BRILLIANT ITALIAN DRIVE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 9 August 1916, Page 5

BRILLIANT ITALIAN DRIVE

AU&RiANS COMPLETELY ROUTED MANY THOUSAND PRISONERS CAPTURED THE SERETK ADVANGE CONTINUES THE ARMY AT SALONIKA WHY THEY DCN'T ADVANGE A DECISIVE VICTORY IN EGYPT

ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT. i, RESPECTING OPERATIONS IN PERSIA. (Received 9.40) PETROGRAD, August 8. Anglo-Russian Ministers have reached an agreement regarding, Persia, covering l financial and military measures. RUSSIA’S I~WO MONTHS’ WORK. ON THE EASTERN FRONT. FIFTY-FIVE MILES ADVANCE. THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION AUSTRO-GERMANS ACCOUNTED FOR. (Received 9.40) LONDON, August 8. Mr Washburn, reviewing the two months’ East front offensive, says Rus sia has approximately advanced 55 miles at various points. The prisoners include three generals, 7,064 officers, and 330,000 soldiers; they have also taken 504 guns, 1200 machine guns, representing, losses, including dead, casualties and missing, three-quarters of a million. He cannot state the Russian losses, but no military significance could sustain double the summer’s losse s without experiencing a shortage of men. OFFICIAL REPORT. OPERATIONS ON WESTERN FRONT LONDON, August 8. North of the Somme, at the end of the afternoon, we brilliantly captured a line of German trenches, with 120 prisoners and ten machine guns. South of the Somme our artillery was very heavy and effective in a destructive fire on enemy batteries in the region of Lihon. On the right of the Meuse we made progress up to the south of Thiamont, and after fairly lively fighting we captured houses in the western part of Fleury. On the British front, north of Pozieres, between four and five this morning, the enemy twice determinedly attacked our new lines after heavy bombardment. They entered our trenches at one or two places, but was driven out with many casualties, ands loss of some prisoners. Two other atI tacks made later resulted similarly. P On the Souchez front the enemy exploded a mine and entered our thenches, but was immediately bombed out. THE FIGHT IN EGYPT. BRITISH CAVALRY IN CONTACT. CLEARING THE BATTLEFIELD. (Received 10.45) LONDON, August 8. The War Office reports that in Egypt mounted British troops are in contact with Turkish rearguard six miles eastward of Katia, which the enemy entrenched at the beginning of their advance. The work of clearing) the battle field is proceeding; war material has been brought in, and 200 enemy deaer were buried in the fighting area. An aeroplane bombed Port Said and Suez, causing little damage and only slight casualties. j T I A FRENCH PROVISION. j INVIOLABILITY OF BRITISH 7%. . GRAVES. ■ ft*. (Received 9.40) PARIS, August 8, French Parliament has passed a law insuring the inviolability of the graves of British killed in France.

| SUBMARINE OFF MAINE COAST. I | DEUTSCHLAND OK BREMEN? BRITISH SHIPS ON THE WATCH. NEW YORK, August 7. A message from Portland, Main,e, states that a submarine has been sighted oft’ the coast. It is believed that the vessel is either the Deutschland or the Bremen. It is understood that British warships intend to follow the Deutschland across the Atlantic and capture hen on the other sidc^ KUT-EL-AMAEA GARRISON. FEARS FOR THE MEN. PORTE REFUSES INFORMATION. | COMPELLED TO CROSS DESERT. LONDON, August 7. In the House of Commons today Lord Robert Cecik Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that, notwithstanding repeated enquiries through the American Ambassador, ho was unable to ascertain the whereabouts of British prisoners at Kut-el-Amara. The failure of the Porte to reply inspired misgivings, as the prisoners wer e compelled to cross a desert after the capture of the position. ITALIAN ATTACKS. OFFENSIVE AT THREE POINTS. 3(500 PRISONERS TAKEN. ROME, August 7. An Italian communique states:— “We captured a strong position in the Aofana region, and have commenced an attack on the Lower Isouzo. We carried several entrenchments in the Monfalconc sector, taking 3GOO prisoners. CLEARING OUT AUSTRIANS. FROM’'CONTROL OF THEIR ARMIES. HINDENBURG’S CLEAN SWEEP. LONDON, August 7, A telegram from Rotterdam states that General von Hindenburg inspected the troops and defences of Kovel. He ordered Germans to replace the Austrians on Bothmcr’s staff. Berne advices state that one lieuten-ant-general, five major-generals, four brigadier-generals, 13 colonels, 12 lieutenant-colonels, and three majors of the Austrian army have been dismissed for inefficiency at the instance of the German General Staff. A GREAT UNITY. FUTURE OP THE EMPIRE. , LONDON, August 7. Mr Lloyd George, reviewing the Canadian tnoops, said:—“When the foe is beginning to b e exhausted we will be prepared to pour in troops. Britain’s sons come rolling in from the prairies of Canada, from the great islands of the Southern seas, from Africa’s sunny fountains, and India’s coral strand. We are federating this great Empire for the great future enterprise which was before it. The Empire would then be one great coherent unity, which would do mono to mould the direct destiny of the world than any Empire of the past.” NOT WANTED. PARIS, August 7. The French Socialistic Congress by 1824 to 1075 decided not to resume relations with the German Socialists. WOUNDED ZEPPELIN. , COMES DOWN IN GERMANY. THE HAGUE, August 7. It is reported that one of the Zeppelin raiders that was damaged in England on the last raid came clown near the neighbourhood of Hanover, in Germany.

