A BLOODY DEFEAT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 129, 1 June 1916, Page 5

A BLOODY DEFEAT.

|ERNIAN£ AT MCRT HOMMETHEY SUFFER ENORMOUS LOSSES. HUGE GERMAN WAR LOAN. HUNS ARE WEARY OF WAR. RUSSIAN VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA. BULOAR BOMBARDMENT A JOKE. BANKRUPTCY OF GERMAN SHIPPING. v <5 THE IRISH COMMISSION HAS ADJOURNED. EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE BY LORD WIMBORNE. (Reed. 9 a.m.). LONDON, May 31. Lord Wimbome, recalled before Lord Hardinge’s Irish Commission, sard he signed all documents on the Chief Secretary’s advice. ■ He was not officially consulted respecting their character, regarding himself rather as a figurehead. T-he Commission has adjourned till further notice. , THE BANKRUPTCY OF GERMAN SHIPPING. LEADING COMPANIES PAY NO DIVIDENDS. j''' (Reed. 9 a.m.). LONDON, May 31. The Shipping Record states that cut of the 15 leading German shipping companies only three paid dividends in 1915 —six, four and two per cent, respectively. By winding up accounts and counting interest receipts in profits and trenching on reserves, seven companies did not publish balance sheets, including the German East Africa, Nord Deuscher Lloyd, GermanLevant and the Hamhurg-Amerlca. V •; , ■ i , t HUGE GERMAN WAR LOAN WANTED. TWELVE THOUSAND MILLION MARKS. (Reed. 9 a.m.). | COPENHAGEN, May 31. ' Reichstag will meet next week, and will be asked to authorise a War moan of twelve thousand million marks. . GREEK GOVERNMENT IS PROVISIONING SERES. BULGARIA OPERATES BY AGREEMENT WITH GREECE , (Reed. 8.55 a.m.). e ATHENS, May 31. The Government is provisioning Seres and Drama via Kavalla. Berlin messages state that Bulgaria is operating in Macedonia in accordance with an agreement with the Greek Government. » GERMANY’S VIEW OF AFTER WAR TRADE. AN ERRATIC ASSUMPTION REGARDING BRITISH DOMINIONS. GERMANY CANNOT BE ELIMINATED ECONOMICALLY. (Reed, 8.55 a.m.). ] ZURICH. May 31. Herr Pa'nchen, Director of the North German Lloyd, declares that Germany can complacently await the threatened commercial war. Englishmen have apparently forgotten that Mr. Chamberlain’s idea of a Greater Britain in an Imperial economic sense was frustrated owing to the op position of the colonies which feared the loss of the German market. These conditons have not changed to-day. The boycott of German trade after the war will merely drive all neutrals into Germany, who can naturally offer them specially advantageous terms. Germany cannot be eliminated economically without bringing down the whole fabric of the world’s economy, burying foes and neutrals alike.

A DOUBLE BLOODY GERMAN DEFEAT. FINAL RESULT LOOKED FOR WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE. SOME DEADLY FIGHTING AT MORT HOMME. AN UNFORTUNATE GERMAN DETACHMENT ANNIHILATED THE HUNS SUFFER GREAT LOSSES WITH NO GAINS. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.). PARIS, May 31. A communique states that fierce fighting took place day and night from Mort Homme to the Meuse. After bombardment of unprecedented violence for two days, the enemy repeated its concentric attacks by large •effective forces against trenches east of Mort Homme and about Cumieres. We everywhere repulsed the enemy, inflicting heavy losses, but south of Caurettes Wood we evacuated the first line of trenches which bombardment had levelled. There were German attacks south of Cumieres from both side,? of the village. At first rolling us back in the direction of Chattancourt station, hut our strong counter attacks drove the enemy back to the outskirts of the village. Some German detachment? who crept along the Mouse under cover of fog. got near the station. wer e annihilated. • The enemy after intense artillery preparations invaded trenches east of Seppois, but our counter attack quickly drove them back, i • (Reed. 10.30 a.m.). ■JQ Semi-official: The enemy’s powerful general operations against the whole of the Mort Homme and Cumieres region, was followed on Monday afternoon by a double bloody defeat at Mart Homme and on Hill 304, The Germans succeeded in taking, doubtless temporarily, some portions cf our first line trenches by throwing whole divisions upon two miles of front.

The participation in this action of fresh troops drawn from another part of the western front proves Germany’s exhaustion of reserves cornpells her to deplete in quiet sectors. Th French look for a final result from these costly blows with absolute confidence.

