THE GERMAN RETREAT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 March 1917, Page 5

THE GERMAN RETREAT

ON ONE HUNDRED MILE FRONT A SCENE OF DESTRUCTION AND DEVASTATION CONTINUED FRENCH AND BRITISH SUCCESSES THE RUSSIAN CRISIS SETTLING FROM ABSOLUTISM TO ULTRADEMOCRACY

PETROGRAD ORDERLY. JEWS ENTHUSIASTIC. Received 9.20. PETROGRAD, March 19. The streets on Sunday were crowded with people, who were orderly. The palaces and public buildings were draped with red. The Jews are enthusiastic concerning their chance of gaining full citizenship. It is reported from Moscow that the workmen will resume their employment. FINLAND SUPPORTS NEW GOVERNMENT. BUT WANTS HOME RULE. Received 9.20. COPENHAGEN, March 19. Three Russian Commissioners are visiting Finnish towns, appointing officials. Great meetings have been held supporting the new Government, but expressed a wish for home rule in Finland. THE NEW MINISTRY AT WORK. CREATING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS. RE-ORGANISATION PROCEEDING APACE. Received 11.50. LONDON, March 19. The Daily Telegraph’s Petrograd correspondent states that on Sunday morning there was a feeling the worst was over and complete order re-estab-lished. The streets and most of the shops were open, and the Duma was no longer surrounded by a surging crowd. Members of the Cabinet are working in their respective Ministries and order is being fashioned out of the chaos. Red flags are everywhere, even over the winter palace, which becomes National property, used for the constituent assembly. Organisation of militia to replace the police is proceeding at top speed, the food suppiy being set in order, there being new life, infinitely busier and more varied, than Russian has known hitherto. The announcement of the abdication calmed waverers. With characteristic elasticity Rushans of all classes are adapting themselves to the new fiewpoint. THE GERMAN INTRIGUER AT WORK. DECEIVING THE PEOPLE WITH LYING STATEMENTS. Received 11.35. LONDON, March 19. The delay in restoring normal conditions is due to the interference of a Committee of Labour Deputies. Wild disorderly meetings are assembled by them daily, by which they hope to retain their hold upon the soldiers and lower classes. Some students of both sexes are blindly co-operating in an anarchistic propaganda. The demagogic element realises they must soon lose the power they have temporarily usurped, and are fighting tooth and nail against sober influences. They are spreading the wildest rumours. The people are repeatedly told the German nation has risen against its rulers, j the Kaiser slain, and that a deputaI tion is coming to inaugurate an era of universal brotherhood The object of the rumours is to impress the masses that the war is ended, and the nation need no longer consider the situation. I There is already a reaction among | the workers, the majority being air:ious to resume them avocations. Terris reasonable hope the excesses of the ■ anarchist propaganda will rebound ! against its authors.

