The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 March 1915, Page 3

The War News.

THE WEEK'S

FRIDAY The German attempt to follow up the Russian retreat from East Prussia has received a check. Very severe fighting has developed to the North of Warsaw, where the Russians have repulsed attacks. The possession of the Carpathian passes is still being stubbornly contested. The Russians have held their own, and at some points gained ground. m^ The success of the allies in ground in the Eparges district of France proves to have been of importance. Two German regiments driven from their positions are reported to have lost upwards of 3000 men. German submarines have sunk three more British vessels —one a collier. In one case there was loss of life. An unknown vessel is. reported to have been sunk off the Norwegian coast. Another American steamer has been "sunk by a mine off the German coast. The allies' reply to the " blockade " is, a French newspaper asserts, to declare that all German property on the sea is liable to seizure under any flag. SATURDAY The outer forts of the Dardanelles have been reduced by bombardment at varying ranges by the allied warships. Naval operations are being continued The German submarine threat is placed in its true, prospective by a statement of the, British Admiralty showing that between the 18th and 24th inst 708 vessels arrived at, and 673 vessels sailed from,." blockaded " ports. German submarines sunk seven vessels. The loss of two small British steamers is reported. Norwegian opinion is inflamed against Germany owing to the sinking of two Norwegian steamers. ' The New York Sun, after describing Mr Wilson's Note to Britain and . Germany as " benevolent meddling," states that the first and second line battleships have been mobilised in Cuba. Very heavy and general fighting is proceeding in North Poland, where the Russians are checking the German advance. Great losses have been incurred by the Austrians in East Galicia in a night action in which they were overwhelmed and decimated. The allies' artillery has been active in Flanders and France. A German column was decimated . south of Lahure. British and French airmen have dropped bombs on the enemy's positions in the Champagne district.

MONDAY The allied British and French fleet has entered the Dardanelles and with little loss advanced several miles, silencing forts as a preliminary to mine-sweeping operations. The French battleships " played an active part" and the fire of the Gaulois ie noticed as 'particularly accurate.' .Both French and British ships engaged the forts at short range. Tfte enemy's reply was ineffective. The Russians have turned upon the Germans in the Presnysz region, where a great • Russian victory is officially announced from Petrograd. The Germans have -been thrown back across the Niemen, and fierce fighting is developing from the Niemen to the Vi&tula. It is reported that Austria is joining Germany in submarine piracy, and will endeavour to sink all vessels in the Adriatic gea over 500 tons. A British bjockade of the German East Africa,!! coast is proclaimed.

TUESDAY The allied fleet has successfully continued its operations against the Dardanelles forts, and has reached Kilid Bahr, where the strongest defences of |he straits lie. Ilere the forts uit tile ''■'" European side, were sileuced, and artillery landed. The fort at Kalid Bahr was blown up, with the entire garrison, The operations of the fleet have caused a sensation in Cairo, where it is believed they will affect the Turkish plans against -'*" Jlhe' Russians have re-taken flrasnysz, a town north of iVarsaw, and with it have captured the German defenders. The Russian victory is admitted In Bifrlin. Farther noHh, the battle' of th c iNfi om on is in creasing in intensity. In East Galicia xhiß Russians inflicted a severe defeat on the J^ustrians, taking afcQJl'O prfs6nei;s, " ' -

SUMMARY.

The allies have gained ground in the Rheinis and Argonne districts, and the Belgians are credited with a success in Flanders. Sir Edward Grey's recent statement regarding German levies was not in any way intended to discourage contributions towards Belgian relief. WEDNESDAY A German submarine is reported to have . been sunk off Beachy Head by a stsamer at which it fired a torpedo. The steamer put on full speed and rammed the submarine. Germany has expressed her willingness to agree to the proposals of the American Joint Note, on condition that Britain does the- same. The American Note is unofficially stated to have suggested that Germany should abandon the submarine " blockade," and Britain allow food for civilians free passage to Germany. Operations against the Dardanelles defences have been suspended owing to a gale. The straits have been forced for a distauce of 7^ miles. The Turkish casualties are estimated at 5000. The Russian victory at Prasnysz, North Poland, was complete. Further east, and a little to the north, a fierce battle, ending in Russian victory, raged round Lomza. In the retreat from both points the Germans lost heavily in men and guns. THURSDAY A decided change has come over the Eastern theatre during the past few days, and the Russians are no,w everywhere on the offensive. In North Poland the pursuit of the German forces defeated at Prasnysz has been vigorously continued in the direction of Mlawa, to the northwest' Heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy and 10,000 prisoners were taken.

In the Carpathians repeated Austrian attacks in massed formation were beaten off, and finally the Russians charged with the bayonet.

