GERMAN HOPES HAVE VANISHED

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 111, 11 May 1916, Page 5

GERMAN HOPES HAVE VANISHED

ItHU&E GERMAM CASUALTY TOTAL UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE AT VERDUN. - :-jJ£rHUNS COMPLETELY BEATEN BACK. A CASE CF "AS YOU WERE." NEW GERMAN DIVISIONS DECIMATED. AMZACS AND GERMANS MEET. * THE TEUTONS BADLY COT UP. GERMAN HOPS OF DECISIVE VICTORY HAS VANISHED. . THE REAL CAUSE OF THE BERLIN RIOTS. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.). ROME, May 10. A-S-stJss traveller, lately in Berlin, states that the German people aie "becoming discouraged. They now understand that all hope of decisive victory has vanished. Terrible losses at Verdun; the failure of the Irish revolt and misgivings regarding the value of Zeppelins and submarines were contributory causes to the recent outbreaks in Berlin, Leipzig and other cities. • ■ GERMANY'S LATEST CASUALTY LIST. i GRAND TOTAL IS NEARLY THREE MILLIONS. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.). \ LONDON, May 10. The Press Bureau states that casualties reported in th e German official casualty lists for April total 91,162 including killed and died of wounds 17,455; died of sickness 2495; prisoners 1221; missing, 6217; severely -wounded 14,557; wounded 4001: slightly wounded 39,679; wounded remaining with their units 5,637. Tbfe grand total is now 2,822,079. FRENCH PRESS COMMENTS ON ANZACS. ; ' i - NO SOLDIERS HAVE FINER TITLE TO GLORY. < BROTHERS IN ARMS WORTHY OF THEIR COMRADESHIP, j ,;Atfs ■ : ■'■"'-'- '* " (Reed. 9.30 a.m.). -.-.- . - xl---. t#- j PARIS, May 10... French newspapers commenting on the arrival of the Anzacs, pay warm tribute to the .bravery displayed by them hitherto. Le Journal says there is no finer title to glory in this war than theirs gained at Galiipoli. Their sacrifices were in vain, but they gained an undying fame, and history will tell again and again the story of the great deeds of these improvised soldiers from the Antipodes, who struggled vainly to wrest the key of the Dardanelles from the enemy. These brave men of Anzac, who are now to partak© of our battles, will find here brothers in arms worthy of them. THE SUSSEX SUBMARINING ADMITTED. GERMANY ADMITS THAT SHE IS GUILTY. """*• (Reed. 9.5 a.m.). j AMSTERDAM, May 10. Semi-official. The German Note abandons the view that the Sussex was not torpedoed; the Government has notified America that it admits that a German submarine is blameable. GERMANY PROMISES REPARATION FOR THE SUSSEX. AND PUNISHENT OF THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER. (Reed. 9.45 a.m.). WASHINGTON, May 10. A new Note is en route from Berlin in connection with the Sussex outrage, explaining that the affair was due to negligence of the submarine commander, and promising that he shall be duly punished; reparation is also offered. A RECRUDESENCE OF UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE. AROUND THE VERDUN SECTOR. COMPLETELY FAILS AFTER ENORMOUS GERMAN SACRIFICES. THE POSITION IS WHERE IT COMMENCED. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.). PARIS, May 10. Semi-official: The German objective west of the Meuse is still Hill 304. There were thre e German attacks on Monday night in dense formation and an attempted frontal and enveloping assault. All completely failed ■with heavy losses. They renewed the attempts on Tuesday with the same fate. It is believed the Germans employed three fresh divisions, which were all decimated. Thus, after five days' furious assaults, costing enormous sa- . crifices. another recrudescence of the Verdun .offensive, unprecedented in i violence, leaves the enemy exactly where he started. GERMANY GETS A BETTER OPINION OF BRITAIN. BRITISH SECRET SERVICE EXCELLENCE ADMITTED. CASEMENT HADN'T A CHANCE OF ESCAPE. HIS FOOTSTEPS WERE CONSTANTLY DOGGED. -r\_ V WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST SUSPICION CREATED. (Reed. 9.45 a.m.). LONDON, May 10. The Cologne newspapers, Volke Zeitung declares that Casement's arrest J* again proves the excellence of Britain's political secret service. Though -Casement's consular experience fully acquainted him with the organisation of the Secret Service me never suspected he was constantly being watched. His footsteps were dogged everywhere and h e was seized the moment he landed in Ireland.

