WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

fPiiE Pbess Association.—Cofybight.] ENEIfiY~CASUALILS. Gver ICO 000 (A.UB rahan & N.Z, Cable AEeooiat'.en aud Eeattr.) LONDON May J. \ The Daily “Chronicles” correspondent on the French Front says that t)ie estimate of 100,000 German casualties during the present fighting is far below reality and that probably double that number. When the offensive started there were 143 German divisions on the w e.->b Front, and 76 in Russia, Koumania and Macedonia There was a general re-

serve of 44 divisions on the West Front 'Each of these divisions is now about half its former strength, consisting of 3 regiments r\nd infantry totalling 7500 men, 500 in the machine gun section, 200 cavalrymen and from 9 to 12, batteries of artillery employing 2000 men and 800 pioneers. The German’s reserve on. the West'; Front therefore did not exceed 500,000 men. Between April 9th. and 27th. &2 fresh divisions came into action on the Anglo-French Front. More than half of these 32 divisions have been so severely punished that they had to be withdrawn and reconstituted.

I-he German 'reserve .is now omy 130,000 men. These figures do not need any comment. They show that our men have not died in vain. 1 The German army is still of formidable numbers and is figbgting desperately but has fallen in quality and in armaments and supplies. The German*, are now approaching the day when they' will be unable to fill tlie gaps in their failing ranks. Eriisb Cspture3 V LONDON, May 2.

j Sir Douglas Haig reports that we have now captured 19,343 men, includ-'' ing 393 officers, and have taken 237 guns and howitzers, of which 98 weio heavy guns, 227 trench mortars, and. 470 machine guns. Our artillery destroyed many other guns. 6 During the air fighting on Monday and Tuesday eighteen German machines wore brought down. .Nino of our machines are missing, -i Germs n Fespair. Tribute to Allies, [kEUTJSB’S SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.} LONDON, May 2. A headquarters correspondent -telegraphing on May Ist gives translations of captured enemy’s correspondence. A sergeant major'says: “The English • arc. firing gas shells day and night. Our trenches are shot, to pieces and are gruesome sights. We have been without food for two days'.” A Bavarian observation officer i writes:—“The English fire Is so j well directed that our whole front and j communication trenches have been j blown to pieces. 'Die ..enemy’s aerial | -activity iy .extraordinary and fearless. | Our observation machines are immei diately chased away. • v * . A private in the “Grenadiers writes: ‘“The,damned English swine come two and three times a day and take our men -away. We have treble the casualties sustained during the Somme. I am certainly glad we are no longer - compelled to hold our front line at aIT costp. but we cannot win the war in this manenr.

Strikes at Essen. . / AMSTERDAM, May 2, Half of file munition workers in the. Rhino province are striking. Essen where the strikes are most serious has been completely isolated in order to prevent. an information leaking out. An Air Rp id. AMSTERDAM, May 1 An Allied air squadron raided Zeebrugge- at midnight on Monday. Unusual Kindness' [REUTER’S SERVICE.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 2nd. ATr. Rea'cli Thomas writer that a section of Britishers captured a Hun basement in a fortress thirty feet deep and under the second German line which was impervious to shell fire. The basement contained 31 British wounded who had been provided with coffee by i the retreating enemy. The British responded'to this unj expected act of .humanity by asking their comrades to treat kindly any I prisoners wounded front this particular basement. .... 4 ively Gunnery. LONDON, May 2. », , There has been lively artillerying in various sectors at Moronvillers. Our barrage twice broke heavy cofunter-attacky against the positions we captured on April 30th. We. took 320 prisoners and captured five guns ( during the fighting on 430th April. LONDON, May 2. ' 1 A Belgian communique reports. Vio- |. lent reciprocal artillerying north of j Dixmude. I French Ruse.. LONDON, May Ist. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters referring to the furious German counter-attacks in Champagne says the French cling to their gains. They are greatly assisted by a ruse of sending up clouds' of dense smoko in order to observe the organisations of 1 the new line. 1 Secret Session. I LONDON, April 30. 1 In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar I Law stated,, that an opportunity of I - discusing Naval Matters' would be afforded at the secret- session next week

OUR ThOOPS REVIEWE3. Cn Salisbury F lain. (United Sarvite.—-Copyright.) LONLON, May i. The Kmg accompanied by General Sir Alexander Godley and General Sir lan Hamilton, reviewed the New Zealand reinforcement units at Salisbury plain. The weather was warm and fine. After the march past the King ptesented one Distinguished Conduct medal and eight Military medals, congratulating the recipients. ' Afterwards Mr. and Mrs Massey, »ir Joseph and Lady Ward, Sir Thomas Mackenzie and a number of-New Zealand ladies and officers were presented to the King. ; The latter congratulated the massed troops on their fine appearance.

