DARING GERMAN PIRACY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 85, 8 April 1916, Page 5

DARING GERMAN PIRACY.

3 A SWEDISH STEAMER SEIZEDSWEDEN DEMANDS ITS RELEASE. GERMANS ATTACK THE BRITISH LIMES. AT ST. ELOI AND AT LENS. A THRILLING AIR BATTLE. A GERMAN WATERPLANE DOWNED. Qk AIRMAN'S MOST BASING FLIGHT. 3EITISH FRONT ATTACKED AT ST. ELOI. THE FIGHTING STILL CONTINUES. ARTILLERY IS ACTIVE AT LENS. t LONDON, April 6. In the early morning of the 6th, after very heavy bombardment, the enemy strongly attacked British new trenches at St. Eloi. Fighting was going on all day and is still continuing. Artillery on both sides was active to-day about Lievin and Lens and south of Bossinge. GERMANS DON'T CAEE ABOUT AMERICAN LIFE. ENEMY SHIPS WERE DESTROYED BY OUR SUBMARINES THAT IS ALL GERMANY CARES. AMSTERDAM, April 7. The "Hamburger Nachrichten," commenting on American inquiries regarding the Sussex and the Englishman, says: Whether the vessels were torpedoed by a German submarine cpr mot, who cares about such trifles in Germany? The ships that belonged to and were used by the enemy were destroyed. That is all we care about.

--"■'•*'■ THE FAMOUS IRON DIVISION. in " - " . SPLENDID BRAVERY IN MESOPOTAMIA. - - 5 GLORIOUS "WORK BY A GALLIPOLI DIVISION. : —.-. -.; LONDON, April 7. Newspapers recall that the Thirteenth Division, mentioned in General Ijake's report .belongs to the new a"lron Division' 'at Gallipoli, where i t went through the fiercest fighting inAugust. Sir B Jan Hamilton-mentione d that the Division lost 6,000 out 0f10,500. --, THIRTY GERMAN AERf PLANES BROUGHT DOWN. A PINE RECORD BY FRENCH AIRMEN. FRENCH GAIN GROUND AT DOUAUMONT. DESPERATE HAND TO HAND ENGAGEMENTS. PARIS, April 7. A communique says: The Germans attempted to attack Povre Hill. Our fire prevented them leaving their trenches. Hand-to-hand engagements southwest of Douaumont Fort enabled us to progress 200 metres on a 500 metres front. All enemy counter-attack failed. Aeroplanes during March thirty-one German machines and guns downed four. We lost thirteen. THE MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENT IN HOLLAND. BRITAIN PROTESTS AGAINST CURRENT CANARDS. A GOOD IMPRESSION HAS BEEN CREATED. A HOLLAND REFUSES TO CONVEY INCAPACITATED mfri PRISONERS. OWING TO MINES IN THE NORTH SEA. r AMSTERDAM, April 7. The British Legation protested to the Dutch Government against the canard that England had presented an ultimatum to Holland asking that troops might pass through Zeeland. Relations had never been more cordial. The protest has made a good ; ' Holland has officially notified Sir Edward Grey that navigation in the North Sea is so dangerous that she is unable to undertake the transport wf exchange AngloyGerman incapacitated prisoners.

THE ARCH-PLOTTERS OP AIR-RAIDS. THE KAISER AND COUNT ZEPPELIN. SPECIAL AIRSHIPS FOR BOMBING PARIS. DURING THE SITTING OR THE ALLIES' CONFERENCE. MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN LATER ZEPPELINS. AMSTERDAM, April 6. . A German account of the April 3rd raid claims that they bombed the fortifications near Great Yarmouth, 2n<j that the airships returned safely. The Cologne Gazette" says the series of air raids on England are due to a conversation between the Kaiser and Count Zeppelin, who was recently summoned to Headquarters. The "Gazette" regrets the loss of Ll 5 ■": and adds that England only saved \he crew because she was afraid to Ky Tepeat her shameful act of the King Stephen. A suggestion been made that the Zeppelins which raided Britain \vere specially inflated to raid Paris during the Allies' conference, but were prevented from crossing the French lines, and were then diverted to Britain The latest Zepnelins approximate invisibility as the result of Germans' experiments. Searchlights find increasing difficulty in picking them up, and they endeavour to elude by rapid rising. "The "Times" country correspondents agree that the latest Zeppelir?. liave decreased in noisiness, indicating that the persistent efforts to silence the engines are becoming more successful.

