BRITISH ESCAPADE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 191, 21 April 1915, Page 5

BRITISH ESCAPADE

' , GROUNDED SUBMARINE BLOWN UP TURKS TRYING TO SEIZE IT '* BRITISH VICTORY DESPERATE GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED IMPORTANT POSITIONS GAPTUREO HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES I DUIC H FOOD SHUT OFF FROM BELGIANS (|

A RUSSIAN INTERVIEW.

MAPS TO BE ALTERED.

(Reed. 88.45 a.m.) ROME, April 20. The “Messajgero” has published uh interview with Professor Miluko... Leader of the Constitutional Dei: crats in Russian Duma, in which . . said; —Th e Russians were ret- / to fight for a year or tv . monthly delays would not disturb ) patience. Russia’s programme prov - ed for libertyin the Black Sea and pv-.>-session of the Straits leading to it. i mplying that Russia proposed to oc ;>y Constantinople. A written agree*. . ;t to that effect had already been < icluded between the Allies, and international commission would, soh the question of the Ottoman pub.ic 1 debt. Six villages in Armenia would become autonomous under the Sv. rainty of Russia, and another g: :at Islamistic Empire was probable under British rule, reaching from Egyp to India, th e latter country to be the seat of the Caliphate. Servia would get Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dalmation Coast. Old Roumanian territory would be a ded to and Galicia would be depart of Poland, autono"famous, the Duma would quickly sider th e questions libiprty, free speech and self-government for Poland. Russia would grant equal rights to Jews and Bulgaria had been offered of Macedonia, but Bulgarians had askeu £ or other districts. If Italy jollied the Allies she would have Trente and Treiste. Poland would share Asia Minor. 1 *- • " |

• - 1 ITALIAN UNREST, ? _" 4 \ -

ViUl'*- _ ■ ■ ' x'i, ViGILAMCc FOR GERMAN SPIES'. rf ‘ (Reed. 88.45 a.m.) ROME, April 20. The Police at Rome are keeping a sharp lookout for foreigners. The Reverend Lowri-e and a number of other Americans were arrested on suspicion of being German spies. They were released, with apologies.

A PLUCKY ACT.

A BRITISHER PROMOTED. THE GROUNDED. SUBMARINE. DESTROYED BY PICKST BOATS. ii V (Reed. 88.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 20. The Admiralty says as the Turks were making great efforts to secure Els, which is still aground in a serviceable condition, battleships endeavoured to destroy it by long range fire, but failed. Two picketboats, on the night of the 18th, under Eris Robinson, with a volunteer crew attacked the submarine under very heavy fire from a fort a few hundred yards distant, and also from many smaller guns. They torpedoed the submarine and rendered it useless.. The Majestic'e picket-boa t was sunk by gunfire, but the Triumph rescued the crew. One man died fem wounds, which was the only casually. Robinson has boon promoted to commander. FALLEN FROM FAVOUR. GERMANY’S -TDOL ON SHAKY PEDES HA'. (Roc,! m 'd -am.) ' ’PETP'■‘G-Rd D, April 20. teOpe “Novoc Yremya” :-r-v,s; Marshal bus t ■’'Lfavour with the General Sta!T. i •• retained hi« command on the Kais or urging that Tie be given another chance.