Mr. Massey aud Sir Joseph Waru • addressed the troops. The party.afterwards visited the New Zealand Soldiers’ Club at Salisbury, Food Rations. J' A LONDON, May 2. A'section of the people have become thoroughly aroused by the gravity _ of the food situation. .The Ministry of food is organising economy right throughout the Kingdom. The town of IsSsihly voluntarily rationed itself, allowing three- pounds of bread aiuKthree-quarters of a pound of sugar weekly. It is expectetl that the: example will he widely imitated. The “Evening News” states that the

Government Is in constant session considering the question. The people must realise that the Hindenburg line is on the sea and - all must enter into patriotic competition and defeat the starvation tactics of the enemy. Beats Taken. LONDON, May 2. The Press Bureau announces that Lord Devonport has commandeered 60,000 tons of Burniah peas and beans at £37 per ten. The market price was previously £BO per ton. The,retail price of beans has been fixed at sixpence per pound, compared with one shilling pre-

. viously. Ballarat Cinking Stories of Heroism. WELLINGTON, May 2. The High Commissioner reporta from London, May Ist at 7.15 p.m., V The Admiralty states that the sinking of the Ballarat, recalls stories of the Southland, Tynedaues and Birkenhead The Ballarat was the first troopship carrying Australians to England* since . the unrestricted submarine warfare began The men were mostly from Victoria. ■lt was Anzac Day, and the officers were planning a memorial service. When the ship was struct* the alarm was mounded, the advance following. There was no confusion and the men fell into their respective stations. Dining the voyage the men had been told stories of the behaviour of the troops of the Southland and Birkenhead. The men who had previously condemned boat drill, now blessed it, and quickly took their places. They instinctively knew the navy would turn up, and it did. Destroyers and trawlers appeared as if by magic. The ship began to settle. hut did not sink for four hours. While waiting for the boats the men sang, played cards, and, mostly smoked. The nurses and medical officers remained with their patients until they were safe in the boats. All the pets were saved except some cats'. There Tya.-j no heroics and no fuss, but much humour with absolute efficiency. To ' what this is due is partly training, and to trust in the officers skill in handling the ship. It was not altogether courage, ®r bluff, but mainly British grit.

A German Hope. (Australian & N.Z. Cible Association 0 LONDON, May 1. Profesor Prouss a director of the bt,man New Guinea Company writing mi ‘the “Hamburger Nacluaclite'n' contends' that Germany must re-establish herself in the Pacific, as a lasit opportunity ..of preventing settlement by the Japanese Americans* British and especially to protect Germany’s Australian interests. It would he an umforgive-a-ble mistake to abandon the South Sea Colonies' and to withdraw from the Pac-j *ifie. iSo long as Japan and. America are are hostile and Australia has in Japan a dangerous competitor and opponent-. Germany lias no occasion to budge from the Pacific. The disappearance of the German flag from Now Guinea and the Pacific Isles would mean an -irreparable loss of prestige throughout the East. If we lose our Naval bases the 'Germans will rank as mere carriers EUid traders, in whose faces tlic door will always he slammed, v In Macedonia. LONDON, May 2nd. A French Macedonian communique reports that a strong Bulgar counter, attack recently on a British positior i near Lake Doiran way bloodily repulsed. There is very lively artillerying • T on the wliolo front. c Not Wanted. s WASHINGTON, May 2.--Members "of the Anglo-French Com' ' mission have intimated that the Allies f will refuse to consider any peace offer! that are reported to be pending fron Betlimann Hollweg.

MAY. DAY CE.fßflATlii S Amor.fj the Al'ies(Australia A N.Z. Cable Assocv itior i PARIS, May 2. May Day passed off quietly. A Syndicalist meeting and procession on the Bouvelards dispersed quietly. PETROGRAD, May 2. The G|oveij.nneiL proclaimed Ma.> Day a national holiday. There vverj. many extraordinary scenes of great e: - thusiasm and numberless procession:. Workmen, soldiers, sailors, officials ar,l students, fraternising, marched to tlu centre of the city. One million persons participated in the meetings. N ROME, May 2. ,< May Day was most tianqqilly ueoer, - ed.

In Germany 1 . AMSTERDAM, May 2. The appeal to the German Socialists’ 'Executive and Trades Unions that May Day should not he observed was generally obeyed. Work was nowhere* / ceased, and no meetings or processions were held. LONDON, May 2. A Berne wireless message reports that troops were confined to barracks throughout Germany in readiness to suppress any seditious May Day manifestations. The military placarded warmings tnao munition strikers will he treated as criminals. Troops with machine-guns , guarded the Palace and Government Buildings in Beilin.' Despite these precautions women and munition workers in Berlin' and Leipzig struck ' work. In Austria. LONDON, May 2. A message from Berne states that at 'Vienna there was complete ceasatio-n o£ work including the munition works Sixty mass meetings adopted identical resolutions demanding peace without, annexations or indemnities.. The CITAA/»llAO nil O Cl CArl nniolr. r*

speeches emphasised the food crisis as . a necessity for peace. A further resolution appealed to the Russian Socialists to conclude peace with the Austro-Uer- - man brother. One hundred ,thousand indulged in May-day festivities and • took part in a procession There was apparently perfect accord between the Socialists and the police. -The latter were instructed not ;iu interfere. _