on Wednesday, when tie Russians ad-' vanced in dead silence, cut the enemy's wire entanglements, and surprised the > enemy with an overwhelming bayonet charge, without firing a shot. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— . London, April 18, 4.30 a.m. Desperate fighting took place in the Carpathians on TJearsday in the sector between Telephocz and Zuelle. Russians consolidated three .positions, and made eleven hundred prisoners. The enemy suffered great losses. The'guns captured at Przemysl totalled over a thousand. CRec. April 19, 1.20 a.m.) "In the Carpathians fighting is concentrated in the Rostolc direction. The enemy, notwithstanding enormous losses, mado sixteen attacks, without result in twenty-four hours, on the heights occupied by the Russians east of Telephocz. ■ "On Saturday night the Russians captured a height south-east of Polen, and took numerous prisoners. Three counter-attacks were repelled. "From March 19 to April 12, on.the Carpathian front, the Russians took upwards of seventy thousand, prisoners, nine hundred officers, thirty guns, and two hundred Maxims." ■ THE CAMPAIGN IN CENTRAL POLAND Petrograd, April 18. The Russians liavo made a slight forward movement at Sckoeheva (PSochoczew), where they crossed the Bzura. The German outposts arc mrre active at Mlnwa. The Kaiser is sending Bavarians and Saxons systematically to Hukowina, and (lie Carpathians, while there are. r.onrcntralions of 'home, troops on the Russian front. The monoeuvre either indicates diascuoiotio or that Uis s.v.v Is still resardad as »■ uoittti,

THE WAR IN THE WESTERN THEATRE . SHARP FIGHTING NEAR YPRES . . . Amsterdam, April 18. An official Berlin message statos that the British blew up a German position south-east of Ypres and'north of tho canal. The British were driven out of ouo cratcr, but still occupy three. , The battle continues. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE (Rec. April 19, 10.25 p.m.) Paris, April 19. Official.—"Our artillery stopped an attack oil the trenches in the Bois de Saint Marte in tho Aisne Valley, and a subsequent bayonet charge inflicted serious losses on the enemy. "A French aeroplane brought down a German Taube between Langemarok and Paschendaele (in West Flanders), after a brilliant pursuit." (Rec. April 19, 1.20 a.m.) Paris, April 19. "In the Valley of the Aisne. in the. wood of Saint Marte, a German bayonet charge upon the Allies' trenches was stopped immediately, the artillery inflicting serious loss. "By a mine explosion which followed on the attack by tho Allies we carried sixty metres'of the enemy's trenches. "In Lorraine, in the neighbourhood of the Forest of Parroy, the enemy made several attacks, all of which were repulsed. "In Alsace, three German attacks were unsuccessful. "Tho Allies have progressed in the region of Sehnepfenreith (in Alsace). "A French aviator, after a brilliant pursuit, brought down a German, who fell into tho enemy's lines in Belgium." GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED IN ALSACE The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 18, 3.40 p.m. In Alcase an attack, prepared by violent bombardment, was made against the French positions north-west of Orbey, by a German battalion. The ensniy was repulsed, losing numerous dead and forty prisoners. DAILY LIST OF BRITISH CASUALTIES. The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 18, 3.40 p.m.' Killed. Wounded. Missing. Officers 6 7 — Men 46 116 ]fi BRITISH SUBMARINE ASHORE IN THE 'DARDANELLES . CREW MADE PRISONERS . RECONNOITRING IN A MINE-FIELD , , . London, April 18. The Admiralty states that submarine El 5, while reconnotring a minefield, went aground at Kekhez. ™. , m 1 . , , Constantinople, April 18. Official,— I Twenty-four of the crew were rescued and made prisoner. Seven are missing.' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 18, 9.45 p m. "The British submarine El 5, while attempting a difficult reconnaissance in a mine-field off Kephez on Saturday, raiv ashore on Kephez Point (on the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles, near the entrance to the Narrows). The officers and men were rescued and made prisoners." SWEEPING FOR MINES CONTINUES „. Athens, April 18. m the Dardanelles continues, Warships daily enter tho straits to prevent repairs being effected at the forts. BOMBARDMENT RESUMED, (Roc. April 19, 9.20 p.m.) ■ ~ ■ , . London, April 19. The bombardment of the Dardanelles was resumed- on Saturday. • TURKISH FORTS BOMBARDED. v , Amsterdam, April 18. A Constantinople telegram states that the British warships Majestic and Swiftsure bombarded tho fortifications near Cabetepeh on Thursday last.. RUMOURS OF DISASTER IN THE STRAITS MR. CHURCHILL REASSURES THE PUBLIC. ' (Rec. April 19, 11,45 p.m.) , , j. ... ~ . , _ London, April 19. With a Tiew to .dispelling the rumours of a Dardanelles disaster, Mr Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) has announced that nothing has occurred in the Straits since March 18, except a local bombardment. THE ATTACK ON THE TRANSPORT MANITOU (Rec. April 19, 10.25 p.m.) Official.—"One of the Manitou's boats capsized, and another' were thrown into the -water through one of the davits breaking while it was being lowered into the water. The Manitou was not' damaged: ■ GERMAN VERSION OF MANITOU INCIDENT. (Rec. 'April 19, 11,45 p.m.)' The officers on the Turkish torpedo boat have been interned" The Germans who belonged to the Goeben relate how they slipped into the Dardanelles a month ago, and lurked about the Asiatic shore on the lookout for transports. They found 1 that the French troopship Manitou had been separated from her escort. They torpedoed her, and then followed an exciting chase by the enemy's cruisers. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— , .... ~ , r ~ , London, April 19, l.'So a.m. The loss of life on the Manit-ou was twenty-four known to hare been drowned, and twenty-seven missing, due to one boat being capsizcd in the water, and another capsizing while being lowered into the water owing to tho breaking of a davit. TJje transport herself was not damaged. WARSHIPS ATTACKED BY TURKISH AEROPLANE. (Rec. April 19, 11.45 p.m.) , , • _ > Athens, April 19. 'A Turkish aeroplane dropped bombs on Tenedos (south of the Mediterranean entrance to the Dardanelles), over several warships, The bombs exploded harmlessly. The Allied seaplanes chased the aeroplane, which escaped. DESERT FLIGHT BY THREE AEROPLANES • TURKISH CAMP BOMBARDED. London, April 18. The .Press Bureau reports:—On April 16 three aeroplanes flew from the Canal to El Sirr, 25 miles from El Arish, and effectively dropped nine bombs. About two hundred tents were seen, but none of the enemy troops were observed within sight of El Sirr, though one or ,two outposts are known to exist. On the same date a French cruiser, assisted by a seaplane, bombarded a camp near El Arish. No large number of troops was seen, though the ' enomy fired on the cruiser and the seaplane harmlessly. On April 17 a French cruiser again bombarded a camp at Gaza, inflicting considerable damage to Turkish troops. [Tho High Commissioner's report is to the same effect. 751 Arish is on the caravan route from Gaza to Cairo and is about 20 miles west of tho Egyptian border. Gaza is about 20 miles north-east of t'he end of tho frontier, nnrl both places are close to the Mediterranean coast. El Arish is about 100 milis east of the Suez Canal.] THE FIGHTING IN MESOPOTAMIA BRITISH CAPTURES AT STAIBA. London, April 18." The Press Bureau reports: "The British at Shaiba on April H captured 2'"I0 prisoners, several niachino-guns. anl a. quantitv of ammunition. Thn ittsjjtiiiv, wWdh «iiHf>Fls,etl Arabs, a-ttii tilvUieus of csgul.ti's, «itU. 3ii riihi, -i' still ratewtiur.,'! -