COMBLES AND THIEPVAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 201, 28 September 1916, Page 5

COMBLES AND THIEPVAL.

TAKEN IN ONE GREAT SWOOP. GERMANS ADMIT BEING POWERLESS. t " 4000 PRISONERS IN 48 HOURS. STREETS STREWN WITH GERMAN DEAD. CREEK REVOLUTION SPREADINGVENEZELOS ORGANISING NATIONAL ARMY TO DRIVE BULGARS FROM MACEDONIA.

AMERICA AND NEUTRALITY. Jritish officers detained. subsequently were liberATED. WARSHIPS CONVOY GERMAN CRUISER (Received 9.30) NEW YORK, Sept. 27. Major Arthur Humphreys and Lieut Hugh Lovick, en route to Canada, were detained by the Immigration authorities at Ellis Island, because they were regularly serving with belligerent forces. They were releasee after the British Embassy protested. The State Department is now considering whether the British Commercial Attache, who addressed New Yor£ financiers and bankers, at a private luncheon, on the subject of the British Black List, committed a breach of neu trality. The United States provifiec a convoy of twelve warships for two German interned auxiliary cruisers, whu/ are leaving Norfolk for Philadelphia. The cruisers were obliged to pass beyond the three mile limit, and Germans fear the Allies will capture them AMAZING AERIAL EXPLOIT. HOW HONOURS ARE WON. r BRITISH AVIATOR'S GALLANTRY. m BRINGS DOWN EIGHT GERMANS. \ GETS BACK TO BRITISH LINES (Received 10.5) LONDON, Sept. 27. Lieut. Ball has gained the Military Cross, D. 5.0., and special bar, for an extraordinary series of air exploits. Observing seven enemy machines in formation, he attacked and shot down one at 15 yards range, and the remaining machines fled. Seeing five others directly after, Ball attacked one at ten yards range and shot it down aflame. He attacked a second when it was firing at him and shot it down over a village, where it landed on a housetop. Ball went to the aerodrome for ammunition. He then returned and attacked three other machines, causing all to dive, still under control. Being short of petrol, he returned home, his own machine being badly damaged. Later, while escorting a bombing raid, he saw four enemy machines and dived upon them and broke their formation, shooting the Jaearest, which fell. He also observed JJL2 enemy machines in formation. He straightway dived amongst them and fired the drum of the nearest machine, which fell out of control. Several other hostile machines approached Ball; he fired three drums, driving a: other down out of control, then he returned to the British lines with his aeroplane much riddled. ENEMY'S AERIAL LOSSES. 250 PLANES BROUGHT DOWN. IN TWELVE WEEKS' FIGHTING. PARIS, Sept. 26. From July 1 to September 25, 25C enemy aeroplanes were destroyed or brought down by th Allied airmen and anti-aircraft guns. I ' THE ZEPPELIN RAID TWO OF LATEST ZEPPELINS LOST. LONDON, Sept. 26. •; the air raid on 23rd and 24ljaj it is established that the airships downed were naval Zeppelins L 32 and L 33. Both were of most recent contraction. The first airship yas destroyed by an aeroplane after passing though effective guir fire. The second.j vrmgdu e to gun fire and the loss of gas. j

