WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

Per Press Association. —Copyright.

UTERKAL GERiflAfoY.

A Professor’s Vkw AMSTERDAM, Jan. 8. The “Lokal Anzicger” has an article by Professor Heinrich Rosin, a 1* ood specialist, who says tins hate-born, curse-laden starvation war'is benefiting many sufferers. There arc many complete cures 01 government corpulence owing to compulsory war diet, which is a God-send to the weaklings who fail to follow their medical advisers. He is not amazed to find comparatively few signs of weakening of the physical powers of the great masses of the people. Emaciation is pretty general, especially in towns, but is seldom accompanied by weakness. A decrease of fifty pounds is not rare as the result of the war diet. Travellers’ Statements. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 8. Despite Professor Rosin’s optimism, travellers insist that there "is increased destitution in Austria and Germany, and many serious illness for lack of proper nourishment. A diplomatist recently from Berlin, states that the people are living chiefly on potatoes’, bread of fair quality, ana fish and saucemeal. Bread is of a dear, quality, and the scarcity in some districts amounts almost to a famine, particularly in Ham. burg, where the people are very weak. Many Germans are arriving from Holland, Denmark and Sweden with children wasting from diseases uue to want of proper food. Some members of German Legations in neutral countries admit that Austria and Germany are unable to last more than three months, and starvation is within sight. The same strain of growing despondency is seen in intercepted letters. 'Bread is fairly plentiful, and wheat and rye are estimated at one and a half-million tons better than 1915; barley and oats three and a half million bettor. - The Entente must not look vo tJie enemy’s immediate exhaustion, as there is enough food fo r many weeks. The people are irritated, but there aie no signs yet of revolution. S A Rift in the Lute. LONDON January 8. The Daily News’ Berne correspond*, ent states that nows from Austria from trustworthy sources state that the differences between he Kaiser and Emperor Charles have gone so far that they cannot be again reconciled. Austria, having forced Germany to agree to a joint offer of peace negotiations,, is now preparing for still more sensational steps.

Called Up LONDON January 8. German travellers state that all the eighteen year old boys called up in November have boon drafted to the Western front. They were informed that the Germans would attempt a great offensive in the early spring. Even the younger boys employed in the munitions factories are working at maximum inten sity and have been told that they must give the western armies more ammunition than the British. . German Report. LONDON, Jan. 8. A wireless German official message says that the Russians strongly attacked west of Riga on the Mitau road and extended their gains of the stli at Aa Rener. We pushed back the enemy between Putna and Otuz valleys, and drove the Ru!sso4Roumanians from the fortiled mountain position at Odobesti, towaru* Putna. Wo stormed their Mileova position and pierced the enemy second lino between Ficliani and Jarastea, asd crossed the Fochasi-Boloteski Foad. We captured Eo.ssaiii and prisonered 3,910 men and captured three guss. SafeLONDON, January b. The Norwegian steamers Erica ana Thyra, reported sunk, have arrived in port. COPENHAGEN, January 8. U A decree prohibits for a time the chartering of Danish ships to foreigners without the Government’s authority. The decree is based ostensibly on the, necessity of safeguarding Danish imports in view of the Danish mercantile war losses. On a Mission. ' J PARIS, January 8. M.Diomede, formerly a Minister in tho Venizelos Cabinet, is now on a mis'siou to Britain and France on behalf of the Natioal Government. He declares that Major Falkenhauscn, German Attache. controls the Greek stage, which is only waiting the order to attack the Entente army. Major Falkenliausen merely wants a pretext. King Constantine still has 75,000 troops, and all his activity is exerted in preparing to fight the Entente. ■ ProtestsPARIS, January 8. As a public protest against the Belgian deportations, Maurice Maeterlinck the Belgian dramatist, has-•rebuked’hou-t nil s’ apathy and has declared in a passionate apostrophe: il You who bear the name of neutrals arc alone able to hinder and punish the crimes that we are powerless fu prevent. Between these criminals and humanity the gull' is uncrossable till after long years of y?\\itenc9, suffering and hurAiHation,”

Note to Greeca. (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Jan. S. The Allies have sent a new Note to Greece, which is practically a fortyeight hours’ ultimatum. LONDON, Jan. 8. An Italian wireless official message reports vigorous" artillerying on tiie whole front. LONDON, January o. A German official message states that Foscani lias been captured, 3910 prisoners were taken. in Roumania. LONDON, January 8. M. Bourcliier, writing from Jassy says: The Government and military believe tbat Germany aims at the oc cupation of the whole of Ronmania. The offensive has been continued without relaxation New troops have been brought up and are attacking day and night, despite the inclemency of the season. Germanq intends to initiate a new King and Government when the realm is overrun. M Hutm, correspodent oF’tlie Echo de Paris, s.«ys. The-Russian offensive a Sereth is important. General Hindend«rf calls it an extricating offensive but the Austrian Marshal Hoofer admits it is on r. groat sc: le. LONDON January 8. The new Munition contracts stipulate that factories supplying 4jinch shells and unde r must employ 90 per cent women, and 80 per cent for the larger shells. KilledLONDON, Jan. 8. Ernest Crosswell Helmore, a secondlicut. in the Sherwood Foresters, and son of Mr Geo. Helmore of Christchurch, was killed in action. [ft ora KulUirLONDON January 8. The Daily LI ail’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 tho shops for the purpose of making sandbags The officers ferquent Iv send wagon loads of goods from Belgium to be sold on their behalf.