A LETTER FROM ECYPT

A GOOD TIME AMONG THE PYRAMIDS.

ALL AMONG THE DONKEYS

BUTTER SCARCE.

THE following is a very itneresting letter from one of our brave boys in Egypt to his parents in Helensville :—

" I am sending you a couple of photos of myself and some friends taken on camels at the Pyramids last Sunday. We get Sundays off after Church Paradealso every evening after 4 p.m. Cairo is a good six miles from here, and to get there Ye have to walk about a mile mostly across the desert to Heliopolis, which is a rather flash suburb of Cairo. From there we take electric train, and the ride into town costs 1 piastre (2^d) first class and second class. The electric trains are very nice, and have three compartments, first, second, and one for ladies or, as printed on the outside of the car, "dames." The ordinary electric cars, on the contrary, are very ramshackle affairs, and do not go very,fast. I think the HeliopolisCairo run is the only one where electirc trains are used, and they travel very fast The main streets in Cairo are very narrow considering the amonnt of traffic. There are cars going in all directions, cabs, motor cars, and native craft. You never see a draught horse or heavy horse of any sort. All the carriages and cabs are pulled by light ponies, while for carting the niggers use donkeys which must be very strong, judging by the loads put on them. I saw a nigger fetching a load of old sleepers to the camp the other day ; the cart was a four-wheeled contraption with no sides ; he just pulled the front carriage round to full-lock; and then got hold of the side of the waggon, and turned the whole lot over, waggon and all. Then, too, the drays that they cart stone in have wheels about 7ft in diameter All houses are built of stone and some of them are very pretty, outside at least, but I am afraid they would not last the N.Z. climate long, as the cement, for one thing, is rotten, and you see plenty of the houses with big Jumps of plaster broken off. It is winter here. The nights are very cold, while in the day time it is almost, or as hot, as summer in New Zealand. Reveille goes a 5.30 a.m., roll call at 5.45, and we do not like getting up so early, as it is dark and chilly, for the sun does not rise until about 7 a.m. However, everything is dry, as we have had only small rain since we came, and it only rains here about twice a year. We have now been I here three weeks, and are beginning to settle down to our work ; next week we are going out on the desert to learn to dig trenches, and I suppoce we will also have a good deal of night work to [do now. We are getting plenty of good | food, plenty of the proverbial stew, which is miles ahead of what we got on board boat. Our butter has run out though, and I think we will have to go without that now. ' Mess rooms are being built for each regiment and it will be a good thing for us when they are finished, as everything we eat now is gritty with sand.

The Hon. T. McMcKenzie is at present in Egypt. He attended our Church Parade this morning. The corps of New Zealanders, which was formed in England, has come out here and joined us, about 200 of them.

I think lots of the sights of Biblical times are still to be seen in Egypt. A water wheel being worked by a bullock is a common sight. Another funny thing is to see the "natives riding on donkeys, little wee ones, and they sit away back on the rump. Then you will, see a large bundle of maize stalks, sugar cane, or straw, moving along, and when you get up to it see a camels's head sticking out of it. Small flocks of goats and half-bred sheep, with youngsters looking after them, and ugly brown cows Cows and donkeys when in the fields are always tied up. There are no fences, only irrigation drains, and everything looks so very green, except on the desert.

Coining down from Alexandria in the train we passed several fairly large towns and lots of native villages, and in all cases they are very compact, the cultivation coming right up to the walls of the houses.

On Christmas Day we had a holiday, after a short Church service at 8 a.m., and I went tq the Zoo,. It is a very goqd one, and has one of the best collections of African animals in the world, anyhow, it takes a good half-day to see everything, and the animals are too numerous to mention here.

Some o/ the roads here are ve.ry good a^sphajt qqes, The road tq the Pyramids is a good one, and goes for miles straight as a die across flat cultivation land, aid is raised up. The Pyramids are bailt on the side of the desert and near the Sphinx. There are supposed to be 19 Pyramids, the smaller ones at some distance from the bigger one, which is 481 ft high and is built of. 'big slabs of rock weighing on an average "I% tons, tl'hey ate' a wonderful sight and it is a mystery how they got into position. I must close now, as it is bed time.

STAR PICTURES

At the Star Theatre on. Saturday, the big picture is a very exciting and interesting drama " The Opium Smoker." Other items on the programme are: "The Raid of the Red Marauders " (Indian drama), "Bloomer's Toothache ", comic), Habits nnd Qv^ins of. the A^bs, and two vastly amttsing-;coniics. ! For Wednesday the star picture is '' the Prisoner of Zenda," from Antony Hope's well-known drama. There is a splendid ■variety of supporting filn? including tL.e u.b\i&\ interesting 'SW W ar Series^

GENERAL AND LOCAL DIRECTORY

MEMBER FOR KAIPARA ELECTORATE. J. Gordon Coates, Esq.