THE UNITED STATES A POLYGLOT BOARDING HOUSE. ROOSEVELT AND GERMAN-AMERICAN TREASON MONGERS (Reed. 10.5 a.m.). NEW YORK, May 31. Mr. Roosevelt, speaking at St. Louis on preparedness for a campaign, denounced the hyphenated Americans as mortal treason mongers. Roosevelt denied that he was an English-American; he was unalterably opposed to an English-American alliance. As to a German-American alliance, the United States must not become a polyglot boardinghouse. \ THE IRISH QUESTION SETTLED. AN IRISH PARLIAMENT TO BE INSTITUTED. EXCLUDING THE WHOLE OR PART OF ULSTER. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.). LONDON, May 81. The Glasgow Herald asserts that the basis of an Irish settlement has been reached. Leaders have agreed to an Irish parliament, excluding the whole, or the greater part of Ulster. PEACE QUESTION IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. EFFORT AT MAKING POLITICAL CAPITAL. ■" C (Reed. 9.35 a.m.). * LONDON, May 31. In the House of Commons, Mr. Markham asked, in view of Hollweg’s declaration that Germany was ready to make peace and blaming the Allies for withholding peace, whether the Allies would inform Germany, through a neutral power, of the definite term s whereon they were willing to make peace, provided Germany acted similarly. Mr. Asquith said there was nothing in Hollweg’s statement to indicate that Germany was prepared to consider terms for safeguarding the interests of the Allies and the future peace of Europe. 1 He had nothing to add to Sir Edward Grey’s recent speech in the House. Mr Markham asked what end was gained by not informing Germany what our actual terms of peace would be.. Mr. Asquith said the question was debateable; he could not add to what he had already said. HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE ITALIAN FRONT. MOTOR TRANSPORT SAVED THE SITUATION. ANOTHER POSITION HAD TO BE EVACUATED. ROME, May 31. Admirable motor transport saved th e situation for Italy, enabling great reinforcements to reach the Arsiero-Asiago plateau in time to stop a pan due tc the breaking of the first line and the serious loss of big guns abandoned on the Monte Maggiospitz-Lonella line. Very heavy lighting continues on the pleateau of Setteccmuni, where the Austrian pressure is the strongest. The Italians evacuated Asiago, holding the hill s to the east. The Austrians are slowly advancing through mountainous country north of the town. The Italian wings are holding and punishing the Austrians very severely. LONDON, May 31. A Vienna communique claims that Austrian forces crossing the Posiua rivulet, captured a height on the southern bank. ANOTHER VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA. A TURKISH FORCE COMPLETELY ROUTED. BRITISH AND RUSSIAN COORDINATION. PETROGRAD, May 31. A considerable force of Turks, on a ten mile front, attacked a Russian column which was advancing to Nineven. The attackers were routed with heavy loss. The Turks were apparently troops released by the Kut capitulation. Bagdad has been placed in a strong state of defence by the best German methods, but probably the fate of the town will be decided by Nineven, the less of which means the isolation of Bagdad. The task of General Lake’s force is now to immobilise as many of the enemy as possible in order to assist the Russians. Probably the purpose of the ride of Cossacks to the British headquarters, was to arrange joint operations.

GERMANY’S INTERNAL WAR CONSIDERATIONS. PEOPLE ARE WEARY OP THE WAR. FOOD KITCHENS ARE SUPPLYING FOOD. ' ROTTERDAM. May 31. Berlin messages state that Von Batocki (the newly appointed Sustenance Minister) is carrying out the organisation of food with characteristic Prussian thoroughness. He is securing inventories of food in all private houses. The municipality of Berlin has established 25 large kitchens to supply G 20.000 persons daily, the price of a meal being 35 pfennigs. Other municipalities are taking similar action. Communal feeding was originally intended for the working-class districts. but the sad plight of many of the middle class is causing an agitation in favour of the authorities feeding rich ami poor in a uniform manner. The German harvest promises to be exceptionally poor. , Prior to the war 70,000 tons of nitrates Avere imported for agricultural purposes, but none has been used thi s year. A private letter smuggled out of Germany says. [We are all becoming vegetarians. Only a quarter pound of meat and two eggs each Aveekly sounds dreadful, but vegetables are abundant. Asparagus is cheaper than ever. The fish supply is excellent, though ther e is little butter or oil to ecok them. Berlin is as joyful as eve r - All racecourses are active. A milMon and r half marks per day passed through the parimutuel, but everybody excent the officials are utterly w e ?-ry of the war. The Germans cannot mderstand Avhy the Allies persist. T llis week all was beflagged on account

-f the defeat of Italv. which is sunnos e d to be finished. All good news, however, does not affect the desire t° end the Avar. B’elief is now universal that Ave will have a victorious pea ce before winter. It is reported that forty-seven Zeppelins have been lost since the beginning of th© AA-ar, and +hat tAventy-two submarines have bee 11 turned out ot Schwartzkopf factory during the last eight months.

