GERMAN TROOPS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1917, Page 1

GERMAN TROOPS

Badly Smashed. ) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Atsooiako* and Reuter.) LONDON, May 5. It is estimated that the Germans since list April brought ' thirty-three divisions against the.-' Anglo-Frenrli. Fifteen of these were shattered aim withdrawn after- the battle of Arras and at least twenty broken. Now allowing that the reduction of strength of a diversion since the Autumn means 150,000 men of whom 20,000 are prisoners, the casualties beliina front line must be tremendous owing to the weight of our artillery. Other notable facts are the number of youths. Half the prisoners from most divisions are youths of nineteen. Statements! show that half' the troops of nineteen are already serving at the front.

The Germans appear no longer to employ the Guards as solid divisions, but use regiments thereof to siirren ■the other divisions. Apparently the Germans despite their lavish use oi troops against the British, are employing every expedient to make the most of their available man-power. On the other hand the German artillery is gyeaitly increasing. The British artillery is as tremendous as before, but we are more economical of our men.

French Report PARIS, May 7. A French communique reports: Generally the operations carried outon May sth and 6th in harmony with ttho (British operations rendered us masters of the Crest, whereon Chemin des Dames runs over a front of kilbmeters. Hitherto 5600 have been prisonered including 150 officers and we have taken several guns, some of them. being of heavy calibre. There were violent artillery actions north-west of Rlieims and in Champagne. We carried fortified points d’appm west of Montcornillet. We repulsed two attacks on our trendies in the region of Montliant. ; (ROME May 6. The Pope has ordered peace-prayers throughout the Catholic world from the Ist June.

Suffering Rheims. PARIS May 5. A wireless message states that during, the bombardment of Bheims the Town Hall ignited and fifty buildings in the vicinity were destroyed.

Open Fighting [USUTER’B SERVICE. —COPYRIGHT.] . 1 LONDON, May 5. Mr. Batch Thomas says: There is open fight rig on the whole battle-front and the British are rapidly regaining this forgotten form of open warfare, but find it difficult to shake off tlieir trench habits, members still prefering bombs to rifles. The Germans while desperately ■ fighting with the storming troops with a special macliine-gun ana automatic rifles units are at the same time digging hard over the whole breadth of a strong line four or five miles-behind the present fighting. Correspondents pay a tribute to the Australians’ dashing work at Bullecoiirt against- picked German troops. Though they do not ay yet possess the whole village they hold ground north and south of the Hindenburg line of front.

The Anzacs. LONDON,. ,May 7. Reuter’s headquarters adds: Another time the Anzacs swept a German trench and found a couple of minnonwerfers and plenty of aim* unition which they effectively- turned upon the eneiny. They also took over one hundred prisoners. German Demands. ✓ ZURICH, May 6. A pamphlet circulating to the German army approved of Iludcndorff’s demands that tlie Central Powers annex Belgium, Northern France, Courland, Poland, Serbia, Montenegro, and Egypt and also the formation of a Central African Empire. It asserts that the Entente must he derpived of two thirds of tlieir natural riches. The newspaper “Arbeit Zeitung” delioutnces these criminal projects because they involve the ruin of Germany. Swedish Plots, STOCKHOLM, May 7th. Extensive food rioting has occured, The police charged and dispersed the crowds. Food Supply. ZURICH May 5. The Bavarian Minister, Dr. Bretreieh in a speech admitted that tho food situation 'was serious). People must be prepared to live more and more on vegetables. The next few weeks would decide the fate of Germany.

Dutch Fishers, AMSTERDAM, May 6. The Ymuideu fishermen have ceased operations because of the failure of the supply of promised coal, and because the Germans continue to sink fishing boats despite the guarantee of safety. The decision affects the German food supply. AMSTERDAM, May 7 The Reichstag constitution committee has agreed that the Chancellor and Ministers of War and Marine shall ill future approve of the. Kaiser’s military and naval nominations.

IN RUSSIA

Exalted Crowds. [REUTER’S SERVICE. COPYRIGHT.J PIETRO GRAD, /May 5. The executive of the Workmen’s-an:l Soldiers’ Delegates, by 34 to 19, accept ed as satisfactory the explanation l v the Provisional Government of M. Miliukoff’s Note. The Council. of Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Delegate. , consisting of 2500 members, voted confidence in the Provisional Government by a majority of thirty-five. The Duma meets to-day for the first time since the revolution. y The streets on Saturday were filled with excited crowds discussing the situation. The majority denounced the Pacifist agitation. Suddenly a band of so-called Leninists, who ary Pacifist and anti-Government, marched to the Nevsky Prospect, and a collision occurred with the partisans cf the Government, including many soldiers. The Leninists fired rifles and several on the other side were killed or wounded. The Leninists were finally dispersed and the streets picketed.

Bsrigorous nglation. A Serious ConditionLONDON, May 7. The Daily “Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent wiring on May 6th. says a combination of German spies and underhand agents of tho old regime both Lemuate and Pacifist have been carrying on during the past few weeks a dangerous agitation in the barracks and workshops.

The movement has met with some success in the factories, but on Friday practically all the soldiers declareu themselves pro-Government- < ' A conference of the Provisional Government, and workers and soldiers Committee, and the temporary Duma Committee, met on Thursday and sat all night. It was evident from the outset that both sidey were anxious to come to some agreement. * The members of the Government gave a detailed account of the situation not attempting to conceal its seriousness.

-Prince Lvoff expressed his readiness to resign in favour of any who felt themselves stronger. M. Gutclioff candidly disclosed the conditions at the front and stated tnai, affairs there were serious. The present condition of the Army gives ground for great anxiety and immediate measures are necessary to restore discipline and raise the soldiers spirits. lie eriipha sised the opinion that'the posuon is by no means hopeless, but a continuance of the conditions might have fatal results. He said it was popularly thought that peace could be achieved simply by laying down arms and insisted that the enthusiasm and confidence created by such talk causes disorganisation and depression amongst tho soldiers. He concluded by saying he was not serving for any conquests but believed any ideas of annexations would not attract anyone at the • present time. -

Another Statement. PETROGRAD, May 7. 'J'ho Provisional Government has pun lished a further statement explaining that it was not the first of May to which the workmens and Soldiers Cbmmittee objected. The statement points out that Russia must not emerge from this war humiliated or with restrictions to her vital interests in order to secure perpetual peace.

Chaotic Condition(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, May 6. The Cologne Gazette commenting ua the German' silence regarding Russia says:—“Many sections on the immense East front are plunged in «fche deepest calm. There are isolated infantry arid artillery figlitsi the lack of cohesive action reflects the internal condition in Russia. Tile Provincial Government cannot think of an offensive similar to General Brussiloffs. Artillery officers who have been won over by the war party are responsible for the artillerying in order to prevent their troops communicating with the German troops as they have shown a desire to do. The greatesr caution is neeesary despite the abundant peace talk. The German people must remember rt i s necessary to have real political power on the enemy’s side, Defore negotiations are possible.

Enrolment Certificates. WELLINGTON, May 7. Thousands of members of the Expeditionary Force have not yet received thei rcertificates* ..of enrolment. The actual number is said to be surprisingly large, even when all allowances are made. The Government 'Statistician, says lie has received about 20,000 applications for certificates of enrolment, and the task has been stupendous. Certificates have been forwarded to the post office named by the Reservist, in\ every ease where the applicant could be identified as a ber of the reserve, but a great difficulty has been created by insufficient addresses, and. the variation of names, duplications, and changes of addresses. The Statistician adds “if a man has not received his certificate, let hull ask himself if lie has given the information he ought to have given, or taken all the steps he has been directed to take:

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