THE GREEK CRISIS. CONSTANTINE AND VENIZELOS ARE IN COMMUNICATION. (Received 9.20) The "Daily Chronicle's" Athens correspondent states that Constantine has opened communications with Venizelos. GREEK DESTROYER QUITS. JOINING THE REOLUTIONARIES. LONDON, Sept. 27. The "Daily Chronicle's" Athens cor respondent says the Greek destroyer Nonchi quitted the fleet and reacnec the open sea. It is believed she bound for Canea or Salonika to participate in the national movement. VENEZELOS' ANNOUNCEMENT. AN ANTI-BULGAR MOVEMENT.. • GREEKS MURDERED AND MALTREATED. POSITION NO LONGER BEARABLE. NO OPPOSITION TO DYNASTY. NOT AGAINST THE KING. (Received 9.20.) LONDON, Sept. 27. Prior to leaving Athens Venizelos made a special statement to the " Times"' ' representative. He announced that he was going to the Greek islands to lead the movement against the Bulgarian invader, who was over-running Greek Macedonia, maltreating, prisoning, and murdering unprotected Greeks, whom the Greek army left at their mercy. He could no longer resist the cry of compatriots who were calling him to save them. He had recently sent a message to King Constantino, urging the rescue of Greeks, and offering to retire if he would make the path easr. Venizelos hesitated taking the supreme step until he was convinced those now controlling Greece's poliey did not intend to arm and drive the enemy out. The patriotic movement was not intended against the King or the dynasty, but was mad e by those who were unable to longer stand aside; also it was the last effort we can make to induce the King to come forth as the King of Hellenes, and follow the path of duty in protecting his subjects. Venizelos feels sure that he can count on the goodwill of the free English people m the mission he is now setting out to accomplish. The movement he and Coundouritis is leading is purely national. They have exhausted all legal means to secure integral national action. If Athens moved in the right direction, Venizelists will assist in every possible wap. FURTHER LIST OF CASUALTIES. LONDON, Sept. 26. Darkness baffled the raiders, who cruised, aimlessly. A dozen bombs, mostly incendiary, fell in a north Midland town. Five houses were demolished, eleven people killed, and five injured. TRAGIC COMEDY OF GREECE. - NEW CABINET TOTTERING. ATHENS, September 26. General Moschopolous, Chief of the General Staff, has resigned. Everything indicates that th e Government will not last long. GREEK REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT. (Received 11.50) COPENHAGEN, Sept. 27. Athens advices state that 100 Greek officers, who endeavoured to join the revolutionaries, Were imprisoned with hard labour. There are serious revolt? at Larisßa, and the movement is growing.

VENEZELOS' INTENTIONS. PRINCE GEORGE OF SERBIA. (Received 11.50.) ATHENS, Sept. 27. "Patris" states that Venezelos does not intend interfering immediately with the status quo at Athens. The object of the movement is purely national, for the formation of an army for the purpose of handing Macedonia to the Allies. Prince George of Serbia has arrived at Salonika. VENIZELOS CAUSES SENSATION. ASSURED OF BIG SUPPORT. ATHENS, Sept. 27. Venizelos' move was a bombshell for the public. Newspapers were bought excitedly, and groups in the streets discussed the possibilities. Venizelos is absolutely assured or a powerful following—probably sufficient to force the situation. Venizelos and a dozen supporters secretly left Athens by motor cars ai 3 o'clock in the morning. They reached Phaleron Bay by a round-about route, and embarked in the speecy little Greek liner Hesperia with Admiral Condouriotis, who is a popular hero of all the Hellenes. B'efore leaving, Venizelos attended a meeting of his principal followers, and declared that events at Kavala had caused him to lose hope that the Greek Government would act with sufficient promptness to secure the honour and interests of Greece. It was therefore necessary to act himself in a higher capacity than as leader of the Liberals. The conflict wherein he might eventually be forced tc engage would be outside constitutional limits. He freed his supporters from their party ties and left them free : follow their consciences. FINAL APPEAL TO THE KING. LONDON, Sept. 26. The announcement of Moschojoule's resignation was premature. He ano five hundred officers memorialised the King, asking him to depart from neutrality. REICHSTAG OPENS TO-DAY. (Received 9.45.) LONDON, Sept. 27. The United Press Berlin correspondent states the stormiest session of the Reichstag since the beginning of the war is foreshadowed by members arriving for to-morrow's- opening session. Dr Coerting, industrial leader, from Hanover, will mov e a vote of no-con-fidence in Bethmann Hollweg. The absence of Liebknecht, who was recently arrested, will not contribute to calming the session. Bethmann Hollweg will address the Reichstag at 3 p.m. Voting war credits and the main features of the policy towards England will be the chief topics for th e first three weeks of the session. Conservatives profess to be highly pleased with the results of the recent Zeppelin raids, and intend to demand a more severe anti-English campaign. QUEER HUN MIXTURE HOLLWEG AND SOCIALISTS OPPOSE TIRPITZ AND JUNKERS. (Received 11.50) BERNE, Sept. 27. A Berlin niessage states that at the eleventh hour a bargain was struck between Hollweg and the Socialists, who will jointly oppose the Junkers and the Tirpitz Party. A GERMAN REPORT. THE SOMME FIGHTING EXCEPTING SEVERAL CAPTURES. ENEMY MADE NO PROGRESS. (Received 11.50) LONDON, Sept. 27. A German communique states we lost the projecting angle at Thiepval. The enemy gained ground on both sides of Courcelette. Except the occupation of Guedecourt, the enemy was unable to profit on his Monday success. We repulsed an attack at Les Boeufs, and from Morval to Bor chavesnes. French attacks on Ver mand Ovillers and Chaulnes failed. The Russians failed in the Ludowa sector. We made good progress at Hermannstadt. The Bulgarians defeated and pursued the enemy at Kajmacklan. TIED UP IN THE BALTIC. STOCKHOLM, Sept. 27. It is reported that Britain is making ■efforts to secure the release of steamers in Russian and Finnish harbours. Petrograd alone has half a million British tonnage held up. It is difficult to obtain Swedish crews, and Britain is endeavouring to secure Finnish. It is feared it will be impossible to release the ships unless Sweden removes mines from Kogrund vassage.' It is believed the mines wer e placed there under German pressure. !

