SPYING CONSULS INTERNED ON A CRUISER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 5

SPYING CONSULS INTERNED ON A CRUISER

Paris, January XI. Tho Consuls who were arrested at Salonika have been intGriiod aboard_ a, cruiser at, Toulon. It is reported tliat serious charges are pending against them. OUR STRONGHOLD AT SALONIKA ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Roc. January 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 12. Sir. Ward Priec, writing from Salonika, says:—"Now is the most"favourable time for tlio Bulgar-Gcnmm offensive against Salonika. H IC .V have ' la u time to repair tho bridges and tunnels which were destroyed on the Yardar railway, and King Constantino lias promised not to order the Greek army to oppose them, but the whole matter remains problematical. what wo know is that the Germans dislike the prospect of leaving us in a position which is a perpetual monacc to their communications, and also a jumping-on ground tor a spring offensive." mi r Describing the Anglo-French line, ho says: The French are responsible for tho western flank, their line starting from the marshes at tho \ ardar mouth and running up the east bank for fifteen miles, then turning eastward at right angles to join the British sector. This latter follows a chain of lakes across tho Chaleidice Peninsula to the Orfani Gulf. Much of tho French sector is low-lying swamp country, and trenches are not needed, as an army could not cross this malaria-haunted delta. Searchlights play night, and the ships guns are ready to sweep tho area. This system of relying on the artillery to protect whole sections of front is characteristically French. Their confidence in guns is such that they would not hesvtate to dispense with infantry. At a right-angle turn the hills dominate the piain over which the enemy must attack. The ridges six miles behind the plain will enable the enemy to shell tho French entrenchments with heavy artillery, but til© enemy's heavy guns are not sufficient to do serious damage. Our sovonty-fives have every rang© of tho plain marked. Even if the eneniy gets across lie must cross the Vardar, which is a. most formidable obstacle; they must assail trenches which are wonderfully complete, while tho ground in 'front of them is simply blue with barbed-wire entanglements, which stretch out and are fixed to special bent steel rods." THE EVACUATION OF GALLIPOLI REPORT FROM THE NEW ZEALAND CORRESPONDENT The following special message from the New Zealand official war correspondent (Mr. Malcolm Koss) has been received from the Government: — ■ Cairo, January XI. "All the New Zealand gnns were got off the Peninsula. A team of horses was left to gallop in the last gun on Sunday night. This was safely accomplished, even the horses, which we thought would be killed, being evacuated. Hie officer commanding was determined that no New Zealand gun would bo exhibited in Constantinople, even though some had been used against Cronje in the Boer War, and were hot worth saving. . "Tho artillery is naturally proud of this splendid feat. The gunners love iJne guns, especially those they brought with them and fought through the campaign. On December 17, when one sub-section left without a bulletmarked howitzer, when they thought tho guns would have to bo blown up, the limber gunner in charge broke down and cried. Two nights later this gun was got off by another section, and the gunner's delight may be imagined. "The successful evacuation of Helles puts tho coping-stone upon an operation unique in military 'annals." THE LAST SHOTS AT CAPE HELLES The High Commissioner reports:— London, January 12, 1.50 a.m. General Sir Charles Monro states that the Turks attempted a heavy attack 011 our lines at Ilelles on Friday. Our trenches were continuously shelled, and the bombardment intense. The Turks opened a heavy musketry tire, and sprang two mines near the Western Bird-cage and Fusilier Bluff. \ "Later they fixed bayonets all along our front, and their officers were seen apparently endeavouring to make the men assault us, but they were only successful opposite the Fifth Avenue and Fusilier Bluff, where the Stafford shires completely repulsed the attack, a largo proportion of the Turks being killed or wounded. Our casualties were five officers and 130 men killed or wounded. ' "With the aeroplane reports the naval nro on the left flank was most accurato, and it is probable that the enemy suffered considerably. "The night of January 7-8 was line, the evacuation operations being quietly and "successfully continued. On Saturday there was a calm sea, but tho weather suddenly grew worse, and at 11 o'clock at night had increased to 35 miles an hour'. The Turkish artillery was practically silent tho whole night. The Turks fired red lights all along the line, postponing their heavy shelling until after daybreak. . "The French embarkations were carried.out by their navy." RIBALD JUBILATION BY GER'MAN PRESS. London, January 11. German newspapers, commenting on tho evacuation of Gallipoli, say that Churchill's dream of a victorious march to Constantinople has been destroyed, and the campaign lias ended in the complete failure of proud England. The evacuation means the release of large Turkish forces. ' Now that Russia has been denied Constantinople her interest in tho war should decline. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, January 11. Berlin reports that Belgrade-Constantinople traffic will commence on the 15th. ' NEW ZEALANDERS IN NEW CAMP GUARDING THE LINK BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. The New Zealand war correspondent (Mr. Ross) reports:— Cairo, January 11. "The Seventh and Eighth Reinforcements are joining the Main Body in a new camp. Six hundred Maoris are encamped at Cairo, in splendid fettle. "Every precaution is ' being taken to secure the Canal against a threatened attack." i . , ' ' .