VICTORIOUS RUSSIANS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 15, 19 January 1916, Page 5

VICTORIOUS RUSSIANS

4 GERMANS EVACUATE PINSK x IN PANIC-STRICKEN FLIGHT ABANDONING ARMS AND AMMUNITION . ...«!» . GERMAN CASUALTIES ENORMOUS HOW NEUTRALS SUPPLY GERMANY MONTENEGRO CAVES IN i AUSTRIA’S PEACE OFFER ACCEPTED

THE DEFENCE OF SALONIKA. BRITISH DESTROY RAILWAY LINE. ATHENS, January 17. The British blew up t-he railway depot at. Kilindir and other - railway depots. They also destroyed th e railway between Kilindir and Damirhissar on the Salonika-Constantinople line.

ENEMY FORCES ESTIMATED AT 250,000.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS AR

RIVING

LONDON, Jan. 17

Le - Petit Parisian states that enemy forces on the Greek frontier have been increased to 250,000. The British are landing reinforcements continuously at Salonika and Chadeideca.

MARTIAL LAW IN GREECE.

A NEWSPAPER REPORT

ATHENS, January 18

The newspaper “Kosmos” states that the Government is 'about to proclaim martial law. , THE CORFU LANDING. MARVELLOUS WORK BY FRENCH AND ITALIANS. A COMPLETE SURPRISE. LONDON, Jan. 17. The landing of the Serbian army on Corfu was an outstanding feat of organisation. Every man gun, and mule and all the food and forage were embarked on French cruisers, 'convoyed by destroyers steaming at 19 knots without lights. They reached Corfu on Monday night and escaped the submarines infesting the Corfu Channel. A submarine lurking at Corfu torpedoed the Leon Gambetta. Befoire the island was awake the Chasseur Alpins seized the quays. The German Consul fled in his nightgown. The French did not troublle to arrest him. The landing was completed in five hours. BtfciGAß CONCENTRATION STOPPED. • BY ARCTIC CONDITIONS. , - LONDON, Jan. 17. A Salonika dispatch states that a violent wind and snowstorm have plunged Macedonia and Lower Serbia into Arctic conditions, necessitating the suspension of th e Bulgarian concentration. The frontier roads are impassable.

ULATES THE NATION.

WHERE WILL THE NEXT ATTACK BE? LONDON, Jan. 18. Messages from BJrlin, Sofia, and Constantinople indicate the enemy's desire to confuse the Allies regarding th next attack, which may be Salonika, Mesopotamia, or Egypt. THE BRITISH POSITION. NOBODY ATTACKING SALONIKA. LONDON, Jan. IS. Generfil yon Blame, njriting to the German IPress, states that the ent’my lost precious weeks -Gallipoli, but are now establishing themselves behind trenches at Salonika, Their purpose is not -clear, as thejre seems to be nobody at present threatening'to attack them. It is hardly advisable for-them to assume the offensive, especially as there is no prospect of foreign help.

MONTENEGRINS LAY DOWN arms. REPORTED REQUEST FOR PEACE. (Times Sydney Sun Special Sen ice) (Extraordinary). LONDON, January IS. A- German wireless says that the Montenegrins have laid down* their arms and 'asked for peace. austro-german reports of capitulation. UNCONDITIONAL CAPITULATION AS A PRELIMINARY TO PEACE.

AMSTERDAM, January 17

Count Tisza, Prime Minister, announced in the Hungarian Parliament that Montenegro had agreed to unconditional capitulation as a preliminary to'peace.

AUSTRIA’S OFFER ACCEPTED,

HUNGARIAN PREMIER CONGRAT-

AMSTERDAM, January IS,

Count Tisza announced in Parliament that the Montenegrin King and Government had accepted Austria’s preliminary condition of unconditional capitulation. He said the event was gratifying to the nation, which was reaping the first fruits of its perseverance and heroism. TURKISH PLANS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. IS. Dictnal Pasha has eon chided his visit to settle political and strategic questions and lias returned to Syria. He refuses to have Germans on his staff excepting a general as adviser without command. Djemal’s forces are estimated at 300,000. 600 TURKS CAPTURED. TWO DIVISIONS EXTERMINATED. ENEMY’S FORCE INCLUDES ARABS. "jV' l -—- LONDON, January 17. The correspondent of the British Press at the Tigris headquarters telegraphs from Basra that 600 prisoners were captured at Sheiks sad. The prisoners, who represented four regiments, state that they lost fifty per Cent, of their strength. Large numbers are deserting from the enemy’s forces, in which are included several thousands of mounted Arabs and irregulars. Two Turkish divisions fighting on the Tigris have been exterminated, and have had to be reconstituted.