IuSMAN K£VUUIiIuN

RUSSIA’S NEW GOVERNMENT. 1 WILL. STAND BY ALLIES. PETROGRAD, March 18. Th© Government has telegraphed to its representatives abroad stating that the Government "which assumes power at the moment of gravest crisis in Russian history, fully conscious of its immense responsibility, will apply itself first to repairing the overwhelming errors of the past, secondly to ensuring order and tranquility, and finally preparing conditions necessary in order that me sovereign will of the nation may be freely pronounced on its iu.v.ure lot. In -egara to foreign policy, the Cabinet will remain mindful of international engagements entered into by' the lallen regime, will honour Russia’s woru, and will carefully cultivate the relations uniting Russia with other Allied nations. The Government is confident that these relations will jecome more intimately solid. yrp.! ■ l ASSET TO THE ALLIES. LONDON, March 18. MjjJpG. N. Barnes, the Labour leader and Minister of Pensions, in a speech at Lastham, said that he believed the jjfclroiution in Russia would prove the cmef event on the asset side of the The Russian people had made a long stnae towards freedom. “More strength to the Duma” he added. “May it gather up ail that is best in Russian life.” For months Russia had been torn asunder by internal strife. Thousands of her soldiers had been sacrificed by the rascality and greed of the bureaucracy, v. hich was as corrupt as existed in any part of the world. He believed the revolution would have a reflex influence on th e German bureaucracy, and would re-echo through out the world. STATEMENT BY LLOYD GEORGE. “A LANDMARK IN THE WORLD’S HISTORY,” Received 11.10. LONDON, March 19. In reply to Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd George said the incidence .of the Russian revolution would prov e one of tne landmarks in the history of the world. It had occurred with such dramatic suddenness that it could not be followed in all its details. There had been {jeep-rooted discontent alie to inefficiency ,of the Government in the conduct of the war. Soldiers had been asked to take action against the rioters, who rebelled against the shortage of food, but they refused to obey or’ders (cheers) and gave support to the Committee whereof the President of the Duma was leader, which Committe was suddenly formed to preserve order. Subsequently a strong Provisional Government was formed. After the Czar abdicated, the Archduke Michael placed his services at the disposal "of the Government if called to the throne by the voice of the people expressed in the constitutional assembly. There had been very little bloodshed. The new Government would receive the support of the Army and Navy. Present information did not enable him to say all danger was over, but the new Government was formed for the express purpose of carrying on the war with increased vigour. Lloyd George said on Thursday he would move a motion of congratulation to f the Duma. The Brifish Government * hoped the revolution would result in the closer union and more effective cooperation of Russia with its Allies. TTOre was every confidence that the Russian people would find liberty com patible with order, even in revolutionary times.

ABOLISHING SYMBOLS AND TITLES.

ORGANISING GIGANTIC ELECTIONS. r, Received 11.35. LONDON, March 19. Stockholm messages state the Russian crowds felt special animosity against M. Ritting, Minister of Agriculture, who was killed during the revolution. PETROGRAD, March 19. The Procurator of the Holy Synod aas ordered the removal of the Imperial chair, thus symbolising the abolition of Caisaropapism. M. Kerinsky has abolished the title of Excellency for Ministers, who will in future be called “Mister.” Hoing rule commissions throughout Russia are installing a colossal scheme of re-organisation. The elections will probably be postponed until after the war. All newspapers are displaying much greater freedom. Socialists and soldiers are publishing new journals. Newspapers are unanimously patriotic, iiiiu urge tnat the blessings of freedom obtained at such slight cost of life be consolidated by fighting hereditaiy enemies, who were watching to strike against Russia. Th e correspondent adds that Russia acclaimed the new regime so joyfully, that it is ridiculous to talk about the icsioration of autocracy. The extremists will probably agree to support; the Duma until th e gigantic general elections are oranised.

An interesting episode occurred on Friday, when M. Ivoff. a Minister, went to Prince Michael’s palace. The latter said he would not hesitate to accept or reject the throne if convinced the good of Russia would be saved thereby. As the Ministers "were not unanimous, he therefore thought it best to abdicate, handing over tin supreme power to the Duma and the Government. THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN BEATING THE TURKS. Received 11.55. LONDON, March 19. A wireless Russian official message states; We dislodged the Turks from a number of positions, and they are now retiring towards Pendshinim. We occupied Harunabad, south-west or Kermanshah.

IN THE AIR.

A FRUITLESS ZEPPELIN RAID. Received 11.10. LONDON, March 19. In the House of Commons, Mr MacPherson stated no lives had been lost, and no damage done in the last Zeppelin raid. THE GERMAN STORY. Received 11.35. NEW YORK, March 19. German official reports state that on Friday night Zeppelins dropped bombs on London and the south-eastern counties, and returned safely, despite the furious fire of defensive guns. British airships were unable to approach the airships. London was distinctly visible. Nothing is known from London to confirm the above.

AMERICA AND GERMANY.