THE SUEZ ATTACK. i PRISONERS AT CAIRO. CAIRO, August 8, Sixteen hundred prisoners captured during the light at Ei Romanii have arrived here. GERMANY AND SWEDEN. SITUATION SOMEWHAT CRITICAL LONDON, August 8. The ‘‘Morning Post’s” Stockholm correspondent says the Themis affair is somewhat critical. There is a strong feeling in Sweden. The Government declares that as twenty-four houns have expired the Themis is no longer a prize, and refuses an extension of time.

Two Zeppelins and Gormon patrol ships are waiting off the shore. The Swedish press is unanimous 1 that the havoc of German raiders conJ stitutes an unprecedented violation of neutrality laws_ J Diplomatic negotiations arc procecd- - ing. THE SALONIKA FORCES. WHAT KEEPS THEM QUIET. \ , A REMARKABLE STORY. BY AN AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT. (Received 11.15 NEW YORK, August 8. Most companies involved in the railway strikes are nettled by granting to employees the right to organise and deal with employers through their com mittees. The “New York Times” prints a despatch from the London correspondent of the)“Providence Journal,” in which it is stated a War Office official informs me of a good reason why the Allied troops at Salonika were not taking part in the drive. B'ritain and France did not -want any conflict with the Bulgarians, because they consider it probable they may induce Bulgaria to desert the Teutons and co-operate with Russia. He asserts that many Bui gars have been withdrawn from from lines and dismissed. Sazanoff removed the last barrier to the Roumanian desire to join the Allies. Moreover, there are a great mass of Bulgars who never favoured the break with Russia, and the Balkan Powers have been tremen- | dously influenced by recent Teutonic I defeats on all front. i - ■ I

LATEST FROM THE WEST. HUNS’ FIVE FRUITLESS ATTACKS. BRITISH MAKE FURTHER ADVANCE. (Received 11.25) LONDON, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the Germans, after five fruitless attacks northward and eastward of Pozieres, have not further attacked. We have pushed forward in places eastward of Trones Wood, and fighting near Guillemont continues. A BERLIN INVENTION. PAPER FROM COTTON STALKS. (Received 11.15) NEW YORK, August 8. Berlin reports a discovery whereby paper may be made from cotton stalks. .FRENCH AVIATORS BOMB MONS.. MILITARY TRAIN BLOWN UP. HUGE TRAINS OF WOUNDED. (Received 11.15) AMSTERDAM, August 8. French aviators bombed Mons ral?way station and troop trains. More wounded traversed Mons the first fortnight of July than during the previous part of the year. A military train was blown up near Liege, blocking all German trains to Belgium via the loft bank of the Meuse. ARMY ACT AMENDMENT. LONDON, 'August 8. The House of Commons passed the Army Act Amendment, Mr Lloyd Gieorge explained that lie was seeking to protect young Irish Cotholic soldiers against accusations involving their honour. There were other cases involving civilians. Lord Kitchener? had approved of this form of enquiry. Sir E. Carson approved the Bill, saying that he knew a good deal of the facts. BATTLE OF POZIERES GALLANT KENTS .AND ANZACS. LONDON, August 7. The “Central News” says the Anzacs and Kents brilliantly made the advarieo on Pozieres Plateau in the direction of Martinpiuch, cabled yesterday. They splendidly carried two lines of trenches and advanced two hundred yards over the plateau.

