WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH AGAIN PROGEESS.

LONDON, August 10

French communique.—We made further progress south of Langemarck, There has been reciprocal artillery activity on the Pantheon-Chevrogny ridge, in the mountains region near Auberive and <ra both banks of the Meuse. Our ai,r squadrons, bombarded an avaitor ground at Colmar and Halsheim. ARTILLEEY DUEL CONTINUES. LONDON, August 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is an artillery duel in the neighbourhood of Ypres. We successfully raided in the neighbourhood of Lens. LONDON, August 9. Wireless German Official.. —The artillery duel in Flanders has reached its greatest intensity on the coast, also from Bixschoote to Hollebeke. TERRIFIC GUNFIRE . ON THE FLANDERS FRONT AMSTERDAM, August 10 The TOar of terrific gunfire, coming from a westerly direction, was heard on the frontier on Wednesday afternoon. Three great explosions were also heard. ALSACE-LORRAINE. GERMANY'S INTENTIONS. AMSTERDAM, August 9. Scheidemann is touring the country on imperialistic propaganda. He addressed 6000 at Mannheim and declared that Germany intends to retain Al-sace-Lorraine. BRITAIN'S AWAKENING LONDON, August 10.

Mr Walter Long, Secretary of State for the Colonies, speaking at the West Indian Club, said that our distant colonies and dependencies had played a part in the war winning for them eternal honour. They had left their mark upon the conduct of the war, rendering it absolutely certain that the Empire of the future could not be anything like that of the immediate past. We had been thinking overmuch of England and overlittle of the Empire. He hoped that we might yet follow Mr Joseph Chamberlain's advice to think imperiallly, and accept the King's advice to "wake up England and place the Empire on a more practical, commercial, and commonsense basis than in past years. GENERAL CABLES A PROHIBITED MEETING. LONDON, August 10. The Press Bureau reports: A workers' and soldiers' council meeting in Glasgow on Saturday has been prohibited under the Defence of the Realm Act at the instance of Glasgow magistrates.

U. S. CROPS FORECAST. WASHINGTON, August 9. The Government statistician forecasts record crops of wheat, corn, potatoes and barley. .HOLLAND'S .SURPLUS CATTLE.. LONDON, August 9. The Dutch Government has decided to get rid of , half a million cattle. Many thousands will be exported alive owing to the scarcity of fodder. The British Government is considering the situation concerning Britain's share. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS LONDON, August 9. The Brmingham "Daily Post" states that Mr. Neville Chamberlain is resigning owing to the transfer of the recruiting to the National Service Department in a manner contrary to his suggestions. LONDON, August 10. Mr. Neville Chamberlain's resignation is confirmed. The "Daily Chronicle" adds that the entire agricultural section of the National Service Department has resigned on the ground that the Army Couneil has deprived it of effective power by transferring the control of military labour to the Board of Agriculture.

THE EIGHT HOUR DAY Received 1 la.m. LONDON, August 10 Sir Albert Stanley informed the Engine Drivers' and Firemen's deputation that the Government was unable to recognise the eight hours prinri- 1 during the war. The deputation has ifonvened a general conference of railwaymen to consider the unfavour able reply.

STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE. BRITISH WORKERS' PROTEST. LOND NO.August 9. The British Workers' League held a meeting to protest against sending British delegates .to the Stockholm Conference.

Mr Haveloek Wilson, president of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, declared that the seamen and firemen would absolutely decline to carry the delegates to any peace conference. Mr Appleton, secretary of the General Federation of Trades Unions, said he failed to see how any conference could help Russia. German democracy was hot in the position to send delegates to say anyything binding on Germany. If Britain sent delegates she would be giving an exhibition of disunion disheartening to the Allies and heartening to the Germans. A FANTASTIC PROPOSAL LONDON, August HO. Mr Will Thorne," M.P., states that amongst the suggestions made in connection with" the Stockholm Conference is the creation of a fund of a thousand millions sterling for the reparation of Belgium, France, and Serbia, of which the Allies would eontribute 700 (million. The wage earners of Britain would not listen to such absurd nonsense, whereby Germany would escape the results of her crimes. Mr Thome was informed that Belgium, America, Italy, and France would not attend the Conference. The Labour Executive, after hearing Mr Henderson, reaffirmed, by a narrow majority their decison in" Tavour. THE ALLIES' DETERMINATION

LONDON, August 9

M. Painleve, interviewed after the Allied Conference, said: The Britsh, Americans, and French combined will exert continuous pressure on the enemy with staggering blows at such intervals as the high commands think fit. The Russian trouble will pass. We must be calm and patient. IN CHINA NEW CHINESE PRESIDENT Received 10.5 PEKING, 10. All the Foreign Ministers visted Feng Kwo, in recogniton of his assuming the Presidency. IRISH AFFAIRS. THE IRISH CONVENTION. LONDON, August 10. The Press Bureau reports: The Irish Convention instructed the secretariat to present schemes for the government of Ireland to a standing committee in a form suitable fo,r discussion. The Convention is adjourned to the 21st inst. to enable the preparation and distribution amongst the members of historical, statistical and constitutional documents relating to the schemes.