WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GREAT STRUGGLE IN FLANDERS GERMANS TEMPORARILY SUCCEED. LONDON, July 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday evening, after twenty-four hours’ intense bombardment on the Nieuport front, the enemy having demolished the dunes defences, and destroyed Yhei Bridge, thus isolating the sector, penetrated 500 yards on a 1400 hnundred yards front, reaching the right bank of the Yser, opposite* Lambartzyde. After temporarily gaining some advanced positions they were driven back by a counter-attack". Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy artillery at Nieuport has diminished, but ours continues active. FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, July 11. A French communique says: There was a lively artillery struggle north of Jouy, and very lively artillery fire on the sector of Hil 304. The Germans attached north of Fleury and the Woevre. The enemy were completely driven out of a portion of a trench wherein they had secured a footing. GERMANS CLAIM A SUCCESS A LONDON, July 11. An Admiralty wireless says: A German official report: Our marine infantry, after artillery preparations, stormed positions between the coast and Lombartzyde, drove the enemy across the Yser, prisonered 1350, and inflicted heavy losses. Our airmen, despite a storm, contributed to the success of our movements. BRITISH PRESSED BACK. LONDON, July 12. . The enemy pressed back slightly our advanced posts eastward of Monchy Le Preux, on a front of 800 yards. We drove off ah attempt northwestward of Lens. The weather prevented aerial activity until the evening-

BRITISH SET-BACK AT NIEUPORT ONLY OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE. Received 11.40. LONDON, July 12. Military critics point out that the Nieuport set-back comes as a surprise, but its importance must not be over-estimated. The British have only recently takerUbver the dunes sector. The heavy gale on Tuesday possibly necessitated the temporary absence of warships supporting the army. It has been long" evident that either side, after adequate artillery preparation, would be able to gain temporary possession of a small section of the trenches. The big German guns established on the dunes made Tuesday’s success comparatively simple. When the Yser bridges were broken the British battalions holding the sector were unable to resist any longer. The repulse of the enemyf at Lombartzyde proves the German success was only local. Hindenburg has not the slightest hope of breaking the British lines at Nieuport. The real reason for the attack was that The Germans were becoming fearful of the Allies’ advance along the coast, accordingly they collected troops, intending to forestall a British attack or preparing to withdraw elsewhere on the line. TREATMENT OF WAR PRISONERS. AGITATION FOR BETTER TREATMENT. Received 11.10. LONDON, July 12. Lord Newton, in the House of Lords, stated an agreement had been arrived at by which the British and German Delegates at The Hague will greatly benefit many thousands of prisoners. The British Cabinet approved of the agreement, but a detailed statement was not desirable until the Germans had approved. A largely attended meeting of members of Parliament adopted a resolution deploring the serious failure on the part of the Central Prisonmers ’ war committee to supply bread to prissoners in Germany, thereby inflicting serious privations The supply of medicines and comforts were inadequate. The dispatch of clothing and boots should be hastened so as to reach the prisoners before the cold weather especially in Asia Minor and Bulgaria.

BRITISH FOOD PROBLEM PRICE OF MEAT FIXED. Received 8.45. LONDON, July 12. Fixed prices for meat operate from September Ist.

GERMANY’S INTERNAL TROUBLES. THE BOURSE DEPRESSED. THE MARK AGAIN FALLS. AMSTERDAM, July 12. Count von Holhveg has decided to offer the vacant portfolios to members of the Centre, Progressive, National Liberal and Socialist parties. ■ The crisis has depressed the Bourse, and the mark has suffered a further heavy fall. ■ Owing to the sharpness of the differences between the various parties, the plenary meeting of the Reichstag has been postponed. FORMATION OF COALITION GOVERNMENT, AMSTERDAM, July 12. The Catholic organ “Germania” announces that the Centre Party, by an overwhelming mapority, decided to support Erzberger, A coalition Ministry is being formed; It will include the leaders of all parties. GERMAN POLITICS CHANGING. AMSTERDAM, July 12. The German political crisis has not yet been solved. The Kaiser discussed with Count von Hollweg for several hours questions which were not-decid-ed at the Crown Council yesterday. He ordered the Crown Prince to Berlin to discuss the decisions with him.

Count von Holhveg has created a now Imperial Ministry of Labour, under the Socialist hlcrr David. The ‘‘ Vorwaerts ’’ with unexampled daring, states that the German Empire is on the way to a peaceful revolution. It may <■ come at one blow or piecemeal, but, when completed, will be counted the greatest event in history, completely changing the world’s situation. A majority will be found in the Reichstag to give the Germans the freedom and peace they need. ADJOURNMENT OF REICHSTAG. CAUSES A SENSATION. PEACE PARTY GROWING.Received 8.50. LONDON, July 12. The Daily Telegraph’s Rotterdam correspondent reports the adjournment of the Reichstag on Hollweg’s refusal to state what occurred in the Crown Council created a sensation. This means the Ministry cannot remain. Significance attaches to the fact that the adjournment was agreed to on the Socialist initiative, the majority of the members of the Reichstag apparently agreeing with Scheidemann’s demand for peace without annexation. Meanwhile the Conservatives relentlessly' desire To continue the war until German peace is secured and oppose all political reforms. " Herr B'atocke, Food Dictator in the Reichstag, admitted his hopes of good vegetable crops were totally disappointed. HOLLWEG HAS RESIGNED. Received 11.40. AMSTERDAM, iJuly 12. The Vossische Zeitung reports ' that Count Bethmann-Holhveg, the German Chancellor, has resigned.

THE KAISER’S DILEMMA. AMSTERDAM, July, 12. Theodor Wolff, in a narticle in the “Tageblatt," says it is quite on the cards that the Kaiser may at any moment produce a big-mouthed scheme giving the empire an apparent Parliamentary system, as one more attempt to rally the people for the continuation of the war. MUNITIONS EXPLOSION IN GERMANY. Received 8.45. AMSTERDAM. 'July 12. A serious explosion occurred at a munition works at Herne, in Westphalia. There were numerous casualties.