SIR JOHN i'BENCii u REPORT

GREAT BRITISH VICTORY. STUBBORN GERMAN DEFENCE. (Rcc. 9 ii.m.) LONDON, April 20. Sir John French’s bulletin says: Im provement in the weather resulted is increased aerial activity to our ad van tage. British airmen drove ' off Hire Taubes in the Ypres region on Sundaj and then continued their reeaniiab sance. The, enemy was heavily shelled i their trenches near Saint Loi, an o ploded mine inuring the parapet, which were promptly repaired. The enemy suffered heavily by s explosion on Hill (30, which was aimed ately followed by an attack by whic we gained possession of the whole <: the enemy’s trenches on tho hill. Vi put the trenches in a grate cf defenc during Saturday night, despite heav bombardment, which caused many casualties. The enemy resumed bombard* ment towards the morning and made a determined counter-attack at 6.30. This attack was pressed home, and: stiff hand to hand lighting ensued. Our infantry, with great gallantry and determination, well supported by artillery, completely drove off the enemy. Our losses were heavy but the *?OITtKUiB* losses were more severe, particularly from our machine-guns, which caught them in mass formation. The enemy repeated desperate efforts throughout Sunday to retain the posi-. tion, which was of great importance, at one time they gained a footing on the southern slopes but were promptly driven back. The whole of the hill i§ now in o\pp hands and the position has lifihtt consolidated. The ShSmy’i! attacks ceased on Monday inorning’ but they continued to bomMril the hill. The prisoners taken totalled 49. The German official statement that we were using asphyxiating gases at Ypres is false. It was doubtless made in order to Justify the enemy’s free uso of these gasses at Hill 60. . The Hague Convention eliminates the us« of asphyxiating gasses.

THE TURKS CAGED.

TWO DESTROYERS SUNK. NO COAL FOR WARSHIPS. (Reed 9 a.m.} ■ SALONICA, April 20. A correspondent at Salonica says the Russians’ mined the entanc© to th e Bosphorous and two Turkish destroyers were blown up and sunk. The remainder of the fleet were unable to enter, owing to the fact that minesweepers were rapidly exhausting their coal.

ITALIAN TRANSPORT.

FRONTIER IMPROVEMENTS. (Reed. 9 a.mj PARIS, April 20. Tile “Echo de Paris” says Italy is perfecting her transport arrangements towards th e frontier, and many fresh units have bean hurried forward. LEAVING- SMYRNA. ALLIES LANDING FORCES, (Reed, SB.-15 a.in.) LONDON, April 20, Th e . “Daily Mail's” correspondent at Salonika reports that civilians have ■departed from Smyrna in expectation of the Allied fleet landing forces. Th e -garrison remains and preparations fer defence a-e being rushed.

SPUdTjIfG; All: 2ATTIE.

GE.-.MAN bIT£K BITTEN. (Reed a.io a.in.) - ■ IONDuR, April Shepherd, ..an American ccrre. , andent at the-Brichfii Yiuddquartc. , resales that : Sunday and enticed two British aeroplanes ever "ihe German lines, me ware soon enveloped in ole ties of shrapnel smoke. Finally, ignoring the shrapnel, they climbed above the Taube, which withdrew over British trenches, The British aviators fired, v. hereupon the aTube circled lower,-.the Britishers following. In the Tauha s final effort to reach home it was sandwiched between the fire of the aeroplanes’and trenches, and with suddenness it crashed to the ground. The pilot was killed and the Observer was taken prisoner. The contest lasted an hour and a half.

INTERESTING NEWS.

GERMAN STEAMERS MOVED. ITALY FURTHER PREPARING. | LONDON, April 20. Official; The British occupied Kestipanshoop. Reuter states that Austro —German steamers ‘refuging sf Ancona are or-

