GENERAL WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 41, 18 February 1916, Page 6

GENERAL WAR NEWS.

ON THE RIGA FRONT.

HEAVY ARTILLERY DUELS

AND INFANTRY ATTACK.

MUTINOUS GERMANS AT VILNA

PETROGRAD, February 15

Violent artillery duels, followed by infantry actions, have been going on for a week on the Dvina 'and Riga front. The Russians, holding fast, repulsed all attempts to take the offensive, and have even taken some lines owing to their murderous fire. Violent disturbances have broken out in the Twelfth German Army at Vilna, Forty officers and many soldiers have been court-martialled.

NO REPRISALS.

FOR ENEMY AIR ATTACKS.

LONDON, February 15

In the House of Commons to-day, Mr. J. Macpherson (Ross County), moved the Address-in-Reply. He paid a tribute to the heroism of the Australasians and other colonials. Colonel F. C. Jackson, the noted cricketer, seconded. He did not believe that Britain was capable of playing the same dirty game as the enemy. If reprisals were attempted he thought we would make a mess of it. H e sincerely hoped that the old British traditions of being 'able to play the game would be continued. Economy seemed the only sacrifice the country was not prepared to make. If economy were not voluntary, it should be enforced by legislation.

A PAPAL PROTEST

CHAKACTEEISTIC ■ SUGGESTIONS

LONDON, February 15

The Tirpitz Press Bureau is pouring out articles upholding the intended war on liners and prohhesying greater ruthlessness in the sinking of armed merchantmen, w-hich will probably bo treated as pirates. The example of the Baralong is given as one- of 19 reasons why Germans should not • treat brutal Britishers as honourable sailors. The articles suggest that the memorandum Is only the first step. Karl Peter publishes an article •warning Germany not to terminate the •war until Germany has been sacked, and advises a great Zeppelin raid on London, destroying the House of Commons.

ENGLAND'S NEW LOAN.

GOVERNMENT RESTRICTING.

WASTE

LONDON, February 15.

The Hon. R. McKenna will float the second loan about Eastertide. The Treasury is examining every expenditure fr increasing the revenue and enforcing economy. An extension of tiro policy of restriction of imports is assured.

GERMANY THREATENS. A DIRECT QUESTION TO ROUMANIA. LONDON. February 15. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Bucharest says that a campaign is threatening Roumania. The German Minister states that Germany knows Sow to strike swiftly and energetically. She wishes to know immediately on which side Roumania intends to fight. FIGHTING IN ALBANIA. AMSTERDAM, Feb. 15. An Austrian communique saya: Our troops in Albania reached the lower Arzon. The enemy retreated to the southern bank.

COST OF THE WAR.

£5,000,000 A DAY.

HOW IS STRAIN TO BE MET?

PEOPLE MUST REALISE POSITION

ECONOMY MUST BE PEACTISED

LONDON, February 15

Speaking hi the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith said there was no prospect of a reduction in the cost of the -war, which was £5,000,000 daily. He would ask for very large vote of credit next week. The nation's liabilities on' January Ist would reach a figure which would strain our resources for a generation, and which staggered the imagination. These expenses must go on, because there must be no faltering or flagging in the pToecution of the war. "How is it to be met?" asked Mr. Asquith. "I am no pessimist. I have no more doubt about our ultimate triumph than I have about the righteousness of the Allied cause; but the people must be got to realise the position." The Chancellor would have the courage to propose large additions to the taxation, but this would not bridge the huge and ever-widening .chasm. The only other way of maintaining our credit was to cut down all unnecessary imports and the consumption of luxuries, and to Bring our Expenditure in every phase of our public and private life to its lowest limit. The strain and the burden would be great, but it could net be greater than we coiilr 7 bear.

Speaking with regard to the censorship, Mr. Asquith said it is important that the people should be- enlightened and fortified by knowledge, and being told t-he worst as well as the best. Since the adjournment little had taker place in the various theatres of war calling for special mention. There had been a recrudescence of activity at the front, wherein the Allies had well held their own. The Serbian army, thanks to the assistance' of Italy, .had safely evacuated Albania, and was now being reconstituted and re-fitted. The operations in the Cameroons had been brought to a triumphant conclusion. The situation in Mesopotamia was distinctly improving. General Townshend was holding his own, and General Aylmer's reinforcements should, have reac-hed him by this time. There was every ground for hoping that their forces were 1 now reunited, and that anything in the nature of a serious British check h\d been averted.

During the last three months the Government had. taken stock of the resources of men and munitions, and the industrial and financial capacity actual and prospective, to enable us to contribute the maximum effort to the common cause. The Navy had performed duties worthy of the best traditions of the Navy and Nelson. Britain had grown immensely. Britain entered the war a naval Power, but now had an army tenfold larger than at the commencement of the war. In addition to these gigantic duties. Britain .had to take' a lending part in providing the Allies and Dominions with the sinews of war. M. Briand's cordial welcomes in London and Rome were a matter for congratulation. Mr. Asquith hoped that an early date there would be a general conference of all the Allies at Paris to review all political and strategic questions, thus offectively counteracting the enemy's early advantage in centralised control. Britain's responsibilities were more varied and complex than those of the Allies. He exampled the Navy, whic-h was the . most powerful and diverse combination jof fleets that ever sailed the ocean. J With unexampled efficiency it had deI fended our shores and neutralised the j aggressive power of the German fleet, • which had been cleared from the high seas. Mr. Asquitfi acknowledged the .extent to which the men of the DoI minions had helped the army. Britain I had the supplying of the Allies with ! the necesities of war and shipping—a 'gigantic and unprecedented task, where there had been mistakes and ; miscalculations, but long strides had j been takc ; n towards a solution.