WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

[Pee Press Association.—Copyright.] ADVANCE Gallant Australians „

(Australian &N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) LONDON, May 14. Latest telegrams from tlie British front reports that we continue to increase, our captures of prisoners by clearing out the nests of German snipers and machine glimmers at Buhecourt. The weather has broken and the Germans used a thunderstorm to cover ineffectual attacks at night upon tbs mass of brick and wood which once was Bullecourt. The Australians not only held an their gains but repulsed violent attacks intended to assist the remnants of tlie garrison in the village, who were then lidding isolated houses eastward of Bulleeourt. The British attack which was brilliantly devised was launched at dawn on Sunday. Instead of a frontal attack the British commander ordered a double flanking movement, including an advance on the south-east from the section of the Hindenburg line which the'Australians captured on 3rd. May. The other attack was upon the Hindenburg line in the direction of Fontaines and Crobselles. The ‘British advance, was so quick and the dash of the men so great that the defendants in the village were encircled before they knew what was happening. The 'Germans obeyed their orders to fight to death to the letter ahd not a single unwounded prisoner was taken in the village. /The attackers from the southeast surprised a body of . German troops who were waiting to reinforce the defenders in the village. These surrendered without fighting. The prisoners taken included mm from the threo Guard’s divisions.

Heavy Captures[REUTEß’S BEEVIOE. —OOPYRIGHT. 1 LONDON, May i'«. A correspondent of the United Press at headquarters says the English and French between April 9th. and 12th May [n'isoncrcd 49,579 including 976 officers, and captured 44 heavy field guns, 943 machine guns) and 386 trench mortars. Official Report. WELLINGTON, May 15. The High Commissioner reports from follows British Official —We continue to progress north of the Sacrpe River. Wo completed tile capture of Roeux, the whole of which village has been defended by tlie enemy with great determination for the past month is now on our possession!

Kaig's Report LONDON, May 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed raids last night north-eastward of Epehy and northward of Ypres. We made progress in the Rouex village. About Peaca (Australian & N.Z. Cab’e Assoomtb n atid Rputef.) LONDON, May 15. Bin. J. Annan Brynce asked the Government for a statement- l'egn; the rumour of a separate peace with Austria, Bulgaria and,-Turkey and suggested that a separte peace might even suit 'Germany. Hon Bonar Law replied iit was a natural view that our enemies were all bad and a separate peace was unthinkable, but all depended oil circumstances. The Germans were apparently striving continuously to detach some of our Allies. He suggested that no blow would be so fatal to Germany as the detachment of one of her Allies,

A Reply (Australian & N K. Cab’s Association). LONDON, May 14. In the (House of Commons Hon Bonar Law. replying to Sir John Lonsdale said that no treaty between England .and Japan ever contemplated Japan overruning Serbia in the event of Russia relaxing her war efforts. French Report [KEUTEB’S SEEVICE. COPYRIGHT.J

LONDON, May 15. iA french communique reports: Tire German bombardment of BrayeinLaonnais and! Cerny was violently answered by our artillery. There was lively artillerying east of Berry-au-Bac and Montliou't. .Seven enemy aeroplanes were brought down. Our bombarding squadrons dropped 31- tons of explosives behind the German lines. '* In the Air LONDON, ~May 15th. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We slightly advanced our lino northward of Gavrelle. Eight German aeroplanes' were brught down. Three of ours are missing. Zeppelin Destroyed. LONDON, Mayl4. A Zeppelin was heard approaching the coast early this morning. A squadron of naval aircraft pursued and overhauled it fifty miles from the Dutch coast. The Zeppelin which turned out to bo the L 22 bui-st into flames. Two of the crew jumped into the sea, and the rest disappeared with the burning raase,

' GERMAN LOSSES. , Very Hsavy. (reuter’s service.—copyeigktJ BERNE, May 14. Tlie German losses in the West since the New Year are heavier than anything yetfc experienced. It is estimatea that 150,000 have been killed or laiten prisoners during the four months ana at least, 150,000 have been seriously wounded.

The losses of officers are especially heavy.!' Including machine-guns they have lost throe- thousand pieces of artillery aaad are only able to replace them oy taking guns from tlie 'Russian and Roumanian fronts. The German, gun factories are unable to keep paco with the ordinary army demands. A factory at Ebbing is constructing “Tanks,” The Gleg-mans tjaim their machines are much more formidable than the British and French. UEFKian riepoit (Admiislty Pei’ Wireless Preao.)

LONDON, May 14. Wireless German official:— There has been increased artillerying at Ypres and Wytschaeme Bends. iAn isolated English ad-lance near Oppy and Fampaux failed. Bitter fighting has continued at Bullecourt. We retained the ruins against several attacks. The destruction wrought by enemy shells at St. Quentin is increasing Twelve enemy aeroplanes and a balloon were brought down yesterday., Russian Report. LONDON, May 14. Wireless Russian official:—W© repelled a Kurd attack near Belumer. Under superior Turkish pressure we retired to the left bank of the Diala. uTrussia Position Outlined (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.)

LONDON, May 15. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent reports that M. Milinil(offl( 'Mirii,siter for War), 'SSkobeleff, and Kerensky had a remarkable conference with delegates from the fighting front. Replying to questions M. Milinkoff declined to publish the treaties with the Allies which would reveal Military secrets. . Regarding the Russia’s renunciation of annexation and indemnities, he saia» the question was so bound up with the right of nations to determine their own fate that nothing definite oan be said. As regards contribution the Allies hold that a nation which has suffered nui|St be rehabih(tied by . the (Power which ruined it-. Tlie tiuiting of three Polands into one, and the return of Alsace and Lorraine to Franco was net annexation. We have relinquished all claims to the Dardanelles ‘'and the fate of Constantinople depends on the views of the Allies.

