AERIAL ACTIVITY

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 7 September 1915, Page 5

AERIAL ACTIVITY

ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT. RUSSIAN LEADERS. (Rec, 1.45 a.m. PETEOGRAD, September- 6. General Alexis Evert comands on the western front and General Ivoncff commands in the south. RUSSIANS WITHDRAW. DUE TO GERMAN ARTILLERY. (Rec. 1.25 a.m.) PETEOGRAD, Sept. 6. The enemy was reinforced at Fried■riehstadt, and his superiority forced •our troops, who crossed the river ru Linden, to'recross to the right bank.

Our withdrawal near Friedichstadt was due to the enemy's artillery and the firing of- the Dwina bridges.

A BLACK SEA FIGHT. RUSSIAN DESTROYERS- ATTACK. THE HAM ADI EH INJURED. (Eec. 8.30 a.m.) I PETROGRAD, September 6. In tbe Black Sea, early on Sunday, the destroyers Bronsintedny and Bystry, each carrying three hundred milimetre guns, met the enemy, despite the latter's enormous superiority. The Russians attacked in a fight which lasted three hours. The Hami•dieh was hit frequently with a six-inch ■gun and was put out of action. The ’Russians pursued, firing continuously, till the enemy rounded Cape - Keeken. They then returned and sank-a collier near Gunguldak. RUSSIAN TORPEDOERS BOMBED. (Eec. 1.45 a.m. - - - PETROGRAD, Sept. 6. A communique states: The enemy’s hydroplanes bombed our torpedoers at the entrance to the Gulf of Riga. ■SINISTER MESSAGE FROM RUSSIA A CEY FOE HELP. ROME, Sept. 6. The Giornalo d 'ltalia publishes a | Petrograd despatch urging that early ■efforts by the Allies in Belgium and at the Dardanelles are necessary if final victory is expected. It will be neces--aary for the Allies to draw twenty divisions of the Austro-Germans from the west front. The despatch adds that notwithstanding the winter, thp. 'Germans wils bo able to pursue the, Russians and render the situation more •critical than ever. The fact that the •despatch passed the Russian Censor is' 'Considered significant. mendacious claims.

• B<iuSTRIAN_AM B ASSADOR. T ! IN THE UNITED STATES. - r ? (Reed 10.5 a.m.) " NEW YORK, Sept G M. Dumba, Austrian Ambassador, -admits giving Mr Archibald, war cora letter for VaQ Bur . an suggesting measures for hampering ' »<"»tiona manufacture in America for jthe AlUies. Britain confiscated the tetter and Dumba claim s the right to call out Austro-Hungarians employed in producing the above-mentioned munitions on the .ground tlhat they are liable to penal .servitude in Austria.- * Hungary. Many newspapers indignantly demand- that Dumba receive his purports tor hi s abuse of hospitality.

GERMAN GIANT BIPLANE DOWNED ENORMOUS LOSSES BRITISH FLEET VISITED BY AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST SUBMARINE HUNTING, GREAT SPORT ROUMANIA GALLING IN RESERVES REPUTED CRY FROM RUSSIA

JELLICOE’S FLEET VISITED. THE SUBMARINE HUNT. REGARDED AS GREAT SPORT, (Reed 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept 6 Frederick Pailmer, one of the most experienced of American war correspondents, has visited fleet, and was shown a map, indicating whet'e German submarines were captured, to be sunk, and sunk. When asked how they were destroyed, officers replied: Sometimes by ramming, sometimes by gunfire, or explosives, and in maiy other ways wjhich we do not car,e to tell. Mr Palme'r states that men aboard battleships and armed cruisers are envious of those engaged in submarine hunts, which are regarded as great

