A DESTROYER RAID

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 27 February 1917, Page 5

A DESTROYER RAID

ON THE WESTERN FRONT. BRITISH ADVANCE. UERMANS YIELD GROUND ON THE ANCRE. SERRE AND OTHER POINTS OCCUPIED. LONDON, Feb 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy has continued to yield ground along the Ancre. - .'Small bodies of our troops advanced on a wide front and occupied Serre and other important points eastwards, meeting with little opposition. There has been considerable artillery work astride the Somnie.

EXTENSIVE SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. LONDON. Feb 25. We successfully raided eastward of Vicrstraat (just south of St. Eloi) on a 500 yards' front, inflicting casualties. We also raided eastward of Annentieres. ~~ y " We drove out raiders who had reached our trenches north-east of Ypres. [ : COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, Feb 25. -j. French Communique.—Our artillery effectively active in the region of Morthomme. There was intermittent artillery fire in Lorraine and the Vosges. IMPORTANT STRONGHOLDS v ' ABANDONED. MOST NOTABLE MOVEMENT SINCE LAST AUTUMN. FIRES IN ENEMY'S FRONT INES. LONDON, Feb 26.

Mr. Philip Gibbs, writing from headquarters on the 25th, says: The enemy are steadily withdrawing from many positions between Hebuterne and the ground south-west of Bapaume. Strong British patrols pushed on to the abandoned country and pene jtrated in some places three miles beyond the former line. We are already north-west of Serre and south of Jules Beyond Miraumont and Pys we have gained a number of German strongholds which we were expecting to win only by heavy fighting. The enemy are yielding to ceaseless pressure of our men and guns by escaping to a new line of defence along me Bapaume ridge. This is the most notable movement since the autumn of 1916. The German's strategical retreat reveals a new phase of weakness in defensive conditions. The retreat has not surprises our generals. After the battle of Boomravine on the 17th, there were several signs that the enemy contemplated withdrawal from the two Miraumonts. Since the morning of the 24th fires have been burning in the German front lines and the enemy's field batteries have for several days been firing an abnormal amount of ammunition. They seemed to be geting rid of suplies in the forward dumps before withdrawing therr guns.

ITALIAN WAR LOAN Received 9 a.m. ROME, Teb i 6. The new Italian war loan exceefls. £87,000,000, whereof £50,000,000 is new money. A WISE DECISION. LONDON, Feb. 26. Dcvonport approves :of the new Scale of rations for German war prisoners and **i.o*e. interned, reducing the allowance to the' proportions enjoined on the ■British nubile. • #

ON SOUTH COAST OF EHGLAND fJT-EL-AMARA CAPTURED ICES ON WESTERN FRONT SEVERAL IMPORTANT POSITIONS OCCUPIED APPALLING CONDITIONS IN GERMANY

MESOPOTAMIA. CAPTURE OF KUT-EL-AMARA 1730 PRISONERS TAKEN Received 8.35 LONDON, February 20. The British forces have captured Kut-el-Amara. The High Commissioner reports under date February 26 as follows: —As a result of recent fighting the whole of the enemy's positions from Sannaiyet to Kut-el-Amara are secured, Kut itself passing automatically into our hands. In two days' fighting 1730 prisoners, four field guns, ten machine guns, and a large quantity of rifles and ammunition were captured.

BRITISH ADVANCINGG ON KUT

LONDON, February 25 Mesopotamia official. —Th e southern portion of the Saunaiyat position captured on Thursday consisted of two iines on a 450 yards frontage and 100 yards in depth. Six counter-attacks failed. Our assault on Thursday afternoon resulted in the capture of two lines of a 900 yards front. Before daybreak on Friday we crossed the Tigris in the neighbourhood of the Shumran Bend; and our covering parties were established on the left Hank. Within nine hours we completed .•> bridge and consolidated the position, despite stubborn resistance. Simultaneously we resumed the assault on Sannaiyat and captured the third and fourth lines en a 1050 yards' front. We prisonered 514 in the Shumran area on Friday. HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS. LONDON, Feb 23. The High Commissioner reports:— Since clearing the Bend, all our efforts have been concentrated in taking the Sannaiyat position, on the left bank of the Tigris, east of Kut-el-Amara. Some systematic bombardments have been carried out daily since the 17th inst, when our attack failed, and all preparation's were made for renewed effort. This attack was launched on February 22, and two lines of trenches in the south, and positions were secured and consolidated. Fighting is still proceeding. Heavy rain has caused the river Tigris to rise to flood level, thereby hindering our operations and makingsupplies of troops on the left bank a matter of some difficulty.