ALx, AVAILABLE AMERICAN TROOPS SENT TO THE MEXICAN FRONTIER. THE NATIONAL GUARD IS CALLED OUT. (Reed. 9.45 a.m.). WASHINGTON, May 10. All available American troops have been sent to the Mexican border, and because of the danger of a general uprising the National Guard has been called out in three States. ; FURTHER RUSSIAN VICTORY IN ARMENIA. THE BRESLAU AGAIN HAS A SHOT. TURKS DRIVEN TOWARDS BAGDAD. PETROGRAD, May 10. A communique says:— h " Repeated attacks were repulsed in the Erzingham region (west of Er:;eroum), causing overwhelming Turkish losses. The Turks were driven out of the mountains south of Kush. We flung the enemy a considerable distance westward in the direction of Bagdad. , The Breslau approached Eupatoria flying the Russian flag. She fired a few shells from four miles and then swiftly retired. Two schools were slightly damaged. THE MUSIC AT SALONIKA HAS COMMENCED. INTENSE ARTILLERY ON THE WHOLE FRONT. SALONIKA, May 10. There is intense artillery activity on the entire Macedonian front. REPLIES IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT EXTREME MEASURES WITH REBELS TO CEASE. SHOOTERS OF SKIFFINGTON TO BE COURTMARTTALLED. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.). LONDON, May 10. Mr. Asquith has reason'to believe there is no further necessity to proceed with extreme measures with the rebels, but could not give any undertaking. Mr. Runciman, replying to Lord Lonsdale regarding the extending of ship building, promised to consider a suggestion to form ship building battalions on the lines of the dockers' battalions. Mr. Asquith said that Skeffington was shot on the twenty-sixth without the knowledge of the military authorities. The matter is being investigated and officers concerned will be arrested and court martialled. Casement's trial will commence next Monday. Mr. Tennant said a British aeroplane conveyed 18,800 pounds of food and other stores to Kut. GENERAL TOWNSHEND'S GREAT TASK. THE STORY OF THE KUT SIEGE. GLORIOUS DEEDS BY JACK TARS. SOME HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES. ',' LONDON, May 10. General Nixon's despatch dealing with events up .to the middle of January gives details of the earlier stages of the siege of Kut. General Townshend, arriving at Kut on December 3rd, organised a defence, sending away prisoners, sick and wounded. The investment Avas complete on the 7th. Next day, after bombardment from three sides, the. Turkish General, Nureddin, summoned General Townshend to surrender. For several days there was a continuous bombardment. Many infantry attacks followed. The enemy lost heavily, especially on December 12th, when they lost a thousand. Thereafter, th e operations were conducted on regular siege lines. The British sortied. successfully on the nights of December 14th and 17th. The Turks at Christmas twice stormed the parapets, but were driven out. Therefter there were no serious enemy attacks. General Nixon paid high tributes to General Townshend, who was very severely tried at Ctesiphon and during the retirement. He was untiring and resourceful and became more cheerful as the outlook became darker 1 The earlier pages of the despatch show how the losses at Ctesiphon on November 21st precluded a renewed offensive. Although strong first line positions were captured, air reconnaisances on the 25th disclosed that large Turkish columns threatened to outflank the British, while hostile cavalry threatened to cut off the retreat. The critical stage was reached on the 30th at TJmmaltubal where the British main body was forced to halt until the accompany flotilla cleared shoals, enabling the entire Turkish force to catch up on the British. A fierce fight ensued on Ist December, but the cavalry counter-attacked, and enabled the British to retire by echelons of brigade in perfect order. Thus the enemy were shaken off. '