sport. The British have 2,300 trawlers as mine sweepers, and other auxiliaries, outside th e regular service on duty, in the blockade between the British Channel and Iceland, and in keeping i the North Sea clear. Their ‘reservist [crews are most zealous in performing such important work as overcoming the sc/rt of warfare waged by German#. GERMAN NAVAL AIMS. TO CRIPPLE GREAT BRITAIN. PLANS THAT MISCARRIED. LONDON, Sept 5. Mr A, J. Balfour (First Lord of the Admiralty), in a letter to a correspondent, says Germany first proclaimed her policy of building a fleet to operate against Great Britain in 1900. From the standpoint of her own ambitious policy it was perfectly sound, she aimed at world domination, against which the British fleet has been thg surest protection snce the time of Queen Elizabeth. The Germans have every Reason to be- aware of th e fact. Without the British fleet Frederick the Great must have succumbed to his er.emies, an,j Prussia would scarcely have shaken off the tyranny. Whatever may be thought of th e freedom of the seas, the freedom of the seas, the freedom of the land is due in no small measure to the British navy. German statesmen are too wise to suppose they could call a navy into existence that would immediately be

! able to contend on equal terms with the Power which is the most formidable obstacle ot their aggressive projects, but ; calculated that a powerful, though inferior fleet would render Great Britain impotent, since the British Government would not dare to risk a conflict which, however successful, might leave Great Britain’s naval forces inferior to a third Power. This policy was clearly though cautiously .expressed in th e famous preamble to the German Navy Bill. WEALTH BEFORE FLESH AND BLOOD. WELLS ON NATIONALISATION. LONDON, September 5. In an article by Mr. H. G. Wells, the writer says that so far as principle goes the whole mass of the nation is solidly for national service. Where the hitch comes is in a profound doubt amongst the workers as to whether the principle of national servh-e would be applied to the profits and privileges of the rich and influential classes as well as to the Lives of tho comomn people.

"In a State where the workers have "been taught to read and write," spy? Mr. Wells, "the nationalisation of capital must precede the nationalisation of Ucsli .and blood."

THE HESPERIAN SUBMARINED. ATTACKED IN THE DARK. NO PANIC ON THE SHIP. LONDON, Sept 6. Ijie Hesperian was steaming' at 16 knots when suddenly a cry ’‘Suomarme on the starboard Quarter,’ startled the passengers promenading the decks after dinner. The shout had scarcely reached the bridge when there was an explosion like a cannon shot. The vessel trembled violently. A column of water 50ft high shot up, flooding the deck. Many dashed to their cabins for life-betts and there was much confusion, but no panic. Captain Maine sent out the wireless “5.0.5.,” and fired rockets.

Three walrship s responded, lowering th 3 boats in tide darkness was difficult, but tfie sea was like glass, otherwise the los s of life would have been appalling. One lifeboat capsized, and th e occupants were thrown into the water. Some were swimming fo'r fifteen minutes before they were picked up. An elderly lady was picked up dead from shock. Others, disregarding the boats* slid down tihe ropes or dived into the water, with the result that 60 were often in a boat intended for 40. There was danger of swamping, owing to overcrowding. While awaiting rescue the passengers wrjr e in the best of spirits. Some sang “Tipperary/’ and others “Lead, Kindly Light.” They anxiously awaited the expected final plunge of the Hesperian, but she remained afloat, sending up rockets. Th e first warship arrived at 0.30 and took the survivors from the lifeboats, including 12 Canadian officers and .38 wounded men. The American Consul has not traced any United States passengers, though som e of the crew ware Americans. Tfhe submarine within two hundred yards when it launched the missile. which missed the engine-room by 20 feet. AMERICA ON THE QUI VTvE. WASHINGTON, Sent 6.

. President Wilson and Mr Lansing refused to comment en the torpedoing of the Hesperian.as they are awa ting details as to whether any Americans were on board and confirmation cf the report that the liner van rot warned. The feeling in officii c : iolks i«J that relations ar e again endangered.

ANOTHER STEAL™ .CySS

CREW PARTIALLY SAVED

(Rec. 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. G

The British steamer Cymberlme has been sunk. Thirty-one of the crew were landed; six were killed and six injured.

