Latest War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 January 1916, Page 3

Latest War News

(Received This Day 8.15 a.m.) AUSTIUAX GOVERNMENT'S ItEQt'EST. London, Jan. 11. Replying to the Austrian Note stn f .- iiitv that it holds th« British Government' responsible tor tho safety of th i Austro-Hungariaii subjects being repatriated from India, Sir Kd ward Gi v, y says he is astonished at the request athe themselves are one oi the anthoi-9 of the submarine danger. Jt is the Austin-Germans themselves who carry ou this novel and inhurn ui warfare. which disregards all hitherto accepted principles of international law. By asking for special precaution to protect their own subjects Austria practically denies that the sinking ol the Lusitania and Persia- is part of a settled and premeditated polio,v. Great Britain does not propose to take special, precautions in the present case.

GENERAL TOWNSHEND SURROUNDED. The newspapers point out that General Townshend is surrounded, and has only heliogi'rtphic and wireless communication with the main force. Apparently the Turks still are in superior numbers and there ib no definite British successes,' THE RUSSIANS IN OAbIOIA. Petrograd, Jan. 11. A communique states that the enemy in Galieia, east of Czernovitz, suffered such enormous losses as the result of our rapid and fierce blow. They were so disorganized by their desperate and fruitless counter-attacks that they were unable to hinder our consolidating the capture positions.

GREAT RUSSJ AJN" REINFORCEMENTS. j Amsterdam, Jan. 11. | The Kolnische Zeitung says that the slackening struggle in Galicia docs not mean that the Russian offensive has ended, it is only that the enemy is taking breath. Great reinforcements are being brought up. The Russians are using great quantities of .Japanese ammunition and the greater part of the infantry in Galicia is armed with Japanese rifles. THE COMPULSION HILL, The T>abour party has accepted the Jit. Hon. H. H. Asquith's invitation to discuss certain aspects in the Compulsion Bill. CHURCHILL'S DREAM DESTROYJ£D. (ierman newspapers commenting 011 Gallipoli say that Major Churchill's drea-m of a victorious march to Co 1stantinople has been destroyed and the campaign has ended in a complete failuie of a proud England. Evacuating the position means the release o: large Turkish forces tor use against the ilussians. It is denied in Constantuople that interest in the war will now decline. RELIEF FORCES EN ROUTE. Generals Aylmer and Kemball lett Aliglierbi, one hundred miles south- | east of Ku tela mam, on 6th to try to relieve General Aylmer has made good progress and has rcaciied Sheikhhaad half way to Kutelamara. THE ARRESTED CONSULS. Paris, Jan. 11 The arrested Salonika Consuls have been interned aboard a cruiser at Toulon. It is reported tn.it ser.ous charges are pending. COMPULSION 01' WEALTH London, Jan. 11. The Daily Mail and Leader advocates compulsory war loan investments the limitation of imports by licenses and permits, and the compulsory limitation of the rate of living. They believe that drastic compulsion o) money for rich and poor alike would meet less oppostiion thiin the Compulsory Service Bill. It is announced that a Treasury committee is organizing a campaign for securing surplus wages and proli x if voluntaryism fails.

THE BARAL(h\G CASE. London, Jan. A gunner mi the Bamlong states that they received the Nicosiaii's wireless message on JAhh August, ami went full speed ahead. An hour later they sighted the Nieosian being shelled by ii submarine, while the crew were getting nit* the lifeboats. We had plenty of ammunition ready on the poop and the marines took shelter behind the bulwarks. t'he captan, by excellent seamanship brought his ve.sse. to the starboard ol the Nieosian, so were were hidden from the submarine's view for a few momenta during which we cleared for action and trained the guns end hoisted the white en•sigu. When wo appeared, across the T .isian's bowa the submarine tired i nhot and our marines replied with a volley that swept the decks ol' tho submarine. It seemed to demoralize the crew and they immediately left their guiis and rushed to the conning tower, several going overboard. We fired with our port and stern guns and hit the submarine below the waterline. A second shot hit the conning tower sending two men liymg into the air. The submarine gradually sanK. Every one of the crew either was drowned or shot; only a tew parts of the submarine, bodies and a large quantity of oil remained on surface. The action last four andt a half minutes. W r e fired thirty-seven rounds at the submarine. It was one or Germany's latest and largest type, 300 feet long and 1000 tons displacement. I', had two guns fore and aft, ol slightly larger calibre than the Bar-i----long's. Wc were disgusted with the cowardice of the submarine's crowApart from their heavier guns they bad several torpedo tubes. They wei? rcody enough to kill and maim detji-ceh-ss merchant crews and passengers, but had no stomach for fighting armed ships, even when the odds were it their favour. We rescued 107 ot tli" crew of the Nieosian, none ot wl-Hin were killed or wounded. Our on nalties were nil.

'I HE I,OSS OF THE KINO EI)- j WARD VII. 'j >Mirvwors from tlii*. -.ng Edward Vll. States that the disaster' too.* place on Thusday, Hth. in the mornin.;. The weather was moderate, but tli- wind high. All doors were closed and the shock extinguished nil lights find it was some time beU'e other lights were set going, nevertheless every hoal was out within half an hour. Meanwhile a collier came tip and began to tow the battleship. An hour later tour destroyers responded to wireless appeals and t-ook up the tow, but heavy seas springing up run- ; .fried the towing difficult and daniw.r- , ohm. and iirst one of the hawsers an I j then another parted till all had gone ! The captain, at three o'clock, seeing ■ ill 'i it was hopeless trying to save toe ; ship ordered every man to save himself flnd. ordefred the destroyers to ,

stand alongside. The stokers remained at ther' posts until th° last, keeping the dynamos going. All were off safely by six o'clock. Tile captain left the bridge at 7.30 and ten minutes later the battleship disappeared. There was an absence or panic; the officers setting a splendid example. THE BRITISH FLEET READY. London, Jan. 11. At tlie Admiralty's invitation the Australian Press Association representative visited an important base from whence a mosquito squadron is kept in readiness to start out at two minutes notice. Target practice and training continues as in peace time and there ate war games with miniature torpedoes. They saw the trawlers and minelayers and minesweepers with attendant depot ships; aeroplane vessels and other novel auxiliaries representing the latest developments in naval science. . The squadron includes a number of the latest and speediest de stroyers afloat, with flotilla leaders capable of outstripping any enemy deand light cruisers. They 'u spected the Arethusa ; she is as saucy us when she was completed. From when she left the dock and went to sea an.i

• i.cht in th® action on 28th August she was back in dock again in less than five days. The Arethusa is proud of her wounds. All the holes have been plastered and covered with iron plates. The visit afforded the happiest evidence of the readiness of the fleet to strafe any enemy vessels venturing into the open.