GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 38, 15 February 1916, Page 6

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

A BALKAN SENSATION.

FRENCH ADVANCE ALTERS

SITUATION,

A MOST IMPORTANT MOVE

ALLIES. SECURE STRATEGIC

HEIGHTS

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE FELT

LONDON, February 12.

All eves are again turned to the Bal"kans. " Tire unexpected news of the French crossing the Vardar has. intensified the interest in the situation's possibilities. A correspondent of the Paris Journal at Salonika telegraphs on Thursday: The enemy still is not displaying of- , fensive intentions; on the contrary strong French forces to-day crossed the Vardar in front of Topsin, advancing in two divergent columns eight miles westward. New defence -works are about to commence in this region. The movement puts our hands on strong natural positions that might have served for the installation of heavy enemy guns, enabling them to bombard our works on the left batik of the Vardar. Such a forward march, the importance of which may be considerable, was rendered possible by the arrival of strong reinforcements at Salonika. Full transports of Allied troops are still pouring in. It may be -hoped that we soon will be no longer compelled to keep within the limits of •entrenched camps.

The correspondent adds: It is certain that, despite Greek protests, the Germans are preparing a fresh air raid on - Salonika on a super-colossal scale. Meanwhile it is evident that the Russian offensive in the south continues with undiminis-hed vigour, despite the laconic character of the communiques.

BULGARIA'S INTENTIONS,

IF THE CAMPAIGN DOES NOT

BEGIN?

AMSTERDAM, February 11

The Bulgarian War Minister, in a newspaper interview, said that when the Salonika campaign is finished the war will be over for Bulgaria, unless attaced in the Balkans.

EARLY PEACE NOT IMPROBABLE

STATEMENT BY HIGH-PLACED

GERMAN. ,

AMSTERDAM, February 11

Baron Von Zeidlitz, tka Budget Reporter, in a speech in the Prussian Diet, said: "In view of the whole war situation, the conclusion of peace in the near future is not impossible. An announcement of our aims appears necessary. CRYING FOR PEACE. ALLEGED STATE OE GERMANY. LONDON, February 12. The Exchange Telegraph's Copenhagen correspondent states that from Germany one hears. now only the strong cry for peace. . TURKS LEAVE MACEDONIA. ALL DESPATCHED TO ASIA. ROME, February 12. The Turks have been completely withdrawn from Macedonia, sending all available forces to Asia. The enemy in Macedonia do not exceed 200,000.

ENEMY'S TRUMP CARDS,

SUBMARINES AND ZEPPELINS.

LONDON, February 12.

The Munich Kuests Nachrichten says this year's Zeppelin fighting will be directed above all against British maritime supremacy. The principal feature of the programme will be the combined playing of Zeppelins and submarines as trump cards against the most important barrier points of England.

SALONIKA'S REPRIEVE.

RUSSIAN MOVEMENTS RESPONSIBLE. AUSTRO-GERMANY PERPLEXED. GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY LOST. LONDON, February 11. The "Morning Post's" military correspondent says the Austro-Germans' uncertainty regarding Russia's plans explains the failure to attack Salonika. When quarter of a million Russians appeared at Ismail and Reni the Germans hurried troops through Rust, chuk and Brasse in anticipation of a Russian move through Roumania. Then Russian activity began in Galicia and Bukovina, whither Austro-Ger. man forces were hastily transported from all quarters, including five divisions from the Balkans, completing the dislocation of the German plans. This explains the neglect of a golden opportunity for attacking while the fortifications of the Allies were incom. plete and their forces still weak. The situation of the Allies ha s improved in other respects, much to the detriment of German schemes. Meanwhile Greece's attitude has undergone a favourable change.

THE SALONIKA POSITION

THE GERMANS STILL THERE

THEIR SUCCESS IS HOPELESS.

PARIS, February 13

Le Journal's Salonika correspondent says it is difficult to anticipate any serious military event during the rainy season, whic-u is just commencing and will probably last till the middle of March. It will be necessary to act promptly before the hot, unhealthy season sets in over ■ the Macedonian marshes, lasting" from May till September.

It is untrue that Germans have abandoned the offensive at Salonika, but their success is hopeless. The Serbians are responding in numbers which surpass the most sanguine hopes.

"CANNOT BEAR THE STRAIN!"

END MAY BE DELAYED

BUT ALLIED VICTORY CERTAIN

A TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN

M. SAZONOF INTERVIEWED

MOSCOW, February 12.

M. SazonOff (Russian Foreign Minister), interviewed, said the Allies were in perfect agreemen with the determination that Austro-Germany must be rendered perfectly harmless. The war cannot be protracted, as Germany is unable to bear the strain. The present financial position is very grave. In any case, the present year will not see the end of the war. England is doing colossal work. The loss of 24,000 officers and 000,000 men prove this. A ZEPPELIN STORY. ONE A WEEK BUILT. BERNE, February 13. The Bund states that Germans claim to be finishing a Zeppelin weekly, which are tested on Lake 1 Constance. Sometimes two new airships are

cruising together. Motors come from a great motor factory at Masback and are tested for 48 hours uninterruptedly on gondolas. Zeppelins are now covered with armour and carry machineguns and quick-firers. They also have a special device' for throwing aerial torpedoes. The latest invention creates artificial clouds around the Zeppelins while flying by releasing great volumes of fumes, making them almost invisible from the ground. The speed power in manoeuvring is greatly improved.

Recently some official enemy complaints were made of a raid on Codigoro and Ravenna, Avhen 15 civilians were killed, including several women and children, and many injured. Bombs hit a hospital, and a church at Ravenna. *