THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

(Per United Press Association) THE PEACE LEAGUE PROFOSAL. American Opinion Divided- . (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) New York, Jan 23

Public opinion on President Wilson’s speech ia divided litgely on political I'do?, centring around the question as to whether America can e;.ter any leigue to enforce peace without endangering ber traditional policy of avoiding entangling herself in alliances and jeopardising the Monroe Doctiin-. The interest in this ph.iEO overshadows the possible iffcct of a European war.

There ie speculation as to whether the belligerents wi'l reply to the speech, which whs forwarded to American diplomats abroad on 15th

January. The Senate is eonsidf r : ng a resolution whether it should openly debate the speech. Xu the evert of a debate it io most probable that :be;e will be the sharpest division between Democrats and the Republicans.

The Right Attitude. (Received Jen 25. at 8 45 a.m ) Washington, J*Ef24

The United Stator Universities have petisioued President Wislou to demand that Germany stop the deportations and nnparalled crac-lty, inflicting unspeakable suffering ou the Belgians. America should notjbe so inactive iu the presence of bo hideous a wrong perpetrated on a helpless people:

Land for Future Settlement. London, Jan 23 In the course of an announcement on the re-organiaafcion of the Lands Branch of the War Office, the Munitions Ministry stated the War Office owns two hundred thousand acres, with a rental value of the buildings acquired during ibe war of millions annually. A further 150 thouaacd screws have beea taken over since the war began.

An Austrian Success(Admiralty per Wireless Pra2s) London, Jan 23 An Austrian official meesiiga says we captured Benches near Gorizia.

Raiding and Counter Raiding(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association ’ and Renter). London, Jan 24 Field-Marshal Haig says we were successful in a raid and m. da prisoners mitb-sast of NeuvilleSfc Vaast, also repulsed an enemy raid between Armentiers and Ploegsteert. An enemy second taid reached the trenches. They were ejected, leaving a number of dead.

Honors. London, Jan 24 The Gazette announces the Grand Cross of thß Bath for General Sir William Robertson and Surgeon General Cogh for war services. ft Prelude. London, Jan 24 A French communique says a fairly lively cannonade was maintained in Champagne and Argoane, and we oarried out a coup-de-main in Lafraino in the region of Reichesoourr. There was artillery fighting in in the direction of Largnzen, Hospital and Progress Report. Wellington, Jan 24 Dangeroutly ill—Trooper J P Clark, Corporal D H Palmer. The following reported still dangerously ill—Sappers D Carson, C Brndley. The following roported still sari- • ousiy ill—Privates W J Bishop, W J O’Kane, D J Skilier, Sapper G C Hogan, RiflJmsn G F McCarthy, W Mitchell, J Murray. The folio wing reported removed from dangerously ill list—Rifleman W. Red path, Private J D McNeii. The following removed from seriously ill list—Privates W R Buir, J MeClomiskey. The following reported as severe cases —Privatee J T Galloway, W C Hawkins, Rifleman E C Travers. The following reported as not severe cases —Lieuts F M Mitchell, S H T Shelley, Privates J W Briar, S C Barnes, F Dick, A Aldred, J Gizarne, C Harding, J Houthorne, A D Jones, E W Lantroon, S Smith, E Good, Riflemen H F A Hutohisoo, A N Dick, J Raitt, J C Sutherland, G Wilson, Gunner C A Dandaa, A G HcLaughlan, Driver G McLaughlan, E Wilson, Corpl C H McWilliams, Lanco-Corpl Mason, Sapper N R Vause. The Toll of the Submarine London, Jan 24 The British steamer Treamnadow (3,562), Danish steamer Klamperlorg (1,785) and Norwegian steamer Rinuga (1,147) were sunk. , The Daily News cilcnlates that for , the nicety days to the 23rd inat, 470 vessels were submarined, including , 187 British. <

THE NAVAL BATTLE.

