A BRITISH RAID.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1917, Page 2

A BRITISH RAID.

Graphically Described. (Australian & N.Ht, Cable Association). (Received Jan 9, at 9,45 a.m.) London Jan 8 Mr Philip Gibbs, dascvitiiog the Anglo Scottish raid near Arras which penetrated the third line on a 2000 yards front, says it was remarkable that there was only a score of casualties.

There was practically co German machine gun fire. One fiied twenty shots and was then silenced. The enemy barrage was erratic end feeble. It is difficult to rii/ipe the reason for such a state of affair'.

Possibly they were nursing tbeir ammunition or bolding tha tines thinly with youths. Certainly we were able to walk through the old original trench scheme without finding the enemy.

It weald be wrong to bu ; ld extra human hopes, but the enemy cannot afford to be weak anywhere A heavy bombardment preceded the raid and the attackers trudged quietly over No Man's land in the afternoon, deliberately, but horribly close to the edge of the British barrage. Aeroplanes flaw thieby and low. The lack of opposition was uncanny. The entanglements were destroyed ami levelled, with many gaps ten to fifteen yards. The tranches were reduced to rubbish heaps and Ehell craters. Some of the German dead wer<? young.

An English officer with a reputation for nonchalanoy was strolling in No Man’s Laiid and led a detachment to the third line, and mounted the parapets observing the lay of the land. They had a clear view of Triiloy but saw no Gormans. They then returned homewards, A Scottish officer had a similar experience, He reached the third line and saw no living German from first to last. He blew np a number of dug-outs and sat on the parapets and lit a cigarette. A few German guns at Tilloy fired weekly. The Scots leisurely exploded shell craters. The officer finished his cigarette and blew a tantara on a French hunting horn and then slouched home. Visiting the Sick. London, Jan 8 Sir Joseph and Lady Ward viailed the New Zealand officeia at the convalescent home at Brighton aud were, delighted wiih their excdlant accommodation and treatment, The Lahore Conspiracy. . Calcutta Jan 8 The verdict on seventeen prisoners in the second Lahore conspiracy case was six death sentences, five for life, one for two years and five discharged. Tha judgment stated the evidence proved the complicity of the German con3ular sgentsin Ammoa. We are fully satisfied that Uoited States is the ohief centre of the Ghnda movement to overthrow the British Empire in India. It was planned there. The inemy are planning to commence a war of murder and rapine. Manila is another centre of revolutionary aotivity. Returned British (United Service. —Copyright.) Flushing, Jan 9 Twenty-two Britinh h*ve arrived. The men are from Rablebou and are broken in health. German Hopes Flushing, Jau 9 Women from Berlin confirm the lack of essential foodstuffs, Everyone is lunging for peace bat it is understood they must continue to fight and are hopeful to conquer Bessarabia and make an entry into Odessa to ensure victory. Interned. Melbourne, Jan 10 Regarding the exchange of interned?, it is estimated that 800 Germans over 45 years are interned here. It is not kaowa tha number of Australians over 45 years who are prisoners in Germany.

War Necessity. Melbourne, Jan 10 At the Conference for the formation of a National Party, Mr Hughes reviewed the war situation which ha considered nacessitatea the utmost effort. Germany ia far from beaten and Australia must do her duty, along with the oilier self-governing dominion?, by political and economical organisation, through which the national will, desires, and. ideals can be expressed and satisfied. Comparing the present warped outlook of gome labourites, he said the Labour Party would never have wen a majority before the war, if it had not supported a policy of national safety, Implement Branch. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Ranter.) London, Jan 9 The Minister of Munitions has created an agricultural machinery branch to deal with the manufaotnte of machinery implements which are slaesed as munitions work,

A Ktw Zepp (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.) • Paris, Jan 9 The Central News states a new Zeppelin has been cimplete-t at Fnedricbshaven whose propellors work noiselessly. A ne v device envelopes the airships in gas if she desires, tendering her invisible. Munition Order? Paris, Jan 9Tfce Journal's Zurich correspondent says Germany has placed important munition orders in Swi zerland, employing 400. Bulgars’ KingRome, Jan 9 The Giornoa Zorich correspondent Bays the continued absence of King Ferdinand who has not been in Sofift since the French aeroplanes bombed the Royal Palace, causes annoyance. It is stated he has taken np his residence in Austria, and despite constant reports has not visited army for many months. A German Reply. (Received Jun 10, fit 10.15 a.m.) London, Jan 9 The Daily News Paris correrpoirdent states that Giraiany intends to issue a rejoinder to the Allies reply. Probably Count Hollweg will epeak in the Reichstag tbereon. A Russian Report. (Admiralty per Wileless Press.) London, Jan 9 A Russian official—We threw back the enemy offensive westward of Riga and captured an island in western Dvina river, north of Dvinst. We defeated attacks south of Oitnz river. The Roumanians fell back six versts west of Monastir and Kachineul on the Kaßino river. We took new' positions on the line of Patna and Sereth rivers.