WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

* ■ . Per Press Association. —Copyright.

THE GUILDHALL ftIEETIfiG

The Premier’? Speech (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Jan. 11. For admitance to the Guildhall mooting the queue commenced to line up at 10 o’clock in the morning, and they cheerfully waited for five hours amidst snow and sleet to. welcome Mr. Lloyd George’s first public speech as I torn ier.

There was intense enthusiasm at the meeting. Leading politicians and financial magnates in commerce occpied the plat-

form. The spectators included King Manuel, Hons. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. The Hon. Bonar Law opened the meeting with an exposition of the principles necessitating the loan. He said it was a limit rate of interest, and so far as lie could forecast a higher interest would not be paid in the future if the loan failed; which it would not, but if it did other methods would he appliable. He said that the great Gorman military machine was resting on an internal" fuiidation which was trembling irrestibly before our eyes. Mr. Lloyd George said it to suit Ger many to have peace now on terms. The' Allies wanted peace, hut decided that even war- was better to a peace at the prince of Prussian doiiii nation over

Europe. Mr. Lloyd George continued. 1 have just returned from a council of war of the four main Allies, upon whose shoulders most of the burden of this terrible war rests. I cannot reveal the conclusions of that council, but it was, thoroughly businesslike, and we separated with a feeling more confident than ever ,

He said that all the Allies knew we wiere encountering an organisation which had been perfected for a generation by the Prussians for the subsection of Europe. What struck him more during the conference was tlio increasing extent to which the Allies were looking to Great Britain. They were trusting to her rugged strength and great resourcesBritain was like a great tower ill the deep and the liopo of the oppiessed m the despair of the oppressor. When the ignorance of Prussian cast flung Britain’s signature on the treaty into°the waste paper basket the Prussians did not know the pride of our land.

They treated it with disdain, but knew it now, and our soldiers and sailors had taught them a respect for us.

This is a war of equipment,

The Germans are pressing hack oil our gallant Allies in Boumania, though the -Roumanian peasant proved himself proved the doughtiest of fighters, aim the Russians with a bare breast fought for two and a half years with inferior guns, insufficient rifles and inadequate minitio ns in a heroic struggle which stirred the world (cheers.) If we helped to equip Roumania and Russia there would be another stofy Vo tell.

Soon the armies of Britain would bo more formidable and different than in 1916.

There was also marvellous improvement in the British industries and factories in the scrapping of old machinery and discarding slip-slop wasteful methods. (Cheers).

Mr. Lloyd George added; We will he come a more alert people and throw off useless tissues.

We are as a nation which is taking exercise. I want to see cheques hurling through the air an that every well-primed cheque will be a better weapon of destruction than a twelve inch shell. The more wo get the shorter will be the war by generous subscriptions.

Leaving Athens.

ROME, Jan. ll

The British colony at Athens has arrived at Brindisi, the Italians remaining at Athens.' ATHENS, Jan. 11. The Gri-cek -reply to the ultimatum makes the Allies concessions, aceom-. panied; by conditions, including the raising of the blockade. Austrian War Council 1 VIENNA, Jan. 11. M. Clerin presided over a lengthy and important War Council of the joint Austro-Hungarian Cabinets. Afterwards Clerin went to headquarters, where the Emperor conferred with numerous generals, Ministers, Archdukes, the German military plenipotentiary and the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to the United States. iellicoe on the Menace. LONDON, Jan. 11. Sir John Jellicoe, in acknowledging the Freedom of the Fishmongers Comoany, so id the submarine menace was far greater than at any period of the war, and it required the utmost energy to overcome it. It must and could be dealt with, and the nation could depend upon the Navy as being ever-ready, resourceful and reliable. A Closa Call. ROTTERDAM, Jan. IF, The ,r Lokal Auzeiger’s” Warsaw correspondent says the Russian papers report that the Czar has decedid that M. Stunner will resume activities as Advisor oil Foreign Affairs. PARIS, Jan. 11. The “Figaro” says that during M. Stunner’s premiership Gennany nearly reached the Russian powder magazine with a lighted watch*

The Russian Offensive

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.)

PETROGRAD, Jan. 11

Wounded prisoners agree that the suddenness of the Russian offensive on the Riga front completely surprised the enemy. Advanced Russian detachments noiselessly entered the trenches ana captured the sleeping outposts. They found the first lino of trenches unguarded and scouted and cut the entanglements, and seized the bewildered enemy positions without resistance.

They canned the second and third lines of trenches without meeting any serious resistance until they reached the 4th line which however, was also seized, the Germans unsuccessfully attempting to re-capture.

Trepoft’s Resignation

LONDON, Jan 11

The “Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent says that M. Trepoff’s resignation was duo to his refusal to consent to M. Protopotoff’s continuance in office, because, while the lax-uu idmained, co-operation was impossible between the Government and the legislative institutions.

Progressive newspapers are not onthsusiastio ‘ regarding Prince Galitzen, who opposed the domestic reform* until after the war.

The Russian Duma reassembles on January 25th.

Russian Loan

PETROGRAD, Jan.. 11

The Minister of Finance is preparing to issue a military loan of three thousand million roubles, and subsequently loans of five thousand million roubles, with prizes.

Italy’s Help.

NEW YORK, Jan. 11

The “World’s” Washington correspondent says: Italy lias agreed to place a very large force of troops at the disposal of the Allies, who have promised Italy possession of the province of Trieste and Southern Albania, including Avalona and the fringe of Dalmatia.

LONDON, Jan. 11. Italian-official. —We occupied the Cro-mcni-Coritza area in Albania. The German casualties, as shown by their official lists for December, 1916, but not necessarily incurred in December, are 88,291, whereof 15,180 were killed.

A French Macedonian communique reports that the artillery duel is increasing on the whole front, particularly in the Struma regions of Mauova and at Monastir.

A SURPRISE VICTORY.

A Decided Success

LONDON, Jan 11. The ißofa victory was due to the same masterly surprise as at Maghabah. The Anzaes, Yoemanry and camel corps participating. That such a strong position was captured in twelve hours testified to the magnificent fighting powers of ' the troops and the skill of the commanders.

It was the Thirty-First Turkish regiment which suffered defeat.

It consisted entirely of Turkish Regulars.

Two hundred Turks were buried, in addition to 1,000 unwounded and 163 wounded prisoners, including a Turkish commander and 29 officers, some German officers and non-coms. , The British losses were: Officers, three killed and forty-one wounded; men, sixty-eight killed and 384 wounded.

In Persia

LONDON, Jan. 11

A Mesopotamia official message says: Wo captured on Wednesday the majority Of the trenches on the loop northeast of Kut. , Many enemy corpses were found.

Shield Armour

LONDON, Jan 11

The War Office has successfully experimented with shield armour for infantry attacks. Shipping. LONDON, Jan. 11. New regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act relates to the chartering to and from British ports with a view to the co-ordination of the Allies and the employment of tonnage.The permission of the National authority of each country will be henceforth necessary before foreign iouna fe « is chartered.

Obituary.

LONDON, Jan. 11.—Count Beckendorff.