BULGARIA

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 24 September 1915, Page 5

BULGARIA

FEARS GERMAN NEUTRALITY VIOLATION tAd 81 nil oAiiLLriCLIJ CLEVER RUSSIAN STRATEGY Hiijugim « mr- 1 ■"■'■*-* f¥ VILNA SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATED QUARTER OF A MILLION GERMAN LOSSES SUCCESSFUL ALLIED m RAID

EASTERN BATTLEFIELD

GERMAN REPORT. AMSTERDAM, Sept. 23. A German communique says: In a battle. Our airmen shot down an English aeroplane east of Xewville. The pilot was killed and the observer w-junded and made prisoner. The Russians attacked Hindenburg soutb-west of Lcuneviarden on the Dwina River. Tiie fighting is proceeding. We penetrated the Russian position, south-west of Dviusk, on a front of three kilometres, capturing 2,000. Our attack is progressing iiorth-West and south-west of Oschmijana. The right wing has reached the district northward of Novogrodek. Prince Leopold lias stormed positions on the west bank of* the Mystchanka, on both sides.of the Minsk-Brestlitovsk raii-

CLEVER RUSSIAN MOVE. VILNA SUCCESSFULLY VACATED. GERMANS LOSE QUARTER OF A MILLION. (Reed 9.5 a.m.) PETROGRAD, Sept. 23. It is announced that the withdrawal of the Russians from the Vllna position was completed, the Germans losing a quarter of a million. ' THE CAPTURE OF NOVOGEORGIEVBK. A HURRICANE OF FIRE. • A HORRIBLE STORY. PETROGRAD. Sept. 2;!. The Rusklylcvop has published the first detailed account of the capture of Novo Georgievsk. The Germans, it is stated, expected the defenders to retire. When the Kaiser heard they were resolved to fight to the last shell and | make the Germans pay the heaviest • price for their success, he was seized l with ungovernable fury. Ashed, why they killed Russian wounded, captured Germans said: "We were ordered not to save a single living Russian." The Kaiser had given instructions that the garrison at Novo Georgievsk must be buried under the walls of the fortress. The Germans always assaulted in close formation, although within a mile of the guns of the fortress. Our shells were plumped into the middle of this "mass of humanity, converting whole companies into mere fragments of flesh and bone. Russian observers likened the battlefield to a vast moth-eaten fur being beaten with a stick. With each explosion a eJoud of human remains rose in the air. Even iron disciplined Germans shrank from the ordeal of attacking such a hurricane of fire. The attackers were made drunk before they were ordered foYward. Not a single German captured during the assault was found to be sober. The Germans attacked one group of fortift- , cations incessantly for 24 hours. Russian guners fainted from fatigue, and guns became red-hot and exploded under their own shots. Some of the enemy who succeeded in getting close hurled their rifles with bayonets fixed into the Russian Tanks, then clenched their fists and cried wildly: "Give us Novo Georgieivsk.'' The Russians at dawn looked over the batlefieldt—a track of land seven versts- (4 1-3 miles) broad, and two (1 1-3 miltes) long covered with thick layers of dead. Elsewhere, the Germans rushed the machine-guns until their bodies choped their action. Bayonet attacks followed. The drunken Germans swept over the trenches in groups, falling upon the defenders like madmen. They bit and chewed the faces of the Russian soldiery. The Germans paid a full price, hence the capture of Novo Georgievsk caused no joy in Germany. GERMANS BROKEN WEST OF DVINSK. ENEMY FLEES IN DISORDER. ..■ PETROGRAD, Sept. 23. *» A communique states: There was 1 a desperate, action-west of Dvinsk. '■ We occupied a village west of Molodeehno with the bayonet, capturing machineguns. Similarly, w<> captured grcorj;ono, the Gerjnans fleeirg in d.l::>v6<>r towards the prisssgci?.

capturicg a thousand. "Wc captured Os trow after hpuse-to-liou.se fightim*".

