GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 7 December 1915, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

MONASTIR UN OCCUPIED. .< ONTjY ENEMY OFFICERS ENTER. ATHENS, Doc. 5. No enemy troops have entered Mon&stir, only Austro-German and Bulgarian officers. GREEK TRANSPORT SUNK. by german submarine. LONDON, Dec. 5. A German submarine sank the Greek transport Zarisi near Malta. The crew were saved. ENEMY HEAVY GUN DESTROYED PARIS, Dee. 5. A communique says: Our artillery destroyed a heavy gun near Wainville. AUSTRIANS REPULSED, ROME, Dee. 5. A communique says: After concentrated artillery preparation on the night of the 2nd, dense masses of infantry charged our trenches in Montenegro. Desipte a murderous lire, parties penetrated our lines at a few places but were driven back, and fled, abandoning 500 dead.

ON THE EVE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. PARIS, Dec. 'i. The Journal states that the Allies hold the whole of the railways from Salonika, also a natural entrenched camp at the Lieemed bend of the Vardar. Meanwhile a big German column, abandoning its march southward and making eastward, penetrated considerably beyond Bulgaria. We are awaiting reinforcements. Doubtless wc are on the eve of events of great importance. BULGARIANS UNEASY. LONDON, Dee. 4. Mr. Ward Price states that a Greek who has arrived at Salonika says that despite successes, intelligent Bulgars are uneasy, feeling their country has been made a catspaw by Germany in a perilous • adventure. Bulgaria’s losses have been heavy, some estimates reaching 100,000. There is rigid martial low throughout Bulgaria. The mass of the people are inclined towards peace, but German influence is paramount. There are numerous officers in the towns. The peasants feer them and privately assert that they will not fight the Russians. GERMANY’S WISE MOVE. LONDON, Dee. 4. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the German wireless reports, sees an indication that Germany feels that if any bargain is to be made on the strength of her successes over the whole line, it must be done before the succescas begin to he reversed.

GERMAN OFFENSIVE BREAKS DOWN. RUSSIANS SUCCESSFUL. v •PETROGRAD. Dec. 5. A communque says: The German' offensive south of Laceventen broke down in the face of heavy rifle lire. Our artillery inflicted heavy losses at Semki, on the left bank of.the Styr; and the enemy fled in disorder. We dispersed large Austrian forces south of Novalexinets. We pursued the retreating Turks in the Varkumis region, and approached Bitlis. IMPORTANT RUSSIAN VICTORY. GENEVA, Dec. 5. Reports from Radom state that the Russians carried 20 kilometres of trenches on the Tukoum road, capturing 700 troops, great stores of victuals and munitions, and 400 horses. MACKENSEN REPORTED f WOUNDED. PETROGRAD, Dec. 4. It is reported that a Serbian bullet slightly wounded Mackensen the Get-' man commander.) BRITAIN AND THE WAR. NEED FOR NATONAL PARTY. NORTHCLFFE PRESS DEFENDED. LONDON, Dec. 4. Gucat interest is being taken in the suggested National Party in the House of Commons. The Evening Nesw considers there is a need for a constructive body sitting in opposition, with the single purpose of prosecuting the war wisely, and ruthlessly attacking the "be kind to Germany” gang. Mr. Gibson Bowles, in a letter to the press, says the present House is not much better than the infamous Long Parliament of 1(154. It has plunged us into a war which the chosen leaders have not shown themselves competent to conduct. There is a great general and growing discontent regarding the Government’s conduct of the war.

The Morning Post compares Sir John Simon with the man in the fable who complained of the toothache on the Day. of Judgment, alleging it was the fault of the Northclilie press, whereas it was due to the Government itself. Lord Northcliffe stands for a robust, patriotic policy. The Daily Mail did not convey informaton to the enemy. What really helped the cnemv was the long series ot surrenders which the Government made in Asiatic Turky before the war and in the Balkans after war. When will the Government understand that it is not fighting a general election, but the most formidable Powers in the world.

A MONTENEGRIN REPORT. PARIS. Dec. 5. A Montenegrin communique says: — The enemy violently attacked us on the Cheliotinar River, near Plevlje, but Were repulsed.

GENERAL VASSITCH’S FAREWELL. A DRAMATIC MOMENT. MILAN, Doe. 4. . Magrini witnessed the retreat from [ Monastir. It began at 10 o ’clock on Wednesdty night after the civic militia had been organised pending the occupation. The American flag was then hoisted on a hosiptal where the American Mission was tending 500 wounded. General Vassitch entrusted the American Mission iwth the stock of provisions which he could not remove for distribution among the poor.' General Vassitch, farewelling Magrini', said: "Our mission* is now to defend the Gorge of Resna. We will fight to the last soldier and drop of blood. We have faith in the final victory of the Allies and the resurrection of a greater Serbia.” General Vassitch placarded the town: "The army must retire, but is leaving you its bread. In seaprating from you. 1 pray for youi life. An Rcvoir. ” He then motored to Resna with his staff. UNREST IN AUSTRIA. UNFITSCALLED UP. (Reed. 8 aim.) PARIS, December 5. ' Reuter's Zurich correspondent says each successive levy on Austria is causing depression, and many desperate efforts are being made to avoid sewing especially of those of the 44 to 50 class who are leaving their homes next Monday. The great majority of the previously rejected as unfit and some four times as many produced medical certificates proving that service was likely ot be dangerous. Finmuch dissatisfaction in Austria, espeopinion on military fitness. There is the were not called on to express an ally the War Office notified doctors that dally in Bohemia and on the Italian border districts, because Hungarians are not called up until much later.