PUSHING THE GERMANS BACK

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 1 March 1917, Page 5

PUSHING THE GERMANS BACK

BRITISH STILL ADVANCING WAR CONSIDERED INEVITAIE BETWEENIAMERICA AMO GERMANY - ARMING MAIL STEAMERS PROTECTING AMERICAN LIVES AND v INTERESTS

ON THE WESTERN FRONT. BRITISH IN PURSUIT OF GERMANS. ENEMY PREPARING TO EVACUATE BAPAUMS. Received 9.15. LONDON, Feb 28. Mr. Philip Gibbs, telegraphing on the 27th, says th e troops have advanced all along the line, taking positions from whence the enemy are withdraw ing, only meeting with resistance here and there. Bodies of men have been left behind with machine-guns in order to delay pursuit. Their outposts are fighting in the neighbourhood of Vaux Wood, Russignol Wood and eas>; of Gommecourt. The enemy’s guns put over a shrapnel barrage, but did not succeed in checking our men ror long. We captured ground at tne north end of Puisieux. Thus far Pursi eux has not been heavily bombarded, and many ruined houses still stand, forming good cover for the enemy’s machine guns, which are apparently determined to sell the place

as dearly as possible. Early on the 27th a party of Britishers established themselves securely in the corner of the village and are now routing out the hornets’ nests at Puisieux. From thence our line has been thrust our far beyond Miraumont, and Beauregard Dovecot. The enemy before retiring built many obstacles and wire entanglements, which in some places were thick and unbroken, particularly the trenches south of Loupart wooer. In one case our outposts found belts of wire twelve feet thick, with German gunners hidden on the other side. Heavy explosions were heard in the direction of Bapaume, where there is great destruction in order to hamper our entry.

ADVANCE CONTINUES. THREE LINES ENTERED ON . HALF MILE FRONT. LONDON, Feb~2T. Sir Douglas Haig "reports: We made further progress north and south of the Ancre during the night. ,We captured Le Barque, occupied Ligny and established ourselves in the western and northern defences of Puissieux an Mont. We raided south-westward of Lens, also eastward of Armentieres, where, on a half-mile front, we entered three lines of trenches and considerably damaged the defences. THE GERMAN STORY. MANY RAIDS BY BRITISH. LONDON, Feb 27. A German official message states: “Numerous English advances were made between Ypres and the Somme, but only one reached our trenches east of Arras, and a counter-attack drove the raiders out.

GERMANS' FORCED RETREAT. Received 10.30. PARIS, Peb 28. The Petit Journal states that retreating 1 Germans blew up a number of large calibre guns. The fact that the Germans abandoned strong positions but stopped on a mediocre line indicates a forced retreat, not a strategic operation. THE ROUMANIAN CAMPAIGN. ENEMY FORCES REPULSED. LONDON, Peb 27. A Roumanian communique says; We repulsed with heavy losses strong enemy reconnaissances on the northwestern frontier of Moldavia. We bombarded enemy trenches on the Serth, dispersing enemy troops and supply columns.

AMERICA AND GERMANY. “AN ACT OF WAR.” ONLY A MIRACLE CAN AVERT WAR NEW YORK. Fob. 27 A growing tendency among the newspapers to demand action by President Wlsion is evident. The Globe, commenting on the aconia, says that Germany has committed an act of war. and that only a miracle can now prevent an armed conflict. In Washington the opinion is held that the Laconia outrage is a clear cut violation of America's rights. An authoritative opinion to this effect has been given. The conference between President Wilson and Mr Lansing is expected to hasten the action of Congress. A member of the Cabinet described the outrage as the Lusitania over again. America will be forced to act. Some

Congressmen are of opinion that passenger, but not munition ships should be armed. The Evening Post ? s Washington correspondent says that the sinking of the Laconia was an overt act, but it probably will not load to further steps at present than armed neutrality. ARMING MAIL SHIPS. Received 8.10. NEW YORK, Feb 28. The Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution demanding that the Government immediately equip mail ships with naval guns and gun crews, assuring the Government of support in any steps taken to protect American lives and property. GERARD SAILS FOR AMERICA. Received S.lO. MADRID, Feb 28. Mr. Gerard sailed from Comuna in the Infanta Isabel, although specially warned not to embark on a Spanish ship. Russian campaign. THE LATEST GERMAN HORROR.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN GASSED. Received 10.30. PETROGRAD, Feb 28. The Novoe Vremya publishes an appalling story of German poison gas exterminating the entire population of a Galician village. The populace and the Russian troops posted in the village had barely time to put on their masks before the attack was launched The Russians readily repulsed this but the civilians were wiped out, women being driven mad with terror at the sight of the oncoming greenish vapour, bringing certain death. They killed children with their own hands to save them from torture. Some refuged in the church, but the fatal cloud killed them. Russian soldiers, returning after the fight were confronted with the ghastly spectacle of the bodies ,cf men, women, and children in attitudes testifying the unspeakable sufferings the victims had undergone.