WHY DON'T GERMANS SPEED UP? THE REASON FOR SLOWNESS AT VERDUN. SEMI-OFFICIAL GERMAN EXPLANATION. LONDON, April 6. Semi-official German agencies, including th e "Cologne Gazette" explain that the slowness of the Verdun advance is due to the very strong fortifications, compelling the German artilJLery to advance step £y stppj, battering down the obstacles gradually and These agencies pay a tribute to General Joffre and the French troops, pointing out their excellent system of communications, enabling them to retain and systematically remove the wounded and bring up reinforcements. GERMANS SEIZE A SWEDISH SHIP. SWEDEN HAS DEMANDED ITS RELEASE, (Reed. 5.55 a.m.). COPENHAGEN April 7. A German torpedoer captured the Swedish steamer Nega, bound from Stockholm to Copenhagen. Sweden demands its release. A THRILLING AERIAL BATTLE. SMALL BRITISH LAND MACHINE ATTACKS WATERPLANE. THE GERMAN BROUGHT TO EARTH. LONDON, April 7. The Press Bureau reports that Flight-Commander Bone, has been awarded the D.S.O. for gallantry in pursuing a hostile seaplane over 40 miles to sea and forcing an action in spit e of the fact that he himself with in a small land machine. Commander Bone left the aerodrome while the enemy was still in flight, and while making no attempt to climb steeply he concentrated his attention on keeping the enemy in sight. After pursuing him for nearly 40 miles his machines, by a superior climb, attained 9000 feet, 2000 feet fbove his enemy. <From this position, by flying slightly nose down, he rat idly overhauled the enemy and endeavcure dto make' a vertical dive, firii g his machine gun. The enemy replied vigorously. Mr. Bone then manoeuv ed to get ahead of the hostile machine and having succeeded he steered str; ight at him, diving to pass below, and turning with a vertical right hand ba? k came almost immediately under him. The enemy turned his machine away to the left before they met, and the observer was visible hanging over _ tie right hand side of his machine, apparently dead or severely wounded. Bones' speed carried him within 15 or 20 feet of the enemy and he had no difficulty in keeping him in sight and kept on firing four or five bursts of about six rounds until the enemy c'ived steeply, with smoke proceeding from his engine. The propeller stopped in a vertical position, but the machine was under control and he succeeded in landing safely.

UM-EL-HENNA TAKEN. A GALLANT RUSH. THREE LINES' OF TRENCHES TAKEN. ' SUPPORT POSITION FALLS. COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. Co«^ s i o,v Po">v Lake, in com■»r>r>rirl of fjia 7,T»«r>'"' , tqmif|'n OUerfttionS, tj»*»+. *he T.'TT'S Corps, under r",-ir>,«il rj~*vc,T»il f.A.vlmC-ir's ~.^«n rr. „,. *n. p r'nino\ on morning. Our trenfhes had rushed forwVrr) fcv means ef saris to within a hundred yard? of the enemy'-* uosi. tion. Thence the leading battalions of the Thirteenth Division rushed the enemy'|o. first - rn' 1 i«<ic6ud lines/ ,«m quick succession, third line was cartu'red hv six o'clock, and sunnorter? by concentrated artillery and'machine gun fir? the Thirteenth continued their victorious advnnce, and an hour later drove the enemy Vmt of the fourth and fifth lines. Aeroplane reconnaisances retoorted that the enemv was strongly reinforcing at and Sannayyat nositions, respectively 6000 and 12,000 yards from the front trenches at Urn-el-Henna.

As these position are only approachable over open ground General Gorringe deferred a 'further attack till the evening. Meanwhile, on the right bank the third division under General Cary, captured the enemy's trenches opposite Falmjhiyah. The enemy in the afternoon on this bank strongly coun-ter-attacked with infantry and cavalry, supported by guns. ;We success-

fully repulsed and consolidated the position won.

General Gorringe at eight o'clock in the evening resumed the advance, and carried the Falmahiyah positions. Reports state that the Um-el-Henna position was strongly entrenched, its left flank resting on Suwaichi marsh and its right on the river front. The trenches ar e nine feet deep, and the system extended in successive lines to a depth of 2,500 yards.

ITALIAN MINISTERIAL CHANGES. ROME, April 6. The War Minister (Zuppeli) and the Under-Secretary for War (General Elia) have resigned, Generals Morrone and Alliere succeeding. RECRUITING AT HOME. LONDON, April 6. The last patches of unmarrAods joined the Colours to-day. TWO MORE BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.). LONDON, April 7. Lloyd's report that the Peninsular liner Simla has been sunk in the Mediterranean. The steamer Vesuvia, bound from the Mediterranean to London was torpedoed in the Channel, th© captain and five of the crew perished, and three others were injured.

