GERMAN ACTIVITY IN ALSACE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2694, 14 February 1916, Page 5

GERMAN ACTIVITY IN ALSACE

CROWN PRINCE ON THE FRONTIER PEACE OVERTURES TO BELGIUM DENIED i By Teleeranh—Press ABsoolatlon-uopyrleW ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, February 11. The German-Swiss frontier is tightly closed. A constant procession cf trains is transporting guns and troops to Alsace. The Crown Prince has arrived near the frontier. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS. The High Commissioner reports: , London, February 12, 1.25 p.m. "The fire of the French artillery damaged the fortress at Paschendaele (in Flandors), and exploded a munitions depot sliop. "As the result of actions on Tuesday and Wednesday, we have reclaimed the greater portion of the trenches which had remained in the enemy's hands, their counter-attacks failing to ejcct us, "In the Champagne, in the course of an attack with grenades at Butte-do-Mesnil, we took forty prisoners." ' . London, February 12, 5.20 p.m. "After further artillery action, the French pained possession of threa hundred yards of the enemy's trenches at 13 utte-de-Mcsnil. The enemy, ill an ineffectual counter-attack, lost 6G prisoners." London, February 13, 1.50 a.m. "British headquarters' reports futile aerial attacks. ", "The enemy broke our trenches near Pilkem (in Flanders), but was driven out with losses; later two infantry attacks 'about the Pilkem Road were also repulsed. "In an underground fi?ht >'«ar tho Commine Canal, the enemy was driven back, our miners firing their charge. * . , FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. February 13, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February 12. A French official communique states: "After we had regained a notable portion of tho French elements which had been oaptured, south of Frise, the enemy delivered a violent counter-attack, and attempted to drive us out. A curtain of fire stopped liim dead, and be suffered important losses." (Rec. February 13, 11.5 p.m.) v , . Paris, February 12. A communique states: Our artillery and machine-gun firo frustrated the enemy's attempts to cross the Ysor Canal,, near Steenstraete and Hetsas. There is great artillery activity in Champagne. The cnemv penetrated a small salient of our line'between tftc Navarin and Saint Souplet' Roads. A counter-attack resulted in- portions of tho trenches being occupied. On Friday, north-eastwards of Butte-de-Mesnil, wo further progressed with band grenades eastward of these portions. THE PEACE PROPOSALS TO BELGIUM > The High Commissioner reports: London, February. 11, 2.40 p.m. "The .Belgian Legation declares fhat the rumours that peace proposals were recently made~by Germany to the Belgian Government are without foundation." - THE FRENCH MISSION TO ROME 'A' RING OF STEEL ROUND THE TEUTONS. (Rec. February- 13, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, February' 11. M. Briand (the French Premier) has conferred with Baron Sonnino (the Italian Foreign Minister). Italy adheres to the proposition which England ncoopted, namely, tho creation of two supreme military and diplomatic councils. Interviewed ■after the disoussion, M. Briand said that- his visit to Rome had removed many prejudices concerning Italy's attitude. Italy' 6 policy was not only most sincere, but clear-sighted. At a banquet at the French Embassy in the evening, tho political societies organised,a great public demonstration m honour af the Entente. T3ie most cordial toasts were exchanged. M. Briand addressed the gathering in the Grand Hotel. Their enemies' greatest ho said, had lain in; their remarkable system of transportation, which permitted a rapid concentration of huge forces at any pomt on any front. The Allies had now attained a perfect union, enabling them completely to encircle Germany _ and Austria with a ring of steel equally strong and impregnable at every point, thus rendering their enemies' means of transportation impotent. THE WAR-WILL NOT END THIS YEAR RUSSI AN- -FOREIGN MINISTER ON THE-OUTLOOK. (Rec. February 13, 5.5 p.m.) Moscow, February 12. The Russian Foreign Minister (M. Sazanoff), in an interview, 6aid that their Allies were in perfect agreement. _ Austro-Germany must be rendered perfectly harmless. "Tho war," he said, " cannot bo protracted, as Germany is uuable to bear the strain._ Her,present financial position,is very grave. In iny case, tho present year will not 6ee tbe end of the war. England is doing colossal work, and her loss of twenty-four thousand officers and sis hundred thousand men proves this." , . " PEACE-COMMITTEE AT BERNE. London, February 11. The Exchange Telegraphy Agency's correspondent at Rome states "that a permanent committee estabirsnHl at Borne to advocate psace meets to-day, to submit a proposal for an armistice to all belligerents. The delegates declare that they have been informally told from Berlin that Germany -will benevolently consider any peace offer emanating from the Allies simultaneously through the efforts of the committee. The German Chancellor is opening a ppce branch at Lucerne, trader the <Mre«twn of Prinw von Bnlow, Prince Hohi»nlone,. and Baron von Kraft, who -will immedifltelj-take steD3.nith a view ta inducing the neutrals to intervenes.