It is untrue tliat Japan is preparing to bring an army into" Russia. America has given Russia a loan of throe per cent and has offered to put through the Siberian railway in order to supply vast quantities of ammunition.

M. Skobelff condemned s the fraternising at the front. The Army must bo ready to advance. M. Kerensky’s speech was a grave warning.. He' emphasised the danger to Russia. Maybe the time is near when it will be impossible for us to provide you with the bread anu ammunition you need. This will not be the Government’s fault. / Russia may play a decisive role in the world’s history, but organisation and patience are necessary. Surely Russia is not a nation of rebellious -sU'es., My strength is failing and I no longer feel my former courage. It is said that .Russia no longer needs an army, because our soldiers are fraternising whn the Germans. If our soldiers are fraternising Russia’s Allied soldiers a- e not fraternising on the French front- Enemy forces are being thrown ur.on the Anglo-French front where the Anglo-French advance Is already stopped. There is no such thing as a Russian front. There is only a geneia. Allied front. If the desperateness of the situation is not realised, our dream of liberty will b thrown back decades, and may be drowned in blood. We have tasted freedom and .ire becoming Intoxicated and we now need the greatest possible sobriety and dEo-pUm*. Loans to Turkey.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter), BERNE, May 14. In the May number of the Prussian Year Book Emil Zimerman estimates that 'Germany has advanced Turkey nearly 300,000,000 marks during the war. There is anxiety in financial circles lest Turkey will be unable to repay the loans. Horse Racing. LONDON, May 14. . Influential meetings of Horse Breeuers at Tattersalls protested at the stoppage of horse racing which they stated was a grave damage to the industry. They asked that the matter be decided on the merits and not on prejudice. They demanded that enough racing be allowed to test the merit of the horses and maintain the high quality of thoroughbreds. Peace Fropcsals. AMSTERDAM, May 14. It is understood that the peaoe programme of the Central Powers as formulated at the conference at Vienna will be announced in the Reichstag. f ■ ■

Garman Report Daniad. LONDON, May 14. A Berlin report states that .the English cruiser Cordelia., was mined and badly damaged between England and Scotland. The Press Bureau states that the report is untrue.

lialv’s front ROME, May 14. For several days an Italian bombardment with naval guns participating has 'been deviating the Austrian’.! Isonzo lines.

Leag e of Nations. LONDON, May 14. v Viscount Bryce addressing The League of Nations Society said that everybody feared that" the war would end •the peaceful progress of mankind. Tire best remedy for this would be a ' • combination of the nations desiring peace, pledging themselves to mutual protection and conciliatory settlemer. c of'disputes. General Smuts moved “the submitting to the sympathetic consideration of the British people a proposed Union of Free Nations to cultivate a permanent peace.” Tlie General said the loss and suffering of the war baffles description. Over eight million had been killed. We must seriously consider the prevention . and recurrence. -—„ ■_>— ; The Archbishop of Canterbury seconded the motion which was carried. Casualty List WELLINGTON, May 15. The Defence Department has received the following:— DANGEROUSLY ILL. Curtis H. H., Rifleman. James R., Rifleman. Jenkins, W. S., Private. ' Kaye, H. R., Rifleman. Lamb, F. 0., Private. Latimer, H., Private. STILL DANGEROUSLY ILL. Davies, S., Sapper. Steele, W., Private. SERIOUSLY ILL. Arbuckle F. W. Private. Jensen, G., Private.

STILL SERIOUSLY ILL. Beucke, E., Driver. Burnard, K. S. M., Q.‘MfSergt. Henderson, A. K., Private. Pickering, L., Private. Stove, H. G., Private, v Walkerf-T., Rifleman. . REMOVED FROM SERIOUSLY ILL LIST. -Preece, C. H., Private. Wilkinson, T., Sapper.

SEVERE CASES/ Cunaliffe, T. L., Private. Davies T. R., Driver^ Foster J. 0., Rifleman. Meredith, T., Private. Roebuck, W. S,, Sapper. NOT SEVERE CASES. Clary, A., Capt. Hill, G, M., Lieut. Alden, 31. G., Private. Antundvicli, L. Lance-Corpl. Banliam, W., Private. Regg, H. Sapper. Begg. E., Sapper. Berry, R. A., Lance-Corpl. Best, A., Private. Blithe, R. S., Lance-Oorpl. Bowen S., Private. Chamberlain, L. C., Rifleman. ■ Clarid’ge, H., Rifleman. Christe, A., Private. Claridge, S. T,, Rifleman. Cole, H., Sapper. Conway, H. H., Private. Cowie, A., Sergt. Cretney, A. C., Gunner. Engall, G. H., Private. . . Farrell, G., Private. Terry, A. E., Private. Fife, A'. S., Private. Flans, G .T., Lance-Corpl. Gilchrist, R. J., Sergt. Gow, G. W., Corpl. Harvie, T., Rifleman. Hoy, B. J., Private. Huns, H. P., Private. Knfstkpoff, W> H., Private. Loch, W., Private. > Manly, C. J. A., Private. Y ' Marfell, R. A., Private. , Wells.W. J., Rifleman. Montgomery, E., Rifleman.