A RECORD CAPTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2886, 26 September 1916, Page 5

A RECORD CAPTURE

SMART WORK I THE GERMAN ■': TRENCHES-. "" ' DASHING AIR RAIDS STUBBORN. BATTLES ON . RUSSIAN. FRONT ; DEFAItS OF THE BIG ZEPPELIN ; '.■■:■- RAID ' TWO BROUGHT TO EARTH HOW NEW ZEALANDERS FOUGHT . ; .ATFLP. .'■:■■ ■' I . . ,i Th* news from the Western front to-day discloses no develop* Meats of major importance. ■ The chief items of interest are a brief —very brief—statement that the British lia.ro made a record capture of troops in the German trenches,,and Mr.. Philip Gibbs's graphic narrative of the charge of the New Zealanders at Flers. Fighting is proceeding rigbt along the Russian front from the Pripet to the Rumanian frontier, and successes aro reported on the Seroth front. There is activity on all fronts in tbe Balkans, while the farce-comedy in Greeoe is still in progress. Disaffection is reported to have been created in the Greek navy, and one ship suspected of disloyalty to Constantino was surrounded, and tbe officers arrested. Many stirring . stories axe told of the great Zeppelin,raid. Two of the raiders were brought down—one burnt and the other captured, the crew being made prisoners. There is evidence of a revival of German submarine activity. - ■ " . A RECORD CAPTURE OF TROOPS EXPLOIT BY THE BRITISH > THE SITUATION AND THE OUTLOOK The HigH Commissioner reports:- .■.. . !A British official message states: "We have made a. record capture of troops in the German trenches."- . ._-,....'.. ..... ,:.. SIRDOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (By Telegranh—Press A6socifttion-oopyright). (Banter's Teleerara.) (Reo. September 25, 7. p.m.) . ■ v ■ . ■ London, September 25. Sir Douglas Hftig reports-.—"South of tbe Ancre three attacks by tbe enetfiy west of lesboeufs wore repulsed with loss. There is artillery activity at many point*- , ■ ■ . ~ ■■} ~ , '.. "Five raids were made by our airmen on railway stations,,/ and on tho enemy's lines of communications, and five hostile machines were destroyed in tbe air fighting yesterday, two others being brought down and damaged. Five of our machines are missing." FRENCH OFFICIAL-COMMUNIQUE. An«tr»liaa-New Zealand Cable Association. London, September 24. !A! French-Official communique states s "Our artillery is aotive northward of tbe Somme. We repulsed several German attacks south-east of Thiaumoat (Verdun front).- The German aviators are unusually active, hut we remain incontestably superior." ' '(Eenter'a Teleeram.) Paris, September 25. 'A French official communique states-.—"There is nothing important to report, apart from an artillery duel south of tho Sonirao and east of the Meuse. Two French aeroplanes dropped bombs on Essen, and returned safely after ft flight of five hundred miles. Seven aeroplanes dropped fifty bombs on the German war factories at Bom bach and Thionville.'' The High' Commissioner reports:— ' - London, September 23. A French official message states: '"In 29 aerial combats, 24 German machines were brought down. Mostly all were destroyed." : / ' GERMAN OFFICIAL' COMMUNIQUE. ("The Times.") , (ReO. September 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 24. A. German official communique states: "On the Somme fighting is again in full swing. The Allies' attacks on Courcelette, Rancourt, and Bouchavesncs failed. We brought down 24 aeroplanes, of which'2o were accounted for on the Somme." The communique admits the loss of nine. BATTLE OMENS ARE GOOD (United Serrico.) (Red. September 25, 6.5 p.m.) London, September 24. Mr. W. Beach' Thomas (the British correspondent) says.—"The battle omens are unusually good. _ Tho Germans have withdrawn many of tboir. guns to their extreme fire limit, and_ lessened their bombardments, and show the nervousness of their state of mind in other ways. Their counter-at-tacks are vehement, but lack sting, whereas tho ' British and Dominion troops charge with winning zest. Before the enemy leaves his last foothold he will wrestle for a heavy fall. Behind each machine-gunner stands an officer,- with revolver in hand, so the enemy finds it equally as difficult to surrender as to fight." TOLD IN A CAPTURED GERMAN WAR MAP ("Thr Tinv>R."l " (Keo. September 25, 5.5 p.m.) '-'.'... . • ..'London, September 24. The '''Times" correspondent with Western HeadquaTtors.in France, says that a General Staff map was recenty found on a German officer who was taken prisoner, which indicated that "oleven vital points must bo held while one defender remains alive." Nine of those are already in tbe Allies' hands, and the remaining two are outside tho scope of the_ battle for the ridge. The captured positions are so closely crowded that thisobscuro.s tbe significance of each. Tbe whole ridge is one continuous chain of fortresses protecting each other and so interlocked that their strength is incroased a sandfold."DIMINISHING LOSSES ON ALLIES' SIDE " Australian-New Zealand Gable Association. Paris, September 24. The French casualties on the Somme aro proportionately one-half of those for 1915. The minuteness of th e . artillery preparation, and aerial Observation 1 enabled the infantry to advaooe under a curtain of shells, whioh move! contJOTonalj! tab hundred! sards' ahead of tbera.