During the war the Turks have been equipped with Ge'rman tools, waterbottles. and rifles, while German officers are leading them. General Von dor Goltz inspected the position at Kut.

SWEDISH PARLIAMENT OPENED, THE KING’S SPEECH. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, January 18. The King at the opening of the Riksdag urged augmentation of the country’s defences, .and the maintainance of neutrality, and said the Government, more than once, was obliged to intervene '.against attempts to put Swedish trade under the usurped control of another power.

RUSSIA’S COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

WATERS.

GREAT RUSSIAN VICTORY. GERMANS EVACUATE P'INSK. ENORMOUS LOSSES INFLICTED. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. The “Times” correspondent at Petrograd reports unabated fighting on the Strypa and around Czernowltz. Theer are heavy concentrations of German troops in Galicia and Bukovina. Unofficial reports from South Poliese state that a large sector has been cleared of Austrians 'and Geimans, several miles of enemy trenche s having fallen into Russian hands. The Austro-German front has been pierced in many sectors and the Russian advance continues.

The German losses in casualties and sickness are enormous.

pinsk is evacuated, and the enemy is flying towards Charto, panic stricken. Under ceaseless shelling they 'are discarding rifles, cartridges and their upper garments. The enemy is hurriedly bringing up heavy guns and serves to Kanaroff. RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE. ENEMY ATTACK REPELLED. ■ A VALUABLE HAUL. PETROGRAD, January 17. A communique says: In the Caucasus we repelled two Turkish attempts to cross the Abkhave river. We seized an artillery depot northeas tof Horassan, with a million founds of rifle ammunition and several thousand shells. 0 A DEADLY WITHDRAWAL. AUSTRO-GERMANS’ HUGE LOSSES.

PETROGRAD, January 18

During the AvithdraAval to the right bank of the Strypa, one Austro-Ger-man division lost half its effectives in killed, Avounded, drowned and prison-

FREMANTLE, January 18

The passengers by the Khyber include the president of the Russian Expert Chamber, Avho is touring the Allied countries reporting on economical business matters. He states that with the commissions given Germany hitherto Ave had built the Avharves at Hamburg, built Germany’s fleet, and paid her secret agents throughout the Avorld, but Ave propose to do it no longer. The commercial treaty with Germany ends in 1916, and Russia intends to form neAv commercial treaties Avith the Alli'et. Ruttia is noAv equipping and is prepared to put tAvo million fresh troops into the field every year. The troop s Avhich made the recent drive Avere an entirely neAv army.

AUSTRO-GERMAN RETREAT.

DREADFUL HAVOC BY RUSSIANS,

THOUSANDS PERISH IN ICY

PETROGRAD, January 17

Prisoners agree that the AustroGerman retreat across the Strypa was a terrible experience. The enemy did not anticipate the impetuous Russian onslaught. They elrected only two wooden bridges on a twenty-mile front, which were reserved for the transport of artililery. The ceaseless Russian fire wrought flrightful havoc amongst the infantry , which had to ford the stream over treacherous ice. A division took a day to cross, half of it perishing. ‘

Masses of wounded remained on the Russian bank, and 2,000 unwounded wel’e made prisoner.

A sudden thaw at Poliesie turned the roads into quagmires. The enemy’s wagons and h'c'avy guns stuck fast, and will probably fall into our hands, as the methodical advance continues. NOT WORTH WHILE. LONDON, January IS. Mr. Asquith said that in view' of more pressing matters he declined to legislate to remove the Dukes of Cumberland and Coburg from tire House of Lords.

GERMAN ATROCITIES IN BELGIUM, POPE CONSENTS TO HOLD INQUIRY. ROME, January 18. As the first fruits of Cardinal Herder's visit .the Pope has consented to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into German atrocities in Belgium in order to 'arrive at a pontificial conclusion. Cardinal Mercier states that German bishops have accepted the inquiry provided the Pope selects the entire commission.

