KOVNO FALLEN

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 270, 19 August 1915, Page 5

KOVNO FALLEN

A BERLIN REPORT AFTER DESPERATE RESISTANCE ■Muni' it AT GALLIPOLI A CREAT VICTORY FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE ANOTHER ZEPPELIN RAID ON LONDON OUTSKIRTS

KOVNO FALLEN

KOVNO HAS FALLEN. BERLIN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Reed 8.50 a.m) BERLIN, August IS. Official; Kovno fell yesternight. THE FALL OF KOVNO •ENORMOUS STORES CAPTURED. FOUR HUNDRED GUNS MUCH WAR MATERIAL. J AMSTERDAM, August 18. A German official states that Kovno, with all the forts an<j an enormous 'Quantity of war material, including over four hundred guns, wa s taken by assault after a most stubborn resistance. IN THE CAUCASUS. TURKS DECISIVEY BEATEN RUSSIANS MAKE IMMENSE CAPTURES. PETROGRAD, August 18. Official: In the Caucasus cur enveloping column captured Klytch Pass, the Turks’ principal line of communication, on the right bank of the Euphrates. Th e Turks violently but fruitlessly counter-attacked. Then they threw a division against Merghemih Pass, driving out our weak forces with the object of cutting our communications. We reinforced several battalions, and •determinedly attacked throughout the day and night of the ninth and made -a bayonet assault at dawn on the 10th, and recaptured th e Pass.establishing ourselves at Charidagb. *"

We pursued the Turks along the Euphrates Valley; they vainly attempted to make a stand south of Kara Kilisse, then on the left bank of the Upper Euphrates, and finally at Palanteken. All efforts were fruitless. On the twelfth we occupied the district of Melasghert, securing our left wing’s position, and captured a number of guns, machine guns, rifles, ammunition, much commissariat, several regimental commanders, .dozens of officers, and thousands of soldiers. Th e whole district is full of parties of Askaris, who surrendered unresisting. Shells and caissons litter all the roads traversed by the Turks, indicating that the defeat wa s serious.

PREPARATIONS AT VILNA. AGAINST GERMAN CAPTURE. PETROGRAD, August IS. A great part of th© Czar s 'winter palac e has been transformed into a liospital to accommodate 1000 patients The Governor of Vilna, as a precaution against occupation; ordered the removal of hanks, factory plants and everything useful to the • enemy. Taubes dropped bombs on Vilna JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. DOING ALL SHE CAN. LONDON, August IS. The Tokio correspondent of t*>e Morning Post states that Japan is doing all she can t» help the Allies to win. Unless they do, her hopes are dark, for she would lose all she has so 'far are disappointed ■ that the are not % M lng p,s the battle™™ of Eur%e. t# The genera? conviction amongst the people is. that their men would greatly hasten the conclusion of the struggle.

AT GALLIPOLI.

SIR lAN HAMILTON’S REPORT TRENCHES AND PRISONERS CAPTURED LONDON, August 18, 12.25 p.m. The High Commissioner reports* Sir lan Hamilton reports that in the southern zone the situation* is unchanged. In the ngrthern zone the right flank of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ position was heavily attacked during the nigjhts of the 14th and 15th. The attacks were repulsed. The Suvla troops’ left flank made a short advance on the afternoon of the loth, with a view to straightening their line, under considerable gun and rifle Are. They gained about 500 yards, capturing a Turkish trench, two officers and twenty other prisoners.

