THE NAVAL BATTLE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 126, 30 January 1915, Page 5

THE NAVAL BATTLE

THE ARETHUSA FINISHES THE BLUCHER. GERMAN OFFICERS. ADMIT THAT BRITAIN MUST WIN ON SEA. Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, Jan. 29. The, Arethusa finished the Bliiclier w'th a couple of torpedoes. One of the Blncher's,officers confessed that the Fiitherland might perhaps teat England on land,, but never on the sea. . Another remarked: ''Your shells are terrifying, and j<ur seamanship msrvieltous." SEYDLIT2 AND DERFFLINGER BADLY DAMAGED. i JUST GET HOME AFLOAT. LONDON, Jan. 29. It is reported that the Sedylifz and Derfflnger got home little more than afloat. The former was on fire and the Derfflinger had every gun out of action, and was damaged astern by a torpedo. Narratives by survivors of the Blucher state that the British broadsides made the ship reel. The guns were torn from their settings, and whole gun-crews were hurled to destruction. Men were swept from the deck like flies.- Everywhere blood trickled and flowed. Shells burst in the interior of the vessel in a halo of flame. Those in authority lost their heads and their nerves, being unable to stand the strain.

«' TORPEDO COMING !'' I % BRITISH OFFICER WARNS 'v- GERMANS. LONDON, Jan. 29. A member of the Arethusa's crew states: The Blucher's men were game to the last. They lined the rails, and one of our officers megaphoned "Torpedo coming." Instantly they dived overboard, and we threw over hundreds of planks, to which the. Germans clung until they were picked up. THE LIB AIT BOMBERS. ; RUSSIA TO COURT-MARTIAL *" THEM. PETROGRAD, aJn. 29. The Zeppelin crew who were eaptin'ed at Libau after dropping bombs are not being treated as prisoners but as crimimals, and will be court-martialled on a charge of murder or attempted murder by attacking an undefended place. FRENCH GUERILLAS. GERMAN UNITS HARASSED. PARIS, Jan. 29. After the battles in Belgium and Luxembourg in August, several small French detachments were unable to re--join their corps, and carried on guerilla warfare in the dense woods foi four monhts, ambushing passing Germans. One force of 450 ultimately passed the German lines and rejoined the French in the Argonne. Other y bands continue guerillrt fighting. i.. ''

fa. "GOD PUNISH ENGLAND."

GERMANY'S NEW GREETING. i"-., . ■«• BERLIN, Jan 29. A new formulate of greeting is •spreading over Germany, "God Punish England," with the response," "God ' Pumish Her." Lissaeur's hymn of nate is taught in schools, and thousands- of children have greeted it at theatres and lectures,

GERMANY ALARMED.

THREATS TO ITALY. Fress Association —CopyrigM. (Reed. 8,25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29. Swiss messages declare that Austria and Germany aire alarmed at Italy's preparations for war. Yen Buelow told Italian statesmen that if concentration of troops on Austrian boundaries continued, Germany and Austria would be obliged to denounce the triple alliance and send an ultimatum to Italy demanding a guarantee of thier maintenance of strict neutrality or consider Italy an enemy. THE AUSTRIAN EMPEROR. DECIDED TO ABDICATE. DISAGREEMENT WITH KAISER. (Reed. 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29. Reports received in Switzerland from Innsbruck, declare that v Joseph is arranging to abdicate as he is unable to agree with the views of the Kaiser on military affairs, and his attitude towards peace negotiations He had decided to adopt this course as a result of the visit to Berlin of the Austrian heir apparent, and because he was desirous of leaving his successor with a free hand.

ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT,

KAISER'S WHITE HORSE. ABANDONED FOR A MOTOR CAR. (Reed. 10.10 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 29. The Kaiser early in the week witnessed a furious attack on Blagny. The French withstood a shower of grenades, but yielded to German bayonets,, and trench after trench was taken. The Germans exultingly paraded four abreast into the suburbs of Arras, but th e triumph was shortlived as French territorial gunners ceased the retreat at a fortified, wrecked faxv tcry, and opened a murderous fire with cannon and machine guns The nearest Germans were overwhelmed, others dropped their weapons and fled in a demoralised rout. The French recovered all the lost ground The kaiser, on a white horsse, caparisoned with purple, angrily stepped into his motor car and went towards Lille. AFRICAN REBELLION. THE TRIAL OF REBELS. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) CAPETOWN 1 ,, Jan. 29, The trial of Brand and Wessels revealed the fact that Wessels went with a deputation to Mr Botha and demanded his resignation. Mr Botha declared he would not resign- and was determined to suppress the rebellion. Subsequently Wessels induced five hundred at Bethlehem to rebel. RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. I (Reed. 8.45 a.m.)