j “POZIERES MUST BE RECAPTURED. ’ ’ GERMAN GENERAL’S ORDER. LONDON, August 7. General- Buolow's army order, found on prisoners, said: —W e must at all costs recapture Pozieres plateau. If the British retain it, it will give them a valuable advantage. It must be retaken forthwith. The troops first gaining a foothold must maintain it, whatever the sacrifice, pending reinforcements. An officer or, man not resisting to the death will be immediately court-martialled. GREECE'S ATTITUDE. SOME INTERESTING REVELATIONS. ATHENS, August 7. The “Nea Helles” publishes revelations concerning the Skculoudis Government constructing a telegraph from Koritza to Monastir for the purpose of spying on the movements of the Allies, and transmitting information to the Bulgarians, also the feeding 1°! and equipment of Austrian prisoners abandoned by the Servians, and providing them with means for rejoining the Austro-Bulgarian lines. GERMAN ATTACKS. WERE ALL REPULSED. BRILLIANT BRITISH AIRFIGHTING. LONDON, August 8. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: After five fruitless attempts yesterday north anfi east of Pozieres the enemy made no fresh infantry attacks, but maintained heavy artillery fire on this j front, also on other portion of the battle area. During) the night we pushed forward to places eastward of Trones Wood, and fighting proceeds on the outskirts of Guillemont, near the railway station.

On the eastern portion of Leipstg salient the enemy attempted a bom* attack on our lines, but were driven back without difficulty. North of Roclincourt two of our raid ins parties successfully entered the German lines and blew up dug-outs. An enemy squadron of ten aeroplanes endeavoured to cross our line* yesterday, on a bombing expeditions they were driven off by one of our j offensive patrols of four machines. The enemy machines scattered, returning precipitously, pursued by our pat- | rols. Two hostile machines were forced to descend behind our lines. FURTHER FRENCH GAINS. ■LINE TRENCHES' CAPTURED. PARIS, An gut .S. A communique says: We carried a lino of trenches between Hem Wood and the river, and severely damaged the enemy’s batteries in the Libous district. IN THE BALKANS. •SERVIANS TAKING REVENGE. Received August 9, 11.15 a.m. POME, 'August 8. The Servians drove out the Bulgarians from Presba and occupied the town. THRILLING ANZAC INCIDENT. THREE HUN REGIMENTS. SUCCESSFULLY HELD AT BAY. THE GERMANS HURLED BACK. GREAT LOSSES BEING INFLICTED. LONDON, August 8. The ‘‘Central News” Paris correspondent says the 'Anzacs won fresh glory in yesterday’s fighting north of Pozieres. They firmly held trenches skirting the Bapaume road against the attacks of throe Saxon and Bavarian regiments. Both sides lost heavy in knife and revolver fighting, but the Colonials did not yield. The in magnificent resistance enabled a British unit to attack the enemy on the left flank and drive them off in a north-westerly direction. British counter-attacks west of Pozieres then hurled the Germans from their trenches, enlarging the British gains towards Thiepval. The German losses were heaviest at Pozieres Mill and Hill 160. Three battalions, advancing in echelon, were mown down by the British guns’ oblique fire. The Gorman remnants scurried back in disorder. GERMAN ATTACKS EASILY REPULSED. LONDON, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The German attacks north-east and north of Pozieres penetrated our new trenches at a few points, but they were driven out with, many casualties and the loss of prisoner*?.

The first two counter-attacks were made at 4 o'clock in the nioraing, two others at 8.30, and a fifth at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The attaeks were feeble and easily repulsed.