GERMAN SHIPS READY TO DASH FOR SEA. Received 11.35. WASHINGTON, March 19. The State Department has been informed that eleven German ships at Sanasailia arc ready to dash for sea dn the event of war -with the United States. American trade has fallen off to the extent of £50,000,000 since the submarine crusade started. IN MESOPOTAMIA. BRITISH PROCLAMATION TO THE ARABS. LONDON, March 18. The Press Bureau states: General Maude issued a proclamation at Bagdad as follows:. “ The British have come not as conquerors, but as liberators, to relieve you from tyranny and bondage. The Turko-Germans have despoiled you and made Bagdad for twenty years a centre to retard British power in Persia and Arabia. The Entente hopes that the Arab race will again rise to greatness. The Crown invite representatives to participate in civil management in collaboration with the British political representatives who arc accompanying the army.

THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

BULGARIAN ADMISSION. LONDON, March IS. A Bulgarian, official message admits that the French penetrated advanced trenches south of the village of Magovo, to the north of Mod astir.

GERMANS IN FULL RETREAT.

RETIRE MANY MILES. LAYING WASTE WHOLE COUNTRYSIDE. OUR CAVALRY’S CHANCE. LONDON, March 181 Mr Philip Gibbs, the official correspondent with the British Forces, says that the Germans are in full and rapid retreat to new lines many miles in the rear of the abandoned positions. They are laying waste villages on the entire countryside, poisoning wells with arsenic, burning bridges, and mining the roads. Our cavalry patrols have gone far away, and the infantry in pushing forward.

FRENCH SUCCESSES.

ONE HUNDRED BOROUGHS AND VILLAGES CAPTURED. LONDON, March 19. The High Commissioner reports:— French official: Our troops continue to progress eastwards of Nisle, reaching the Ham-Nesli railway, and northwards of Nogon. We occupied Guiscard, and are patrolling St. Quentin Road. During the last three days we captured about one hundred boroughs and villages. THE BRITISH ADVANCE. NEW ZEALAND TROOPS PROBABLY ENGAGED. DIVISION AT FULL STRENGTH. WELLINGTON, this day. It is almost certain the New Zealand division was in the recent advance of the British, following the fall of Bapaumc and Peroune. If so, the division would go into action at full strength. Certainly, if the division has not already been strengthened by the use of accumulated reinforcements, it soon will be. Detailed information is not available, but if the effective strength of the New Zealand Army in the field is increased, any additional troops are to remain. Part of the New Zealand division is under Major-General Russell. PERONNE A VERITABLE PORTRESS LINE SOUTH iOF AREAS DISAPPEARS, , \ LONDON, March 19. Mr Philip Gibbs writing on Sunday says: The British entered Peronne today. That statement alone is sensational enough, but it does not stand alone. The whole of the German line south of Arras—as strong as one vast fortress, built by the laboun of a million men, with a thousand machine-guns and forests of barbed wire—has slipped away, and the enemy is now in rapid retreat to new lines many miles away laying waste the countryside as they go. Scores of villages northeast of Bapanmc and east of Peronne are burning. The town of Athies, like a flaming torch is visible for miles. Other villages arc smouldering ruins, whence volumes of smoke roll. No homesteads or farms remain—only black ruins and devastation. The enemy arc adopting war’s malignancy to the utmost. They have poisoned wells to prevent the cavalry drinking. A number were tested and found to contain arsenic. Bridges over waterways have been burnt and mines beneath crossroads have opened enormous craters. High explosive traps are scattered. It is impossible to give our exact line at the present moment. Cavalry patrols are over the hills and far away, and infantry patrols are pushing forward. Only the aeroplanes know their exact whereabouts. They have gone beyond Rospuenes, Bancourt, Pavrieul, and Sapignies. Oun cavalry have worked beyond Logeast wood, and penetrated east of Achict le Grand, turning the German line. Cavalry also reconnoitered the crossing of the canal at Dunord, about Peronne. Anglo-French cavalry patrols are far south, near Nesle. The Germans are employing a cavalry screen behind their rearguards. They were seen on Saturday north of Bapaume and south of Roye. Our troops this morning passed Eterbigny. They also, reached Misery and Marchalpot. There was some fighting on Saturday night around Peronne. Our patrols, despite snipers, machine-guns, and some shelling, penetrated Mont St. Guentcn, the chief defence of Peronne, and entered other neighbouring villages in the morning. Later in the day mounteds entered Peronne. The enemy had gone. Dugouts were burning. Portion of the town was smouldering, but Peronne is not utterly destroyed. Many houses stand. The enemy seems to have quitted portions on Saturday night—the appointed Gnjje —it he whole line filing heavily until 10 o’clock. Thereafter there was not a shot. The Germans had abandoned the great defensive works on the famous Bapaume ridge. LONDON, March 19. A wireless German official says; In sections of territory we volutarily evacuated between Arras and the Aisne. There has only been fighting at a few points between our covering troops and the enemy’s cavalry and infantry.

