BATTLE AT RAFA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2979, 17 January 1917, Page 5

BATTLE AT RAFA

■ REVOLUTION IN GERMANY PREDICTED Though suggeslivo activities continue in. several of tho principal theatres, no big military event is reported to-day. Tho enemy offensive in Wallachia has slowed down, and it is suggested in a message from Petrograd that between the stubborn resistance oFihe Allies and bad weather, Mackensen is faced by difficulties which"-he may not be able to overcome. An informative account is given of the recent operations in the Sinai Peninsula. Prominence is given to the part played by the New Zealanders,'and the Wellington Rogimont is singled out for special 'mention. THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE RAFA FIGHT ONE OF THE FINEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN (Brl'eleeraDli--Pi'csß Aesocialion-Copyriirht (800. January 16, 8.25 p.m.)' Mr. Massey, the war correspondent, describing it was one of tho finest achievements of the Egyptian campaign A swift march brought tho mounted men within strikinc distance while the> enemy slept. The wlole battle resembled the old-time warfare Many Bedouins watched the fight, some tending their flocks between our firing frfate to !S ' lgll ° raat ° f their I,eril , OT submitt^ The New Zealanders wero detached from tho column fivo miles south of Rafa, on tho border of Syria, , and rounded up and disarmed! large numbers or Arabs whoso attitude was unknown. Tliey completed this operation before daylight, and then made an enveloping movement from the east, the Australians attacking from the south-east, and tho Camel Corps from the south. lho guns registered, and after deployment the dismounted! men's attack began. An aour later tho New Zealanders moved very quickly over grassy ridges, direct on Rafa, which was lightly held,- and immediately prisoners ,were taken, including fleeing camel men. One New Zealand regiment was sent well to the east to protect the flank, and this proved a very wise precaution. The rapidi taking of tho town was a valuable part of the day's work, and!enabled tho Netf Zealauders to got behind the enemy's position, sorely troubling the foe for the remainder of the day. . While the fight was in progress tho approach of relief forces was reported' at a critical moment, and the Genral called for an immediate and supreme effort. Before the call Teaohed some sections of the lines tho troops were finishing their work in the enemy's trenches. Tho New Zealanders swooped into the Turks' strongest position from the. rear. Two Australian brio-ades carried.the south-eastern works, the Oamelry gallantly assaulted on" the south-west, while the Yeomanry kept the western side fully employed. Meanwhile the New Zealanders east of I! a fa,, who wero holding a long crescent line, engaged vastly superior forces, who wero trying to escape, and threw them back. - Great booty was secured. The pri soners included eleven unwounded Gorman 1 machine gunners. The Turkish' prisoners included somo from formations not previously used in South Syria.—"Tho Times." 1

GALLANT WORK OF THE WELLINGTON REGIMENT; \H Reuter raessago covers practically tlio snrao ground as the dispatch given above,' but the following is additional, and will be read •with interest: While the Wellingtons wore splendidly holding the enemy six times their strength, and tho remainder of the Now Zcalanders, who occupied tho town of Rafa, captured the main trenches from the rear, the Australians and camelry entered the trenches from the front. Ttonisliingly light considering tho ed surrendered. Our casualties were asho whole garrison remaining unwouuclstrengtlt of the position and the well-placed machine-guns, manned by German marksmen, all of. whom worekillod, wounded, or captured. THE PRISONERS AND BOOTY CAPTURED. The High. Commissioner reports:— London, January 15, 6 p.m. An IDgyptian official-report states: The total raptures at Rafa on Tuesday were 1602 prisoners, four Krupp mountain guns, seven machine-guns, and a quantity of other material. ' *..: ' ' / RUSSIAN-RUMANIAN CAMPAIGN ENEMY PRESSED BACK A MILE AND A QUARTER . . London, January .15. A Russian official message states: The Rumanians attacked tlie heights in the region of the Kasina River. Violent bayonet fighting threw haofc the enemy a verst southwards. The Russians and Rumanians repulsed au offensive in the same region, and pressed tho enemy hack two versts (about a mile and a quarter) southwards. _ Wo withdrew slightly northwards of the Vederii region, and. repulsed with groat losses s'proral attacks north-east of Focsani.—Aus-N.Z. Cabin Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY REPORT OF FIGHTING IN THE SUSITA VALLEY. London, January 15. Gorman Official. —Wo repulsed strong Rfusso-R.imianian attacks northward of tho Susita Valley.—A-us.-N.Z. Oablo Assn.-Reuter. SITUATION IN THE BALKANS WILL BE 'DIFFERENT PRE- . . SENTLY. Paris, January 15. Admiral Po-urniery -writing to tho "Matin" regarding his visit to the front, says that tho Tsar told him that in a few weeks the situation in the Balkans would assume » different aspect. Admiral Fournier anticipates that the enemy will be mastered, and his progress stopped by cold and exhaustion, while increasingly heavy losses will paralyse his efforts towards Salonika.-—Renter. ENEMY PRESSURE ON RUMANIA DIMINISHING (Re;;. January 16, 8.40 p.m.) „„ . . w ~..', Potrograd, Januarr IS. Uβ onemy pressure m Wallachia and tho Dobrudja hue diminished owing to the Allies' resistance and the weather. The Danube plains are now immense swamps. General Maokensen is demanding reinforcements from Bulgaria and Turkey, which are unable to provide them, Turkey fearing danger on another frontier. Tho reserves are exhausted. The Dohrudja prisoners state that tho army is excessively fatigued, and that the commanders sacrifice the men freely.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable "Assn.

