THE WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 February 1915, Page 2

THE WAR.

(_lil.Kl.lUiU XELKOUAI'U—COriTBIOHT J l l'Kll I'll LBS ASSOCIATION. ) A TEIUtOiLE STRUGGLiS. Petrograd, Feb. ?. Tho Gorman attempt to force the defence of liorjimoff by sheer weight using iuiuulry as cavalry were ii6ed in the old days lias hitherto tailed. This formation has been unprecedented since the Macedonian phalanx. There wore 140,000 infantry and a hundred batteries employed on a seven mile front advancing sixteen deep. Several divisions were massed solid at ouo place, less than twelve hundred yards wide. The Germans christened the.n 'The Divisions ol Death."" A-series of low hills behind the front ed the extraordinary massing i>i artillery. The Germans have never been more prodigal of blood and ammunition and they fought day and night incessantly. Genea'al von Hiiidenburg abandoned military science, relying solely upon reckless expenditure of lives. There was a hurricane of shells in the supreme attack 011 Tuesday on the Rawka, after the Rusisan artillery's day of unceasing Slaughter. . The Russians counter-attacked on Tuesday night and Wednesday and there was fierce hand to hand fighting every 500 yards and the enemy were driven across the Rawka to Voliacliid row ski. The Prussian Guards from Lowicez whom the Emperor ordered to show the way to "Warsaw were driven hack across the Rawka. The fighting continues unabated. Military critics declare that the world has never seen such fighting. Tho German methods indicate that success is now n matter of life and death. The Germans are making a final desperate efforts to blast a new road to Warsaw. SOME VIGOROUS WORK. Official.—The Russians crossed the Bzura near its mouth, captured part of the enemy's positions near Dakowo, dislodged tho Germans from the bridgehead near Boroinroff-Gumine-Voliachidrowski, blew up a bridge over the Nida, repulsing the enemy's attempt to assume the offensive and captured 3000 prisoners north-west of Uzok.

MORE SUCCESSES

Official I .—We seized an important point of support on the left bank of the Bzura, and captured the first and second line of trenches and six machine guns near Borjimoff. We took prisoner 2000 near Wawszkoff Pass. GERMANT'S BLOCKADE PROPOSALS. London, Feb. 7. Copenhagen announces that the Press reports a specially summoned meeting of the Reichstag received the announcement that a blockade hade been de? clared and Germany possesses the means to make it effective. It is further declared that these means will employed with the utmost rigour. Berlin s advertising the exploit on a giant scale unsurpassed since it fixed the German entry into Paris last year. The Scandinavian papers are devotinf much space to the subject 'because it threatens the whole of the agricultural exports. Amsterdam declares that shipping circles in Holland believe that Germany's measures will considerably damage Dutch shipping wherewith the war already has played 1 havoc. European neutrals are alarmed at the German blockade threat. The Danish press declares that Germany has not furnished proof of Britain's alleged order misusing neutral flags, and in any case is not justified in menacing neutrals. Leading Norwegian newspapers assert that Germany's avowed reason : s merely a prextext. Tho Dutch shipping companies have called a conference to consider the 00sition. A CONSIDERABLE SURPRISE. The Morning Post's Alexandria correspondent says it is a considerable surprise that 12,000 Turks reached' the Canal, lacking commissariat and transport. Tt is conjectured that the main army may succeed in crossing the losert. since the Germans are making tremendous efforts at building a railway to the frontier via Sebastise, Lydda and Gaza. A thousand labourers are breaking up rails of the Haifai-Da'mas-eus and the Jaffa-Jerusalem railways for the new railway. A NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR- DEAD. Obituary. —Surgeon-Captain .J. A. Bell, ol the New Zealand Modioli Corps in Egypt. DEATH OF PRIVATE HA??:; DiKiodin. I' 7. The lion. Mr Allen has received a cablegram from Cairo informing him of the death of Private flam, of Mot-u-------eka, who was dangerously wourded in the neck at Serapeum on 3rd inst. AUCKI. \.VI>. WELLINGTON, CANTER li IK V AND OTAGO TAKE PART. The Hen. If. Allen has received cable advice that the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago battalions all took part in last week's engagement against the Turks at Suez Canal. MORE PROGRESS. Paris, Feb. 6. Official.—We progressed north of

Beausejour and repulsed tho enemy north of Massigcs and south of Altkirch. THE WARSHIPS AT THE CAN'AL London, Feb. 3. The wars Tups remain: at Dentroctseiix. They . assisted to defend tho Canal, silenced tho enemy's heavy gu-ns and dispersed large forces of tho enemy. The warships were not darnaged. SERBIA'S POSHtON. New "York, Feb. 0. M. Pashioh, in response to a request from the American press, has 'ssikhl a statement. Ho says—"Despite Hie Austro-Goriuany army of 400,000 massing on our northern frontier, the <ijlird invasion in a brief six months, J am. happy to inform the American people of Serbia's trine posiiton. This terrible struggle has been forced upon her. She is fighting for political, moral, industrial and commercial liberty. At the conclusion of the second Ralkau War. Serbia- was freed from the Ottoman yoke after .five centuries of Turkish domination and constant warfare. Tf over a country needed or desired peace it was Serbia. Then Austrian realised that Serbian developmen must be choked because this development meant ultimately a strong independent nation, which would "be an insurmountable barrier to tho Austrian dreams of Balkan dominion. Austria declared war with the sole object of ending forever our independ ent national existence. Austria was convinced that Russia was unprepared and that Germany anyway was strong enough to defeat Russia. Tf other nations offer to help us wo will accept it gratefully, but wo do not ask it of anyone. If the Austro-Germans crush Serbia they will not stop but will junction with the Turks and constitute a now menace. Tho Austrian atrocities have had no precedent : n the present or past wars and indicate a return to barbarism a sthe result ol Teutonic domination. I fell w« are entitled to the sympathy and support of all fair-minded nations." NO AUSTRALIANS ENGAGED. Sydney, Feb. 7. Cabling on -Saturday 11 r Bean says: Obviously Australian must be contend with very little news of their for"e during the approaching weeks. Tt is possible, however, to state that no Australian troops were engaged in the fighting on the C'anal described in the cables to date." He adds that there was not fighting on the Canal yesterday.