EASTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 July 1917, Page 5

EASTERN FRONT.

THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN BRITISH tfANKS IN RUSSIA. DESPERATE VALOUR OF THE CREWS. WARMLY PRAISED BY THE RUSSIANS. '.. Received 8.55. LONDON, July 17. The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent states the Russians warmly praise the gallantry of the British armoured cars detachment in the recent offensive. The detachment, moved at early morning ahead of cavalry scouts, and found sandbags artfully scattered along the roads. Volunteers in the face of almost certain death crawled out and dragged the bags away. The ears advanced and opened fire. Subsequently intense concentrated artillery fire compelled them to retire. A German counter-attack was expected the following day, but the cars proceeded right up to the enemy's positions, with the result that the counterattack was not attempted. The cTespcrate courage displayed by the car crews has established a strong AngloRussian brotherhood. KORNILOFF'S MASTERLY STRATEGY.

GERMANS PREPAEE FORTIFICATIONS ON THE NORTH. KORNILOFF ATTACKS ON THE SOUTH.-. Received 8.55. PETROGRAD, July 17. General Korniloff has ascertained that the Austro-German General Staff's plan for the defence of Lemberg included a series of well-fortified positions northeastward and eastward, whereas no advanced fortifications barred the southern approaches, .via Halicz. Owing to this oversight Bothmer's army has been thrown into eonfusion and compelled to meet the Russian offensive in hastily made positions. Korniloff's master stroke, besides resulting in the defeat of one of tin best German armies on the front, h- s opened the easiest way to Lemberg. SOARING PRICES AND DEPRECIATED CURRENCY. ,WORK.MEN;S FABULOUS WAGES. Received 8.55. •' PETROGRAD, July 17. The Daily Mail's Petrograd correspondent says an extraordinary position has been reached. Money is losing its face value and food is soaring to incredible prices, which the Government employees and the middle classes are unable to afford. T)n the other hand workers are receiving fabulous wages, bricklayers earning £43 weekly.

RUSSIANS' GREAT ARTILLERY. ROME, July 16. Hungarian papers state that the new Russian artillery in Galicia is more powerful than hitherto. It is also stated that the Russians are using a new type of Japanese or American hand grenade, thirty times more powerful than the ordinary types. RETURNING HOME. Received 10 a.m. BERNE, July 17. By the end of October 300,000 French who were evicted from the occupied parts of France will traverse Switzerland from Germany to France, BRIiSiTpOLITICS ..OLD AGE PENSION INCREASED..

Eeceived 8.55. LONDON, July 17. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law announced the Government was allowing old age pensioners an additional 2/(5 weekly. A SEPARATE AIR MINISTRY. Replying to the proposal to establish a new Aair Ministry with a view to creating a fighting arm apart from the army as a decisive factor, Mr. Bonar Law said the Government's advisers did not recommend the scheme. THE CONTROL AND PRICE OF SUGAR. In the committee stage on the Finance Bill, Mr. Lough moved the reduction of the duty on sugari to half-penny per lb. He said there was considerable discontent existing. The sugar available in 191(i was only 16 per cent, less than in 1913, but only 50 per cent, reached the consumer. Mr. Bonar Law said the Government had found it necessary to take over the control of sugar,, and thus maintain the uniformity of price longer than was otherwise possible. The difficulty lay not in getting supplies, but in obtaining transit. The amendment was negatived.

GERMANY'S INTERNAL TROUBLES. GERMAN SOCIALISTS' INSINCERITY. Received 11.5. LONDON ,July 17. The Morning Post's correspondent states that the German Socialists before the war frankly told Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and other comrades that the German was the popular institution and in the event of war they were Germans first, and Socialists afterward. The Reichstag majority's resolution of a no annexation and no indemnity peace was merely a little salt for the tail of the revolutionary bird in Russia and elsewhere. The change from Hollweg to Michaelis is a pro-German victory. HOLLWEG'S RESIGNATION. ACCEPTED BY THE KAISER. AMSTERDAM, July 16. The Kaiser has writeen to Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg as follows: "I have decided with a heavy heart to grant your request to be relieved of the office which you have discharged for eight years with eminent loyality, placing your brilliant, powers and personality at the service of the Crown and' country. In the most grievous times that have ever befallen Germany, wherein decisions of paramount importance had to be taken, you stood at my side, with your Council, and •my heart's desire is to thank you most cordially for your faithful service. ■' ,

A DOUBTFUL HONOUR. LONDON, July 16. A Berlin message states that the Kaiser's autograph letter accepting Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg 's resignation, concludes: "As an outward token of my gratitude and appreciation I award you the Cross of the* Grand Commander of the Order of my house of Hohenzollern.'' HOW THE CRISIS CULMINATED. Received 9.400. LONDON, July 17. It is learned from Holland that the German political crisis culminated after Hollweg proposed the constitution of a body consisting of Reichstagers to act intermediately between the Reichstag and the Government. Bavaria though politically unconcerned, frowned on the scheme. The Kaiser, Crown Prince, Hindenburg, and Luden'dorff opposed the policy of no annexation. Hollweg insisted thereon. Bavaria and Austria persisted in the demands, therefore Hollweg then resigned ' THE POLITICAL SITUATION MIXED. Received 8.55.