GERMANS GET A TAHTE OF FRIGHTFULNESS

AMERICAN VISITOR PREDICTS AN EARLY REVOLUTION (Rec. January 16, 11.10 p.m.) ..... , , tendon, January 16. An American scientist, wbo hae come from Germany, in a. letter to "The Times," states that the Germans are suffering from epidemics of jaundice, diarrhoea, stomach, and dental troubles, owing to saccharine- and nauseous artificial tea, coffee, and chemical foods being used. A substitute vegetablo fibre has replaced cotton, and woollens are scarce. The suffering peoplo are sullen and dissatisfied, but tho authorities imprison grumblers. The National Servico Bill is killing small businesses, aud the middle-class has already been ruined. Immorality is rifo. Auti-Berlinism and auli-Prussianisui are steadily growing in the remainder of Germany. _ " . Tho Prussian authorities havo taken steps to maintain predominance after the war, and aro keeping young Prussians at home and sending nonPrussians to the front. The people havo lost hope of victory, and expect an early invasion of Holland or Denmark for fnod supplies. Von Hindenhurg and General Ludcndorff have replaced tho Kaiser and the Crown Princo as popular heroes. The Socialists are latently active, and tbs writer predicts an early revolution. Ton thousand deserters, including office™, :iro in Holland awaiting eveuts.—"The Times."

MUST HAVE PEACE TO PREVENT A DEBACLE

FIRST OPEN INDICATION OF DESPAIR BY QERMAN STATESMEN ,

A dispatch , by Mr. W. B. Hale from Berlin. U, the "New York 'Americtn , . Btates tllat Mr - Hale had an intimate conversation with a leader in the highest political position, who said : "What is it a war-weary world want* —-peace with recrimination now, or a possible peace many years later, with Germany crushed; a loaguo of ten momentarily triumphant, and Europe's whole political map a ohesshoard for complicated ambitions and sanguinary struggles during a hundred years to come?" The fact that the censor-passed the admission regarding the crushing of Germany is tho first open indication of despair by the Kaiser's statesmen— that Germany is on the threshold of defeat, and must have a nuick peace to prevent a debacle—AuswN'.Z. Cable Assn. [Mr. Hale, a journalist of considerable experience, has lived on tho Continent for a. long timo For a period he was editor of the "Cosmopolitan Magazine, and later of otlior well-known journals.] THE KAISER DISCOVERS HIS CONSCIENCE. ...... . Amsterdam, .Taiwan-15. The iNordDoulsdie Alkgemeine Keitiing" says: "Tho Kaiser's letter to Herr von Bethmaun-HoUweg (tho German Chancellor), on October 31, proves his honest desiro for peace. In that letter ho wrote: 'It is clear our enemies'' peoples have 'been oaugbfc by war psychosis, supported by lies and deceit. They do not possess a. man aWo and firm enough' to speak to liborato the world. The milking of a peace proposal requires a ruler with a conscience, ono who realises that he is responsible to wards God, with a good, •heart towards his own and hostile peoples, a ruler in spired by a desire to deliver the world from its sufferings, not minding a possiblo wrong interpretation of his action. I have the courage.to.do ib, and will venture, relying upon God."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BOMBASTIC BLAST'MOM THE KING OF BAVARIA. .... -r-. . „ . , ■ . , Amsterdam, January 15. llm King of_ Bavaria has sent a. dispatch to the Kaiser, in. which ho declares that the mdignation which hae been aroused in the Kaiser's heart by tho enemy's arrogant reply to tho Peace No to is echoed in ovory Bavarian breast.—Aus.-N.JS Cable Assn. I GERMAN SOCIALISTS' APPEAL FOR PEACE. (Hoc. January 16, 5.5 p.m.) ~,, r, • ~ , „., , „ Amsterdam, January 15. .the Socialist paper, "Vonvaerts," has been allowed to -publish, au appeal from the German Socialists, who desiro to unitedly approach tho Socialists elsewhere to induce tho belligerents to cuter'into peace ncgotiations.-"The> limes. ■ HOLLWEG'S ADDRESS ON THE ALLIES' ANSWERS. (Rcc. January 16, 10.5 p.m.) mi t. i , , Zurich, January 15. I .lie Breslau newspapers state that Hen- von Bothmann-Hbllweg the Chancellor, will address the Reichstag at the end of January respecting tho Entente's replies. The Government will previously confer with the party leaders. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable A&sn. , • A MESSAGE TO' CHEER UP BERLINERS. (Rec. January 17, 0.25 a.m.) ~,.,, , . ' London, January 16. With the view of cheering np Berlin afc the adhesion of another neutral to the Wilson. Note, Count Bernstorff wirelessed Germauy the text of China's reply. He ventures to declare that the war has probably affeoted China's interests more seriously than any other neutral's. China is prepared after the war to join in assuring the respect for the; principle of the equality of nations, and relieve them of the perils of wrono- and violence — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. . AUSTRO-GERMAN ATROCITIES CONDEMNED BY THE POPE „,.•„„■ - Rome, fJanuary 15. .Implying to Jtlie Central News Agency, a high official of the Vatican stated that the Holy See's attitude is unchanged; it continues to observe scrupulous neutrality, but tho Popo is unable to refrain from examining the belligerents' war nietheds. It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that Germany's and Austria's unwarrantablo atrocious.aots have far exceeded anytiling of which the Entente has been guilty. The Popo felt he must showsome consideration for the iEmperor Francis Joseph, who deserved well of the Church, but ho sees no reason to tolerate crimes committed in the new Emperor's name.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.