DEAL IN WARSHIPS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 8 November 1916, Page 5

DEAL IN WARSHIPS

A PARGHASE FROM GREECE ROUMANIANS HOLDING GERMANS INFLICTING VERY HEAVY CASUALTIES ACTIVITY IN VARDAR VALLEY FRENCH REPORT SOME SUCCESS PRISONERS TAKEN ON THE SOMME NOW NUMBER NINETY-THREE THOUSAND

THE GREEK CRISIS.

AN EXPEDIENT REFUSAL. J MONEY WANTED FOR DEPLETED TREASURY. ATHENS, Nov 6. ' The Government’s refusal to hand over the light warships was apparently merely for the sake of appearances. The Government is willing to surrender, but hopes to obtain payment for theih, especially in view of the depleted condition of the Treasury. FRENCH MINISTER OF WAR AT SALONIKA. PARIS, Nov 6. General Roques, French Minister of War, has arrived at Salonika. FRENCH TAKE GREEK TORPEDOES. ATHENS, Nov 7. The French flag has been hoisted on the surrendered Greek torpedoers, and French crews have been drafted to them. REVELATIONS OF DUPLICITY. CONVINCING EVIDENCE. LONDON, Nov 7. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Athens’ correspondent says: Anglo-Frenjoh secret agents raided the residence of Kalamasiotis, deputy of Piraeus, on suspicion of being a supply agent for German submarines. The Government prepared a strong protest, but the “Patris” to-morrow publishes the seized documents, disproving the Greeks’ oft-repeated assurances that Greece was not supplying submarines. One- letter of Kalamasiotis assured Piock, the German Consul, that the former did not deserve Flock’s reproaches. “I am not blameworthy for the failure of revictualling. Our enemies placed considerable difficulties In my Cretan representative’s way.” In other cases Kalamasiotis’s letters Informed Piock where supplies were secreted, and finally a letter mentions a submarine commander’s visit, adding: “The submarine lies in a safe place, and Piock has congratulated us on our devotion.” GREEK NATIONALS ENROLLING. AS FAST AS EQUIPPED. Receivd 11.35. PARIS, Nov 7. “Le Journal” states that at an interview Danglis said that mobilisation had not commenced in all departments of new Greece, because volunteers are enrolling as fast as can be equipped. We are sure to drive out the Bulgars, because of our enthusiasm. GREEK DOUBLE DEALING. ALLIES PURCHASE LIGHT FLOTILLA. “DAILY MAIL’S” OPINION. Received 12 noon. LONDON, Nov 7. The “Daily Mail” says the Athens scheme to make the Allies buy vessels they had already seized originated with Gounaris, with the object of cepriving Couudouriotis of warships, and weakening French naval forces, which are obliged to provide crews, also securing large sums of money, which will be largely employed ?n anti-Venezelist purposes. Moreover, Greece can plead to Germany that she refused to hand over tho flotilla until the Allies forced her.

A GERMAN COMPLAINT.

A TALL STORY. HOW A LIEUTENANT WAS TREATED. LONDON, Nov 7. The German Government’s wireless news service to neutrals alleges the U 4, for the purposes of search, stopped a steamer flying the American flag off the Skillies on September 24, 1915. The steamer appeared to be stopping, ostensibly to lower a boat. The submaihne approached, and when at a distance of 300 yards the steamer suddenly opened concealed ports and fired two cannon and rifles, the American flag flying the whole time. A lieutenant, who was severely wounded, and a petty officer crawled out of the hatch before the submarine foundered. They were the sole survivors. Both swam to and entered an empty boat which was adrift. The steamer set off at full speed with the intention not of saving, but of ramming the boat. Shortly before the boat was rammed the two men sprang into the sea, and clung to wreckage for half an hour, when the steamer returned and picked them up. The lieutenant suffered a double fracture of the jaw, and was shot in the left temple, besides losing an eye as the result of the shell ing by the submarine. Instead of receiving medical attention he was confined with his comrade in a deck compartment measuring one metre by two metres. The door was fastened with iron bars. TH\y remained there until Falmouth was reached on the 25th, where they received the first medical aid. They were sent to hospital in Plymouth in October, and imprisoned in York Castle on the 6th November. They were transferred to Dyffrynalled in December. Later the medical officer there proposed to transfer them to Switzerland. The lieutenant’s other eye was endangered. The committee of doctors, also the chief examining body, agreed to the transfer, which the General Medical Officer vetoed. The lieutenant vainly endeavoured to send a report to Berlin via the American Embassy. The English Government, unable to get rid of the lieutenant by death from his wounds, attempted to prevent him obtaining publicity during the duration of the wav.

MOEE MADNESS.

ADMIRALTY 'AND AIR BOARD AT LOGGERHEADS. LONDON, Nov 7. There is considerable criticism in a section of the newspapers over the recent action of the Admiralty, particularly since the German destroyers’ raid. It is also known that the Admiralty is at loggerheads with the Air Board. The old competition for machnies is going on. Several resignations arc threatened. Critics question whether Mr Balfour (First Lord of the Admiralty) and Admiral Jackson (First Sea Lord) are a good combination. They suggest that a more active body of naval advisers or a chief with more initiative and force, are required. POLISH AUTONOMY. COOLLY RECEIVED IN GERMANY. UNFAVOURABLE PRESS CRITICISM. Received 11.55. LONDON, Nov 7. The German press comments reservedly on Poland. Few are fully satisfied: conservative newspapers blame the Chancellor for not giving opportunities for discussion before the proclamation, and declare the moment for the announcement was ill chosen. They fear it will cause unrest in Poland, where closer touch with the new- State w T ill he desired. Liberals and Radicals fear that owing to the number of Russophiles better relations with Russia, after the war will be hampered.