JUDICIAL. Mr E. Page, S.M.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Cr. W. A. La Roche,'W. R. Fosbroke, I McLeod, E. T. Field, J.A.Wilson, A,. Be croft, Jas. McLeod, J. H. P. Hand, "Dr Max. Meinhold. WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL. Messrs F.Dye (Chairman), J.H. O'Neill, A. Cochran, W. Oliphant, H. Day, R. Graham, M. Laing. W. McCathie.F. Poynton, V. K. Taylor, Jas. McLeod. Clerk and Treasurer : C. -A. Cakewell, Engineer: G. A.Jackson HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD. Chairman, Mr E. T. Field ; Members — Alfred Becroft, Thos. Elliott, Capt Sellars, Jas. Stewart, J. F. Lambert, and John A. Wilson ; Clerk and Treasurer, H. W. Stringer.

TRAIN SERVICE.

Trains leave Helensville for Auck~ land at 7.0 a.m, 12,30 p.m, 3.5 p.m, (express) and 4.10 p.m. Trains leave Auckland for Helensville at 6.52 a,m, 00 a.m (express), 10.50 a.m. and 4,45 p.m. On Monday and Friday the express from Auckland runs through to KaiWaka, leaving HelensviUe at 10.25 a.m. On the* return trip train leaves Kai■\yaka at 1.40 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday the ex-, press from Auckland runs through to Kaiwaka, leaving HelensviUe at 10.25 a.m. On the return trip train leaves Kaiwaka at 1.40 p.m. From Helensville to Wellsforc! at 2.15 daily, and from Wellsford to Kaiwaka on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Friday and Saturday a train leaves Helensville for Kaukapakapa at 6.0 a.m. From Kaiwaka to Helensville on Tutsday, and Saturday at 8.25 a.m. From Wellsford to Helensville a daily service at 9,25 am. On Friday and Saturday a train leaves Kaukapakapa for Helensville at 6.30 a.m and 8.2 p.m.

ECHO NOTICES.

In Case of Accident

Drowning.—Loosen clothing if any. 2. Empty lungs of water by laying body on its stomach, and lifting it by the middle so that the head hangs down. Jerk the body a few times. 3. Pull tongue forward, using handkerchief or pin with string if necessary. 4. Imitate motion of respiration by alternatively compressing and expand, ing the lower ribs, about twenty times a minute. Alternatively raising and lowering the arms from the sides up above the head will stimulate the action of the lungs. Let it be done gently but persistently. 5. Apply warmth and friction on to extremities. 6. By holding tongue forward, closing the nostrils, and pressing the " Adam's apple " back (bo as to close entrance to stomach), direct inflation may be tried. Take a deep breath and breathe it forcibly into the mouth of patient, compress the chest to expel the air, and repeat tha operation. 7. don't give up! People have been saved after hours of patient, vigorous effort. 8, When breathing begins get patient into a warm bed, give warm drinks, or sp;rits in teaspoonsfull, fresh air ? and quiet.

Burns or Soa^p?.—Coyer with cooking soda and lay wet cloths over )t. White of eggs and olive oil. Olive oil or linseed oil, plaiu, or mixed with whiting. Sweet or olive oil and lime water.

Cinders in the Eye.— Roll soft paper up like a lamplighter, and wet the tip to remove., or use a medicine-dropper to draw it out. Bub the other eye.

Fire ix one's Olothinq.— Don't run—especially noi down stairs or out of doors. Roll on carpet, or wrap iv woollen rug or blanket. Keep the head down, so as not to inhale flame.

FIBE FROM KEROSENE. —Don't US6 water, it will spread the flames. Dirt, sand, or flour is the best extinguisher, or smother with woollen rug, table^ cloth or corpet.

Sui'popATfON l-'ROM imiALINU LLU minatino Gas.—pet intp fresh air as soon as possible and \]b dgvyn. Keep warm. Take ammonia—twenty drops to a tuuibler of water, at frequent inteivrtla, also, two or four drops tincture of mix vonica every hour or two for fivo or pj.x h'»urs.

Axtjpotks I'oit Poisons.— I. Send U'V n physician. 2, Induce vomiting, by tickling throat with feather or finger. Drink hot wafer or strong muttard and uater, Swallow sweat oil or whites of eggs. Acids are antidotes for alkalies, and vice versa. Oil must not be used foi phosphorus or sulphur preparations.

Be Generous to All

WE would prevail upon all who have the interests of this important district at heart to send us Country News, reports of Meetings, Socials, and doings generally; also accounts of Local Wants for the Editor- to write up. As one good turn deserves: another, we would ask our country supporters to avail themselves of the offer made. Don't stick in the mud