..BULGARIA’S INTERNAL STATE.. FREQUENT ANTI-WAR RIOTS. ATHENS, August 7. A neutral traveller from Sofia states that anti-war riots are frequent. They are severely suppressed by the police. King Ferdinand does not show himself. i MORE RUSSIAN VICTORIES. 8500 MORE AUSTRIANS TAKEN. THE ENEMY DRIVEN BACK. ADVANCING AT KOLOMEA. Received 1.40 this day. PETROGRAD, August S. A communiquje states: We arc successfully advancing on the Sereth, i fortifying captured positions. We prisonered 8500. A party of Austrians advanced on the Stokhod, with up-lifted hands, and tiieacherously killed a colonel of our riflemen. We killed the whole party. We took the offensive southward of ' the Dneister on a front of twenty-five versts. We penetrated and drove the enemy back the whole line and captured the town of Tlumacz. In the region eastward’ of the Dneister on several heights an attack with gas is proceedng south-west of Kolomea and Stanislauov railway. AUSTRIANS COMPLETELY ROUTED BRILLIANT ITALIAN VICTORY. 4000 PRISONERS IN THREE DAYS. CONTINUE COMING BY THOUSANDS. EELGARS AND CROhVTIANS SURRENDER.

Received 1.40 this day. ROME, August 8

The Italians report a great offensive 'on the Ison/,a. and Carso, a sixty miles front, for which they had prepared for several weeks. Action began on Friday morning after violent bombardment which destroyed enemy trenches and fortifications. The infantry Charged and captured the Austrian first and second systems of defence. The enemy first made a strong resistance, then fled. Fighting was most violent in the Gori/.ia and Monfalcone sector. A mmben of Bulgarians and Croatian units surrendered, and 4000 prisoners had been captured to Sunday, and they were continuing to come in by thousands. THE MERCHANT SUBMARINES. TWO OFF AMERICAN COAST. BRITISH ON THE LOOK-OUT NEW YORK, August 8. The look-out at Cross Island saw two submaines five miles from the coast. As they came to the surface he heard several blasts from Seal Island Lighthouse, which is in British possession. The submarines immediately submerged. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

TO BE PROLONGED

(Received 1.40 p.m., This day) LONDON, August 8

In the House of Commons Mr Asquith promised tc introduce a Bill on the 14th for ‘ prolonging Parliament, am. to anno nice proposals with regird to registration. A TURKISH TRICK. (Received 1.40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, August 8. First mention of Romani in the Turkish communique is characteristically evasive; euphemistically it describes the battle as an encounter between our advance detachments and enemy cavalry, ann the result was not mentioned. . PORTUGUESE INTERVENTION. . MINISTER’S VISIT TO LONDON. THE REPORT TO CONGRESS. (Received 1,40 p.m.) LISBON, August 8. At an extraordinary session of Congress Signor Costa, Minister of Finance, Loans, and Foreign Affairs, narrated the results of his’ visit to London wherefrom he had just returned. In his speech he eulogised the Allies and spoke in favour of Portuguese participation in the war. A resolution was adopted approving of what the Minister had done in London. (War News continued on Page 6.) UNITED STATES ARMY. (Received 1.40 p.m.) (WASHINGTON, August 8. It is officially stated that the United States has no intention of accepting! an indemnity as compensation for American lives lost in the Lusitania, on a head payment basis. In Congress, on the Army Appropriation Bill, it was agreed the army expenditure be £53,000,000

