GERMANY ABANDONS HOPE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 130, 4 February 1915, Page 5

GERMANY ABANDONS HOPE

EXPORTS TO ITALY BARRED. (Reed. 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb 3. A Berlin despatch to the New York World, says that Germans have abandoned all hope of keeping Italy and Roumanla out of the struggle. Germany and Austria are prohibiting the export to Italy of various commodities previously not barred. Roumania has replied by barring the export of petroleum to Germany. A. QUEEN DECORATED. }, ■ FOR HEROIC WORK. »■'.' ~: (Reed. 8.30 a.m) ' . LONDON, Feb 3. The Czar has conferred the military medal on the Queen of the Belgians, in recognition of her heroic conduct in attending sick and wounded at the risk of her life. GERMAN SUBMARINE ACTIVITY. A SIGN OF WEAKNESS. (Reed. 8.30 a.m) LONDON, Feb 3. Archibald Hurd, naval writer to the "Daily Times," and "Telegraph," argues that commerce destruction by submarines is" a confession cf weakness. The Kaiser's submarines would not be wasting time sinking small merchant ships if they could sink war.

ships. Other authorities declare that such attacks are scarcely removed from absolute piracy.

The unanimous opinion is that such a form of blockade cannot succeed, and no credit is given to Von Tirpitz's declaration that the biggest type of German submarine is capable of circumnavigating Britain, unless Germans have found a place to lay up and rest their crews. The "Morning Post" urges that the best reply to German outrages would be to declare contraband everything that goes into Germany from seaward. ALLIES' PROGRESS REPORT. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) PARIS, Feb 3. A communique states: We stopped flreboats that were launched on the Ancre River, north cf Albert, before they exploded. We slightly progressed near Perthes, taking a number of prisoners Nothing cf note has occurred elsewhere.

' INTERESTING ITEMS. THE HOHENZOLLEEN ADVENTURE. NEW YORK. Feb, 3. The newspaper, the Now New York American, agrees that the disastrous nature of the Hohenzolern iidvcntnr:? is not yet clearly realised. Misgivings are forgotten in the noisy campaign of hate against England. AUSTRIA'S INTERNAL TROUBLES. A CRITICAL SITUATION. • _ LONDON, Feb. 3. Paris learns that Austria's internal troubles are graver than is generally j believed. Gendarmes at Agram joined the rioters mostly university students. A mob at Susak, Croatia, broke into the arsenal and stole guns and ammunition. Rioters at Istria attacked tlie barracks. It is believed that German troops have been sent to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. 20 TRAINLOADS OF WOUNDED. f LONDON, Feb. 3. Aix-la-ehapelle reports that 20 trainloads of wounded passed eastward during the last three nights as the result C>f the fighting at Craonne.

THE GEE MANS IN BRUSSELS.

Press Association —Copyrigh*. LONDON, Feb. 3. A lady who lias returned from Brussels says the arrogance of the Germans, which was unbearable, suddenly changed. When it. became known that they had been ordered to placate the population, their efforts were fruitless. The people hold themselves aloof. They do not converse except to answer questions. They do not remain in cafe.* with Germans. . The latter endeavour to prevent citizens departing fearing that the news will reach the oiitsid 1 world. British and French newspapers are brought in secretly. Tt was -i joy day in Brussels when Flight-Com-mander Davies bombed the Gorman ba:racks, the Belgians shouting with glee. FIJIAN CONTINGENT IN LONDON. LONDON, Feb. 3. The Fijian contingent paraded a- the War Office. Newspapers warmly comment on the patriotism. A FINAL PROTEST. LONDON, Feb. 3. The Navy League sent the'folio-win-, 1 mesage to Agagneur: We welcome 3'our oportune protest against the violation of the law of nations by the German Navy sinking merchant ships deliberately and indiscriminately, without regard to whether the cargo was contraband or otherwise. ' Neutral nations must now be convinced of the reckless and inhuman policy of Germany against existing international conventions.

COAL TROUBLE EXASPERATING PUBLIC. LONDON, Feb. 3. The Times, in a leader referring to coal trouble, says the public will be exasperated by both sides if they sacrifice the national cause to a miserable, sordid quarrel. The amount involved is a trifling sum and the owners conceded the advance. FIERCE FIGHTING. TRENCHES LOST AND RE-TAKEN. GERMANS LOSE HEAVILY.

LONDON. Feb. 3. "Eye-Witness' states that 600 G<

mans on the 29th January made two attacks between La Bassee canal and the Bel Lime road. The attack on a brickfield in tiie centre failed. Fifty German dead were left on the field. An attack against the right was temporarily .successful but the British counter-attacked with the bayonet, and every German in the trench was killed. A similar British success occurred close to the Bethune road. By a coun-ter-attack eevry German in the British trench was bayoneted and an additional 200 dead were left in front <f the British lines. The British casualties were slight. Prisoners stated that this was their first engagement. One hundred were killed in the trenches before the attack began. BRITAIN'S NEW ARMY. THE PASSAGE TO FRANCE.GERMANS ISSUE A WARNING. AMSTERDAM, Feb. 3. The German Admiralty states: The British are about to ship troops and material to France. We shall use all military means to prevent this. We warn peaceful shipping approaching the north-west coast of France, owing to the danger of their being mistaken for transports. Ships trading to the North Sea ports are advised to proceed round Scotland.