The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 January 1917, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY. Allies Reply being Drafted—German Reply — America Disappointed— Czar's Order to Army and Navy. The allied reply to the German overtures is being drafted. It is reported that the allies will state that they cannot surrender potential victory, and that peace would be a German peace unless militarism is broken. The German reply to Mr * Wilson's Note has disappointed America, where officials regard it as unsatisfactory, evasive, and lacking in frankness. The Austrian reply was almost identical with that of Germany. • 'jftt &n order to the Russian -^J-^JJny and Navy, the Tsar emphasises that there can be no peace until the enemy is finally broken, and gives guarantees against the repetition of treacherous attack.

SATURDAY. Year's Warfare in the vVest— Enemy's Losses 1,125,000. A correspondent at British headquarters states that the British line in France is nearly twice as strong as it was a year ago. He estimates the German losses in the west during 1916 at nearly 1,125,000. The enemy's losses in November are estimated at 350,000, and at over that figure in December. It is reported that a second American Note has been received in London, explanatory of the first. The allies' reply to the German overture has been prepared. Its contents have not been disclosed, but newspaper forecasts are that it will demand more than paper guarantees, and unconditional surrender by Germany. Messages . through neutral sources emphasise the misery of the working classes in Austria. It is rumoured that. Austria is prepared to negotiate direct with Britain and France. MONDAY. Peace Overture Rejected—Material Assertions Untrue— Germany's Promise Unreliable. The joint reply by the allies to the German Peace Note was communicated to the United States Ambassador in Paris on Saturday. It stigmatises the proposal as illusory, and protests against the. assertions that the allies were responsible for the war,, and,'that victory has been achieved by the Central Powers.It declares that Germany'spromises are not a secure foundation for peace. The German proposals are described as less a peace offer than a manoeuvre. The sole responsibility for the war is laid upon Germany, and the allies declare that she now seeks only justification for new crimes against belligerents and neutrals. Finally, the Note declares that no Peace is possible until the perpetual menace to the peace of nations is finally removed. The purchase of the liquor trade by the British Government is believed to be imminent. The cost of nationalising the trade in England and Wales is estimated at £300,000,000. . TUESDAY Roumanian Success. — Enemy OfDefeated—Fierce Battles Proceeding — Depression in Germany. Successful operations by the Roumanians on the eastern front - of Transylvania are reported. An enemy offensive was defeated many prisoners were capThe. allies have recovered positions gn t,he Moldavian '^PRrce battles are in progress along the whole qf the B,ouma.nian front, Tl^e allied., Note caused depression in.' Berlin, where the public had'stubbornly hoped for the acceptance of Germany's offer, believing that was starving and France.and Russia exhausted. .... ... A' suggestiorr-vthat Germany may1 reply- to--.the allies with specific terms ris'.Containe'd in an unofficial statement by the German Embassy at Washington. WEDNESDAY - pressure on Greece—Warships off Corinth— Allied Landing Predicted Jlpgrtusruese Army fqr Fraqce. Correspond en ts state that a serious phase is approaching in -"""the allies' dealings with Greece. It is unofficially reported that the allies have notified Greece of their intention to land troops and. to use the railway to Salonika in order to avuid sub-

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

marine attacks on transports. A strong allied flotilla has arrived in the Gulf of Corinth. The commander and chief of staff of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force have landed in France. The air and medical services attached to the expedition have also arrived. Swiss reports state that the relations between the Central Powers are strained. The Opposition in the Bulgarian Parliament criticised the Goverment for sending Bulgarian troops beyond the Danube, and the Premier replied that the work of the Bulgarian army was finished. The Italian review of the past five months' operations mentions the capture of 42,000 prisoners, 60 cannon, and 200 machine-guns.

THURSDAY Defence of Moldavia—Russians on Sereth Line — Great Battle Anticipated — Reported Greek Surrender. It is reported from Rome that the Greek Government has accepted all the allies' conditions, and is hastening to fulfil them in order to obtain a cessation of the blockade. The Russians have made further readjustments of" their front in Roumania, and have now reached the line of the Sereth, a tributary of the Danube, where an important battle is reported to be imminent. The Russians have repulsed attacks south-west of Brody, in Galicia. German newspapers express anger at the rejection of the peace overtures, and call for more intense warfare. It is reported that the enemy's overture for peace was prompted by the knowledge that the Austrian food supply will not last for six months.