THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

(Per United Press Association) A FORECAST. Ot Russia’s uoalitidn. (A cs'rahan & N.Z Cable Aseocb.t on and Reuter.)

, ‘ Copenhagen, May 17 A forecast of the Russian Coaluion Government is as fellows:—Prince Lvoff —Prime Minishr aid I terior. M. Miiiukoff—-Foreign Minister. M. Kereueki—Minister of Wa>. ■M. Shingoreff—Minister of Fi-

nance. • Eiiher Skcbel?ff, Vice President of the Workers and Soldiers Coum.il or Admiral Ko ich'ak, commanding the Black Sea fleet, will be appointed Minister of the N vy. i Socialists have been appointed fo almost all ths other portfolios. Not Accepted. Petrograd, May 17 Governm r nt has not accepted the resignation of Generals B. usikif and Gurko. '

PRUSSIAN GUARDS Refuse to Attack (United Service—■ Copyright.) > „ .. London, Hoy 17 Prisoners state that after the thirteenth failure to retake Bullecourt, a brigade of Prussian Guards refused to attack and were sent to the rear for disciplinary measures.

A Spy’s Admission. New York, May 18 ■Jjient Frank Wolf, the alleged German spy has confessed that Germany has planoed submarine and zoppelin bases on the Mexican coast, from which to raid the United States.

/ A FLAMING HELL That the Australians Hold. [REUTER’S SERVICE. COPYRIGHT. J London, April 17 Mr Gibbs reports that since Sunday, twelve counter attacks were delivered against ths Australians alone. Each one was broken. The men fought like wild bears and sprang at one another’s throats when the bombs were finished. Bullecourt was held against ail counter attacks. They have beaten back the enemy with heavy losses and ere cow awaiting fresh assaults in this fl .miog hell of blood and shell fi'e. They now hold the .Hicdenbnrg line breached at Builecoert and Wateoort. * ; > V - Further north the enemy are trying to strengthen th 9 new line through Montigny, DroCourt and Qoeont. If he falls bock this line means the 10.-m ot imocrtaut ground, including Leus

and Oppy. He won’t do this except for the most extrema danger of existing positions, which, however, era gravely menaced. The enemy is using forced labor on this rear line,. Prisoners say they are employing British war prisoners thereon, under British shell fire.

What Germany ffiust Pay Amsterdam, May 12 The Kolnische Volks Zeit'UQg contains a leading article by its financial expert, under the heading “Why we must "exact a war indemnity,” which shows with perfect clearness Germany’s coming financial collapse. The writer states that when the war ends Germans will have to find £900,000,000 yeaily to pay the interest on war loanß, to buy raw material and to pay war pensions. Of this amount £400,000,000 may he considered as regular yearly expenses, while £500,000,000 itaust be paid immediately. This is only possible by means of a ljaD, but, admittedly, the possibilities of a lsaa afier the war nra very thin for Germany, and it is therefore indispensable that Germany’s enemies shall pay this £500,000,000 ‘ Germany will still require to find the remaining £400,000,000 which will be obtainable only if every German pays three times more taxation, than before the war. In addition, Germany has to pay the interest on her allies’ war loans and reorganise the army and industry, bringing the

sum needed to keep Germania, Limited, going to about £1,000,000,000 yearly. The grand total thus reaches £1,900,000,000 which Germany will have to pay in the first year after the war for having bad the pljasure of declaring war on the world. The Kolks Zeitung expert asserts that no sensible man could expect Germany to pay that money, so-that nothing is left for Germany but to force her enemies to pay it for her. He adds: “How our enemies are going to get the money is their business, bat it need not be paid in cash. We need goods and land more than money.”

Russian Peasants Claim. Pbtrograd, May 17 A conference of South Russian peasants demands the abolition of private land and a share of Gov r riment land with soldiers and workmen, d,. \

COUNT HOLLWEG’S POSITION, Again a Firm One. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter),

(Received May 18, a 9.35 a.m.) Copenhagen May 18 A correspondent states Count Hollweg is firmly in the'saddle again, having by his attitude, refnted the suggestion that Germany is ready for peace.

The correspondent asserts the belief is general in Denmark that Geimany is far from defeated, ' and is ready to fight to the uttermost, before they law down tbeir arms.

SINKING OF SUBMARINES. A Record Number. (Received May 18, at 9.15 a.m,) • ‘ '• , London, May 17 ■ Tickler, a member of the Commons speaking at Grimsby, said more submarines were destroyed in the past fortnight than in any pievious fortnight. •

Italy’s Attack. London, May 17 There was a preliminary Italian bombardment of 56 hours between Tolomino and the sea. The enemy apparently expected the main attack at Carso and Gcriizia, where they massed fifteen hundred guns. The principal attack was in Plava sector, where the Isoczo runs through steep bills. The enemy held the entire left bank, except at Plavo Bridgehead, where the Italians had established themselves early in the war. Though unable to enlarge the bridgehead since, the Italian guns, and trench mortars have smased the Aus-

trian poaitioD. On Sunday, the Italians bridged the Isoczo below Plava and on Monday they crossed uninterruptedly, though shells filled the valley.

