THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 March 1915, Page 3

THE WAR

Latest Cables

[JSUCCXJUU TELEUKAi'Il —COl'irttlUHT.J |_I'KK VEKtiS ASSOCIAIION. 1 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REL'ELLJLOxN. Capetown, March A. General Smuts, in moving the Indemnity Bill a second time, emphasized that the rebellion had made progress prior to the war. It was due to the machinations of highly-ptaced persons upon some of the people, and who were seeking independence. ihree things saved tho country. First was the ioyal support of tho Government by all sections of people. The Government regarded the rebellion as a blot on the Dutch people.. It was their duty and privilege to wipe out the disgrace, and therefore they employed the English as little as possible. Secondly, the Expeditionary troops had been switched off from the Germans to suppress the rebels. It was idle to plead that the rebellion was due to the expedition. The Boers 'remembered the bitter experiences of those settling on German territory after the war. The third factor was the Government's refusal to .surrender to pressure, especially in the Orangia, to issue arms to civilians wholesale. The Government proposed to disqualify for ten years, those who surrendered, or were captured after the amnesty. Those imprisoned would remain so until the end of the war. The rebel leaders and influential people woul3 be tried by a special Court.

Professor Fremantle moved that tho Bill was inconsistent with the interests of the Union and the Empire.

(Received This Day 8.40 a.m.) REPORTS FROM TURKEY. London, March 4. A Constantinople message says that Htilif Bey. President of the Chamber of Deputies, announced that the Ottoman troops have exhausted the Russian Army in the Caucasus. They cross-id the Suez Canal, and having fulfilled their tasks returned, and are perfecting their positions. They will shortly release Egypt from the tyranny of ""iie onoiny and drive the British out of Asiatic Turkey. The boin'Eardment of the Dardanelles had been resultless. Probably the enemy will not conio tlirough the Strait; it they did they would find the greatest part of Turkish army gathered there.

Another message states that Djemai Pasha has been recalled from Egypt to supervise the defence of Constantinople.

The Daily Mail's Copenhagen correspondent reports that news has been received in Berlin that the Turks are very short of big gun ammunition and the Austrians are rushing supplies to Constantinople.

A GERMAN ADMIRAL'S LECTURE,

Lecturing at the Kiel University, Grand-Admiral Von Koester declared that it was necessary that Gernuiuj should have an unconquered army and navy so as to secure favourable peace terms. If the.navy were to fight si superior force it might be destroyed. Of what avail would it be if each ship was accompanied to tile bottom by an enemy ships; with perhaps a Tew more England would still have ships left 'o attack the German Coast at leisure. The German fleet had shown an offensive initiative by attacking the English coast, but the British Admiralty was evidently afraid of the German ships and would not attack the German coast.

A comment on Ivoeeter's explanation says that it indicates to the British that the German navy wa.s built to wait for peace. The situation has only one parallel: that when the French cavalry of 1795 captured the Dutch fleet. Koester's navy has become a land force and probably will be captured by a land force. (Received This Day 10.25 a.m.) THE FRENCH REPORT. Paris, March I A communique states that- our artillery demolished the enemy's trenches on the" sand dunes. The bombardment of Rheims lasted all day ; a shell falling every three minutes. The enemy captured our advance tronch near Notre Dame Lorette. A French airman yesterday bombarded a powder magazi'ie northward of Donauschingen and flames rose 400 metres. Two regiments of German Guards fought with great ferocity west of Mesnil, but -were completely defeated.

THE GERMAN REPORT. Amsterdam, March 4. A German communique claims tint they capture eight French officers, 558 men and seven machine guns at Notre Dame Lorette.

RECRUITING BRISK. Recruiting continues very active, while the rifle clubs movement i.s growing apace. A NATIONAL BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. Sydnej-, This Day. The Lord Mayor presided at a large gatiiering in the Town Hall when .ill sections of the people were represented to consider the Belgian appeal , . A motion was moved by the Premier, the Hon. W. Holnian, and seconded hy Mr G. Wad p. Leader of the Opposition, and it was decided that all the citizens of the State be invited to participate in the formation of a national fund *-o afford immediate, sustained and effective relief. It was also proposed that the mayors throughout the State form district committees. The, Hon. W. Holnian anticipated that the appeal would realise in the vicinity of £30.000 monthly. Until the collecting machinery was in working order, the Government was prepared to amply make £ood any shorta'if-. (Received This Day 8. 45 a.m.) THE SEYDLITZ INTERNED. Bahiablanca, March 4. The German ship Seydlitz has been interned here.