A new despatch records a brilliant episode during the Urnmaltubal battle. The war vessels Firefly and Comet were heavily shelled and the Firefly was disabled. The Comet towed her, but soon both grounded. The Comet refused to refloat. The war vessel Sunmana came up and vainly endeavoured to move the Comet, despite the ships being battered by field guns at short range, and surrounded by infantry fifty yards distant. The Comet and Firefly caught fire and were abandoned. The Sunmana rescued the crews and escaped. Rear-Admira Pierce warmly praised Captain Wilfred Nunn for withdrawing the naval force. SOUTH AFRICANS ARRIVE IN FRANCE. ••* r"">vH vVf** THEY ARE WELCOMED AT MARSEILLES. GERMANS CANNOT STAND AGAINST FRENCH FIRE. A FAMOUS GERMAN REGIMENT CALLED OFF. FLEET OF ZEPPELINS OVER NORTH SEA. PARIS, May 10. The South African contingent was welcomed at Marseilles, "../communique says:— / Artillery was less violent. Our curtain of fire checked an enemy attack west of Hill 304. The Germans were unable to debouch. Details of the attacks on the Bth and 9th show that they cost the enemy heavy losses. \ Our artillery swept revictualling convoys and enemy detachments on the road between Essey and Bayonville, northwest of Pont a Meusson. The "Telegraph's" Paris correspondent s ays the German artillery at Verdun is the m °st powerful yet employed, but it is waning. The German infantry is unable to hold the ground thus cleared in the face of the French infantry's furious counter attacks. The Pomeranians, to which , forlorn hopes were allotted, have been withdrawn from Champagne, where j they had been intended to lead the offensive. Steamers repor ta large number of Zeppelins in the North Sea flying in I all directions. They inspected many steamers. Shipwrecks and masses of i wreckage ar e visible along the rout Many submarines were also seen. BIG BLAZE IN GERMANY. SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLDS ! 'PLANE FACTORY DESTROYED. UP. GERMANY'S LATEST ORDER, 63 TAUBES BURNED. AMSTERDAM, May 10. In consequence of the losses susCOPENHAGEN, May 9. tainc(] &t VeTdun> Germans attaining A fire in the town of Altona, the t he age of 17 in April have been sumlargest and richest manufacturing city moned for immediate enlistment. The in ScMeswig-Holstein, situated on the news has discontented the German Elbe, just below Hamburg, destroyed j upper and middle classes, who coman aeroplane factory and G 3 completed plain that this denudes the country machines. ■ • [*i i ,v : | ■ of the best >' outlls now at College.

NEW ZEALANDERSIN ACTION. FIGHTING THE BOSCHES. PROOF OF THEIR QUALITY. j EULOGY FROM THE FRENCH. LONDON, May 9. The official correspondent with the British headquarters says that hitherto there was a possibility that the Germans did not know that the Australians and New Zealanders wer-e on the Western front, so the General Staff had not taken the risks of announcing tlie fact. The Bosche, however, has now tested their quality. They have drawn a surfeit of eulogy from the French wiWi whom they ar.e billeted. The Canadians also are delighted at fighting alongside the heroes of Anzac. The Australasians are gratified to be in France. Anzac was a few hundred acres of potted Hades; there was no getting from the eternal rattle of war. the sandflies, the heat, and dysentery, but the Western front was the goal ot their desire. They talk about the great offensive, and they want to get on with it. The officers give lectures, pointing out the strategic plans, which will involve much time. BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. KING'S MESSAGE TO DUMA'S DELEGATES. LONDON, May 10. The King, in receiving the Duma delegates, assured them that England was following with the deepest admiration the marvellous feats of the gallant Russian troops. He rejoiced to think that Br/ltish sailors were helping their Russian comrades and he hoped that the Duma would be satisfied with the whole-hearted vigour of the British Emiper in performing its part. Russia could confidently rely on hearty co-operation of the BZritish. THE DELEGATES BANQUETTED. GREAT RESULTS OF THE ALLIANCE. LONDON, May 10. The Government gave a dinner in honour of the Duma delegates. Mr. in proposing "Our Guests," said the most gratifying result . of the alliance was the complete Anglo-Russian agreement on eastern affairs. The enemy's efforts to weaken the Allies' confidence in each other had been only clumsy blundering. "The Germans," said Mr. Asquith, "know that if we are united we must conquer. ;In this knowledge we should stand together, however long or severe the test, until we have beaten to the ground the forces withstanding us. Then we should begin in peace to re-build in concert the shaken fabric of European civilisation." TURNING TO TEE EAST. GERMANY TO TRY RUSSIAN FRONT. MASSING MEN AND GUNS. SOME POSSIBILITIES. LONDON, May 9. The prospects of a German offensive on the Russian front are dominating interest of the military situation. General von Hindenburg has massed artillery and ammunition on the Dvinsk and Riga fronts, and is bringing up supplies by rail and sea to Memel and Libau. Guns from fortresses, including Konigsberg, have been transferred. Skirmishes are proceeding' at many points, and this is hindering the Russians from ascentaining where the chief attempt is likely to be made. A great effort may be made to roll up Kuropatkin's army, capture Petrograd, and possibly cut the connections of Moscow and Archangel. An attempt to drag Sweden into the war appears possible. Anotken possibility is that the mask of these preparations is that the Germans intend to attack Brussiloff's armies, in the southern zone, securing Austrian and Bulgarian help in envelI oping Roumania and diverting the Russian armies from Asia Minon