MOO.OOO GERMANS KILLED INACTION. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Copenhagen, September 24. Tho newspaper "National Tidcnde" states that 2 per cent, of the population of North Schleswig havo been killed or aro missing. If this proportion applies to tho German Empire, 1,400,000 Germans havo boon killed, not counting deaths from sickness. The paper states that 10,000,000 have been called up for military service,' and 7,000,000 ha\ e actually been in tho firing line. ' ENEMY FEELING OUR BLOWS AN OPTIMISTIC REVIEW-OF THE SITUATION. ("Tho Times") London, September 24. Colonel Rcpiiigton, military correspondent to the "Times," renews the position favourably to the Allies. There is indisputable evidence that the blockade is severely aft'eoting Germany internally. The Allied hammering at the Somme is increasing the national dejection. Other causes of anxiety are tho war loan and the constant shifting of troops on all the fronts to Tcpair deficiencies. "When the veil is lifted it mil'show that Germany has suffered greater misery and losses of men, money, ships, and credit than can bo possibly imagined. The Allies, in methodically blasting a way towards the Meuse, have encountered and overthrown nearly half the German divisions in tho West, and the failures to recover the. lost ground demonstrate tho enemy's inferiority., Tho pressure in the West is adversely affecting Von Hindenburg's Eastern plan. ) TIE CAMPAIGNS IN,THE BALKANS BRITISH CROSS THE STRUMA AT THREE POINTS FIERCE OPPOSITION BY TIE BULGARS . fHenter's Telegram.) (Rep. September 25, 3.30 p.m.) ... Salonika! September 25. 'A British official m&ssage states:— "On the- Struma front the river has been crossed in three places, and Jcmnran, which the enemy set on' fire, has been occupied. We met with strong opposition when attacking Karadikovlak, and a counter-attack by the enemy- was entirely dispersed. Our 'naval field artillery successfully bombarded- the trenches. There is Greek patrol activity on tbe Doiran front. The weather is misty and .unfavourable. ' Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. , „ . ' . , London, September 24. A French official communique states: "The English attacked strong Bulgar detachments on the left bank of the Struma, northward of Kopriva, and also towards Lake Tahinos. Violent artillery fighting was renewed from Mont Belesh to tbe'Vardar. The Serbians havo advanced -north-west of Mount "Kaimackalan. "We have made progress.north-west of Fiorina."' PROGRESS OP THE SERBIANS. • ■ ■ CEeutor's Telegram.) . Salonika, September 25. 'A French official communique states;—" The Serbians havo made further progress—a distance of 250 yards—on tho plateau, of Kaimacklan, despite resistance by the reinforced Bulgars." HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. „ „. , „ . . ' . „ London, September 23. The High Commissioner reports:—A French,official report states: "The Serbs are making progress in Macedonia." THE BATTLES IN THE DOBRUJA Australian-New .Zealand OabI« Association. t> - * x r, i. * I * ' ± . , ■, London, September 24. Reports from Bucharest state that the enomv's losses m Dobrm'a were one-fourth of their effectives. The Russian artillery was colossally destriic five. No prisoners were taken. An attempt by German submarines to come out of Burgas (a Bu garian port in the Black Sea) and pass through the Bosphorus' was frustrated. ("The Times.") ..',,„.. London, September 24. Mr. Bouchier, writing to the "Times" from Bucharest on September 21, says there is far greater confidence in the position in the Dobruja Com' siderablo reinforoements havo greatly strengthened the positions. It is improbable that the' Bulgars will materially increase their force in the Dobruja. (Bflutnr's T«le*ram.) (Rec. September 25, 7. p.m.) Salonika, September 20. Official: The Serbs, who are co-operating with the Russo-Rumanian forces in the Dobruja, have inflicted heavy losses on the Bulgars. Eight guns were captured. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. • ("Tie Times.") (Rec. September 25, 5.5 p.m.) \ London, September 24. A German official communique 'states: "Rumanian attacks in the Vulcan Pass were repulsed. THE WAR IN TRANSYLVANIA STRATEGIC VALUE OF RUMANIAN SUCCESSES. . fEeuter's Tolseram.) (Rec. September 25, 11.10 p.m.) Bucharest, September 25. The occupation of Saekelyudvarhely assures tho Rumanians of the possession of one-third of Transylvania—air area of twenty thousand square kilometres—which -will enable a shortening of the Rumanian front in Transylvania from sis hundred to three hundred. kilometres (a kilometre, roughly, is three-fifths of a mile). THE KIDNAPPED TROOPS OP KAVALA GERMAN REPLY TO THE GREEK NOTE. AustraJian-Ncw Zealand Cable Association. Amsterdam, September 24. Germany, replying to tho Grook Note, says she is willing, on principle, to repatriate the Kavala, troops under a guarantee that they, will not be punished for their neutrality or.exiled by the Entente. ("Tho Times."