PETROGRAD, Jan 29.

A communique states: We repulsed the Germans north of Tilsit; we destroyed the Pogegen station and are advancing in the home districts of Pilnalem and Gumjbinnen. Russian artillery silenced several batteries and inflicted great losses in trenches on the left bank of the Vistula. Fighting in the Dukla Pass to Strigi and Munkas on Tuesday and Wednesday was in our favour, especially south-west of Dukla, where the erv?my repeatedly abandoned ammunition.

ALLIES' REPORT. IMPORTANT POSITION GAINED. Association—Copyright. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, Jan 29. A eomunique states: We have gained a footing on the Great Dune, near Lombaertzyde, and have consolidated our positions in tise Woevre. SPY NURSES. A SERIOUS MENACE. (Reed. 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29. The "Mirror" calls attention to the danger of spies masquerading as nurseß. Lord Kitchener is thoroughly alive to the menace, and has caused investigation to be made. In the Southampton hospital four women were found discussing affairs relative to the army and were dismissed. On the other side of the channel matters were mere serious. Two nurses were found to be spies and were effectually dealt with. "THUMPING LIES." u GERMAN MENDACITY. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL GAME. (Reed. 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan.' 29. The press is jubilant at Sir Edward Grey's crushing reply to BethmannHcllweg',3 allegations. The "JJaily Express" remarks that the world is growing weary of Potsdam lies. Ananias will find again that the world is laughing at him. His suppression of the truth, and suggestion of the false is disingenuous, and his deductions which are downright thumping lies are utterly uneffective weapons.

The "Daily News' " desperate mendacity of the German account of the North Sea fight is plain evidence of the severity of the naval blow that was inflicted on the Germans, whose people cannot be allowed to knew the truth. Sooner or later, the "Daily Telegraph," the truth will spread like a deadly fever, the psychological game wil be exposed, and the end of the war will be appreciably hastened. ATTEMPT TO PIERCE ALLIES' LINES. ANOTHEK DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE KAISER. ALLIES UPSET GERMAN PLANS. : TERRIFIC ARTILLERY DUEL IN PROGRESS. LONDON, Jan. 29. Reuter reports that the Germans on Monday, concentrating important forces between La Bassee and Festubert, at- ' tempted to pierce the Allies' lines and capture Bethune. The Kaiser watched the preparations on Saturcay and inspected the German positions. The La Bassee attack was supported by heavy artillery and an armoured train, which fired 20 shells at Bethune. The Germans planned to draw the Allies towards Festubert by a vigorous attack while two infantry regiments made a turning movement on the La BasseeBethune road. The Allies were aware of the plan, and the German infantry, advancing in close formation, received a murderous fire. Being caught between the English artillery on the front and the French artillery on the flank, they were literally mowed down. A couple of regiments, endeavouring to outflank the Allies, advanced towards Annequin. They were allowed to approach within 500 yards of the Allies' lines,, when a French .75 opened fire. Those who did not escape were killed or made prisoners. Two companies were captured. The enemy vainly renewed their attack, five times seeking to break through the Allied lines. They charged with bayonets once to reach Givenchy church. Deadly work was done in the plains around Vermelles, Givenchy and Guinchy, which wer« strewn with dead. A severe artillery duel continues throughout the district. FURTHER DETAILS. ONE OF THE BRITISHERS' BIGGEST FIGHTS. .DESPERATE ATTACK BY GEEMANS REPULSED. PARIS, Jan. 29. Monday's fight was the biggest In which the British have been recently engaged. The La Bassee plains are a bog. and the Germans found that the only workable foothold was on the highway. They suddenly attacked unsupported British positions. The latter fell back before a rush led by the 56th Prussians and 7th Pioneers. The enemy swept along the road to the outskirts of Givenchy, capturing half a dozen prisoners. English reinforcements, crossing a sodden morass for 300 yards, knee-deep in mud in water, under a heavy fire secured a trench, though they lost heavily, and drove back the Germans, who left four hundred dead.

A small force of the enemy entered Givenchy. The British fired from windows, and wounded many. The remainder surrendered. The British re-established their old positions and broke fresh ground.