THE WAR

Levin Daily Chronicle, 28 April 1917, Page 3

THE WAR

■ ♦ (Australia-New Zealand Cable Service) (Received) This day, 8.55 a.m.) RAMSGATE BOMBARDED. London, April 27. Tho shieking of s'hells awakened \Ramsigiate at 1.15 o'clock this morning. The shrieks were' followed by scattered explosions. The attack came without warning. The whole place had 'been darkened in accordance with t'he rigid rule. The whole of the East Coast suddenly was made vividi; star-shells lit up the sky; heavy firing immediately followed. The attack lasted for ten minutes,' and it is estimated that sixty shells fell accompanied by a constant stream of star-she'ls. The enemy • apparently was firing at random. The shells fell mostly in the tho higher part of the town. The damage is comparatively slight.

STRIKES IN GERMANY. Rome," April 27. A wirlees message states that fres'h strikes have broken out-in several German towns, despite martial law. PEIACE BEFORE JULY. ILondon, April 27. The English newspapers appeal to the people to remain calm, and state thiat important events shortly will occur, bringing peace before July. EMPIRE PREFERENCE. London, April 27. The Hon. A. Bonar Law stated that the War Cabinet has accepted the principle that eiacli portion of the _ empire with due regards to the Allies' interests should give specially favourable treatment to the produce and manufacturers of other portions of t'he empire. Mr Out'hwait pointed out that Australia was not represented. Mr Bonar Law agreedi tliat the statemen was correct, but said that those present unanimously came to tho above decision. Ho added that the resolution left the food question open: |

PENAL SERVITUDE. The military censor (details cabled on. April 19th) named Spalding, has been sentenced to three year's penal servitudio. "JOHN WILLIE COME HOME." Violet Vaniburgh, actress, lias been granted of conjugail rights." Tho action was undefended. PRISOiNIEES IN TURKEY The Commonwealth has received advice that Turkey permits parcels to be Bent to prisoners in Turkey. ' -GERMAN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM. Amsterdam, April 27. . Herr Grovener, in a proclamation to munition workers, refers to von Hindenburg's letter and asks "Dare you defy him? That man is a mean hound who refuses to work while the army is face to face with the enemy. Our worst enemies are in our midst." Groener, speaking in the Reichstag, said: "The political elements of strikes must be suppresed ruthlessly," but the workers must have means, of expressing their wishes."

(Received This Day 11.15 a.m.) SPEECH BY BMTISH PRIME MINISTER. (Londonj April 27. Tliere was a distinguished assemblage at the 'Guildhall on the occasion of the freedom of the city being extended to the iRt. Hon. D. Lloyd George. All the dominions and Indian representatives were present; also Lords Curzon and Milner, the Hon. Mr Henderson, and numerous peers and members of the House of .Commons. The Premier had a great reception. In' his speech he began Iby emphasising the growing British .superiority over the Germans. He said that up to June, 1915, we had lost S4 guns and a considerable number of prisoners, since when we had not lost a single gun and! had captured 400, while we had taken ten Germans for every Britisher. They had taken Viiny ridge with 200 guu»; it was captured with a fifth of the loss sustained by tho French inl the early days, when they bad .infeiUofc* equipment. AM tlUs meant ultimate victory at a lees cost. The Germans knew that; they would not say that the war would last through 1918, but wo were taking no risks; hence the immediately increased cultivation and the elaborate food measure?. The future of the country depended upon how much the politicians had learned; the empire must be consulted in future before the war, not during the war, and a council of the empire must become a reality. HEAVY TOLL BY SUBMARINES L-ndon, April 27. -A loss of 55 ships for this week has caused' a sensation both amougst the public and in Parliament. The fact has entirely changed the attitude of many members of the House of Commons .towards the Corn Production Bill. Newspapers are demanding that the Admiralty publish fuller details and doubt is expressed) whether the authorities are dealing with- the submarine menaco with sufficient energy and enterprise. It should be shown, also,

[ whether the building of merchantmen is proceeding witbh the utmost activity. I Newspapers contend that all shipyards and engine shops must be fully manned and work day and night without intermission, and that the Admiralty should continually review all arrangements for fighting submarines. Freeh minds should be brought to bear on t'he problem; it is essentially "a young man's job." The general impression is that compulsory rationing will be inevitable after the six or eight weeks' grace that the Duke of Devonport promised. This is merely the time necessary to establish the intricate administration that will be necessary.

The Daily (Nlews states: "We know the facte; these are -being kept from tho general public for national reasons. The facts are of the gravest moment to the safety of the Empire and warrant the statement that we are at the supreme crisis of the war and must eat less food."

THE BIG BATTLE. London, April 25. A "Times" correspondent at headquarters says, the ferocity of the figh'. ing and the slaughter of Germans is unparalleled. The repulsed counter-attacks at Gavrelle resemble massacres. The ground iis heaped with dead, our artillery ' blowing whole battalions to bits. NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER.. The, High Commissioner Reports:— ILondon, April 26. A French official report runs:—Yesterday, after" a violent bombardment, the enemy launched twice, unseccessfully, on a front about two kilometres Westwards of Cernev, powerful attacks which broke down on our lines with heavy losses. Another attempt in the region of Huertebise Farm likewise was unsuccessful.