AUSTRALASIANS AT SUVLAREPULSE MANY NIGHT ATTACKS (Reed 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 18 Sir lan Hamilton reports that repeated attacks were made on the Australians and New Zealanders, eight being repulsed on the night of the 14th. The British advanced at Suvla under considerable fire for* 500 yards MOST DESPERATE AND SUCCESSFUL. MEN MORE OPTIMISTIC (Reed 10 a.m) MALTA, August 18 Wounded from Gallipoli describe the recent fightnig as the most desperate, and the most successful that has yet taken place. They are much more optimistic regarding future prospects. GREAT BATTLE AT GALLIPOLI. 27,000 TURKISH CASUALTIES. (Eec. 12.45 a.m.) ATHENS, August IS. Turkish casualties in the recent battle in Gallipoli were 27,000. THE TURKS 7 TASK. A VAIN HOPE. LONDON, August IS. Captain Persius, writing in the Berliner Tageblatt on the operations at the Dardanelles, warns the Turks against supposing that they will be abandoned because of their difficulties. He quotes an utterance of the Times that they cannot drive the British back. Nobody in authority, he says, dreams of drawing back. Captain Persius then adds: “Our sense toll's plainly that it will require _ far more serious disappointments and losses before the English endurance gives way. ” He comments on the seriousness of the situation and the heavy task for the Turks, and hopes that they will continue to maintain themselves victoriously on both banks of the Dardanelles. GREECE’S ATTITUDE. (Rec. 12.45 a.ra.) LONDON, August 18. Reuter’s Athens correspondent says it is believed that a complete understanding has been reached between the King and M. Venosolos, who has been summoned to form a Ministry.

TURKS’ COMMUNICATIONS CUT,

FINE WORK BY SUBMARINES. PARIS, August IS. The Temps states that the action of the Allies’ submarines in the Sea of Marmora in completely severing all sea communication with Constantinople to the Straits constitutes a great difficulty to defence and opens a new field of activity for the Allies. The transport of Turkish troops and trie working of the commissariat overland is extremely slow and difficult, inasmuch as the Allies dominate a position on the isthmus uniting the peninsula with Thrace. THE SUNKEN TRANSPORT. A STRONG REMINDER. THE NAVY’S EFFECTIVENESS. LONDON, August IS. The newspapers, while conceding that the enemy scored a legitimate success, pay a warm tribute to the Navy’s splendid guardianship and protection of hundreds of thousands of troops on all the seas of the globe, including the convoys from such remote Dominions as Australia and New Zealand.

The “Daily Mail” says the shock of the event seems greater by reason of its rarity. It throws in vivid relief the wonderful achievements of the Navy in the first year of th e war. The “Dally News” says there is ample material in the three friendly navies W'hlch ar c . patrolling the eastern seas for countering any measures threatening the safety of the ships. Therefore there is no fear that the Gorman torpedoes will divert from Gallipoli a man or a shell or one ounce of stores.

Th e . “Daily Telegraph” says the fate of the “Royal Edward” suggests not a failure but a triumph for our seapower. Only when the war .is over will the public realise th e harrassing burdens th e transport services have thrown upon the Navy. That as many a s six hundred men should have been saved is almost a miracle, as the Royal Edward was not built to resist torpedoes. THE ZEPPELIN RAID. OFFICIAL REPORT. DIFFICULT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS LONDON, August 18, 4.40 p.m. Zeppelins visited the Eastern counties last night and dropped bombs. Anti-air craft guns were in action,and it is believed that one Zeppelin was hit. Air partols were in action, but owing to the difficulty of atmospheric conditions the Zeppelins were able to escape. Houses and other buildings, including a church, were damaged. Th e casualties reported are: Killed, men, 7: women, 2; children, 1; injured, men, 15; women, IS; children, 3.—-All civilians. ANOTHER ZEPPELIN RAID. CIVILIANS KILLED AND WOUNDED HOUSES AND CHURCHES BURNED (Reed 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, August 18 Zeppelins again raided the Eastern counties, killing ten and injuring 36 1 civilians. Some houses and churches Avere burned.