GREECE. A GREEK MUTINY. [ Received 10.30. [ LAUSANNE, Feb 28. The mutiny of the Greek troops at the internment camp at Golitza (cabled on the 24th) was caused by Hatyoppoulis, whom the soldiers accused of betraying them. He promised them their return to Greece via Monastir, but instead they were deported to Germany. Hatyloppoulis, fearing the consequences, left the district.

ON THE SEA. TORPEDOED DUTCH STEAMERS. C “ Received 5.40. AMSTERDAM, Feb 28. The seven Dutch steamers torpedoed were insured in Holland, chiefly by German underwriters, at SO per cent; Ejnglish underwriters had. quoted 10 guineas as a war risk from Falmouth to Holland, but the owners declined. THE YARROWDALE’S PRISONERS. Received 9.50. VANCOUVER, Feb 28. Advices from Berlin state that the Yarrowdale’jf prisoners, recently released,* have been delayed owing to infectious disease have been discovered in their residence. NATIONAL SERVICE. Received 8.40.

LONDON, Feb 28. In the House of Commons debate on National Service many members urged the necessity of amendment in the direction of clearly preventing the application of compulsion in any form. The Government -has since submitted an amendment, which was finally addoptod, preventing compulsory service and the transfer of labour from cue | industry to another by Order in-Coun-cil ,or under the Defence of the Realm regulations. The Commons refused to omit Ireland from the scheme. 11 he Bill has passed the Committee stage. GERMANY’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS READY TO EIGHT AMSTERDAM, Fob. 27. i In the Reiehstg, Herr von Bethmann. t Holwegg said that Germany’s granting" now war credits demonstrated to the I world her readiness to fight until the Entente was ready for peace. It would b e unproductive for Germany to detail the conditions of peace. Her aim was the reparation of wrongs suffered, and future guarantees for the existence of a strong Germany. The nation was more resolute than ever. President Wilson ’s brusque breaking off of relations was unpreeendented. in history. . ANTi-HOLLWEG CAMPAIGN. COPENHAGEN, Feb 27. Her von Bethmann Hollweg’s antagonists have written to the Kaiser, demanding a new Chancellor, and accusing Bethmann Hollweg of allying himself with Herr Scheidemann. the Socialist leader. Thitry. of Adminral von Tirpitz’s leading, supporters have organsec a newspaper and platform campaign,' demanding that von Hindonburg become Chancellor. The Socialists and Liberals ridicule the movement. AUSTRIAN EXECUTIONS.

Received 8.40. AMSTERDAM, Feb 28. The Austrians have executed .150 Bosnia-Herzegovinians, who declared themselves Serbians, including clergy* men, members of Parliament, teachers and doctors. INCIDENTS OF TEE WAR. A NEW ZEALAND OFFICER COURTMARTIAL LSD. * Received 9.15.LONDON, Feb 28. Lieutenant Mulsolm P. Astley, a New Zealander, pleaded guilty at a courtmartial to drunkenness and resisting the military police on lire evening of the 17th, after attending an Officers’ entertainment at Buckingham Palace. He enlisted with the New Zealanders in. England, and served faithfully at the Dardanelles. Sentence will be delivered later. DEATH OF LIEUTENANT RUSSELL Received 9. 15. LONDON, Feb. 28. Sccond-Lieut, T. G. Russell, of th© Flying Corps, formerly of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, was killed whilst flying. His brother L. D. Rus* sell was killed whilst aoroplaning in 1916. Ho Avas educated at the Wanga« nui school. The surviving brother alstf of tho Flying Corps, in a prisoner ia! Germany.

BRITISH POLITICS THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. SEATS FOR HIGH COMMISSIONERS Received 9.15. LONDON, Fob 28. The Government has allotted Higfe Commissioners permanent seats in tho House of Commons behind the ambatssadors-' benches. WOMEN SOLICITORS' .BILL. Received 9. IS. . Fob. ‘ In the House of Lords the secoail reading of the Women Bill was carried.