BULGARS IN MACEDONIA. GENERAL SARRAIL’S JOKE. ALLIES APPARENTLY UNCONCERNED. SALONIKA, May 31. Bulgarian concentrations are threatening Seres, Drama and Kavala. The Allies view the invasion with equanimity, the policy of throwing open the gates of Macedonia being deemed to concern Greece alone. Twenty-five Bulgarians were killed and 45 (including three Germans) wounded during the fighting at Kula. The “Petit Parisien’s” Salonika correspondent states that General Sarrail, questioned on the enemy’s artillery activity, shrugged his shoulders and remarked, “All this merely conceals the relieving of troops. They are wasting a lot of munitions of poor quality without result. We will leave them alone at present, but will reply if they become annoying. They used 2850 shells in a week at one point, and killed one of my men and wounded another.”

TWO ITALIAN NOTABLES KILLED. FALL FROM A BIPLANE. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.). ROME, May 31. Plight Lieutenants Prince Difrasso and Count Negroni, have been killed by a fall from a biplane at Pisa LIEUT. BRANDON’S FEAT. SYDNEY, May 30. Letters received by the English mail state that congratulations from all quarters have been showered on Lieutenant Brandon, who wrecked the Zeppelin which fell into the Thames estuary. CONSERVING FOOD SUPPLIES WOMEN’S COMMITTEE APPOINTED. AMSTERDAM, May 30. The Town Council of Altenburg, with a population of 40,000, is appointing a women’s committee to deal with all food questions.

THE PARIS CONFERENCE.

PARIS, May 30,

The conference will probably meet on June 14th. The postponement is due to the desire of the Italian Minister of Agriculture. PEACE PROPOSALS. PRESIDENT WILSON’S POSITION. SOME SHARP CRITICISM. LONDON, May 30. The “Morning Post’s” Washington correspondent states that if President Wilson can make peace, or associate himself with the arrangement of terms, his re-election is assured. The “Morning Post” comments on the unfortunate coincidence that while President Wilson is devoting his skilled oratory to the subject of peace the Allies are spending their best blood in mortal conflict. There is no desire that the issue of the war should serve the ends of American politics. British newspapers comment sharply on President Wilson’s statement that the United States has no concern in th e causes or objects of the war. LESS BEER MADE. OUTPUT TO BE REDUCED

LONDON, May 30

In tlie Commons, a Bill to reduce the output of beer 15 per cent. Avas read a third time. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce the calls upon shipping. The import of hops or malt is forbidden except under license. THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. AUSTRIANS PAY DEARLY FOR SUCCESS. A message from Milan states tha* a Swiss officer avlio has returned from Trcntino says that the Austrian losses during the twelve days offensive averaged 5000 daily. Other reports from Borne state that 69,000 Austrians Avere fighting the left wing. After seven days more than half of these Avere destroyed.

Although the enemy were prepared at all points for a sensational march to victory, they found the evacuated territory denuded even of green staffs. Calculating that the Italians would retreat precipitately, the enemy expected ample stores in the captnied territory, but field telephones had been busy, and as a result the invading army was without food for twen-ty-four hours. THE DARFUR FIGHT. LONDON, Stay Ml. Tho Sultan Ali Dinar, of Darfur, was a prisoner of the Alula]i in ISOs. He was released by Lord Kitchener, and ascended the throne in 1890.

RECRUITING BOARD’S SCHEME.

A PARTIAL ALLURE LOCAL BODIES’ LAXITY INFORMATION ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. , FOR FUTURE SUCCESS THE MILITARY SERVICE BILL APPEAL FROM THE BOARD WELLINGTON. This day Noav that the Government proposals with regard to compulsory service have been announced the Recruiting Board desires to impress upon local bodies and the public of New Zealand, that the necessary amount of energy is not being put into the national recruiting scheme in some districts. The position to-day is that only a part of the task set the country three months ago has been accomplished. In February last, in order to facilitate recruiting and at the same time provide a sound basis for the readjustment of district quotas and for the introduction of compulsion, should that become necessary, citizens were asked to undertake the personal canvas with a view of seeing that a report card was sent in with respect to every man of military age in each district. The sending in of over 200,000 cards was divided amongst 312 loca» districts, but the Board regrets to have to announce that although more than sufficient time has elapsed in which to complete the undertaking, the results so far as they concern the‘check and completing of the rolls have been extremely disappointing to date only 30,000 cards have been received at the Board*s office, and no more than 5,000 are in transit, making a total of 35,000 out of over 200000.