! (Rec. September 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 24. .The "Times" correspondent at Athens states: "The Government appears to be optimistic, and willing to sacrifice two notorious anti-Entente members of tho Cabinet—MM., Roufos and Vocotopulos, in order to satisfy the Allies. Germany has not replied to the Greek protest about the kidnapped' army corps. It is stated that Greece, in her Note, also demanded the evaouation of Kavala. Drama, and Seres. The mutiny on the Averoff is officially denied, but the commander of the warship has been relieved." ANOTHER GREEK NOTE TO GERMANY (Router's Telegram.) (Ren. Soptcmbcr 2oJ" 10.35 p.m.) Athens, September 25. It is announced that the Greek Government has addressed a new Note to Berlin rcarding the action of the Bulgarians in capturing a company of Greek- soldiers at Fiorina. DISAFFECTION ON BOARD GREEK WARSHIP. ("The Times.") Athens, September 24. Some of tho Giorgios Averoff's potty officers have beeu arrested. I'The Greek authorities, suspecting the loyalty of those on board the warship Giorgios Averoff, had the vessel surrounded.] REVOLT IN CRETE ARMED PEASANTS EXPEL GREEK AUTHORITIES. Australian-Sow Zealand.' Cable Association. London, September 25. A revolt has broken out in Oroto. Armed peasants on Saturday entered Kandia, and after a fight displaced the Greek authorities. REVOLUTION SPREADING. . (United Service.) (Reo. September 25, 11.10 p.m.-) ■: London, September 25. Mr. Jeffries, telegraphing from Athens, states that the Cretan revolutionary movement has spread-to the ddstriots of Sphantia, Sellion, Kishamon,

and Kidonia. The revolutionaries occupied Kandia after a feeble resistance by tlio regulars. 'J'ho gendarmerie joined tlio revolutionaries. FiveTthousand insurgents are near Canea. The prefect lias telegraphed tho Government: "What shall I do? Armed peasantry aro everywhere approaching the town." ['Hie island of Creto was imdor Venetian rule from 1211 to 1669, when it passed -under the Ottoman sway. Thonceforth, with the oxception of about 10 years, when it was ruled by a Viceroy of Egypt, it was governed as a Turkish vilayet.. After more than 70 years of .insurrection, Great Britain, France and Italy intervened, and ill 180S created an autonomous State, under a High Commissioner of tho Powers, subject to tho suzerainty of tho Porte, but oxompt l'roui tribute. From 1906 _ tho right of the King of Greece to propose the High Commissioner was recognised, and Greek officers took control of tho gondarniorio and militia. In 1908 Crete declared its annexation to Greece, and iu. 1012 Cretan deputies wore admitted to the Greek Parliament. The Treaty of Pcaco between Greece and Turkey in 1913 formally handed the island over to Greece, and tho cession was recognised by the Powers the samo year.] BIG OIL HOARD DISCOVERED. Aiislraliau-Kcw Zealand Cabla Association,, London, September 24. fiopoiis from Salonika mention the discovery in the Aegean Sea of a large oil depot. War vessels encountered a. tube connecting with an underground cement-lined chamber, containing an enormous quantity of oil. It is alleged that the constructors were Greek merchants in Piraeus, who recently have grown wealthy from unknown sources. ~ ' ■ STUBBORN FIGHTING ON THE RUSSIAN FBONT FROM THE PBIPBT TO RUMANIA Australian-New Zealand Cable AMOuiation. _ _ London, September 2d. A Russian'official communique states: T There "is stubborn fighting from the Pripet River to the Rumanian frontier. The enemy on Saturday strongly resisted our advance, at tho Upper Sereth. We repelled all counter-attacks."- • tfERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, | ("Ths Times.") (K-ec. September 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 24. A German official communique states: "B'ive- Russian mass attacks between the Sereth and the Strypa. were beaten off."THE WAR IN THE CAUCAUSUS Australian-New Zealand OaMe Association, London, September 24. 'A' Russian official communique- states: "Our Caucasus detachments have advanced southward of Blleu."