AUSTRALIAN WOUNDED. ALL TO GO TO ONE HOSPITAL. LONDON, April 6. Order's have been issued that all Australian wounded on the Continent 'in the future shall be treated at We mereux Hospital, where the Government is providing an additional. 500' beds. • j' ■'■■ CHILDREN AND AGRICULTURE. LONDON, April 6. The National Land and Home League protested against the' employment of children of school age in agriculture, and urged the Board of Education to restrict the exemption to localities where there is no other labour, also to ensure the exempted a reasonable minimum wage. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS, IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. LONDON, April 6. In the House? of, {Commons, jthe Hon. McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer, moved to stop the Parliamentary salary of members drawing full pay from the military and naval forces. Mr. Banbury moved an amendment to abolish the payments of members. There was much opposition to this on th e ground that it was introducing a stale political subject at such a time, several characterising >lt as a breach of the political truce. The amendment was rejected by 247 to 32. .

Mr. McKennai then -withdrew Ms motion. IMPERIAL UNITY. THE PROBLEM OP THE NEAR FUTURE. LONDON, April 7. The National Liberal Club gave a luncheon to Sir Thos. Mackenzie, Mr. Perley' and the Hon. W. P. Schreiner (Prime Minister of Cape Colony), and in proposing the guests, Earl Crewe said the lessons and experiences of the war tended to make appeals for Empire co-operation more active and intelligent. They were not afraid to confer on the possiblities of fiscal union between the different parts of the Empire, which had sharply divided public opinion of this country. The most ardent evangelist of the new fiscal system of 'union of the Empire would admit that it could only be reached by surmounting great difficulties, affecting not only the domestic relations of the different parts of the Empire, but also the exterior relations of the Empire and other' countries. No one could deny that the relations of the Colonies should be studied and reamined. As a consequence of the convulsion which had affected all the relations of the whole world, the time might not be distant when closer politcal union between ourselves and

other parts of the Empire might be brought about. Sir Thos Mackenzie said the Dominions were prepared to proportionately b'e<ir the burdens of Imperial responsibility. It was only right and proper that they should have a proportionate share in State affairs.

FIERCE ATTACKS. ON FRENCH SALIENTS. ROUTED AT BETHINCOURT. HAUCOURT VILLAGE TAKEN. STILL UNDER FRENCH GUNS. ENEMY'S SEVERE LOSSES. PARIS, April 6. An official communique states that a suprise attack on a trench in the St. Hubert district of the Argonne inflicted considerable losses on the enemy. After an extremely violent bombardment, a series of attacks in large numbers was delivered against our two principal salients on the Avocourt and Bethincourt front. Our fire broke all attempts against Bethincourt. The enemy simultaneously made desperate efforts in the centre against Haucourt, and, after repeated bloody sacrifices, gained during the night a a footing in the village, which we keep under fire from drominating positions. After a short artillery preparation, we launched a keen attack, debouching from the Avocourt Redoubt, in order to reconnect the Redoubt with one of our Avorks on the borders of the wocd northward of Avocourt. This was completely successful, besides carrying a large portion of the Avocourt centre. ZEPPS' FIFTH VISIT. THREE CROSS NORTH SEA. ONE LIFE LOST AND EIGHT INJURED. ONE AIRSHIP REPORTED HIT. LONDON, April 6. It is officially stated that apparently three Zeppelins carried out Wednesday night's raid. The first was driven off after dropping five bombs without doing any damage. Numerous observers state that gunfire struck the airship. A second raider dropped* several bombs, causing slight material but no military damage.

The total bombs dropped numbered 24 explosive and 24 incendiary. A child was killed, and two men, one woman and five children injured.

; ~ TRADE CONGRESS. VIEfWS OF THE HOUSE. NOT TO BE ASKED FOR. LONDON, April. 6. Mr. Asquith, in reply to a question said that he was unable to give a day to enable the House to express an opinion which would guide the Government's representatives at the. Paris conference., • > A TRADER'S GUNS. FOR DEFENCE ONLY. AMERICA GROWS CAREFUL. WASHINGTON, April 6. The Administration refuses to clear the French merchantman Vulcain unless the French Government gives assurances that the guns aboard her will be used only for defensive purposes. BELGIUM'S RELIEF. BRITAIN'S BIG PAYMENTS. HALF A MILLION A MONTH. LONDON, April 6. Sir Edward Grey informed the House of Commons to-day that Britain's contribution to the relief of Belgium might be reckoned at half a million monthly. Although not paid directly, it was paid out of the Allied Loan to Belgium. FREIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND. NEW FLAT RATE FIXED. LONDON, April 6. New flat freight rates between Great Britain and Australia and New Zealand have been fixed. On ordinary cargo by weight the rate is 80/ per ton and by measurement 100/, except in the case of New Zealand, to which the rate is 102/6.