The Hesperian’s crew wore rescued before the vessel foundered and this morning landed at Queenstown. GERMAN GIANT BIPLANES. THE FIRST SHOT DOWN. | SECOND ONE NEARLY READY. j (Reed 10.5 a.m.) j COPENHAGEN, Sept 6. Tllie new German biplane, constructed on the modern Russian giant plan, was shot down in East Prussia. It was about to b e tested at Friedrichshafen. | A second machine is nearly ready, which, it i s claimed, will travel to London and back in five hours, carry a searchlight, and from 12 to 20 pounds of bombs, machine-guns, and eight men. FRENCH BOMB GERMAN BARRACKS. (Reed 9.55 a.m.) PARIS, Sept 6. A communique states that French aviators bombarded the barracks at Dieuze and Morhhnge,WOMEN URGE CONSCRIPTION. COLONIAL EXPERIENCE. LONDON, September 5. A mass meeting of women, whose relatives are serving, passed a resolution urging that the time has come when every fit man in the Empire ji should be available for the fighting lino j or for national service. Lord Denman, formerly Governor-General of lia, who presided, said, speaking from Australian experience, he eouid answer that universal training was followed | by none of the evil effects some of its I British opponents anticipated. The agitation in Australia quickly subsided. The voluntary system was haphazard, unfair, and unequal. Some objected to conscription as being slavery, but he would like any man to tell the average Australian he was Prussianised or a slave.

RESULT OF GERMAN BRIBERY. (Reed 10.5 a.m.) TEHERA.N, Sept 6. Mr Graham, British Consul-General hag been wounded, and an Indian trooper killed on, the outskirts of Ispahan. Th« outrage is attributed to German bribthsr of disaffected Persians.

1,3000,000 TUSKS. half million hobs de combat SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. PARIS, September (5. Lo Temps’ correspondent at Dedcagatch says that a Turkish Colonel states that Turkey mobilised 1.300,000 men. Their losses are estimated at half a million. Turkey has 190,000 men in Gallipoli, 300,000 in the Caucasus. 70,000 in Constantinople, 50,000 in Adrianople, 40,000 at Chataldja, and 200.000 in Asia Minor and Syria.

ENVER AND THE CROWN PRINCE. MUTUAL CONGRATULATIONS. AMSTERDAM, September .6. The German Crown Prince, in -a congratulatory telegram to Enver Pasha, says the new Turkish successes give •onfldence of final success. Enver replied expressing admiration of the results of the German army in the east against a superior enemy, results which were only obtainable by the bravery of the Germans in the western theatre. Ho added that he was proud to co-operate and hoped soon to throw the British and French into the sea. A V.C. HERO. (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Second-Lieutenant Sidney Woodroife, of the Rifle Brigade. On the 30th July, at Hooje, the enemy by means of burning liquids broke through the front trenches and heavily attacked f.ieiitenant AVoodroffe ? s position on the flank and rear. He held his post until bombs were exhausted, and then skib fully withdrew his remaining men. He immediately led a counter-attack under an intense rifle and machine-gun fire, 1 and was killed in the act of cutting .viro obstacles.

LIVELY ENGAGEMENTS. ... PARIS, September 0. Official; Calm in southern Gallipoli since August, but there have been lively engagements in the north, where the British have progressed. TRIBUTE TO BRAVE MEN. LONDON, September fi. The Times says: We have all our own opinions as to the strategy that dictated the enterprise at the Dardanelles; but there is only one opinion about the men sent to carry it through. Mr. Ashmead’s despatches’ ought 1o make the least imaginative realise the conditions in Gallipot. The Turks arwell entrenched, with an abundance of machine-guns and artillery. The hills are ideal for defence. The Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, and British have gone forward again and again, stern bravery yielding ground only when so fire-swept that no living thing remained. We cannot find words to express our pride in the Gallipoli troops. The Australasians are our own as much as the English, born as conscious of the call of race, proud of o--'-

traditions, and as resolute to maintain the honour of the Empire.

HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS. PARIS, September 6. Except in the Vosges there were no infantry actions in the west for a fortnight, but the Allies have been conducting a heavy bombardment in nine well-defended zones, including the Belgian front, Souchez, Arras, Eoye, the two extremities of the line of the plateau between Moron Villiers and Sourin, and in the Argonne, Woevre, and Loraine,

ENVER PASHA CHEERS TURKS. HEAVY CASUALTIES.. ATHENS, Sept. 5. Enver Pasha was recently at the Dardanelles, and delivered a patriotic address to raise the morale of the troops, who were depressed by the losses, which exceeded 20,000 killed and wounded in the last battles. ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. IMPORTANT PASS SEIZED. ROME, Sept. 0. The Italians by a combined assault on many points seized the Sessi Pass. It is of great strategic, value, as it was the only pass in the Carnic Alps which the Austrians held. The scene of the fighting was at an altitude of seven thousand feet. Every peak was stubbornly defended by small Austrian groops strongly entrenched. The dislodging entailed weeks of persistent strife. BRITISH CASUALTIES. WEEK-END LISTS. (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 6, The week-end casualty lists include: 160 officers and 3,927 men, including 746 Australasians.

i BOUMANIA GETTING BEADY. i , RESERVISTS CALLED UP. (Bee. 8.30 a.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 0. Roumanian reservists, domiciled in Switzerland, have been recalled to the army. i TRADE UNION CONGRESS. IMPORTANT PROBLEMS DISCUSSED. (Reed 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept 6. A Trad e Union Congress is being held at Bristol, 670 delegates representing three million members, Mr Seddon, in his Presidential address, said the wain had brought with it most important complex problems, some demanding labour to give definite and an immediate answer, namely, conscription. .Pood exploitation, conditions of war labour, including employ, ment of women, also of Belgians whom he assured had their wholehearted sympathy, and sincerest welcome and hospitality. Workers endorsed the determination not to sheath the sword until their fair land had been restored. Bread and coal prices would not have risen so abnormally if the Government had moved when the Workers’ War Committee made representations. Th.g difficulties in the employment of women wiil only be solved by equal pay for equal work. (Reed noon) LONDON, Sept 6

Mr Seddon, continuing, said: Prussian militarism, with its cruelty, rapine, murder and any form of It existent in Britain, must be destroyed. Our share in the srtuggle was useless unless w e wete determined to overthrow aggressive militarism. We are in war, not politics; systems are wrestling now, not parties. , and ultimate victdrjy will rest ■ with the dogged will and the truest hearts. Workers are prepared to make sacrifices in common cause, but they are not prepared to be bled by financial vultures. The chief causes of labour unrest are food prices and war profits. He emphasised labour’s shatre in the increasing supply of munitions, and added: We invite Mr Lloyd George to be equally keen in fulfilling his promise, and dael with war profits. We have ;a right to demand from the Govern raont definite guarantees that pre-war conditions shall be restored, that i the only way to re-unite the country ■ The heart of Britain is still sound, let the Government Irise to th e full height, of its responsibfiity, not by giving ear to a hustling press, but by meeting confidence with confidnece. Regarding the combine, cabled on the 4tfh, a variety of interests, different methods of organlsaton and the Spirit of iself-plr eiscT/vAtjon demanded a free exchange of ideas, with a view to mobilising the whole forces for more effective combating the power of organised capital. austro-german losses ON EASTERN FRONT. (Reed 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept 6. A message from Amsterdam states that information from a German source, show s that the Auatro-German losses on the Russian front during August were 110,000. “ANZAC’* ROOMS. OPENING IN LONDON. j (Reed 10.5 a.m.) I LONDON, Sept 6. Th e Australian Natives’ Association is opening on the 13th, “Anzac” Buffet, ; Reading and Writing Rooms, adjoining the Commonwealth Offices, for Austra- ; lian and New Zealand soldiers. OUTRAGE IN PERSIA. I NEW ZEPPELINS. SUCCESSFUL TRIALS. i i BERNE, Sept. G. | In their trials, the newest Zeppelin** ■ show great speed. They are fish-shap- i ed and taper to a point. The literal rudders are mueh larger, enabling j them to turn rapidly and manoeuvre | better. The envelope is a silver-grey, j not reflecting the sun, and is invisible j even at a moderate height against a j grey sky. j MONEY FROM AMERICA. i BRITISH WAR LOAN ARRANGED, j i NEW YORK, Sep*: 4. The rate of exchange is now « bS. on the report that Britain lias obtained a preliminary credit loan which is variously stated as between fifty millions ; ana a hundred millions of dollars, I

