WAR NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 16 October 1917, Page 2

WAR NEWS

THE LUXBURG SENSATION. GERMAN REPLY TO SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, Oct 13. The Government has received Germany's reply to Sweden's protest, in connection with the Luxburg affair. The reply admits that Germany received Luxburg's telegrams. It says one was mutiliated in publication in an essential point, but does not specify which point. The reply asserts that the telegrams had no effect on Bubmarinism. It deplores the fact thai Luxburg illegitimately used the assistance of the Swedish authorities. Such incidents, which are calculated to . disturb the friendship of Sweden and Germany, will not recur. BERNGTORFF'S DUPLICITY. NEW YORK, Oct 13. It is stated that Bernstorff (late German Ambassador to U.S.) smuggled diplomatic documents from the United States in a tobacco hogshead shipped by a German official who previously was a tobacco dealer. The JB'ritish discovered this, which was the first clue to Bemstorff's duplicity. HOLLAND HELPING GERMANY. BRITAIN'S STRONG ACTION. LONDON, Oct 13. Lord Robert Cecil, commenting on the British embargo on Dutch transmission to Germany of sand gravel and metal, declared that the question was most serious. He had just returned from the West front. Undoubtedly Germans were using these materials for concreting trenches, pillboxes, etc., in vast quantities. Replying to the Dutch contention that the Germans were using these materials for road-making, Lord Robert Cecil emphasised the probability that the Germans were satisfying their civil requirements with materials obtained from Belgium itself, enabling the imported materials to be used for miliI tary purposes. This justified the stoppage of cable communication.

LONDON v Oct 12. The Hague correspondent of the Times says that the cutting off of all commercial cable communication has caused considerable apprehension in Holland and the Dutch are realising that the Allies are sincere. BRITISH FOOD PROBLEM LONDON, Oct 13. The Press Bureau says: Lord JL.ondda is taking over all currants and sultanas now afloat for Britain at a price to be hereafter determined. ENEMY ARTILLERY (ACTIVE. ON THE BRITISH FRONT. FRANCO-GERMAN STRUGGLE. i LONDON, Oct 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports that enemy artillery was active last night north-eastwards of Ypres. We repulsed reconnoitring parties westward of Becelaere and northward of Poelcapelle. We made successful raids in the neighbourhood of Hulluch. A French communique states that an artillery struggle is fairly lively on the Aisne front, especially in the Pantheon district; Vauclerc and Calii'ornie Plateau. DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NAUTIC3. LONDON, Oct 13. The War Office announces that Major-General Salmond has been appointed Director-General of military aeronautics in succession to General Henderson, who is undertaking special work. IN EAST AFRICA BRITISH PROGRESS CONTINUES. LONDON Oct 13. East Africa Official.-'-On the right, a column of troops from Kilwa occupied Rupomla, an important junction of tracks at the north-western end of Muera Plateau and on the flank of the ' line of retreat of the enemy main body, whose rearguard is being pressed by our force moving south from Nahuvj. Our rapid advance, surprised the enemy who arc also makin for Ruponda. We dislodged a strong detachment in positions near Majudas, southward of Mabenge, and forced their retirement six miles the northeastward.