American Leakages WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. Mr. Tumulty, testifying before the Congressional Committee, denied that anybody amongst tfee Executive officers had knowledge of tho 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. WASHINGTON, Jam 8. In giving evidence to the Senate’s Investigating Committee, T. S. Lawson, pacing up and down before the committee, said all the charges made in tho public press, he believed were true. It was one of the commonest things in Wall street, a leakage of Government and court affairs which affect the securities. It was premeditated deliberate bobbery of the American people through the stock gamblers. He added : “I came here to give my honest testimony, only to have hell lambasted out of me.’” Amid much uproar he declared: “I will not be bull-dogged or intimidated,” and reiterated that there was leakage of the Peace Note, and had profited himself. There were further violent scenes while 'Lawson was being examined. He was frequently rebuked for the intemperance of his language. The committee adjourned till Tuesday, but meantime considers the quesion of committing Lawson for contempt of court. Lawson declared he “did not care a curse what the committee did.” NEW YORK, Jan. Bth. Mr. Lansing testified and denied knowledge of the leakage. T. W. Lawson, .author of “Frenzied Finance,” gave evidence that Congressmen informed him that a member of the Cabinet speculated in Wall Street, but he refused to give the name. An Interview. (Australian &N.Z, Cable Association) NEEW YORK, Jan. S. The “New York World’s” Paris correspondent publishes an interview with the Belgian Minister of State, M. Van de Wyve're, who said that clandestine communications from Belgian occupied territprities show that the Belgians unitedly support the Government’s attitude on the German peace proposals. Peace is impossible without the restoration of territory, reparation for damage and guarantees against a repetition of the violation of treaty righs. The Belbelieve 'that President W ilson acted as a humantiariaa spirt and that the Note is a help and not harmful to the Belgians’ cause. A comparison of the Allies’ and the Germans’ views will suffice to convince the United States of the insincerity of the Germans’ attitude and the impossibility to discussing Germany’s present proposals. Germany’s need of peace is now very groat. Poseiblv as it becomes greater she will, make more reasonable proposals. Turkish Loans. PARIS, January S. Advices from Constantinople state that Germany is lending Turkey 39,000;>0 Turkish Bonds n paper money, on ’’jeh Turkey will issue notes to the value of 35.000,000 pounds. A M STEP.DAM, .Tannai yB. The Frankfurter Zeitung states: Tho response to the call fo r volunteers to v’r-o in the Polish is negligible.

Dissension (Australian & N.Z, Cable Association). AMSTERDAM, Jan. b. There is growing evidence of dissentions among the Central Powers.

A Sofia correspondent of the “Vossicho Zeitung says Bulgaria cares nothing for sentiment, and though tho fear that Bulgaria will forsake her present friends is not great, German,? should put her friendship on a- fixed basis. ""

The correspondent points out that there is an agitation against tho German domination in Bulgaria, and that dissatisfaction in Bulgarian patriotic circles at the present state of affairs is growing fast. 'Die article has addiional significance ns following the recent speech of M. Iladoslavotf, wlio said: “We are ready to conclude peace, because wo wish to see an end of the war, and Bulgaria’s work has already been brought to a successful conclusion.” The Sobranje greeted the speech with loud cheers. ROME, Jan. 8. The “Messagcro” says: The Pope is sending identical replies to Germany’s and America’s Peace Notes on-Wednes-day, narrating his personal efforts for peace and declaring that the moment is inopportune for a definite movement.

Austrian Order. VIENNA, Jan. 8. The Emperor of Austria, in an Army Order, refers o the Entente’s refusal to negotiate. He urges the troops to further exertions, concluding with ‘ ‘Forward with God!” GENEVA, January 8. A telegram states that the AustroHungarian ex Foreign Minister, Golnchowiski, has arrived at Vevy. ostensibly on a family visit, but in reality he is enquiring for King Charles into tho views and intentions of the Allies.

A Berlin Dinner. AMSTERDAM, Januaryb. The American Chamber of Commerce Berlin, held a dinner t-o celebrate Dr. Gerard’s return. Herr Helflericli said that he hoped American and German relations would continue friend!--, lie denied that Germany suffered from over militarism. It was merely systematisation and organisation for defence. Compared with the French and Russian preparations, Germany exhibited too little militarism. The war showed that Germany was justified in bringing her army to the two or three standard He suggested that Britain, wlio claimed half the earth and the whole of the sea, was the cradle of super-militarism Dr Gerard, replying, said that the relations between the United States and Germany were never better. While Herr von Betlimann Hollweg, General von Ilindferburg, Herr Capelle, and Herr Zimmermann continued in their positions the same relations would continue. Ho brought the olive branch from President- Wilson. Hei’rGwinner, director of tho German Bank, said that Dr Gerard was like a peaco dove.He finds it still raining, and sees no sign of a rainbow. Count Ozernia has arrived at Berlin and lias conferrd with the Kaiser, who has arranged for conferences with the Imperial Chancellor and the leading politicians and bankers.

Burial Troubles. LONDON, Jan. 8. Owing to the intermittent difficulties ’-suiting from the scarcity of coffinmakers the undertakers are approaching Neville Chamberlain for assistance from the State. “Some of the coffins used are lidless • There is also a shortage of gravediggers and in some cemeteries coffins for common graves are temporarily bur ied in shallow holes until the common grave, is ready.' • Cremationists are advocating compulsory cremation. WASHINGTON. Jan. Bth. The State Department has instructed Dr. Gerard to forward the text of -‘his Berlin speech. Making Dyes. LONDON, Jan. Btli. The Leeds University and Educational Committee lias organised a .scheme of research into the possibility of making dyes’ for the printing of photographs. Already important results have been

achieved in the preparation of two dyes, the sensitising powers of which are indentieal with the original German products. The preparation of other dyes is progressing. Captain Persius, writing in the Tage blatt, says tbat lie realises that i-ue difficulty of accomplishing Britain’s conomic defeat in the war will become a race for economic supremacy and.para lysis of tlie enemy.