COMBLES WHOLLY CAPTURED. 1,200 PRISONERS Press Extraordinary. (Received last night.) A French official report states that Combles has been wholly captured, with 1200 prisoners, 30 machine guns, and enormous booty. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT FOUR THOUSAND PRISONERS. IN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. KEEPING ON THE ENEMY. (Received 9.18.)) LONDON, Sept. 27. 'A British official report states that during the past 48 hours between 3000 and 4.000 prisoners have been captured . A new position was secured during the night, and patrols and detachments passed forward in many places, keeping in touch with the enemy. We progressed during the night, particularly in the direction of EauCOurt la Abbeye. A French report states that north of the Somme we are consoldating new positions. There wore no actions during the night. ■ Yesterday evening a brilliant attack enabled us to take a fortified wood east of Vermanbovillers. THIEPVAL AND COMBLES. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS REPORT. CAPTURED A SMALL COST. GERMAN FIGHTING MARKEDLY WEAK. FRENCH AT MONT. ST. QUENTLn. WHINING GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. (Received 9.20) LONDON, Sept. 27. Correspondents at British Headquarters opine that the very small cost and great success is due to the excellence of the artillery, and the real collapse of the defence. The fighting of German infantry on Tuesday was markedly weaker than on Monday, and artillery fire was spasmodic. The Anglo-French attack failed nowhere, and several important points were taken withotu opposition. Tiie whining tone of the German communique emphasises their impressions at their failure. In addition to our capture of Thiepval and Combles, the French on. the sowth reached the canal running norti east of the Somme, along the Tortille valley, coming into direct touch with defence works at Mont St. Quentin. Thus Mont St. Quentin is receivingtreatment. So successful was' feie attack on Combles and the break across the Ba-paume-Peronne Road that it considerably enlarged the British cavalry action to beyond Guedecourt. COMBLES A SHAMBLES. STREETS THICK WITH DEAD. WOUNDED TAKEN FROM CELLARS. (Received 11.50) PARIS, Sept. 27. Fifteen hundred enemy dead were counted in the streets of Combles, and 100 wounded were extricated from cellars of houses. The Germans left two battalions m fortified houses, with orders to hold out to the last. The British order was to avoid losses. They carried out a Dig fresh bombardment, and the enemy could not continue the struggle. GERMAN HEROES POWERLESS. CRUEL COLONIAL LOSS. GENTLY BREAKING THE NEWS. (Received 31.50.) BASLE, Sept. 27. The "Kolnischc Zeitung," in an inspired article, is preparing the public for the loss of East Africa. It says, our German heroe's on the Somme are powerless. Germany feels cruelly the loss of the last and finest colony, which was full of promise for mining and cotton. • MORE SACRIFICES AHEAD AMSTERDAM, Sept. 2G. Addressing a representative trade deputation, Dr Karl Helfferich (Secre- , tary of the German Treasury) admitted the effectiveness of the blockade. "None can deny," he said, "that we i suffer heavily from the ecpnoroie war(, and greater sacrifices and deprivations await our people." The "Cologne Gazette" admits that: small investors, especially fanners, are not subscribing to the war loan to the same extent as to former issues. The journal says they " fear national' bankruptcy. ... <