| NZ, RECRUITING. \ j AN AUCKLAND COMPLAINT. i • j AUCKLAND, Sept <?. i la a speech at a tarewell social m [Auckland to Lieutenants Hairick and i Fowlds, cn Saturday night, the lion. : George Fowlds said that excessive drafts of men were being taken from Auckland for the reinforcements because of the failure of Otago an<2 other southern districts to make up their proper quotas. He expressed tho belief that this mainly resulted froa the failure of the Minister for Defencehimself an Otago man--to make it Clearly and widely known that Otago had come far short of supplying its farr proportion. The only fair basis for recruiting was to take the popular on of military age in each military disti ict and allot .lumber of men required for reinforcements from each district according to the popujaticn. If Auckland, or any other district, had to make up for the deficiency from, other districts, then let tha exact shortage be made known, Had he had no doubt that a speedy and effective effort would be made to wipe out the stigma of failure. The matter was cf g-eat importance, because the present system wa s putting an unfair strain on the resources of Auckland. REPLY TO HON. FOWLDrj.

WELLINGTON LEADS IN MEN. WELLINGTON, Sept e.

Replying to the Hon. Nowlus' remarks on reinfo rcemen'.s, Mr Parr opints out that what ho urges snouLi be done has already been done, <.nd Auckland is by no means supplying the proportion of reinforoenvut c ry f ts he represents. In June lust it wa s decided to alter the system of c. P'cg: upon the four military-districts to supply the same quotas by making tee levy strictly in accordance with the number of rectuitg passed as fit waiting their turn in each district. Of the Bth reinforcements, AjickU i.l actuallysupplied less than one-fifth of the uta* number f mounted rifles, and slightly more than one-fourth of the total infantijy. the two arms requiring the largest numbers of meo. Wc bitten, district, on the other hand, supplied close upon half of the total mounted rifles and infantry, and in addition* close upon haf.f of the total at Cilery. In other units not requiring nearly as many men—field engineers, ecc.- Auckland supplied the largest ier tentages, but even in these Wellington, which had done so much in filling up the big branches, was wed up. The figures at the same time demonstrate how poorly the South Island is responding. It has to be remembered that the Auckland and Wellington military districts are more thickly populated than the Otago and Canterbury distric+s, the Wellington military district being the largest in the Dominion. Neerthelass, wjhen allowance is made for this, Wellington can still claim to have supplied a great many more men than Auckland for the Bth Reinforcements. NURSES’ RESPONSE. WELLINGTON, Sept 6. I Up to dat e 183 registered New Zeaj land nurses have been sent to the ! front. Of these, 12 are in the serviceI of the Australian authorities in Egypt, i four in Samoa. The number of nurses jon the State registered roll is 1800, but some of these have since married, and others have died. In several instances nurses, have been patriotic enough to pay their own passages to England and Egypt rather than await the chance of being sent away by the. Dominion Government. The authorities at Home have so far been only too glad to have the services of the New Zealand registered nurses. Those who have gone there have been distributed amongst the various military hospitals in England, on th e Continent and elsewhere. So far about six hundred applications have be-en received from registered nurses who are desirous of going to the front, and official inquiries torn Matrons of various hospitals haveshown that about three hundred are available without causing any serious inconvenience as far as local requirements are concerned. The policy ;has been adopted of sending three registered nurses on each, transport leaving the Dominion. This enables any nurses alrady at the front to be granted furlough in the cas s of a brea.kdow-n or indisposition,their places being taken by the later arrivals. The three nurses to leave on the next transport, will bo Matron Agnes ICats Stephenson (The Waikato Sanatorium). who will he in charge; Nures? Marv Affleck (Christchurch Hospital), and Nurse Margaret BcVd (WeVington Hospital). Both Nurse and Nuu e e Boyd h°v e been nur-irg at the r Tranhham camp. ’