ROUMANIA.

HINDENBURG CALLS THE PRICE WANTS 700,000 LEVIES AT ONCE. ■ (United Service), LONDON, Nop- 7. It is reported that Hindenburg has insisted on the immediate mobilisation of 700,000 Polish levies. GERMANS CANNOT ADVANCE. VERY HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED Received 11.35 BUCHAREST, Nov 7. A wireless states that the German losses in the Jiul valley exceed a division and a half Despite violent attacks the enemy is unable to advance on the right bank of the Alt, along the Curtoa-Agries road. BEFORE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. EVERY SHIP SUNK BY HUNS. MUST BE REPLACED. Received 11.55. NEW YORK, Nov 7. The New York “Times” correspondent in London interviewed Mr. Robert Yerburgh, President of the Navy League, who says that 217 Chambers of Commerce agree that Germany must replace every sunken ship before peace negotiations are opened. We are demanding that the Government insist on these terms. FRENCH WAR MINISTER CONFERS WITH SALONIKA COMMANDERS. \ Received 11.55. ROME, Nov 7. The French War Minister has conferred at Salonika with the commanders of the Allied armies. ITALIAN TORPEDOERS BUSY. THEY ENTER POLA HARBOUR. Received 11.30. ROME, Nov 7. A naval communique states there was mutual sinking of an Italian torpedoer and an Austrian submarine. Italian torpedoers entered Pola and attempted to torpedo a large Austrian warship; she sank a big Austrian §tearaer. At Durazzo! an Italian armoured train badly damaged an Austrian torpedoer that was bombarding Sant ei Pidio. RAIN AND GALES. ON THE WEST FRONT. Received 11.55. I , , LONDON, Nov 7. General Haig reports improved position east of Butte de Warlencourt. ,We successfully raided trenches between Gommecourt and Serre, taking prisoners and inflicting casualties. Gales of wind and heavy rain prevail. SOMME PRISONERS. Received 11.55. ' : PARIS, Nov 7. A communique states that from July 1 to Ist November, Franco-British Somme prisoners number 91,532 men and 1,439 officers. The material captured includes 173 field guns, 130 heavy guns, 215 trench mortars, and 981 machine-guns. The French share thereof includes 40,796 men and 809 officers. There is nothing important to report. We repulsed Bulgarian counter-at-tacks east of Lake Prespa. Our aeroplanes bombarded localities in the Vardar Valley. BRITISH SUBMARINE HITS TWO HUN DREADNOUGHTS. OF THE KAISER CLASS. Received 11.35. , LONDON, Nov 7. The Admiralty announces that the commander of the submarine, cabled yesterday, claims that he hit two Dreadnoughts of the Kaiser class. BASED AT ZEEBRUGGE. AMSTERDAM, Nov 7. Twenty German warships are based at Zecbrugge and in the Bruges Canal. The sailors are mourning for their comrades in the two destroyers who failed to return after the Channel raid. POLISH INDEPENDENCE. AN OBVIOUS SUBTERFUGE. POLISH SOLDIERS WANTED FOB DEPLETED ‘ARMIES. PARIS, Nov 7. The newspapers universally declare that Poland’s autonomy is a subter,fugo designed to supplement the depleted armies at the expense of Polish hopes.

ON THE WESTERN FRONT

LONDON, Nov 7. A British official message states; Dur. ing the night wc improved our position at Butte v de Warlencourt. We carried out successfully raids between Gommecourt and Serre. * THE LATEST ADVANCE. PARIS, Nov 7. Correspondents emphasise the magnificent dash of the British and French troops on Saturday and Sunday when Generals Haig and Foch took advantage of a spell of fine weather. The British in a few moments carried the heights east of Le Sars and north-east of Guedecourt, while the French carried three lines of trenches on the front of the formidable fortified forest of St. Pierre Vaast. The Germans counterattacked all day indecisively until 4 o’clock on Sunday morning. Prisoners confirm the statement that the German losses have lately been tremendous. This is largely due to the bad direction of the artillery, which fell short, pouring tons of projectiles on to the Germans’ own infantry.

GERMAN TRICKERY. \

Received 9.30 LONDON, Nov 7, The Admiralty states that the German press is attempting to make capital out of what is described as a second Baralong case, the one object being the incitement of American opinion against Britain.. It is another finding of arguments in favour of an unrestrained submarine campaign. The facts arc perfectly simple. On the morning of September 24, 1915, in the western channel, U4l was engaged in sinking British merchantmen. Meanwhile a converted merchantman commissioned as an auxiliary ship approached h6r. Changing immediately she recognised the position, and lest the submarine submerge before within range she hoisted neutral colours, which is a perfectly legitimate ruse' de guerre. She hoisted when within range the White Ensign, as British warships are required to do. She fired on and sank the submarine. The commander’s preoccupation was the rescue of the British steamers’ crew, who were compelled to take to the boats fifty miles from the nearest port. The auxiliary ship then closed on one of the sunken steamer’s boats, which had broken adrift, wherein were two of the submarine ’s survivors. These were rescued in the same way, but softer other victims. The use of a neutral flag in order to approach within range of an .enemy is recognised in all naval practice,, and is repeatedly adopted by the Germans. The majority of the Moewe’s victims were secured by this method. It is difficult to believe that anybody except Germans would base on these facts an accusation of brutality on the ground that they were English and not German survivors tliat were saved first by a few minutes. The allegation that the Admiralty issued orders that survivors of submarines need not be rescued is an absolute lie; it was explicitly denied in the note of February 25 on the Baralong case.