It is a remarkable fact too, that many of the local bodies which have been most insistent in urging compulsion measures have so far made no effort to do the preliminary work that is essential to the equitable enforcement of the principle they advocate. One of the main purposes of the National Eegistrar was to provide a ground work for the compilation of complete and accurate rolls. It could not be complete itself because (a) it was natural. to expect that numbers of men would ignore the Act by not filling in the registration forms, or by giving false information such as wrong address, etc; (b) many men have arrived in and departed from New Zealand since the taking of the registrar and (e) many men ! have changed their addresses with • the result that their addresses given in the National Kegister are now incorrect. The National Eegistrar rolls for the purpose of re-allotting district quotas,or of applying compulsion are therefore more or less incomplete. Every effort has been made in the Military Service Bill to ensure a complete register hut the Board feels that unless it has the assistance of the people with local knowledge of each district, many loopholes of escape will still remain for the man who intends, if possible, to way to secure a reasonably perfect roll is by the systematic periodical canvas urged by the Board three months ago, and the Board submits that those who should carry it out are the citizens over the military age working in coujun? tion with the Ifocal authorities in each district. The reasons why the local residents are called upon to do this work are mainly (1) the hands of the Government and the Defence Department are full; (2) all bodies and local residents, because of their knowledge are the only ones who know who should and who should not be on the roll. If they do their duty in every case in seeing that every eligabie man is enrolled no man can escape his obligations like that when it lies within their power to keep the rolls up-to-date by promptly reporting every removal from, and arrival in, their district. It must be recognised that no act of compulsion will bo fair or equitable unless every man of military age is on the roll. The reasons are obvious as the rolii is the only instrument under which men can be called up, and as compulsion must apply to all men of military age alike, thus will it bo wholly unfair that some should be compelled to go because they are on the roil and others escape because they are not The completion of the rolite is necessary not only to apply compulsion generally, but in order to levy the uotas fairly as between district and district. This is specially so when, as is the case at present, New Zealand only requires drafts of 2,350 men every four weeks. To meet committments district quotas can only be levied fairily when thev are based on the number of men of military age remaining in each district, thus giving cadi district full credit for any excess it may have sent in before, and requiring others which have never done their share to make up their shortages. That is fair and the various districts arc vitally interested in seeing that principle applied. The Defence Department, however, can only give effect to this if supplied with proper rolls. It will bo readily understood that the accurate data that has already Been supplied bv a. few localities will be greatly depreciated for this purpose unless similar work is taken in hand

by all adjoining districts. L T ntil the rolls for the whole of the Dominion

avo been made as nearly perfection as possible. With this information to guide it. the Defence Department will ho in a position to so adjust the quotas that each group will be only asked to supply for future drafts a number based on its performance in the past, and its existing supply of men of military age. At present the Defence Department is acting on a roll that shows

so many men in a district even though they may not be there, and unless each district can show exactly the number of men left in it, the authorities cannot possibly make a fair adjustment. This rc-alkVtmcnt will be made from month to month if necessary so that full credit can at once be given to each district for the recruits it has been sending forward as its eligible men volunteer, and so reduce its number of men of military age. The quota of that district will bo adjusted from time to time in proportion to the number of men of military age remaining in other districts. The districts therefore which, prefer to continue to raise their quotas under the voluntary principle will thus have a strong incentive to do so. Further, provided its local authorities specially approve, the roll no group will be penalised by having to supply more than its proper quota. A further vital point is that men cannot be selected according to their respective classes when there is no complete roll available. This is of special concern to married men with dependants, who should therefore see that not only are they themselves on the roll but that every -other man is. If men with dependants do not acquaint the Recruiting Committees or defence authorities with their responsibilities how can they expect the recruiting committees and defence authorities to know them? Thus, more men there are on the rolls the less chance is there of any man being called on before his turn. If citizens -over the military age are not to be charged with lacking in patriotism, they must display more energy than they are manifesting at present. The work is as urgent as it is necessary, if Now Zealand is to fulfil its military obligations and injustice is not to be done. With three months

gone there is yet a large proportion of the work yet left to do Several districts, though Me, arc now getting under way, but others have done little or nothing at all It is to these latter districts) that the Eecruiting Board

earnestly appeals and in doing so would point out. that wherever the personal canvas has been tried few, if any, diiucnltios have been experienced and no insults have been received. Indeed the general .experience has been that men have flocked to the Eecruiting Officers as never before, ensuring the success of the voluntary system locally for months to come; but in tho event of voluntaryism failing, the nation must be in a position to immediately apply compulsion, and this cannot be fairly done without having complete rolls which in turn cannot be secured without carrying out a complete canvas in each local district.