LATE WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1917, Page 4

LATE WAR NEWS.

Per Press Association . —Copyright

The War Loan.

1 LONDON, Feb. 23. 5 Mr Bonar Law will make a full statef ment regarding the new war loan on 1 Monday, but it is believed it will total , nearly eight hundred millions. LONDON, Feb. 23. German newspapers continue -< their 1 ' efforts to belittle the result of (the BritT ish war loan, Even those which' admit ) that it represents new money assert that only a portion of it is available. s The “Cologne-Gazette” says that even if 'the net amount wer e six hundred xuilJ lions it is a pitiful result. Newspapers couple their allusions (to r the loan with boastful anticipations of r a German submarine triumph. Official ReportsWELLINGTON, Feb. 24. The High Commissioner reports from London on Feb. 23rd: Mesopotamia.—Since clearing the bend all our efforts have been concentrated in taking the Sunnaiyat position on the left bank of tho Tigris at Kut-el-Amara. Some systematic bombardments nave been carried out daily since the 17th inst., when our attaoks failed, and all preparations were made for a renewed effort. This attack was launched on February 22nd, and two lines of trenches in the south and positions. were secured and consolidated. Fighting is still proceeding. Heavy rain caused the river Tigris , to rise to flood level, thereby hindering our operations and making the supply ! troops on the left bank a maitter of some difficulty. i LONDON, Feb. 21. ! Italian official.—The nemy seized all . outpost at Caldilana, hut our counter ’ ttaek drove him out, wo taking prison- - ers. " Our airship dropped high explosives with visible success on tho aviation ground at Proseccs.

In Australia.

SYDNEY, Feb. 24 th. Speaking at Wagga, Mr. Beeby said that every Nationalist was pledged to honour the verdict of the people on conscription. No rnan would be sent away except as a volunteer. “Win-tlie-War Day” concluded with big recruiting rallies. The enlistments since “the win the war” campaign was fairly in swing have noticeably increas-

eu. MELBOURNE, Feb. 24 th In itiie Senate Senator Pearco said that if the people decided that there were new circumstances in favour of conscription tho Government would deal with the matter

11l reply to a question by Senator Milieu, whether it would lje decided by a Referendum or an election, he replied: We shall see.

German Rations

PARIS, Feb. 23 id

The Jiurnal’s correspondent states that the German losses are heavy, considering the nature of the actions. One battalion lost forty per cent of its effectives, another was reduced to a company.

The troops’ daily ration is a pound and a half of black bread, five ounces of preserved sausages, a Ujttlo soup (mainly vegetable) three-quarters of a litre of coffee. Potatoes are rarely seen and the bread is of wre'tehcd quality. LONDON, Feb. 24.

We have improved our position north of Guendeeourt and captured trenches and destroyed dugouts south of Siicnez. We repulsed raids southward of Armemtieres.

LONDON, Feb. 24

French communique reports «i----tillerying in Alsace-Lorraine and then repulsed the enemy at Coup-de-main-ISoissons-Bezonuniuk.

Dr. Gerard cabled to Madrid for » safe conduct' hoine, and ho urged any Americans there not to sail with him, fearing He would be a special target

If war were declared tlie Americans in his party would want a warship escort.

Freighter Arrives.

NEW YORK, Feb. 23,

Advices from Paris state that the freighter “Orleans” the first American ship from the United States to enter the submarine zone, arrived in French waters, and will reach Bordeaux tonight. The Secretary of the American Embassy and otters fi.ro proceeding to Bordeaux to welcome her.

Murder Policy

LONDON, Feb. 23rcl.

Lord Newton, speaking in the House of Lords, said that sho oould not accept further contingents of incapacitated Germans. In pursuance of their coldblooded murder policy, tliey announced "that they were as ready to sink their own incapacitated men as ours, consequently interchange at present had been suspended. The Germans were only interested in a few lilglily-placed personages in our hands.

Dublin Arrests.

( LONDON, Feb. 23

A. correspondent states that Dublin is not excited. The arrests now total thirty-two. The majority are attacueCl to the Irish volunteers.

LONDON, Feb. 23.

There have been further arrests in Dublin, Limerick, Galway and elsewhere, including a number recently released in England, also of the Gaelic League officials. i

Red Cross Medals

LONDON, Feb. 23

Royal Red Cross medals were awarded to the following Now Zealanders: First Class: Matron-in-eliief INI. Thurs-

ton (formerly of Greymouth). .Second Class: Matrons E. Nixon and F. Wilson Sisters J. SI. Gilmer and H. M. Wilkie.

HOBART, Feb. 24th.

Mr. Dicer M.P., was fined £5 on a charge of using words likely to pi«judic© recruiting.

LONDON, Feb. 23 rd

The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent states that by the German Government’s instructions the savings hank will practically compel peoplo to invest 85 per cent of the deposits in future war loans.

Military Defaulters

WELLINGTON, Fob. 24. A Gazette extraordinary naming military defaulters, summons the following to report at Greymouth on March Bth: Stone, John, seaman, 2 Russel’ St., Westport. McDiarmid, Ronald, Irishman, Tahnk pa, Otago, sometime of Westport. Kirwan, Lawrence Joseph, Sewell ' St. Hokitika. ' Shine, Robert, farmer, Charleston. Nelson. Crearer, James, trainer, Railway Hotel, Greymouth. Dann, Ralph, miner, Burnett’s face | Buller.