BRITISH RAPIDLY ADVANCE

CAVALRY ON THE HEELS OF THE HUNS A’ GERMAN- CAVALRY ESCAPE. Received 9.5. • LONDON, March 19. The Morning Post says that nowhere in tlie reconquered -teritpry have the British encountered effective opposition or serious delay. The new British front swung round with almost startling speed and was still advancing on Sunday night beyond the villages which, the day before, were well, ahead of the battle-front. The British cavalry went through the breach at Achietle Grand on Saturday, and Bivouacked at nightfall miles beyond the limit of British bombardment at the Somme battle. The Germans at Bapaume maintained a semblance of resistance until the infantry charged up the slopes outside the town. The defenders then scampered away, at the same time the German cavalry, which had hovered about the fields beyond Bapaume, escaped.

GERMANS RETREATING ON 100 MILES FRONT.

i LONDON, March 19. I Events on the Western front are movj ing with bewildering rapidity. Wcll- { known lines on the maps are changing ' hourly. There is no longer any doubt | that a serious breach has been made in | Germany’s wall of steel. The breach i extends from Monachy (south-west of j Arras)- to the Noyon plateau, a distance of about a hundred miles as the trenches | go. All the German armies in this see--1 tor are falling back towards the Belgian frontier, with the Anglo-French i cavalry pursuing. Naturally, there is no question of a German collapse, but I the retreat is certain to have a demoral--1 iging influence on the harrassed Germans, especially as the main direction 1 of the Anglo-French offensive threatens the most vital part of the German line. It likewise strikes at other communications. The Allies are now T within eight miles of St. Quentin, and five miles of Cambrai. WHAT THE FRENCH ARE DOING. CAVALRY PATROLS PUSHING AHEAD. BIG SUCCESS TOWARDS SOISSONS LONDON, March 19. A French communiue says; The French advance is being continued on a front of oven sixty kilometres between the Avre and the Aisne. North of the Avre, .French cavalry entered Neslo. We immediately threw out patrols towards the Somme and fought several engagements with the enemy rearguard, which feebly resisted. The French have advanced twenty kilometres north-east of Lassigny in the direction of Ham. Further south, our cavalry and light detachments, following the valley of the Oise, occupied Noyon. Betwmen the Oise and Soissons the whole of the German first line, wnth the villages of Carlepont, Morsain and Nouvron Vinjre fell into our hands. We gained a footing on the plateau north of Soissons and occupied Crouy. We easily repulsed an enemy attack near Rheims. There was lively artillery fire in Champagne. At Verdun, a German attack on Chambrettes collapsed. HINDENBURG’S WARNING. LONDON, March 19. The li Daily Chronicle’s” correspondent at the French front quotes Hindenburg’s memorandum to commanding officers, w'herein he refers to the lessons of the Verdun failures and says the extraordinary number of German prisoners who gave up without serious resistance showed that the morale of certain troops was bad. The reasons should be sought. The old spirit of the German infantry must be revived. Fortified zones must be constructed, enabling positions to be held. Deep underground shelters and advanced trenches arc forbidden, as they are mere mantraps. Hindenburg emphasises the importance of the artillery climax immediately prior to an infantry attack, and says consideration of economy in munitions must then be ignored. Hindenburg concludes by insisting that the war has confirmed the superiority of massed formation attacks over others. ANZACS FIRST TO ENTER BAPAUME. Received 11.10. LONDON, March 19. Mr Walter Long, Colonial Secretary, speaking at the Constitutional Club, said the Australians were the first to enter Bapaume. I

GERMAN INTERNAL AFFAIRS

REPORTED EXPLOSION AT i COLOGNE. i BIG DEATH ROLL. j COPENHAGEN, March IS. Advices from the frontier state that a munition factory at Cologne blew up on Thursday. It is reported that him- ! drods of workmen were killed.

