THE WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 February 1915, Page 2

THE WAR.

[ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT 1 1 VSR PRBSB ABBOWATIOM.I THE ALLIES OPERATIONS. Paris, Feb. 18. Official.—Our artillery destroyed many bivouacs and ammunition oonvoys Between the sea and the Oise. We captured two lines. of trenches north of Arras, inflicting heavy loa^as.

Wo carried more positions near Perthes and progressed at Laguire, inflicting very severe losses.

We also progressed at several points between Argonne and the Meuee also in Alsace.

BRITALVS REPLY. London, 18. Sir E. Grey, in a 7000 words Paper addressed to Mr Page, again insists that the United States' trade with neutrals has actually increased since the war showing that a substantial part was intended for the enemy. He instances the United States' exports of meat products to Denmark, oil to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and 6ays tho elaborate German machinery for the supply of foodstuffs from overseas ; s now coming to light and under these circumstances it would be absurd to give a definite pledge not interfere >n cases where supplies can be proved to be for the use of the enemy's force, merely because the expedient is adoptxl of shipping to an agent at a neutral port. Neutrals suffering from shortage of ocean transports is not due bo Britain's interference, and only eleven neutral vessels are awaiting the adjudication of the Prize Court. Britain would not object to their re'ease upon bail. The detention of the neutral ships does not contribute to shortage as much as mines laid indiscriminately on the high seas which have already destroyed 25 neutral Testis. A century ago the difficulty of land transport rendered it impracticable to obtain sea-borne goods through neutral nations but the advent of steam •nade it easy. The United States 'n the Civil War first practised the capture of contraband destined for the onemy but shipped to a neutral port. Britain is now facing the problem of ntercepting supplies which have been irranged by elaborate organisation with instinted expenditure: hence it is lecessary to inquire the destination of particular shipments, even if there \s light delay, otherwise she would have o abandon lier belligerent rights, promg the war and increase the loss and suffering of the world. The system of inking enquiries waa a new departure but wholly an advantage to ner.vra.is. S'he growth in the siws of steamships ■ften necessitated tfieni being takan ito calm water. The cruisers encou tiered many neutral merchantmen itn'er conditions in which it was imposible to launch a boat. During thii 'ivil War the United States took vessels o port .similarly. In the Russo-Japa-nese War the right to search wa.<&especially necessary when merchantmen ero able to lay mines, even fitted to 'ischarge torpedoes, and able lo oonal supplies for submarines under other argo. Britain is making every effort > reduce delays to a minimum. The most difficult questions in. connection with conditional contraband rise from foodstuffs. Bisinark in 1885 efused to intervene in connection with he treatment of rice as contraband, : rging that the necessary evils of war may be increased "by the interference t neutrals with the manner in which mother Power carries on war. Bismarck added that the object of his neasure was to shorten war by increasug the euemy's difficulties, which s notifiable if impartially enforced in -e-

:ard to all neutral ships. Sir E. Grey -<nys the British Government is difllesed to think that Germany is still Maintaining this view. He concludes iv recalling that Britain established a pedal committee to ensure the speedy dense of neutral goods aboard enemy -liips. and this was highly appreciated >v many Americans. Similarly Britain consented to waive belligerent ights where ships belonged to companies incorporated in Germany, but wned by American corporations. When Ho tacts are better known he hoped t will be apparent to Americans that Britain is acting on lines consistent nth the fundamental principles of incrnational law and exercising bellig•rent rights with every possible consideration for the interest of neutrals.

DESPERATE FTGHTING. Petrograd, Feb. 18. A communique says lighting on the iglit of the Vistula is proceeding with xtrcme desperation. We had only encounters with patrols in Niemen region. We repulsed attacks in LubneStudenne district, talking (prisoner 1-tOO. We sustained impetuous attacks and repulsed them with heavy loss at Wyszkow, almost a whole German battery being bayoneted. A COUNTER MANOEUVRE. There uvre eight to ten German arjriv corps in Kast Prussia- The Russisi'?*, expected this manoeuvcr and 'being numbered ten-fold retired betimes, the light'horse carrying 011 a running fight after laying waste the entire region. Both armies are disposing themselves n . a flat tract of forest country and marshes under deep snow which is beginning to thaw. GERMAN NEWS. Berlin, Feb. 18. Official. -The Kaiser was in the midst of the fighting line at the Masurian Lakes. Only remnants of the Russia 1 Tenth Army escaped to the forest. THE PHILOMEL. Wellington, Feb. 18. The Minister of Defence is advised that an armed landing party from the Philomel cauie in con taut with the enemy who were in much greater force. The officers and men behaved very well indeed. They retired under oover ot the ship's guns. Two were killed, as previously reported, and three were wounded. The wounded are doing well. The enemy's casualties were at least 26 killed and many wounded.