GERMANY AND THE NEUTRAL POWERS. SWEDEN ALARMED STOCKHOLM. February 25 The first chamber of the Diet carried a military grant of thirty million kroner for the defence of Swedish neutrality. The second chamber voted only ten millions. During the debate the Foreign Minister stated that something had happened during the past few days which had greatly aggravated Sweden's position, necessitating a larger vote to safeguard her neutrality. The situation was more grave than ever, and the future was very dark. The grant was submitted to the joint session. It is expected that the Government will disclose the threatening danger at a secret sitting. CHINA AND GERMANY Received 11.5 PEKIN, February 20. The Chinese Minister at Berlin lias been informed that Germany could not alter the submarine campaign, but would respect Chinese life and property and promised to do her utmost to secure China's participation in the Peace Conference if the relations with Germany are maintained.

GERMAN DESTROYER RAID. ON SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND. LONDON, February 26 The High Commissioner reports—ln the House of Commons Sir Edward Carson stated that enemy destroyers bombarded Broadstairs and Margate early this morning. A woman ad a child were killed. Received 11.5 LONDON, February 26. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Carson said German destroyers bombarded Broadstairs and Margate early this morning, two persons being killed. There was also a destroyer engagement,, with no British casualties. Any losses sustained by the enemy are not ascertainable. ON THE SEA.

TWO BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK

TOKIO, Feb 25

Two British steamers—rersius (6,728 tons) and Worcestershire (7,175 tons)—have been sunk off Colombo.' Details are not revealed, but it is believeu they were sunk by an explosion plotted by Germans.

.. THE TORPEDOED LACONIA. .. SIX AMERICANS ABOARD. Received 8.35. There were six Americans 1 aboard the torpedoed steamer Laconia; 270 passengers were rescued. The Laconia was torpedoed while en route to England from Now York, without warning. » FURTHER SINKINGS. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Feb 26. The steamer Falcon, of Cardiff, of 2244 tons, has been torpedoed and sunk, , February 25 The British steamer Iser (2100 tons) has been sunk. 'AMSTERDAM, Feb. 25. . The Dutch steamer Bandoeng is now reported to have been sunk.; Dutch shipowners on Saturday declared that the situation was most critical. They warned Germany that however peaceful Holland may be she will not tolerate everything. The resumption of the sailing of 20 vessels to America this week may be cancelled. Holland is becoming increasingly anxious, fearing a sudden German food raid. SCBMARINiISv, COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL SAYS HERR BALLIN. Received 11.5. AMSTERDAM, Feb 26. Herr Ballin, in an interview, declared the German Admiralty should be satisfied with the results of unrestricted submarining, the chief aim whereof is to interrupt England's traffic, not to sink ships. This has been completely successful, and neutral shipping has been brought to a standstill.

HORRIBLE CRUELTIES

IMPOSED ON ROUMANIAN PRISONERS

Received 9.0

ROME, Februarv 20.

Italian newspapers give prominence to a horrible story of an escaped Roumanian prisoner, a robust young peasant, who was imprisoned in various camps, and later on sent to the Italian front to make raids. He says that 60 compatriots in one camp died of hunger. The Austro-Hungarians throughout treated the Roumanians as the Kaiser ordered his soldiers to treat the Chinese Boxers. When they entered a Roumanian village they destroyed everything not of immediate use, including farm buildings and orchards, shooting old men and women on mere suspicion. Life in prison camps was a constant torture, and all the prisoners were starved and forced to work from morn till night under threat of the whip. Some prisoners ate a few seeds with which they were sowing the fields, and a general punishment was ordered. Prisoners were beaten with thick sticks until their spines were almost broken; some were hoisted until their toes barely touched the ground, and thus left for hours. Others were doubled up and tied with ropes, and left lying on tho ground all clay. Many fell dead from hunger in the fields, and only those of a robust constitution were sr.ved and escaped.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES

LONDON, Feb. 26.

A .War Office despatch mentions twenty members of the Fiji defence force and thirteen New Zcalanders, including Colonels Barnet, Fitzherbort, Hall, Hutchen, Myers, Parkcs. Richardion, and W3'lic.

