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Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 2 January 1917, Page 5

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GERMAN PEACE PROPOSALS. SCATHING EXPOSURE OF FALSITY. TERRIBLE CONDITIONS IN GERMANY STARVATION STALKS THROUGH THE LAND AN APPEAL TO THE WORLD FOR PITY.

: ON THE WES'iiiRN FRONT.

\ PROVIDING TOR THE FUTURE. Received 9.5 LONDON, Jan. 1. A correspondent 'with the French, army says that troops are holding lines in the Vosge's and Alsace within twenty of the Rhine, waiting for the moment to descend on the flank and rear when the Germans fall back upon the Rhine and Strassburg. If the Germans commit the mad folly of trying desperately to find another way into France I behind Belfort, through Switzerland, so much the worst for them. The GerI mans opposing them ar e dispirited. The f French could advance if they wanted to, and bombard many Alsatian towns, but they are waiting for something bigger. They are treating the Alsatian inhabitants with kindness and sympathy, consequently they are much beloved. WORK FOR THE COMING YEAR. ', ; ' LONDON, Dec. 31 /Newspapers, reviewing the 1910 operations, predict a great western offensive iu 1917, over a larger front and €nr*jjpng new tactics, perfected at Vcrrn, which will enable the attacks to be conducted with fewer casualties than to the defenders. Papers contend i&it the new tactics, which have not bSn fully disclosed, have solved the ' problem of trench warfare, making vie-, tory certain. Lord Sydenham writes: The Germans have learned that safety is no longer to be found in most elaborate defences. The combination of artillery, infantry and air service is being perfected. The supreme importance of the air service was strikingly manifested at Verdun. There will be many more guns, amply supplied with shells, in 1917. If the lessons of the past are turned to full account, we can attack on a far larger scale with certainty of success. GERMAN MOVEMENT WESTWARD TO CLEAR THE WAY TO CALAIS. ' ' Received 9.5. LONDON, Jan 1. The Daily Mail's Amsterdam correspondent says it is reported from the frontier that Germany is transporting guns and material through Belgium westward. German spies i n Holland are spreading a report that now the winter compaign has exhausted Russia's reserves of men and ammunition, Hindenburg is preparing a final effort to clear a way to Calais. 'WRDER IN COLD BLOOD. THE PEACE-LOVING HUN. LONDON, Dee. 30. An Admiralty communique narrates an outrage in which German savagery, Sn torpedoing merchantmen, reached its climax The British steamer Westminster, proceeding to Port Said, was twice struck without warning by a submarine ISO miles from land. Four men were killed, and the ship sank in four minutes. Th e submarine shelled the crew and sank the boat. The chief engineer and master were killed. Five others are presumed to have been drowned. The communique denounces this act as "murder in cold blood." AFTER THE WAR. LONDON, Dec. 31. A special committee of the London Chamber of Commerce recommends the restriction of enemy traders within the State aid in improving land and water transport, and penalising enemy shipping, State co-operation in promising trade banks to assist business afcrpad, wages sufficient to secure the /-Mfker a reasonable standard of living, -•• iqfel sharing, co-partnership, technical education, preference by Government departments and local authorities for goods produced within the Empire, the non-return of any enemy ships in the possession of the Allies, replacement by the oaemy of all ships sunk

GERMAN NAVY LEAGUE. ENGLAND IS THE FOE. Eeceived 9.25 AMSTERDAM, Jan. 1. The "Kruecz Zeitung," Berlin, publishes the text of a secret memorandum of the council of the German Navy League, transmitted to Bethmann-Holl-weg in June, which states that England has been preparing for war. for eleven years, had an immense military superiority of trained skill, and was forming alliances. She was successful in welding together the Empire, and winning over all important non-German navies, while the United States shammed neutrality. After the war England, in addition to her navy, would have an army of several millions, based on compulsory service. With Belgium in her hands, she will constitute a grievous peril to Germany. The key to the future lies in Belgium 's being under German political influence. This alone would effectively threaten the British Islands and the Empire. If the coast of Flanders was in our possession England would apt dare send her armies to France. A return to the pre-war situation in Belgium will be equivalent to defeat in this grievous struggle. Antwerp must be politically and economically dependent on Germany. An essential link in the world encircling chain of German sea trade is the recovery of the German colonies, which are indispensable for. the defeat of England, which hopes, after the war, to be indisputde master of the world for a century, us after Trafalgar. The protection of the German colonies and her world trade will require a cruiser fleet able to rely on a few strong land bases and floating bases in the shape of supply ships. The Navy Leagne considered it was impossibe to arrive at any agreement with Britain., except an agreement consisting of the fear of German strength. .0 H TEE SEA. GERMANY'S SHIPPING LOSSES. 359 VESSELS SUNK AND 1,111 INTERNED. LONDON, Dec 31. In the course of. a lecture delivered at Hamburg it was revealed that Germany's losses in shipping since the outbreak of war amount to 359 vessels—lo2 sunk and 207 captured—while 621 vessels are interned i D neutral harbours and 490 in Germany. FRENCH CRUISER TORPEDOED. Received 9.5. PARIS, Jan 1. At the first view of the loss of the French battleship, the war naval critics contend that the armour plating of warships under water is inadequate, otherwise it would not be so easy to sink them; also that water-tight, compartments must be made smaller. Received 11.5. The French cruiser Gaulois was torpedoed in the Mediterranean, only four lives being lost. DANISH VESSEL TORPEDOED. Received 11.55. LONDON, Jan >. The Danish steamer Denmark, has been torpedoed. Twenty-four were saved. AN OUTSPOKEN CLEEIO. Received 11.25 SYDNEY, Jan. 1. The Bishop of Bathurst, in a sermon, scathingly commented on the falsehood associated with the conduct of the war, and said in spite of the promises of last New Year, we still find the balance of great achievements has again gone to the enemy. We are buildingup man, industrial and money power, but we are approaching a margin where victory becomes impossible.