Details of Fight[United Service. —Copyright] LONDON. Jan. 23. The British Admiralty reports states that our light forces when patrolling •she North Sen not far from the Dutch Coast on Monday night met a Division of enemy destroyers.

After a short engagement, one of the latter was sunk andjtho rest scattered, being considerably punished. Darkness prevented observation of the full results of the action. Also during the night there was a sharp engagement between enemy destroyers and ours in the vicinity of the Scliouwen bank.

One of ours was torpedoed, the explosion killed three of our officers ana forty-four men.' Our sliips subsequently sunk her. Wo had no other casualties. YMUIDEN, Jan. 23. Particulars of the naval iengagement indicate that German destroyers attempted to leave Zcebruggo to avoid the ice, which is very thick v They were imediately attacked by a largo British squadron. The action opened at the shortest rango. Early in the fight the bridge or a German, destroyer, XJG9, was shot away. Two officers and the commander of the flotilla were killed. U 69 fired one torpedoe and was then hit. Two other British shells were fired, one smashing her funnel, and the other holing her in the front part. Her crew states that seven more German vessels were sunk. U 69 is now lying off Ymuiden pier.

YUIDEN, Jan. 23. A Dutch tug boat brought in een severely wounded German sailors who were taken aboard at the request of the Commander of a German torpedoer. They came originally from U 69. They said they believed the British had cut off another torpedo boat whlcn was scon proceeding at full speed northward. U 69 has now entered the harbour. Eight were killed aboard. She was apparently hit thrice, ana before or after the engagement collided with another vessel. The engagement happened at four a.m.. German officers refuse any information. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 23. According to the “Tyd” the German destroyers belonged to the Sixth Division of the homo fleet from Heligoland, which apparently intended to raid, but were discovered and the greater part were driven to their base, while a portion of tho squadron was forced against the Flemish coast.

It is reported that warships were sunk, but particulars are lacking.

Some damaged German vessels refuged in Zeobrugge.

German Flotilla Surprised and Surrounded

Reported Ten German Ships Lost (Received Jan 25, at 10.35 a.m.) I London, Jan 24 The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Ymuiden says :—Within a few hours of the anniversary of tho Dogger Bank, tho Germans again Buffered a severe blow at sea and were 1 sternly taught that raids cannot b 8 always undertaken without grave leases. The engagement occurred in the bitter cold of tbß morni off a few miles ■ from the coast. The fight was sharp, 1 audden and furious. It appears that Zeebrugge Harbour was freezing and the German flotilla feared it would be frozen in and there would be great danger of destruction by long range fire. They were ordered to quit and. make for a German harbor. The flotilla numbered fourteen or twelve. All went well until nearing Schouwet Bask where they suddenly encountered a terrific fire from a large number of British warabips. Some of the German wounded say twelve, others excitedly estimate the number of British ships at 100. The coast dwellers heard the deep 1 heavy firing at. four in the morning, waking up the coastal population. The first news reached land by the Eema which, brought in ten men dangerously wounded, and announced a severe Germnn defeat, The Esms crew stated they were fishing slightly north of Ymuiden, and were hailed by a badly damaged German torpedoes, TJ69, which transferred ten wounded :msm wrapped in blankets and placed od planks. All were terribly injured. The wounded narrated tho course of the battle in fragmentary sentences, frequently voicing their disgust with the whole war business. They said they were taken by surprise. They knew nothing of the British fleet being in the proximity; until the shots shattered the bridge, killing the commander and two officers* The Captain’s legs were shot away.. U 69 lay helpless five miles from Ymuiden. Dutch tugs and. tornedeera hastened to the leatua and brought tho boat to h.nbor. St-e row lies here, the stern almost submerged, and is kept afloat with difficultly. If the flotilla coasisted mf twelve, there cannot bs many left. Only two are unaccounted for. The presence among the survivors of men belonging to several sections of the German fleet, suggests they have been taken out of the water, apparently confirming several sinkings. The wounded® say the flotilla was so quickly snrrounded there was little hope of many escaping.