BRITISH WORKERS AND • OVERSEAS. ' LONDON. May 10. At a meeting of British workers, Mr. Walsh, M.P., will move, and Mr. Will Crooks will second a resolution acknowledging the overseas' splendid and heroic services, and cordially endorsing Mr. Hughes' Empire Labour policy; urging the organisation of Empire resources in order to secure such a decisive victory as shall ensure lasting peace and national safety; and guaranteeing works of the highest attainable standard and life. HUNTING THE REBELS. LONDON, May 10. The police are day and night hunting the rebels among the rocks, bogs and mountains of Galway. Hundreds were arrested in their homes, but the leaders are hiding in the mountains. Many have declared they will not be I taken Avithout a fight. j GERMANY SHORT OF FOOD. 1 A DANISH PRESS PREDICTION. COPENHAGEN, May 10. The "Ribesdft Stidende," after maknig careful inquiries, opines that it is impossible for Germany to keep the war going until the end of the year, owing to the shortness of food. Already soldiers' rations have been cut down, very little meat being given. Most men on furlough appear to be physically weakened by insufficient food, but ammunition and arms are incredibly abundant. A shortage of horses hampers the artillery. There is great slackness of discipline and drastic measures are being taken to prevent desertion of officers and meji. ANZACS' FIRST ACTION. TERRIFIC GERMAN BOMBARDMENT. '. GALLIPOLI SHELLING OUT-DONE. i GERMANS BADLY CUT UP. \ LONDON, May 10. A man, on furlough says the Australasians first real action in France occurred on Friday. The enemy raided trenches after bombarding, but were immediately driven out. Friday afternoon was calm en the Australian front. In the evening several batter-, ies terrifically bombarded a sixty yards front, this being more intense than anything experienced on Gallipoli. The ground was rockier. The enemy fired various calibre high explosives and then shrapnel. . The Aust tralasians were ordered to withdraw to the support' trenches. Then a,, hundred Germans rushed the trenches, thirty only reaching them. The rest were mown down by flanking machine guns. An English-speaking officer, disguised in an Anzac uniform, attempted to deter the Australasians from obeying the order to retire, calling, "This way, boys. The. Germans are comingj" None was deceived that he was the leader of the Australasians' supports. Several Germans were bayoneted. Then the true supports arrived, . making short work of the enemy. Next day the Australasians had revenge. The Germans, when bringing up supports or a relieving force, were caught by concentrated fire in a communication trench on rising ground behind their front. They suffered heavily. Observers saw them carrying off dead and wounded during several hours. A member of the Second .Division writing to London, says ; : The Division is confident it will make a hole j somewhere when it gets loose. The name "Anzac" is being retained for the Australasian army. General B'irdwood's quarters are officially called "Anzac Headquarters." The Anzac Corps is now composed of New Zealand and Australian-:; troops. The senior Australian officer in France commands the Australasian troops. Men in London speak eheerfully concerning the conditions in France, admitting that the shelling is heavier than anything encountered on Gallipoli, but long spells in billets behind I the trenches relieves the strain. Officers and men are eager. Raiding and cutting out expeditions, as the troops settle down, will relieve the monotony of trench life. The men's work, so far has been almost solely in the supporting trenches. BRITISH MARITIME SITUATION IMPROVED. BATTLE FLEET'S TASK LIGHTENED. LONDON, May 9. Mr. Balfour (First Lord of the Admiralty) in a letter on the subject of the East Coast bombardments, points . cut that the maritime position has so improved that instead of keeping the battlefleets in the ncrth, a s strategy in the earlier stages of the war re ; quired, it is now possible to bring important forces south, reinforced by submarines and monitors, without im- | perilling the preponderance elsewhere. Hence another Norfolk raid would be | far more perilous for the enemy than 'in the past.

Mr. Garvin, writing in the Observer, points out that if the Russian armies be driven back the struggle will certainly be prolonged beyond 1017; bur it is impossible to state the real stnength of the Germans on the east front. The Vice-President of the Duma, M. Alexander Protopopoff, interviewed by the Sunday Times, expressed Russia's limitless confidence and determination. Throughout Russia the mobilisation of every energy proceeds steadily. Only j 33 per cent of the men of military age \ have been recruited. Instancing what j is being done in the reorganisation of r works, M. Protopopoff said that £(5,000,000 was spent on new workshops at Vladivostok for turning out rolling stock for the munition trains. Three hundred textile factories have iVeen taken over by the War Office and (58 of the biggest metallurgical works that have been turned into munition factories.