GERMANS REPULSED AT EPARGES. F&gGJPITATE RETREAT AT ESBLSBRUCKE. The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner, dated London, April 20: — Early on Monday morning a German counter attack at Lee Eparges was completely repulsed, On the banks of the La FedH we forced the enemy to evacuate precipitately Eselbrucke, abandoning jpuch material RUSSIANS SMASH AUSTRIANS. " April 20. Official: The enemy suffered great losses during a further attack On the heights at Telepoich. A battalion surrendered en bice. MASSACRED IN COLD BLOOD. HOW GERMANY BENT THEIR ... FURY, . .... LONDON, April 20, The Daily Chronicle says that after the Belgiansd rove the Germans back at Drieggachten, a Belgian night patrol surprised and killed several German sentries. The Germany infuriated at the discovery, took a (greater number of Belgian prisoners belonging to the Ist Chasseurs and massacred them in cold blood. WHY NOT. LONDON, April 20. The Daily Mail argues: If the Government is unwilling to enforce the law of hostages by immuring a number of Germans in penal prisons, reprisals are easy by means of money levies on Germans’ property within the Empire, which is estimated at 300,000,000 sterling.' The Kaiser owns estates in Canada which would be liable to confiscation. BRITISH OFFICERS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. (Reed 10.45 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, April 20. The “Lokal Anzeiger” states that 13 British officers at Cologne have been put into solitary confinement on account of the submarine reprisals. ANOTHER SAMPLE OF CULTURE. ONE MORE ATROCITY IN BELGIUM. (Reed, 12,10 a.m.) Reports received from Lenoir state that an crfir-'-T of the Belgian Railway Ministry was court-martial led for uicnago ami cw-aiM ox Chow- AC-. range, v ! 200 nropicr including:::’: wife were compelled to be present.

A BRITISH VICTORY. GREAT GERMAN LOSSES.L ■ WELLINGTON, April 19. . The High Commissioner -reports: — ' LONDON, April, is. A successful • action commencing on .Saturday evening .culminated, on Sunday in .the capture :uvd the complete occupation of an important point, Till (10, lying two m 1.1 os roHh of Zillobeke, east of Ypvos. - Tiie 1:Ml do ninates the country to the north and north-cast.' The successful explosion .of a mine under the hill commenced the operations. Many Germans were killed by this, and fifteen prisoners were captured. At daybreak on Sunday the enemy heavily counter-attacked the hill, but was/reulsed with heavy less Advancing in close formation they wore punished by our machine-gun battery. Desperate efforts all day on Burnley by the Germans to recover the hill wore everywhere repulsed with great loss. In front of the captured position upon which the British are now consolidated in strength, hundreds of dead are lying on the ground. On Sunday- two more German aeroplanes wore brought down. In this area, since Thursday, the total loss to

The capture of Hill 60 is an important step in the task of swinging rouns the German right. The blowing up of the hill resembled a volcanic eruption. It was the signal for a vast battle covering several miles of front. The fighting was as fierce as at Neuve Chapelle, The artillery, following up the sappers’ work, played havoc with the German trenches, and the infantry fell upon the foe, who were utterly demoralised, and rove them back three miles with terrible losses. Eight hundred were taken prisoners by Sunday afternoon. The Germans on Saturday suddenly prepared to evacuate Menin, and reserves were sent towards Courtrai, but later there was a counter movement and the troops were rushed back to Menin. SUBMARINES’ LATEST SPORT. LONDON, April 20. On Monday a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British trawler Vanilla. Another trawler endeavouring to rescue the crew was fired at and driven off. All hands on the Vanilla w r ero lost. The Admiralty points out that this is the second murder of fisher folk for no military purpose within a week. THE SINKING OF El 5. A TURKISH ACCOUNT. AMSTERDAM, April 20. A Turkish account of the sinking ©f El sis that the vessel left Tonedos ar midnight. She dived after entering the Straits in order to avoid 'searchlights, and grounded at 6.30, the con-ning-tower showing. The first .-(hell from the Turkish batteries struck the tower, killing the captain. The second shell wrecked the machinery. The crew left the vessel after three had been killed and seven wounded. The enemy’s aeroplanes bombed the vessel to prevent its falling into Turkish hands. The Turks resented the crew. TORPEDOING OF THE KATWYK. COMPENSATION PROMISED AMSTERDAM. April 20. Germany, on her own initiative, irr formed Holland that it was possible, through accident, that a German submarine torpedoed the Dutch steamer Katwyk. If an inquiry proved this, full compensation would be made. TURKS MASSING TROOPS. ODESSA, April 2c. An aeroplane report that the Turks have concentrated great strength on the coasts northward of Gallipoli an.'to the north-east, whither the Turks have brought a great nuantity of heavy artillery. It is estimated there are 700 mines between Marmora Island and Die mainland.