THE STAND AT VILNA. j GREAT STRATEGICAL IMPORTANCE. PETROGRAD, Sept. 23. The 'Times" correspondent at Pet-' rograd states that the Russian yiand ! on the Vilna line has been of great j tactical importance in checking the ' enemy and securing retreat from the Vilna region by road after the rupture I of the Vilna-Molodachna ra.il way. The possession of Vilna affords the enemy' a base for a furtjher offensive, being' the junction of road s to Dvinsk, Minsk, Lida, Daranovick and Rovno. The J Germans are unlikely to initiate opera-' tions until thejy hav e obtained a secure tenure of the Vilna-Molodaebna-Liida lines. While tlie Russians retain posi. tions on these lines, the Germans are apprehensive of the safety of their rear. ONE OP THE MOST BRILLIANT PEATS OP THE WAR. PETROGRAD, Sept. 23. The retreat from Vilna was one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. The enemy almost encircled the clity, then, throwing off huge masses of cavalry followed by light .infantry, pierced the communications. Von Hindenburg jhoped to compel the Vilna armjy to fight or retreat southwards, which would have confused every other army. The Vilna army, however, attacked the enveloping columns. They turned their backs upon Vilna, and fought on two fronts In order to clear fjbe line of retreat, Tt is now evident that they successfully countered and have driven off the enemy columns. A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. RUSSIAN RESISTANCE BROKEN. (Reed 1.5 p.. a ) AMSTERDAM, Sept. 23. A German communique states that in an air battle at Pontamousson, Geri man airmen engaged two French, and sjhot down one machine, which was burned between lines. . Hindenburg's fighting south-west of Lennewaden is not concluded. ' We penetrated the Russian advanced positions west of Dvinsk. capturing 2000 prisoners. Wfi have broken the Russian resistance from northward of oVrhmrjana to eastwarxl of Snbotfski. Oitfr E^rnr-rag

i WESTERN BATTLEFIELD. I WELL-DESERVED REPRISALS. ! STUTTGART BOMBED. t PARIS, Sept. 23. ! A communique states: As reprisals ' for the bombardment of open towns m ! England and France a squadron of i aeroplanes dropped 30 bombs on Stuttgart royal palace and station and returned uninjured. Stuttgart is the capital of Vvurtemburg, and has a population of 25(5,000. There are very many fine buildings in the city. Except the churches, most of the public 1 edifices date from the 19th century, and are built in the Renaissance e style. On or near the central Palace Square stand the new Royal Place (1740-1807). the old Royal' Castle (Kith century"), and two or three other palaces of the royal family.) THE GERMAN VERSION. AMSTERDAM. Sept. 23. A Berlin official statement says: The raid was made on Stuttgart at S.lo in the morning. Four persons were killed and a number of soldiers and civilians were wounded. The materia.! damage was unimportant. The military previously fired on a German airman until they recognised him. 50 GERMAN SUBMARINES LOST. QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, Sept. 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. Hogge asked why foreign journalists were permitted to visit the fleet and British were not permitted to, and whether it was true the fleet had sun'-; 50 German submarines. Everybody knew that was a fact. They could not understand the concealment of their, destruction.

Mr. Kin£ charged the Press Bureau with deliberately deceiving the country. Britain was entitled to know tlie situation regarding Roumania, also tlie British policy towards the Balkans. They ought easily to bring Bulgaria into line with the Allies. She was a friendly Power, keenly devoted to ruby tradition and ancient sympathy. Our position was not more satisfactory because of our lack of both policy and generalship.

Sir ,f. Simon said the Press Bureau

THE BRITISH CABINET. LONDON, Sept. 23. Mr Asquiith, in reply to Mr Bellairs, said it was not proposed to reduce the number of members in the Cabinet, was bound to be rather a eeaky lumbering machine, but justice demands that allowance be made for the energy and sympathy displayed by those conducting it. Mr. Foster, replying to criticisms, admitted that waste existed in the army. There was still room fc r improvement, but. the governing factor was the proper feeding of troops. Never before had troops been fed as welß as the British in this war. CONSCRIPTION. LABOUR READY TO RECONSIDER. LONDON, Sept. 23. Mr. Barnes, in an interview, said that if voluntaryism was unable to raise the required recruits,. the Labour Party would reconsider the position and be guided by circumstances. As authoritatively made known, hitherto no cose for compulsion having weight with the party had been made out. MUNITIONS. WORKSHOPS TO SETTLE WAS. LONDON, Sept. 22. Mr. Samuel, addressing a meeting of workmen at the onentry ordnance works, said that the only thing which would settle the war would be found in the workshops. If all the skilled workers in Britain worked unceasingly with aIS their energy, their efforts would still fall far short of our needs. THE ALLIES' LOAN. LONDON, Sept. 23. Router's agent in New York says it is understood that the conference de- ; cided on a 5 per cent, loan issued at par for a term of five years, when it is convertible for 20 years on securities id il per cent, interest. GERMANY AND AMERICA. A NEW UNDERTAKING. WASHINGTON, Sept. 23. Germany's latest Note over the j Frye case, announces that strict orders have.been issued to German naval forces not to destroy American merchant. ! men carrying conditional contraband, but to allow tlae mto proceed unhinr dreed if it is impossible to take them into port. Germany, however, reserves the right to itself to destroy vessels carry- i ing absolute contraband whenever j such destruction is permissible under! the provisions of fch 0 Declaratknß ol ! London. ,; ■ •"* *n "*S

