HEAVY FIFING

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1917, Page 2

HEAVY FIFING

in the Baltic

[REUTER’S SERVICE. COPYRIGHT.! Copenhagen May 24 Heavy firing has been heard since last night in Danish islands, Laaland and Falster, in the southern Baltic, in the direction of the German coast.

The Dowager Empress > Petrograd, May 24 Advices from Odessa state the men of the Black Sea Fleet examined the % premises occupied by Royalties living in the Crimea. The whole of the DoWager Empress’ correspondence wes seized. - SOpsTAY turpedoed 45 Lives Lost (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) Paris, May 24 Official—The steamer Sontay, with 81 of a crew’ and 344 passengeis, was torpedoed en route fnom Salonika to Marseilles: Forty-five perished, including the Qimmander. A Purchasing Commission, (Received May 25, at 11.10 a.m.) Washington, May 24 Plans are proceeding for the creation of an international Allied Pnrcbas’ug Commission to control the pnrchaße of war materials on behalf of the Allies. Also naval and military purchases on behalf of United itself. It is estimated that the Commission will expend two thousand million sterling yearly.

Discrediting the Socialists. Washington, May 24 The action of denying passports to the Socialist delegates to the Stockholm Conference, ia accompanied by the Government’s expression of disapproval of the peace propaganda by European Socialists Government has warned Socialists that a severe penalty will be imposed if they go without passports to participate in peace discussions. Officials say the action will have the effeot of discrediting the Socialists’ peace move.

German Troubles. (Received May 25, at 1,30 p.m.) Paris, May 24 In consequence of the food situation there has been partial strikes in the whole industrial mining areas of the Rhine basin, Westphalia and Silesia, It is also reported that there is a reduction of wages in many large Berlin firms, following the shorter hours, due to the scarcity of raw material.

America’s Support. Paris, May 24 M. Viviani in an interview, said France could oounc od United States exercising her full material and moral strength in the service of right.

A Queen’s Death. Paris, May 24 Ranavolo ex-Queen of Madagascar; has died.

Ihe Foreign Legion. Paris, May 24 The Algiers Foreiga Legion, wherein there are fifty-one Nationalists, has been mentioned in despatches, for the fifth time, for making since 17th April, the buik of the gains in a certain Aubeiives region, including the capture of tbe vi hge of Auberive. They fought continuously for six days against Hindenburg’s picked troops and threw fifty thousand grenades alone until their objectives were gained,

A German Move,

Amsterdam, May 24 The Mastaricht newspaper states the Germans have removed the civil populations c*f Liege and Antwerp. The reasons are unknown. Measures are aii>o in readiness to remove oivHKrs en masee from Ghent and Tournai region. It is believid the Germans are preparing for a further retirement.