Second Edition THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 April 1915, Page 3

Second Edition THE WAR

; Latest Cables I KLKUl'ltlC TKLKUHAI'H — COI'YUIGBT.] [I'EU I'ICKBS ASSOC!AI ION. ") (Received This Day 8.50 a.m.) WILL CONSULT THE DOMINIONS. Loudon, April 14. The Rt. Hon. Lewis Harcourt, ill the House of Commons, intimated that he would consult the Dominions fully personally, when the time to discuss peace arrived. SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT ON NEUVE CHAPELLE. Sir John French's report regarding the battle at Neuvechapelle reveals that one object line to secure positions eastward of the village as far as possible, but owing to delay after the capture of the villages due to The outting of the telephone wires and failure to carefully |carry out Sir Douglas Haig'.s instructions further advance was frustrated. The casualties in three days were 372 officers and 12,239 men. About the end of February many vital considerations induced him to believe that a vigorous British offensive should be earried'out at the earliest moment. He formed this opinion because of the general aspect of the Allied situation, and the necessity of assisting the Russians by holding as many of the enemy on the western front as possible. The weightiest consideration was the need of fostering the offensive spirit in our troops after the experiences of the severe winter in the trenches. The object of the main attack was to capture Neuvechapelle, and the establishment of our line as far eastward of that place as possible. Sir D. Haig with the first army was entrusted with the operations. The Germans occupied a strong position at a triangle of roads just north of the village. Continuing his report Sir John French says that the 23rd Division was unable to progress owing to the entanglements and suffered heavy losses especially the Middlesex Regiment and the Scottish Rifles. TTio advance of the 25th Division, however, turned the enemy's southern flank which was harassing the 23rd and enabled the latter to get through and take possession of the village. All the roads northwards and south-westwards wcro in our bands during the fight and our artillery completely cut off the village from the surrounding country and prevented with a curtain of shrapnel any of the enemy reinforcing. Considerable delay occurred after the capture of the village as the infantry was greatly disorganised by the violent nature o/"thp attack, and after the passage through tTie enemy's trenches and buildings in- the village, it was necessary to get the units together before pushing on. The use of the deadly rifle and machine gun renders heavy casualties una voidable. The power of defence conferred by modern weapons is the main cause of the long duration of present lay battles, and they only will be shortened by The most efficient and powerful artillery. Sir John French commends the Prince of Wales for work as a .staff officer. Sir John French states that the operations were chiefly remarkable for the enemy's violent counter-attacks and the ease with which we repulsed them. As our object was attained he ordered a suspension of the offensive. The casualties included 190 officers and 2,337 men killed. 359 officers and 8,174 wounded, and 23 officers and 1728 men missing. The enemy left several thousand dead on the field and removed 12,000 wounded. We captured 30 officers and 1657 men. Sir John French expressed to Sir Douglas Haig his fervent appreciation of the magnificent gallantry and tenacious courage of all ranks. The work of the Flying Corps was of the greatest value. In the raids most of the objectives were attacked from an altitude of one hundred feet, and in one instance of 50 feet. All gaps caused by the fighting between the 10th and 15th March wore filled within a few days. ITALY'S OPPORTFNITY Rome, April 14. The German concentration in the Carpathians to help the Austrians is watched with ileop concern. Tf Russia sweeps into Hungary it is expected that Austria will sue for peace and the Italian war party urge prompt intervention to secure material advantages of the winning combatant. Advices from Vienna .state that che city is alarmed at tFc news which is leaking out respecting the army's plight. The wealthy classes have already left. The. general impression is that the Government has lost its head and does not know what measures to adopt to prevent or delay fisaster. HTC.H OmrVTTSSTOXER'S REPORT. _ "T London. April 14. 4.15 p.m France is calm generally. On Tuesday a Zeppelin bombarded Mailleul and killed three civilians. Two German aeroplanes were Toreed to descend near Rraine at T.unoville. The aviators were made prisoners. A third machine was winged at Orne

~ I (Received This Day 12.30 p.m.) r RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE i WAR. d . - t . London, April 14. q In an interview between the New 0 York World newspaper's representif tive and Herr Ballin, whom the Kaiser j authorised to communicate the Kaiser's . view of the war Herr Ballin said the ? Kaiser reiterated that his twenty-sis 2 years' rule had proved he had not j wanted war. When asked whom the Emperor considered responsible, Herr t Ballin said "England! We honestly believe Sir Edward Grey could have , stopped it if he had declared England t would refuse to go to war over any internal question between Servia and . Austria. Then Russia and Franco would have compromised with Austria. If Sir Edward Grey, on the other hand, had said England would go to war with Germany, then Austria might have been readier to compromise. By his decision Sir Edward Grey could have avoided this terrible thing." (Received This Day 1.45 p.m.) THE WILHELMLNA CASE. London. April 14. Tlio Government Has settled the Wilhclmina case by paying the owners of the cargo what it would have realised if the cargo had been delivered at Hamburg. The owners of the veßsel will be compensated For its detention. ZEPPELINS ACTIVE. A Zeppelin dropped bombs at Nunc? but no fatalities were caused. Incendiary bombs started several fires and a paint and varnish 'factory was destroyed. A communique states that a Zeppelin dropped bombs at Bailluel. missed the aviation grounds, but killed three civilians. Two German aeroplanes were brought down elsewhere and the aviators captured, while another was brought down north of Verdun. The aviator was wounded. London, March 15. A Zeppelin dropped several bombs on the outskirts of Blyth, Northumberland, to-night. A Zeppelin passed over Wallsend, Eaton and Cramlingtou, dropping bombs.