THE WAR

Levin Daily Chronicle, 15 March 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

(Australia-New zea&inG. Cable Servicei

THE WESTERN I'ROXT. London, March 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Owing to our bombardment the enemy abandoned his main defensive system along the forward crest of the ridge westward of Bapaume on a front of three and a half miles. We drove back his rearguards in this area to a de'ptli of a mile and occupied Greviller and Loupart Wood.

We also progressed eastward and north-eastward of Gommecourt on a frontage of a mile. A raiding party reached our trenches south-west of Neuve Chappellc. A few British troops are missing. Hostile raids elewhere were repulsed. (Received This Day 11.15 a.m.) AMERICAN VESSEL SUBMARINED •New York j March 14. Tthe velssel Algonquin >is reported from London as having been submarined. She was transferred to the American registry in December from the firm of A. B. Mackay. The Algonquin was carrying a million and a half dollars' worth of foodstuffs to England. The opinion in Washington is that the occurrence does not change the situation, since fill the crew was saved. CRISIS IN AUSTRIA. Berne. March 14. A Cabinet crisis in Vienna is impending. It is stated that Martinic will be succeeded by Czernic whom Oount Tisza succeeds. Count Julius Andrassv succeeds Count T'isza and will form a Hungarian coalition Cabinet. Hindenburg and Ludendorff are conferring with the Austrian generals Hoetzendorff and Yomarz at German headquarters regarding impending operations on the Italian and Western Fronts.

(Received This Day 9.5 a.m.) WHEAT AND MAIZE. Melbourne, This Day. In the House of Representatives, the Hon, Mr Forest announced that a further payment of one shilling per bushel would be made on wlioat (to farmerr.), making the total Government advance 4s. The Government also will fix the price of maize. SOLDIER VOTERS. A bill to amend the Electoral Act, and 1 thereby enable soldiers abroad to vote for the Federal Elections, lias been introduced. Arrangements for enlistments in the Australian Army Reserve are complete. (Received This iDay 9.25 a.m.)

(Australia-New Zealand Cable Service) GREAT BRITAIN'S BEER. iLondon, March 14. The Government and tj.e brewing industry have held a number of conferences as to ,the be6t manner to make ten million barrels of grog suffice for one year. It is expected that an agreement will be reached regarding reduction; proibably thirty thousand public houses will be closed during the; next few months. There ' is said to be an undue number .of licensed houses in the rural districts. It is expected that 'arrangements will be made whereby a single firm will supply beer to each district, thus reducing transport labor. THE LAST STRAW. Washington, /March 14. China has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, and lias seized six German steamers 'at Shanghai. Armed creHvs have been placed aboard. The German crews have been interned.