SUBMARINED. BRITISH AND NORSE STEAMERS. FORTY-EIGHT MEN DROIWNED. WHILE LAUNCHING THE BOATS. POUR OTHERS MISSING. LONDON, April 6. A German submarine last night torpedoed the Manchester steamer Zent without warning. While launching the boats fortyeight of the crew were drowned. The captain and ten of the crew, two of whom were injured, were picked up. The Norwegian steamer Baus was also torpedoed. Four of the crew are missing.

AN AMAZING SPEECH. BY THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR. GERMANY ASKED FOR PEACE. THE ALLIES ALL DECLINED. MUCH GRANDILOQUENT FLAPDOODLE. ABOUT POLAND AND BELGIUM. LONDON, April 6. In the Reichstag, Count von Bethmann Hollweg (German Chancellor) made the most comprehensive speech delivered since the war commenced. He said he could not understand any intelligent man sharing the enemies' hope of starving Germany. The 1915 harvest had been poor, yet Germany possessed, excellent corn and bread reserves. The prospects for the next harvest were better than for years past. England continued, despite the American protest, to tighten the starvation blockade, contrary to International Law. "We respect neutrals' legitimate interests," said the Chancellor, "but our right to take reprisals against our enemies must be acknowledged! ' The speeches of our enemies show no trace of readiness to make peace. Mr. Asquith says the complete and final destruction of Prussia's military power must be the first condition of peace negotiations. Our only reply to such peace conditions is the sword. If our enemies want to continue the killing of men and the devastation of Europe, then the blame is theirs. Our aim is to unite and protect Germany so strongly that nobody will again be tempted to attempt to destroy us. We must compel the world 'to recognise our right to free development. ■ We entered the war in self-defence. Things hav e since changed. We cannot turn our back now. We will shatter the menace involved by the British threat of lasting commercial war. The more violent the enemy's speeches become, the harder will be our blows. The situation is now in accordance with our expectations. Thje Dardanelles campaign was a failure. Our enemies declare that we are nearing the end of our military strength, but the battle at Verdun will teach them better. Y/e look to the future full of confidence."

Count von Hollweg, continuing, said: "When our enemies speak |of the destruction of Prussia's military,. power they mean that| they wish!to" destroy the united free Germany f in order that tehe may" again become helpless as centuries ago—exposed to her : neighbours' lust fop s>ower. Everywhere we see the enemy's brutal rage of annihilation and presumptious determination to cripple seventy million people. These threats will be shattered, but the enemy must not forget that the more violent trfeir words the harder will be our blows.

• BELGIUM'S FUTURE. Riefe/rring to Belgium, Count vcfci Holhveg said: fWe will create effec tive guarantees that Belgium shall hot become the vassal of France or Britain. We cannot hand over the longoppressed Flemish nation to be made French, but we will assure it of sound development on the basis of mother tongue characteristics. In the same manner Poland, which Cassacks burnt and pillaged, will not be allowed to exist longer unprotected, . Neither shall we give up th e region in the west where German blood has been shed without a complete guarantee as to our future. (It is ndtewortjhy that [the preferences to the Flemish were deleted from the report circulated fci Belgium). PEACE NEGOTIATIONS DECLINED. LONDON, April 7. Incidentally, Count von Holhveg stated he expressed his readiness to enter into peace negotiations on September 9th, but the enemy declined. THE PEACE-LOVING GERMANS. Much of the speech was devoted to pleading that Germany is a peace-lov-ing nation, which was not responsible for and did not desire the war. ONLY A SILLY STORY. Count von Hoilweg added: It is a silly calumny to say that after the war we intend to rush America, conquer Canada, and acquire Brazil. He concluded fomidfit igejtieral atrolause. Herr Liebknecht the Socialist leader) being shouted down.

PAPER-M/VKTCFS NOT EXEMPTED. LONDON, April 6. The War Office has removed papermakers from the list of exempted occupations. i EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION. MELBOURNE, April 7. The proposal 'of the Empire Parliamentary Union that ten numbers of the Commonwealth should visit Britain in July Iris accepted. The party will consist c" six Labourites and four Liberals.