Troubles in Germany. Washington, May 15 There are thirty thousand cases of smallpox in Germany, and the disease is spreading, according to the speech of Socialist Reichstag member HoffmaD, received by the State Depart-

ment in full. Brief portions of the speech were received by the press in this country recently. The full text showed that Hoffman charged that the rich were getting the fats, while the poor had none ; that the Government wbre actually hoarding sausages with which the poor ought to be fed ; that email pox is spreading rapidly and that the vaccination employed against it was proving futile. Ths spseoh" showed a far more distressing situation n Germany :thau

many reports thus far reaching the Department. . ;• -i ' It strengthened the belief, caused by recent rumorej that conditions are ripe for a revolution in Germany.

French Report Wellington, May 18 The High Commissioner reports London, May TBtb, at 2,50 p.m.:— French official report states the night was marked by enemy attacks in the region northward of Eyofmonlin and Dslafiam. Germans efforts to retake the ground gained failed and :'we gained a further advantage.

/ Italian Progress Rome, May 17 Italians farther importantly progressed on the third day of the battle, taking many prisoners. ; ■ The Austrians are using new and better guns. Many of the troops have arrived from the Russian front. Enemy Conference Zorich, May 17 Count Czsrnin, Austrian Premier, goes to German headquarters on Sunday to continue his conversations with Count Hollweg, begun recently at Vienna. The Kaiser and General Hindenbnrg will also participate. Holding Bullecourt (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) Paris, May 17 The Petit Parisiene ; correspondent states there was startling fluctuations on the British frontyeiterday. Fighting went on frdcele»sly and mercilessly in end around BuUmourt.

Oae of the G rtnan coomtir attacks reached a part of. the southern line, and 250 Germans drnnk with fury jumped into the trench, yelling victory. . * Suddenly the scatejj changed, for whilst a part of .the Australians were falling back and keeping the-enemy'at bay, were yet drawing them, further on, another body of Colonials burled themselves boldly from beyond the trench and turned the assaulters flank. Than the retreating Australians charged while a copious barrage prevented the Germans interveningjrom Rainoourt. • • . The melee was implacable and ended only when the last of the enemy bad fallen. v Two hundred were left dead and the remaining fifty were pulverised when {being through the barrage.

INI ERNAk. RUSSIA. Appallirg Conditions (Australian &N.Z. Cab'e e saoiiation and Reuter.) (Received May 18, at 1 20 p.m.) London, May 17 The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent sends two gloomy meetages. ~ The first one, dated the 14tb, says what was foreseen two months ago, is now materialising with appalling rapidity. Men who have spent nearly the wh la of their lives in poit’cil agitation against any existing form of government, are pioving themselves incapable of govarning, and quite unequal to the double demands of a foreign war, and internal anarchy. After two months of cheap jubilation, all European Russia has become like a jelly fish, jat the mercy of the winds and waves.. Even the bread problem is unsolved, and has actually gone from bad to worse. There is disorganisation of the food and other supplies, and a steady exodus of inhabitants to Petrograd. The Russians seem to ha rolling in money, and some of the commonest forms of iabour are paid astounding

rates. ) Municipal street sweepers are paid at the rate of £3QO sterling annually, and the streets are worse thao ever. * Peasants ip the country haveseizid all the laud they want. The Army is ruled by a cjmpauy of regimental, and divisional committees, fr.e'y discassing the orders of their 6uueriors.

The correspondent adds that amidst this pandemonium of freedom, all things throughout Russia seem likely to go under, The war appears to be forgotten. A miracle must come soon, to be in time. The second message dated the 15th says the workmen’s and soldier’s full Council has been summoned to consider

the coalition questions. Whatever happens, matters can hardly be worse, because the late Ministers orders have been altered aod cancelled. The delay resulting must militarily be fatal. Though Generals Brusiloffi’ and Gnrko’s resignat ons have not beeD accepted, their rttiremeut is only a matter of time. General Alexitff’o position is oust ible, ' * It is possible to hold two opinions regarding Russia’s home interests and the revolution, but regarding Russia’s share in the there are no two opinions held anywhere. Unless a miracle happens, Russia is out of the war. Germauy has a free hand in France, leaving Russia to be dealt with at her leisure. Important - . Christiania, May 17 The improvement in shipping shares in the Norwegian market is regarded as proof of the aucceis of the antisubmarine measures. •