GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 11, 16 December 1915, Page 6

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE WILL CONTJNUEi Petrograd, December 11. General Russky, interviewed, sa ; d the offensive was easier for botli sides when the waters were frozen over, but he did not believe the Germans .had i the necessary reinforcements available. They had fortified the whole oi the Dvinsk line. The Russians :dso were well fortified. Offensives were costly, and we had sustained heavy losses when attacking. It was a consolation that the German losses were even heavier. All will eventually resolve itself into a question of men. We have a superiority in numbers, and are now able to arm all. Splendid days are coming, when the Russian armies will advance. . "s . ' '■ ' GERMAN WAR COUNCIL. London, December 11. Copenhagen states that there has been an important German War Council on'the Eastern front, the Kaiser presiding. General Falkcnhayn, Mackeiisen, and Yon Hiiidenburg, and the Turco-Bulgarian staffs were present. The German press thinks that the Allies have been trapped, .and that defeat is a matter of a few days only. The Kaiser, in a letter of thanks to General Mackensen, says: "You have succeeded in crushing* a brave enemy, and, in overcoming enormous difficulties at great speed, defeating the enemy on all fronts. I shall never forget the debt I owe you." SIR C. H. REIp. London, December 14. At the first of a series of farewell banquets, Hon. T. Mackenzie ('New Zealand), Hon. G. H. Perley (Canada), and HOn. H. R. Schreiner (South Africa), gaves Sir G. H. Reid a private dinner, to mark the cordial relations that have prevailed among the ; High Commissioners. The occasion offered opportunity I 'for prominent Imperialists to express', appreciation,6f',SijyG. J H.' Iteid's services to Australia and the Empire. ,;i> ' The. King has conWrel?' on- Sir G: H, Reid ,the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath,.' ';/ ''"''/ " ; ' : "-' "';■ - " LIFE QFHHtTISH PARLIAMENT. ! ' • '. - ■ •.) ■ • ..... ~ London, December 14.

In the House of Commons, Mr W. L. Cowan (Labor) moved the rejection of the Bill extending the life of Parliament. The Government had not shown by their conduct of the war that they were worthy to continue in the, confidence of the country: They had failed' both in diplomacy aaid in. war operations. • \

•j Mil- Bn,nar,Law said that if the coal-; ition was to'.co'ntimje an attempt! should be made .to carry on the warwith, a united people. That was a clear case for a compromise, and the compromise, such as it'"wa<sv of 'expending the life of 'jParliairient, was thfe Government's 'own proposal. He thought the UhioHfsits should .be proud of the part''they 1 had played since the war began, and he hoped that no one in the future would say that the party had sacrificed the nation's interests for party ends. II he found that his party had lost confidence in him as a member of the Government he would instantly leave the Cabinet. i JMr, K G. Memmerdc < Labor) said that the (Government Tiad done extremely well in difficult circumstances. Small talkative group!* below" the | gangway did not represent the views I of the Liberals.

Mr. Asquith said that when the appropriate time came be would be prepared to join issue with the critics, but at present such a course would be detrimental to the country's interests and fcjie prosecution of the war. He and his colleagues did not desire to shroud themselves with a veil of secrecy, but would like nothing better than to take the full House into full confidence. They sat still under implications that could easily be reported as "blown into the air," not because their case was weak, but because of self-restraint and reticence, as a boundeu duty as trustees of the national interests. An election in January would be a national calamity. - * The Bill was read a second time. HOLLAND'S NEUTRALITY. Amsterdam, December 14.

Mynheer Schroeder, editor of the Telegraaf. who was arrested for endangering the country's neutrality, has been acquitted. There, was great cheering outside the court. The article on which Schroeder was impugned stated that there are in Central Europe a number of scoundrels who are responsible for the war. The Court held that it was not proved that neutrality was thereby endangered, and that the article had no effect whatever in Holland or beyond the frontiers. .Mynheer Schroeder is undergoing trial on a second charge of endangering the neutrality of the State. a _____