GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 37, 14 June 1915, Page 6

GENERAL.

WAR NEWS. DNITBD PEB4B ABBOOUTION. London, June 12. The Allies are pressing the Germans so hard that the enemy is apparently preparing to shorten its line and fall back to a second line with Lille as a formidable salient. In the event of withdrawal the Germans will offer a tremendous defence by the triangle of Courtrai, Lille, and Touruai. Twelve big guns have been very strongly emplaced in a semi-circle around Courtrai, and the forts of Lille have been rebuilt with reinforced concrete and electrified barbed wire extending an enormous distance around the guns emplaced. Mont, St. Hubert, which, lying behind Tournai, commands the country for many miles in all directions, and the roads from Lille to Lens have been put in a state of defence. There are extensive fiieldworks, suggesting it is intended to cover tiro retirement. Amsterdam, June 12. A telegram from Constantinople says that fighting on the night of the 11th, the Black Sea cruiser MJdlr sunk a large Russian destroyer and returned to port safely. The liner Bayern, which left Hamburg on July 24 for the Far East was interned at Naples in August. Her cargo was landed this week, the authorities confiscating a number of guns, machine, guns, and aeroplanes not declared in the bill of lading. According to some, correspondents, the Bayern left Hamburg ' twenty-five days before Austria's declaration of war. The Bayern.had guns and aeroplanes, and the guns were hidden. Paris, Jnne 12.

The Government has made a committee of the Academy of Sciences an essential part of the great military machine. The two points discussed were the possibility of a cloud of esphyxiating gases conteracting the enemy's gases instead of the use of respirators, and some substitute for high explosive shells in the destruction of barbed wire entanglements. I Washington, June 12.

Diplomatic circles believe the collapse of Russia's Galician offensive is directly due to the recent China-Japa-nese crisis, by which Japan was obliged to cease the despatch of arms and ammunition to Russia. It is un'derstood Japan is now releasing supplies again. Petrograd, June 12.

The authorities at Moscow are ex-, pelling enemy subjects from factories. The populace has resorted.to anti-Ger-man disturbances and pillage. The Governor is energetic, and in a proclamation intimates he will not tolerate mob violence, and declares that any domestic disorder encourages Russia's enemies in a more determined resistance, delaying final victory. Ottawa, June 12.

It is officially stated that the aecreage under wheat in Canada is 15 per .cent greater than in 1914, owing co the effort to obtain a great war-year crop.

Sydney, June 13

The authorities have decided to/issue certificates of unfitness for service to rejected recruits. Recruiting has again spitrted in New South Wales. The weekly quota is 560, whereas for the fiye weeks ended on June 7 the average was 600. The latest Victorian figures sliow a big -jump; ;