AMSTERDAM, July 17. The situation in Germany is described as a sort of political civil war, with too many leaders, wherein the fighters do not know who is a,friend or enemy. The ordinary party divisions are no longer clearly defined. Whilst the Socialist majority is united on no annexations or indemnity and the immediate introduction of the Parliamentary system, no other party is in full agreement with them on both questions. The National I iberals are hopelessly divided. THE GERMAN WAR BREAD. A POLYGLOT MIXTURE. ZURICH, July 17. Five minority Socialists in the Reichstag are asking Michaelis whether he is aware that an analysis of bread in various parts of Germany shows it is composed of twenty-four pen cent, flour, twenty-one per cent lupins, seventeen per cent chestnuts, fourteen per cent acorns, twelve per cent treebark, six per cent, wood shavings, foun per cent potato peel, two per cent, miscellaneous and indefinable mixtures. EFFORTS TO REGAIN LOST SHIPPING POSITION. Received 10.10. An important project by Germans to recover her lost shipping after the war is being launched in the Reichstag in a measure providing to rebuild over two million tons of merchantmen destroyed by the Allies. The German Government does not lend but finds the money for shipbuilders for this purpose, also making funds' available for the upkeep of interned vessels. The Government and the B'remen and Hamburg magnates have been conferring for months on this scheme, which aims at restoring Tn nine years Germany's pre-war strength in merchantmen of five million tens, whereof it is stated the enemy has destroyed or seized more than two million tens, blockaded in neutral waters, million tons, war bound in German hftroours two million tons.

THE CROWN PRINCE IN THE ASCENDANT. THE KAISER'S LOSS OF PRESTIGE Received 10 a.m. NEW YORK, July 17. The New York Times' Washington correspondent had access to semi-of-ficial documents indicating that the Crown Prince has gained the ascendancy, curtailing the prestige of the Kaiser, and presaging the Empire's ultimate retirement. Michaelis's appointment was dictated by the Crown Prince, Hindenburg and Ludendorff While they hold power Austria's strong desire for peace will not be taken into account. Falkenhayn commands the Austrians on the Italian front. MICHAELIS ORAXES. ANOTHER FINAL WARLIKE GAMBLE. Received 10 a.m. ROTTERDAM, July 17. Herr Micliaelis, the aew Chancellor, in an interview, said: "My mission is to restore and develop German unity, inwardly and outwardly." This is interpreted that Michaelis will keep the nation under expected restraint while the militarists engage ;n another final gamble on one or the other frones.

GERMANY'S PACIFIC .ANNEXAATION. OF HOLLAND'S TERRITORY. Received 10 a.m. AMSTERDAM, July 17. There is considerable perturbation in Holland owing to the fact that Germany claims whole of the moufch of the river Ems, as is shown in the latest German General Staff map. The German authorities have begun to exercise a quasi- jurisdiction at the mouth of the Ems. KAISER'S PEACE OFFER. ROME, July 17. The "Agenzialibaraj," B'erne, says there is a widespread belief in Germany that the Kaiser, after conferring with German monarchs, will shortly send a message to all enemy belligerents offering peace without annexations or indemnities. PEACE QUESTION UNCHANGED Received 10 a.m. ROME, July 17. Newspapers, commenting on th.i German crisis, consider the peace question remains unchanged.

AEROPLANES SUPPLANT 2EPPE- | LINS. LAUSANNE, July 16. The construction of Zeppelins at Friederichshaven has stopped. A thousand workmen have been diverted to the construction of aeroplanes \ of a new type. These are constantly | being experimented with on Lake Constance. ITALY'S ATTITUDE. Eeceived 10 a.m. WASHINGTON, July 17. A semi-official dispatch from Eome states that Italy will not enter into | negotiations with the reorganised German Government. IRISH AFFAIRS. DATE OF lEISH CONVENTION FIXED. | Eeceived 10 a.m. LONDON, July 17. It is announced in Dublin that the Irish Convention meets at Trinity College on the 25th July.

EEDMOND'S EESIGNATION EUMOUEED. Eeceived 8.55. LONDON, July 17. Mr. Eedmond visited the House of Commons, but did not enter the Chamber. He conferred with Messrs. Dillian and Devlin, and returned to Dublin tonight. Rumours persist that he is resigning forthwith. mm J W■' m .ii i ■