(Reed. 9.5 a.m.)

FORD’S PEACE PICNIC

GUESTS RETURN HOME

THE BLOCKADE. i HOW GERMANY IS SUPPLIED. SOME ASTOUNDING GIFURES. (Reed; 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. The Morning Post’s’ Washington correspondent states that latest statistics prove how the blockade against Germany has nullified by failure the Foreign Office crasp of the situation. American exports in wheat ‘sent to Germany the first ten months of 1915 were 15000 bushels, as compared with ‘ *12.000,000 for the corresponding period of 1913. Export to the Netherlands and Scandinaivia rose from 19,000,000 in 1913 to 50,000,000 in 1915. Germany in 1913 took 6,000,000 bush-' els of maize direct, as compared with 15.000 in 1915. Neutrals importations increased from 14,750,000 to 28,950,000. Similarly there arc marked in-1 creases in bacon and other commodi-1 ties. j Germany’s cotton imports were I 2.700.000 bales in 1913, against 174.000 in 1915. Neutrals rose from 53.000 to 1,100,000.

SUCCESSFUL BOMBARDMENT.

LONDON, January 18

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our bombardment at Frelinghaim and ZAvartleen, north of Ypres, Avas effectiA 7 e. A large fire Avas caused north of Ypres behind the enemy lines. PARIS, January 18.

A communique says: Long-range artillery shelled the enemy, Avho Avere gathering at Middelkerke. There were appreciable losses. [We a'so caused a fire in the enemy’s stores southward cf Briez, eastAvard of the Meuse heights. % HIGH COMMANDS IN NEAR EAST. LONDON, January 17. In the House of Commons, replying to further questions regarding commanders in the Near East, Mr. Chamberlain said Sir-John Nixon Avas still in Mesopotamia. Sir Brey Lake Avas expected to arrive shortly. Sir Archibald Murray had succeeded Sir C. M. Monro. Sir J. G. Maxwell’s force formed part of Sir A. Murray’s command.

FROM KING TO KING. LONDON, January 17. King George sent the follOAving message to King Peter: —‘T am fully convinced that the Allies, together Avith the heroic Servian Army, are in a position to win back for your people j complete independence, and se'cure for our arms final victory.”

WINTER WARFARE IN THE WEST

CEASELESSLY WEARING DOWN GERMANS.

LONDON, January 17

Correspondents with the British headquarters in France agree that the •winter warfare is ceaselessly reducing the enemy. Our cutting-out expeditions, mostly bombing parties, are numerous, and every keen subaltern is anxious to lead his restive men across the dead ground. The Canadians are specially good, perhaps because they are trained trappers. The Germans dread these parties, and are lighting up the moonless nights with flares and star shells. Since Loos, the Germans have suffered casualties equal to several battles through the superiority of our shelling and the adventurousness of our men. IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA. A BELGIAN GARRISON ATTACKED GERMANS SEVERELY REPULSED. (Re'cd. 9.5 a.m.)

LONDON, January 18

The German East African force, of 150 Europeans, six hundred regulars, and many native troops, armed with hotchkiss and maxim field guns, attacked the Belgian garrison at Luvingia. Desperate fighting continued for 19 hours, when the Belgians with a considerably weaker force repulsed their assailants, who suffered heavily. The Belgians lost 30 killed and 46 wounded. CARDINAL MERCIER PRESENTS SWORN DEPOSITION TO THE POPE.

ROME, January 18

Cardinal Mercier has presented to the Pope 'a sworn deposition concerning 37 Belgian priests who were condemned to death by the Germans.

AMSTERDAM, Janu'ay IS

The party who accompanied Ford on his peace crusade have returned to New York owing to Ford having declined to pay further expenses.

(Reccl. 9.5 a.m.)

THE COMPULSION BILL. IN COMMITTEE. IRELAND’S ATTITUDE. MR. REDMOND’S ELOQUENT APPEAL. LONDON, January 17. In the House of Commons, in committee on the Compulsion Bill. Mr. Chambers moved to include Ireland. He said he was anxious to remove the stigma. Tlie call came to every class in the Empire, and exclusion was

a reproach and a disgrace. Colonel Craig urged the National ists to reconsider their attitude. Ire land could provide half a million sol diers.