A NEW YORK MESSAGE OUTSKIRTS OP LONDON ATTACKED (Reed 9.20 a.m) NEW YORK, August 18 The outskirts of London were raided last night by Zeppelins. Several were killed, but the damage was slight MORE SUBMARINING. SEVERAL STEAMERS SUNK (Reed 10 a.m.) LONDON, August 18 The Norwegian steamers Mineral and Romulus, the British steamer Bonny, and the Spanish steamer Isidoi’o were sunk. All the crew's were saved GERMAN SUBMARINES DRIVEN BACK. (Rec. 12.-13 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, August IS. Gorman submarines attempted to Heave Zeebrugg< .jfattttßßritish destroyers drove ' 'mite the fire of shore battei ie( ■ \ FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS DISCUSSION IN LONDON. (Reed TO su.m.) Mr Mac Kenna invited the Agents-. General to meet him on Thursday for consultation with regard to futur e financial requirements of their various states. • . i y

ATTACK ON KOVNO

ENEMY CONCENTRATE THEIR ARTILLERY . PETROGRAD, August IS Official: The fighting at Kovno was extremely desperate. The enemy on Sunday and Monday, after careful preparation by their heavy artillery, including sixteen-inchers, launched serious violent attacks with their full strength with a view to storming fortifications on the left bank of the Niemen. Towards evening they succeeded in carrying a small fort and breaking into intervening spaces between some other forts.

FURTHER DETAILS PETROGRAD, August 18 Th e enemy in the Vlodava region is endeavouring to establish himself on the right bank of th e river. Ther e was severee artillery firing in the Novo Georgievsk region. The enemy brought up guns of the largest calibre, and delivered attacks on Sunday night principally against the fortifications between the Narew and the left bank of the Wyrka. In th e Black Sea a submarine sank a Turkish steamer coal-laden. In th e Caucasus we routed the Turk 3 and re occupied Van. GERMAN ADVANCES STOPPED. PETROGRAD, August 18 Official: Enemy attempts to advance in the Riga and Jacobstadt districts on Sunday and Monday failed. Stubborn fighting continues in the Dvinsk district. All the German attacks were repulsed In the western sector we repulsed on Sunday a series of fierce German attacks in the direction of Bielostock and Bielsk.

The enemy’s offensive between the Nurzec and the Bug Avas succssfully contained. GERMANS’ TREMENDOUS LOSSESGENEVA, August 18. ’ The Germans sacrificed enormous numbers in an effort to pierce the Nurzec line, They extracted a surrounded division northward of Siedlice, with the greatest difficulty. The Russians on the Bug attacked Prince Leopold’s army with such fury that the German casualties in lavo hours were ten thousand. The Russian ardllerv fire has lately increased in in' ensity. OFFICIAL REPORT THE WESTERN FRONT GERMAN POSITION DESTROYED. LONDON, August 19, 5.45 p.m The High Commissioner reports; Yesterday the French bombarded the German position in the region of Linge and destroyed two heavy batteries and damaged several munition depots.

On the crest of Boudernach the enemy, during the night, launched two new violent counter attacks against the 'position taken by the French yesterday. Both were completely repulsed, tb e French taking 50 prisoners.

“WE ARE NOT PIRATES.” “TAKE THE WHOLE SHIP.” (Rec. 12.20 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, August 15. A German trawler, just arrived at Esjberg, reported meeting a British squadron in the North Sea. The German skipper prepared to leave the vessel, expecting its destruction. He implored the British search, party for time to take to the boats. The officer replied: “You can take the whole ship; we are not pirates.” The Germans cheered the Britishers. SOME SURVIVORS INTERNED. (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) CHRISTIANIA, August IS. The Norwegian Government has interned the India’s survivors rescued by British armed trawlers aud the India ’s own boats. Survivors rescued by a neutral vessel have not been been interned. GERMANY WELL PROVIDED.

LONDON, August IS. The Budget Committee of the 'Reichstag reported that owing to an underestimate of stocks and stringent economies the harvest showed an unexpected abundance of potatoes for a.l purposes. The balance of the grain from the previous crop rvas seven million double cwts. The meat problem offered satisfactory prospects. There should be no scarcity for the normal con. sumption. Sugar has been secured' for the new year. THE AUSTRIAN EMPEROR. ROME, August 18. The Emperor Franz Josef is worse. He has been seized by locomotorataxy. Some of the most eminent physicians in the- empire have formed a Consult atioa Council.