Another account from Ymuiden states U 69 collide 1 with a British destroyer. , There were gruesome scenes, due to the frort. The dead were frozen to

the deok, and were only freed with MSB,

German Loss Confirmed(Australian & N.Z. Ck.b'e Aasociation acid RjuLr.)

London, Jan 24 Tbe Times r.mr. u londer.r, K fc Yamcidtn rays Oommisudir Boebn of tbe Torpedo Floiil a not killed. Four officers of U 69 tend e>gbty out of 160 of tbe crew ate missing. The German woundfds admit that ten German vessels were sunk.

Mot Looking for Troublo Ymuden. Jar. 24 The Dutch Coast Gauds eaw a German submarine ia the vicinity of tbe battle. Ttiay exps'leJ her from tbe territorial waters. It is uocrrttin whether U 69 will be interned. Anparen iy it w» ! l be impossible to render her seaworthy in 24 hours.

The Price of Commodities, London, Jan 24 The Associated Chambers of Commeice diecussed tha fixibg of prices for the potato crop of 1915. After the quantities already sold, bigbtr prices will obtain. It is pointed outj that a purchaser &t JSIS 16/ per ton now found the Government price £lO. The former wanted fair play. « The Chambers earned a resolution urging a minimum price for wheat and oats. The growers should bj eg. sured at leaet Witlrn four years of notice of withdrawal.

A delegate pointed out tha wer’d’s price for wheat would poitioly reach £5 per quarter. The British producer wou’d be sorry for the position if tbe price were fixed at £3. Mr Sterner, Chairman, declared the Governmer.t’s delay in fixing a mir imum was renultirg in neglect of cultivation of 106,100 acres of euitabld wheat eountry.

A resolution was carried deploring the calling up of farm hauda before suitable substitutes were obtained.

Empire Trade. London Jan 24 The Daily Telegraph says the Dominions Royal Commission’s final report has received tha finishing touches and will probably be published in Febroaiy. It w ; ll indicate tb6 advisability of a larger measure of direct State control in British harbours, also co-ordinating methods in governing tbe Empire’s harbours. It makes recommendations regarding au economical and an efficient mercantile speed. Tha Commission was struck by the tendency to build large ships flj regardless of the future of the Em- - pire's harbours. Regarding emigration the report emphasises the vital necessity of keeping emigrants within the Empire, but points oat the necessity of taking age, capacity, vitality, and adaptability into consideration.

EXEMPTING COAL MINERS.

Catching the Slackers. (Received Jan 25, at 11.35 a.m.) London, Jan 24 The Government has decided to immediately release a large number of coal miners from military service, and prs'sd an order on every colliery m calling up those who entered the ® mines since August 14th, 1915, Surface woikers, and officials (other than engicemeu, (pumpmen, weightmen, electrician fitters and mechanics) also workers of military age who during the last three months lost an average of two or more shifts weekly from avoidable causes.

Difteranca of Opinion (Received Jan 25, at 2.20 p-m.) M New York, Jan 24 Thera is still tha widest difference of opinion amODg newspapers publicists as to the desirability of President Wilson’s proposal of America to enter the league to enforce peace after the war.

The New York World, which is ia Wilson's confidence, endeavors to explain the peace without victory, and says it means a peace such as the American Civil War wherein neither the military power of the south was crushed nor conquerous terms imposed.

Wilson means a permanent peece cannot be imposed by the sword.

It dees not mean that the Allies are not to crush Prussian militaryism. Declined to Debate. Washington, Jan 24 The Senate decided not to debate President Wilson’s speech at present. Wheat Supply.

Washington, Jan 24 The Chicago visible wheat supply**, is 60,529,000 buehela. • The New \Habit. (Received Jan 25, at 11 a.m.) London, Jsn 24 Two girls were sentenced to a fortnight’s hurd labour for 6moking cigarettes at munition works in North of England.