GERMAN DESTROYER RAID.

LONDON, March 13. The High Commissioner reports;— A British official reports in yesterday morning’s raid on Ramsgate, the Germans sank a British destroyer, eight of the crew being saved. The Germans escaped in the darkness. A second British destroyer was torpedoed, but not seriously damaged. A British merchantman was sunk on the North Downs.

ON THE SEA.

Received 10.35. WASHINGTON, March 19. The American Consul at Queenstown has notified the State Department that the captain’s boat of t-he City of Memphis has been found deserted, with evidence of hasty abandonment. It is presumed the captain and nine of the crew therein wera either rescued by a passing steamer cr imprisoned in a submarine. ARRIVAL OP THE SAXONIA. Received 11.30. NEW YORK, March 19. The Saxonia has arrived from Liverpool. Twenty-six sacks of mails for the American Government and Britisli Embassy were rifled eu route. Detectives are searching the passengers and crew, and later they were allowed ashore. Received 11.10. LONDON, March 19. The Government war risk on steamers to and from Australasia have been raised 3 per cent, and sailers 0 per cent. CHINA AND GERMANY. Received 9.20. TIENTSIN, March 19. The German Minister has asked fer an extension of time. He will probably leave on March 21. The Chinese have occupied the German quarter without incident.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS,

Received 10.10. NEW YORK, March 19. After the announcement of the settlement of the strike 'Owing to the President ’s intervention, the railway managers granted the men’s demands, including an eight-hour day, and pro rata overtime.-. It is considered to be the greatest labour victory for years, adding millions of dollars to the workmens’ pay roll.

FRENCH POLITICS.

PARIS, March IS. “Le Petit Parisien” states that General Lyautey’s resignation precipitated a crisis. M. M. Painlevc (Minister of Public Instruction) and Mouleus both refused the. office of Minister of Wa.% ■whereupon the Premier (M. Brian d) resigned rather than attempt to reconstruct his Cabinet again. Received 9.35. PARIS, March 19.' M. Deschanel has declined the Premiership, and M. Ribot has been invited to form a Cabinet.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Received 9.35. LONDON, March 19. The Manchester Guardian states that in connection with to-day's first Imperial War Conference, Lloyd George writes that the Imperial Cabinet felt it was imperative the whole Empire should assist in arriving at certain impending decisions regarding war and peace, which must be of decisive importance to the future of all the peoples of the Empire. Yet these meetings are merely evidences of still greater changes of the war in production and inter-im-perial relations, the full nature of which will not be apparent, and consequences cannot be dealt with, tint: 1 , after the war. Lloyd George continued that as long as they enjoyed this within the Imperial pale they were content, but will not accept unity which thwarts characteristic natural developments. Any unification threatening the autonomous national life of the Motherland or the Dominions wouTu defeat itself. Political autonomy must carry with it fiscal autonomy. He suggests, if the Foreign Secretary became a member of the Imperial Council this would give the Empire representatives greater authority over the For- 1 eign Secretary than even the Ccm- j mons exercises. If the representr- j tives expressed dissatisfaction, -h-s policy would be as effective as an.' | constructional power under a mere ■ formal arrangement. Mr. Massey writes: We wastsc. cm , national strength for over halt a cen- ; tury in allowing hundreds of thorn j ands of emigrants go to countries outside the Empire. We should non encourage our own people to occupv the Empire’s unoccupied lands. In matters of trade, we also seemingly con- j sidered every country’s interests but | our own.