ITALIAN SUCCESSES,

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ROME, August 18. A communique reports that in the rugged Ortler Range between the valleys of Adda and Adige, one of our detachments marched from GapannarMilano in sections, roped together, crossed the Camoni Pass (3,084 metres; and Vedretadi Campo, then scaled the Turkettspitz (3,400 metres), ami surprised a party of the enemy. A detachment next dispersed the enemy on Hikere Madatschpitz, and firmly occupied the crest. We occupied Sattelberg, -westward of Langealp. Our offensive in the Tolmino zone was dashingly ■ carried out against the hills of Santa Maria and Santa Lucia, covering positions right of the Isonzo.

The infantry captured at the point of the bayonet a line of solid entrenchments on the western slopes, taking 17 officers and 447 men prisoners and capturing four machine-guns. A VALUABLE INVENTION. ROME, August 18. The press declare that the machine invented by the Italian engineer Quarins, to explode a mine from a distance, or a torpedo fired b r a submarine, has proved practical.

WAR PREMEDITATED. THE GERMAN SPY SYSTEM COMPREHENSIVE PREPARATIONS REVEALED IN AMERICA. (Reed 10.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 18. A Providence journal has furnsihed the Secretary of the Navy with a series cf facts, proving the activity of the German spy system. Prior to the war it states a Telefunken Wireless Company, under German Foreign Office instructions, endeavoured to instal, for the American Government, stations at the Philipines on positions mapped out by the German Foreign Office. Telefunken also, in 1913 attempted to gain control of wireless plants in South and Central America. They tried in, 1911 to secure land for stations in the neighbourhood of Nicarayua AA’hich would be valuable the event cf the Panama Canal being fortified. * REVELATIONS IN AMERICA NOT DENIED BY GERMANY. AMSTERDAM, August 18. New- Yorg revelations concerning German intrigues, have created a sensation in Berlin, Foreign Offic e organs do not deny the charges; they simqT.y insinuate that the documents were stolen. A FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. AMMUNITION DEPOTS DESTROYED (Reed 9.30 a,m) PARIS, Atigust IS. A communique states: Our bombardment yesterday of th e - German position in the region of Linge destroyed two heavy batteries and blew up several ammunition depots. We repulsed two violent counterattacks at Sondernach. FRENCH FINANCE. POPULAR TREASURY NOTE?!.. PARIS, August K*. Financial opinion is favourable the issue of 20 franc and 5 franc Defence Treasury notes, with interest at 5 per cent., repayable at the end of the year. They are likely to become popular amongst the poor and thrifty. ADMIRAL DE ROBECK’S DESPATCHES, LONDON, August 17. 1 Newspapers give prominence to Vice- I Admiral Do Robeck's references to Australians and New Zealanders. The Times says the real interest in Vice-Admiral Do Rebeck’s story is the allusions to acts of individual ry wherewith the whole of the conflict j at the Dardanelles teemed. Details give just a glimpse—only a glimpse—of the character of the Dardanelles operations. where every man who fought on sea and land deserves the name of hero.

The publication of the despatches coincides with the announcement of a fresh landing northward of the Anzac zone, where the Australians and New Zealanders are fighting with so much desperate valour and determination. It is evidently possible from the new vantage point to work round through easier country to the northward of the Sari Bair heights.

VATICAN WANTS PEACE. f LONDON, August 18. Lo Journal says that Cardinal Caspar! interrupted Lis holiday and ’returned to Rome in consequence of an urgent summons. Catholic bishops in every country are invited to use all their influence towards peace . Italian Socialists are encouraged to organise an international conference for the purpose. ENEMY WITHIN THE GATES. TASTING GERMAN METHODS. (Eec. 1.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, August IS. A Providence journal states that tne Government have positive knowledge of a constant leakage of information from Government departments to the Germany to minimise that influence, that a number of German officials have been suspended.