WHAT DOES GERMANY MEAN,

i THE BALJLIN INTER VlcW DISCUSSED. | (Reed 10.30. p.m.) I NEW YORK, April 20. Tile “Berlin Telegraph” denies th Baliin interview. Reuter adds that i is not clear whether the denial Is i clumsy attempt to obscure the issir raised. The “Times” secs in Heir Bern buig's Setter a confession that Get j many's war plans have failed; tha | sh e has passed her maximum strength and that he has good good re:-on to bo lieve disaster threatens. The " Herald” asks whether Ger many is trying to drag America am Holland into the war so as to excuse ! foredoomed failure by crying “Tin world is against us.” Bernstorff’s mem orandum hardly admits any other ex planation. (In an interview in th e New Yor] “World" Herr Baliin whom the Kaise; authorised to communicate the latter 5 : view of the war, said the Kaiser rait crated that his 26 years’ rule had prov ed that h© had not wanted the war Asked whom the Emperor considerec responsible, Herr Baliin said: “En? land!;; We honestly believe that Sii Edward Grey could have stopped it r he had declared that England wouk refuse to go to war over an interna question between Servia and Austria Then Russia asd France would havt ccmpromised with Austria. If Sir E Grey, on the other hand, had saic England would go to war with Ger many, then Austria might have beer readier to compromise. By his deci sicn, Sir E. Grey could have avoidec this terrible thing). SIE JOHN FEENGH’S REPORT K f EUVE CHAPELLF. PLAN. (Reed 5.20 p.m.) LONDON, April 20. Th^Pi;.e>ss.-Bureau states: At Neuve C Impel! e, in a quiet room where Nelson’s prayer stands on the nmntleshslf Sir Jonh French unfolded his plan to the army .corps commanders. Surprise was the essence of the onslaught. The Germans were to be battered by artillery and rushed before they recovered. It was calculated that 36 hours would elapse before the Germans would be able to b e reinforced. Neuve Cliapelle was the first objective,and afterwards the troops were to press on t.n Boisdcbie/g. The attack was entrusted to.the Indian s 0,1 the right, and the fourth army corps in the centre and left. After the first line of trenches had been captured, the Indians were to sweep on to Boisdebfeg, while the French were to occupy the village. The Germans kept watch. A captain in a German trench noticed unusual movement in the British lines, and urgently requested th e artillery to open fire. The latter replied politely that their injunctions were not to fire without the expressed order of the corps comiuPJkler, Hell then broke loose with a, mighty, hideous, screeching noise, as hundreds of gun s spoke. Th© troops were ready to advance on the village before the artillery had finished its work. Tiiey.stood in the open laughing and joking'amid the terrific din. Tho capture of the village at the bayonet point was bloody work. Through the thick pall of shell smoke th© Germans were seen on all side s emerging hal£.dazed from cellars and dug-outs, their hands above their heads. Others were firing from windows, behind carts and even behind tombstones. Machineguns were in the houses. A portly Gerfamii was found dancing in agony and fear, and screaming in English: “Mercy! -I’m married.” A Britisher took him prisoner, saying: “Your missis won’t thank ns for sending you home.’ UNFORTUNATE BRUSSELS. LONDON, April 20. The city of Brussels has been fined half a million for refusing to make the leading street “Berlin Strasse.* The Seamans threaten to shoot a hundred inhabitants unless the fine be. paid by the end of April. SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE. CAPETOWN, April 20. The Fourth Brigade occupied Soelicit, an important junction on the Kalkfontein branch of the Luderitz BayKeelm a nlioop railwa y. RUSSIA AND SWEDEN. COMMUNICATIONS CUT OFF. COPENHAGEN, April 20. The Gorman fleet laid a minefield in tho vicinity of Aland to prevent communication between Russia and Sweden. A PIRATE’S CREW. LONDON, ,\pr>l 20. Some of the Brins El tel V> crew have re ached Copenhagen vrjfh the comma---ear's swret rvunn-t.