I (THE BALKANS. / BULGARIAN FEARS. (Rccd 9.5 a.m.) ATHENS, Sept. 23. Them are indications tjhat the Bulgarian mobilisation is dtie to fears of German violation of territory as cabled on the 26th August. THE BULGARIAN DECREE. CAUSED EXCITEMENT IN GREECE ATHENS, Sept. 23. The decree issued by the Bulgarian Government, mobilising twenty-seven classes of troops caused considerable ! excitement in Greece. BULGAR PREMIER'S OPINION, j A FORCE FOR EVENTTTAHITIES. (Reed 1.25 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, Sept. 22. A Vienna message states that Radoslavoff. addressing the Cabinet-, declared tjhat Bulgaria cannot remain unmoved in presence of the quickly developing situation. In order to be prepared for all eventualities she must keep up a strong force which she would now have time to mobilise. THE TOG OF WAR AGAIN. SOFIA, Sent. 23. M. Radoslavoff h-is notitfied his supporters of his signature to the Convention with Turkey for the future maintenance of Bulgaria's armed neutrality, as there is keen tension in the political world. The Opposition demand the convocation of the Chamber, but no public rooting will be held, owing to the sfate <jf siege. The military are also exorcising censorship. A cavalry regiment was ordered to the border after receiving the standard from the palace, where the flags of the regiments are kept.

MORE GERMAN BOAST. ABOUT THE MAILED FIST. (Reed 1.23 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Sept, 22. German newspapers are boasting that Serbia will feel tit force of the mailed fist. Germans accomplish what the Austrian army wag unable to do, SWEDISH STEAMERS STOPPED. BY GERMAN SUBMARINES. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 23. The Swedish steamers Nora (with 12,000 tons of corn and 250 tons of oil), and Gothenburg, bound ostensibly for Stockholm, were captured on the voyage by German destroyers, it is believed with the connivance of the shippers. AT THE DARDANELLES. A GERMAN RUSE. ATHENS, Sept. 23. The'Germans are marching the same column of British prisoners in Afferent quarters of Constantinople on different days, with a view to impressing the populace. Hundreds of Germans are employed making munitions.

LABOUR AND THE BUDGET. WILL. SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT. (Reed 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. During the Budget debate, Mr Barnes, on behalf of the Labour Party, approved Mr McKenna's proposals in view of the special circumstances. He assumed that the tax on imported goods was merely a financial expedient devoid of political significance. His party was prepared to 'support the Government in any Budget 'helping to .prosecute the war to a successful issue. He regretted the lower exemption limit, as the increased revenue therefrom would not be proportionate to the hardship it inflicted on earners of £ 200 a -year. His party welcomed taxation on war profits, and he thought the Government sjhould have assumed control of some of these industries long ago. It was now compounding a, felony by sharing the swag. The Labour Party recom. mends as an alternative, to appropriate 80 per cent, of war profits. He protested against the additional! taxation raising sixteen millions, as it was levied upon very poor people. The abolition of the half-penny postage >vas perhaps the greatest blot on the Budget. GERMAN WAE LOAN. AMSTERDAM, Sept. 23. Telegrams from Berlin state that -the third war-loan closed with an r.nsnti«fsctorv result, Tt was only just covered. Germnn are iujossv j aver tho prospects of future w»r ■'■■■:: '.. \