Mr Bohar Law said that if a principle were involved there w.culd be no justification for exclusion, but the only purpose of the Bill was to get the necessary armies with the least friction or division.

Mr. Nation did not believe it possible to apply the Bill to Ireland with<out a considerable amount of force. He loathed the possibility of party strife in connection with the war. We had perhaps more than enough to do to fight the enemy and it would be time to fight each other later. Sir Edward Carson desired Ireland’s inclusion, but would not delay the Bill ■or weaken the country’s position by pressing the amendment if the Nationalists did not comply. Mr. Redmond deplored the situation ,but conscription for Ireland Avas impracticable, unworkable and impossible. Instead of increasing the army it would have the opposite effect and strengthen the contemptible minority I of Nationalists who were consistently ■discouraging recruiting and undermining the Irish party. The War Office had asked Ireland for a thousand recruits weekly, and recruiting was proceeding satisfactorily on that basis. Ireland’s attitude Avas almost miraculous. 95,000 men had been recruited since the war making 151,143 Irishmen in the Army. Ireland stands to-day with the Empire, and the good effect avas felt in every corner of the globe. A large proportion of Australian, Canadian and South African soldiers were Irishmen. The wave of enthusiasm among the Irish eA r 'eryAvhere Avas an incalculable value to the Empire, especially in America. He urged the House not to drive Ireland and so lose the strength arising from the transformation of Irish opinion. Mr. Chamber’s amendment Avas negatives Avithout a division. Mr. Bonar LaAv said the most terrible tragedy of the Avar Avas the sacri\fice of eighteen-year-old officers. The necessity for getting adequate numbers prevented the Government 'from accepting an amendment providing that compulsion should not apply under tAventy-one, but none would be called up under nineteen. The amendment AA’as thereupon negatived. The Government accepted an amendment for the exemption of those married before November 2nd.

FIGHTING ON THE TIGRIS. WHOLE ENEMY’S POSITION CAPTURED. BAD WEATHER HINDERS PURSUIT. LONDON, Janauary 17. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, speaking in the House of Commons, said that after th e Turks seemed to be Iretiring on the 11th, they advanced on the 12th to a Wadi position. Telegrams from Geenral Townshend had been received up to the morning of the loth, and from General Aylmer up to the morning of the 16th. The telegrams showed that General/ Kemball’s column was on the right bank of the Tigris on the 13th holding up a Turkish division, while General* Alymer was pirosslayback two divisions on th e left bank. There was continuous fighting on the 13th, when the enemy retired and General Aylmer moved his headquarters and motor transport to the mouth of the Wadi. The whole Wadi position was captured on the 15th. The enemy’s rearguard had taken up a position at Essim, six miles east ef Kut-el-Amara. The weather was seriously hampering General Aylmer s pursuit. Unforutnately the weather continues to be bad. All the wounded have been sent down to the river. THE BLOCKADE OF GERMANY. MOST STRINGENT RULES

TO BE APPLIED BY BRITAIN

NEW YORK, January 18

The Evening Post states that Mr. Page has t informed President Wilson that the most stringent rules are about to be applied to the blockade of Germany.

REPLY TO CRITICISM

WHITHER BOUND?

NO TIME; FOR FAULT-FINDSNG

j LONDON, January 17. j The “Times’ ” Rome correspondent, ( answering criticism as to the neglect « of Montenegro, points out that Genj eral Codorna must be ready for a big | offensive when the Allies’ War Counj C * l orders a general advance. General Cadorna must also remember the possibilities of a German-Austrian offensive on a grand scale. Assuming that Italy had 300,000 soldiers available immediately, it might be unwise to have sent them across the Adriatic. Italy has not a superfluity of men or material. The latter was in a deplorable condition in 1914, but superhuman efforts have partly remedied it. It is 'a pity that each of the Allies has re- | cently been inclined to think the othj ei s ought to be doing more, or better, ior both. Fault-finding should bo eliminated before it comes to be ingrained.

ROME, January Ik

A number of troops traversed Anato lia. They were apparently going to wards Egypt, but in reality it is be lieved they are destined for Mcsopota mia.