THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 January 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

lAustral a-New Zealand Cable Service) ENEMY RAIDER STJEOTED. London", January 5. Sir Douglas Haig states :— An enemy raiding party entered our lines southward of Loos, after heavy fighting. The enemy were speedily driven out, leaving a number of dead. Some British are missing. KAISER INDIGNANT. London, Jan. 6. Official.—The Kaisier ' in an order to the army and navy says: "Our enemies have refused my offer of peace. They desire Germany's destruction Before God and humanity I declare that the heavy responsibility for further terrible sacrifices .rests 1 on our enemies who do not want the understanding offered by me. With God's help our arms will enforce it, In justified anger for the enemy's presumptuous malice and with the desire to defend our holiest possessions and guarantee our happy future you will become like steel." IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE. London, Jan. 5. Pending Australia's decision, it has been found impossible to fix a date for the Imperal War Conference. It is still doubtful whether South Africa will be able to send a delegate. Jt is: understood that the other iself-gov-erning Countries have responded favourably. It is believed that the conference will meet even if Australia and South Africa are not represented. GREECE FtROM WITHIN. London, January 5. The London (Daily 'Chronicle's correspondent at Athens, telegraphing from Syria to 'avoid 'Gtreeik censorship, says:— - "There has been no abatement of the reign of terror. Reservists continue to arrest politdoal opponents. Large numbers of the population are terrorised fearing spurious denunciation. The Reservists are reaping a harvest by blackmail. The revival of the ceremonial of (ostracism 'against Venizelos is merely a. piece of stagecraft. The priests 'reluctantly participated under threats. The blockado has not yet seriously affected the food supply,, but trade lias been disorganised. This is the most likely tiling to reduce the Government to reason. Though the king asi believed to be to indisposed to go to extremities the military officers aire truculent and have sent a wan* petition to Coiistantine. They 'believe that Mackensen will soon sweep south, and that the Entente will he impotent. The possibilities of hostile Greek action keep a portion of Sarrail's army from activity.

MUNITION" MAKING. ■London, January 8. Th© new munitions contracts Stipulate that factories supplying 4}inch shells and tinder must employ ninety per cent women, :and eighty per cent for-largest sheila. A SIDELIGHT ON THE 'WAR. Owing to increasing difficulties, resulting in a scarcity of coffin-makers, undertakers are approaching the Hon Nwilfa Chamberlain for assistance from the State. " Some coffins 1 used are lidless; also there is a shortage of grave diggers at some cemeteries. Coffins for common graves are temporarily bwried in shallow holes until the common graves are got ready. Oremationists are advocating compulsory cremation. - DANISH SHIPS. Copenhagen, Jan. 8. A decree (has been, .issued prohibiting for a time the chartering 'of Danish ships to foreigners without Government authority l . The' dejcreo is based: ostensibly on the necessity for safeguarding Danish imports in view of Danish mercantile war losses. (Received This Day 9.20 a.m.) UNDERWRITERS' GAIN. London, Jan. 8. The Norwegian steamers Erica and Thyr.a (reported sunk) have arrived in port. THE POLISH ARMY. Amsterdam, Jan. 8. The (Frankfurter Zeitung istaites that the response to 'a call for volunteers to serve in the Polish army is negligible. THE GRECIAN TROUBLE. Paris, Jan. 8. Diomede, formerly a minister in the Venizelos Cabinet, now is on a mission to Anglo-Franco on behia.ll v of the National Government. He declares that Major Falkenhausen, £ German attache, controls the Greeli staff which is only waiting the ordei to attack the Entente, army. Falk enliausen merely wants a pretext. Kins C-onstajitinc still has 75,000 troop: All 'his activity is being exerted ii preparation for a fight against tli< Entente.

BURGLARY IN BELGIUM. (United Service.) London, Jan. 8. The 3>aily Mail's Paris correspondent reports that a trader from Lille states that the Germans burglariously opened the municipal safes and removed bullion. They seized satins, silks and other 'goods in shops for the purpose of making sandbags to ensure that the explosions would be carried through quietly.

Officerjs frequently Isend waggoiv loads of goods from [Belgium to be sold on their behalf. APOSTROPHES BY CABLE. (Times Service). Paris, January 8. As a public protest against tlie Belgian deportations Maurice Maeterlinck rebuked the neutrals' apathy and declared in passionate apostrophe: "You who bear the name of neutrals alone are able to hinder or punish crimes; we are powerless at present. Between- these criminals and humanity the gulf is uncrossable till after long years of penitence and suffering and humiliation/." (Received This; Bay 10.15 a.m.) THE PEACE NOTE. "Washington, Jan. 8. Mr Tumulty, testifying before congressional toommittlee, deniied itliat anybody among the executive officers had knowledge of the American President's note until it was published. The President wrote the Note on his private typewriter; it was confidential between the" President and Mr 'Lansing. The New York '"World's Paris correspondent had an interview with the Belgian. Minister. The correspondent states that Van de Vyvert said: Clandestine. communications from Belgians in occupied territory show that the Belgians unitedly support the (Government's attitude on the Gorman pealce proposals; peace is impossible without restoration of territory, reparation for damage, guarantees against repetition and of violation of treaty right. The Belgians believe President Wilson acted in a humanitary spirit; the Note) would help and not harm the Belgians' cause. By comparison with the Allies' the German views would suffice to convince the United States of the insincerity of Germany's attitude and the impossibility! to discuss Germany's present proposals. Germany's need of peace "now was very .great, and there was a possibility, as it became greater that she Would issue more reasonable proposals.

(Received This Day. 8.40 a.m.) "INOPPORTUNE." Rome, January 8. The newspaper Messagero says that the Pope is sending identical (replies to; Germany's and America's Peace Notes of Wednesday, narrating his personal effort to secure peace, and declaring that the. present moment is inopportune for a definite movement. ZEfPPEfLIN DISASTER. Capenha.gen, Jan. 8. It is reported that there were heavy losses of life in the Tondern Zeppelin disaster. ZEEBRUGGE HARBOUR. Amsterdam, Jan. 8. The Echo de Beige asserts that, despite bombardments, Zeebrugge harbour works are intact and that a great number of submarines and torpedoers are practically undamaged. PALESTINE AS WAR CENTRE. i (Reuter Service). Washington. Jan. 8. An official in close touch with the i British Legation, says that Palestine j may be the next important theatre j of war. The British (Suez) army is j preparing for a drive through Palestine, to join the Russians, whose reinforcedl Tigris army is pushing up the valley.