The Life of Parliament

To progressive Liberals who recollect the strenuous fight for representative and electoral reform during fho later seventies the most . disquieting feature of the debate—and still more of the subsequent talk about the lobbies —was the equanimity with which many members regarded the permanent institution of four-year or even five-year Parliaments. No on" would expect anything else from members of the type of Mr Gr. V. Pearee, for instance, who Avould make the days of reckoning as few and as fan between as possible but when members on the Liberal side of the House, following the lead of some of their newspapers, urge that with triennial Parliaments th e first session is wasted while the new members are learning "the run of the ropes" and the last sessiou while all the members are electioneering, their friends may be pardoned for wondering to what length of couservat- [ ism they are drifting. Public opinion moves rapidly in a new country like this, and frequent Parliaments are absolutely nccessory for its effective expression, A man fit to sit in Parliament should not tak e more than a week or two to make himself acquainted with "the run of the ropes," and if he is kept electioneering every day he is there, so much the better for his constituents. Quid Pro Quo. The passage of the Parliamentary Elections Postponement Bill made the way of the Legislative Council Bill through the House easy, and though Dr Newman was speaking more than half humourously when he described one Bill as a 'quid pro quo" for the other—a sort of mutual life assurance arrangement—he did not very extravagantly burlesque the position. Something of the same kind has j been going on between the two Houses of the Imperial Parliament the Lords holding up the measure extending the life of the Commons till the Commons passed the "Conscription Bill." But the war provides no excuse for postponing the first election of members of j the Council to 1921, or for maintaining nominated members in their seats till 1924. It was in 1910 that Mr Massey j added an elected Legislative Council j to his fighting platform, and two years later that he obtained authority to put th c reform into operation; but not till the end of 1924—fourteen years after the initial step—will he redeem his promise. His refusal to accept Mr. McCombs r amendemnt, which would hav e made the whole of the members elective in 1921, has strengthened the general impression that the National , Caramet is not particularly bent on reV;, forming the Council along th e lines of the measure it has just placed on the

WELLINGTON TOPICS. (Special Correspondent ) WELLINGTON, August 7. Parliament has made the usual haste under the customary pressure from the Cabinet, during the closing days of the session. On Friday night, between 7.30 and 9.30, while the Prime Minis--1 ter and the Minister of Finance were attending the Declaration Day celebrations, a dozen or so local Bills were rushed through the house with lightning rapidity, and when the two leaders took their seats after the supper adjournment the Bill providing for the postponement of the next general election for a year, in consequence of the war, was brought up for its second reading. This measure had been considered in caucus by both parties, and it was known that it would be carried through all its stages by substantial majorities, but it was expected that the division on the second reading would be closer than it was, and that more of the Eeform members would have supported their vote with their voice. They seem, however, to have preferred leaving the talking to the party leaders, Avho made a strong point of the grave responsibilities resting upon the National Cabinet, and of the importance of avoiding the distraftons and turmoil of a general election at such a time. Principle and Expediency. No doubt Sir Joseph Ward’s pointed allusions to the big financial operations in which the Government was engaged —operations of course forced upon it by the war —made a much greater impression upon the House than did the Prime Minister’s appeal on behalf of the absent soldiers. The Minister of Finasce frankly recognised that the postponement would be a matter of expediency and not a matter of principle. He would be "deadly opposed to delaying the election in normal times" he said, but at the present time he believed "the best interests of the country and the Empire" demanded the postponement He also could claim to be consistent, which perhaps Mr Massey could not. Sir Joseph, it will be remembered, strongly urged th e postponement of the election of 1914, while the Prime Minister insisted, as Mr Witty reminded him on Friday night that from “ the democratic point of view," "the'people ’s point of view," and the "constitutional point of view" it should be held at the usual time. Mr Massey was quite candid over the change of his own "point of view," and the House cheerfully forgave him for the sake of his candour. 1

1 Statute Book. It has left itself with | a good live y*ears to think the matter ; over. ;' . s The Party Truce. i Now that the Labour Party has dej finitely announced its intention to coni test the Pahiatua seat left vacant by j the deatli of Mr Escott, it may b 0 as' j well to explain how the party tTuce I bears u Pon this election. The'mention j of the names of Mr E. B. Boss, a for- | mer Liberal representative of the disI trier, and Mr J D. Matthews, the Liberal candidate at the last general election, in connection with the seat, has led several southern newspapers to express a hope that the Liberal Party will allow no violation of the compact made betwwen the parties at the time the National Cabinet was formed. These journals need not worry themselves. Mr Matthews, who, consider-

ing all the circumstances, made an excellent show against the late member is .1914, will observe the compact just as scrupulously as he would if it were his own bond. Mr Ross is in a rather differest. [position. He owes no pefcr sonal allegiance to the Liberal Party, and as he has announced himself as an Independent, the party cannot expect, to control his actions. It will do rts best, however, to dissuade him from what is stated to be his pr.esent purpose and to keep the field clear for the Reform candidate. Th e Labour Party did not subscribe to the compact, and, of course, is in no way bound by its conditions. It is perfectly free to take what part it pleases in the election.