GERMANY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS

AMERICA AND GERMANY. AMERICA AND ARMED NEUTRALITY. WILL PROTECT AMERICAN LIVES. AND PROPERTY. President "Wilson addresses Congress immediately, asking power to protect lives and property on the high seas. It is understood her future policy will be armed neutrality. Received 8.35. WASHINGTON Feb 26. A later message states that President Wilson has asked Congress for authority to arm merchantmen, and to take any other means to protect American lives and interests on ine high seas. He declared the time iiacr arrived when influences other than material things must be considered li the United States is to uphold her citizens' rights. PRESIDENT WILSON'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. ASKS FOR POWER TO DEAL WITH GERMANY. SITUATION FRAUT7HT WITH DANGER. Received 11.30. WASHINGTON Feb 20.

President Wilson recited the circumstances of the Housatonic and the Lyman law as evidence of German determination to disregard the rules of humanity and internation law, and pointed out how American commerce had suffered. Our commerce is suffering rather in apprehension than in fact, rather because so many of our ships are timidly keeping to their home ports, than because American ships have been sunk. The situation at present is substantiairyThe same ac when he addressed Congress last, <•.■ cept this tying up of American con.--merce. An overt act, however, had not occurred, but expressions of this purpose on Germany's part have given ground for the impression that if an overt act has been avoided it was because German submarine commanders acted with unexpected discretion and restraint. The situation Is fraught with the gravest dangers and possibilities, and the necessity for definite action may come at any rime. Therefore, as Congress is about to expire, Mr. Wilson asked for full authority and power from the Congress to deal with the situation, in whatever way it wa£ necessary, with the purpose of defending the lives and commerce of American, people. ,

PEOPLE IN DESPEEATE STRAITS. RIOTS AND STRIKES LABOUR TROUBLES INCREASING. LONDON,' February 25 The Daily Telegraph's correspondent says:—Evidence is accumulating regarding the desperation of the German people. My informant left Germany a week ago. He says hundreds of workmen in the shipbuilding yards and ammunition factories ar e ailing as the result- of underfeeding. Tins lias caused serious shortage of labour. At the Vulcan yards at Stettin, where submarines are being constructed, many hundreds struck us a protest against underfeeding. Tlie police used arms to suppress the demonstrations, but the spirit of revolt is steadily spreading, and strikes are steadily increasing. At Hamburg thousands of hungry women with ill-clad children, a fortnight ago marched in. silence to the burgomaster's house. The police dispersed them roughly. At Berlin tbe position is equally threatening. Eight thousand employees of the General Electric Company are demanding better wages and food. Many hospitals are overflowing with men wlib have collapsed of starvation. There are great queues of women and children at the back doors of the more expensive restaurants, and they receive the kitchen refuse. The authorities are helpless to obtain or distribute relief. There were desperate scenes at Dortmund on the 19th, when a hungry mob sacked shops and attacked the police. Cavalry with drawn swords rode into the midst of the mob, many being injured.

CALLING UP MEN FROM 47 TO 60. Received H. 5. AMSTERDAM, Feb 26. The German Federal Council lias decided that men between 47 and CO must enrol for military work outside the army. AUSTRO-HTJNGABIAST COMPROMISE. ZURICH, February 26. An Austrian semi-official admits the failure to renew the Autstro-Hungarian compromise, and adds a provisional agreement has been reached enabling the Governments to engage in pourparlers with Gerraauy and other Powers respecting an Eeonovi ic 'ustorn--; [Jaion.

i... J i.<, lAN CAMPAIGN. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS Received 11.5 LONDON, February 26. Russian official —Roeonoiterers 'penetrated the enemy's trenches westward of Gablonitza, and scouts' dispersed the Turks on the western bank of Lake Van with heavy losses*. IN THE AIR. FRENCH AIRSHIP DOWNED Received 11.5 BERLIN, Ftbruary 26. A German official message states— We downed a French airship, which fell ablaze near Metz. Its cargo of bombs exploded when they touched the ground. The crew of 14. were killed. Details of the construction of the airship were easily recognisable from the remnants. THE VICTORY LOAN. £1,000,000,000 SUBSCRIBED Received 11.5 LONDON. February 26. Mr Bonar Law states that the final subscription to the War Loan exceeds £1.000,000,000.

AEMENIAN ATROCITIES LONDON, February 25 Mr Balfour, in a letter to the American Commiite of Armenian Relief, says if is doubtful if the true horror and suffering of Armenia is realised. There were 1.800.000 Armenians in the Ottoman Empire before the war. of whom .1,200,000 were massacred or deported. Those who were massacred died of abominable tortures, but they escaped the deported's longer agony.