Official News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 129, 24 October 1914, Page 5

Official News.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. THE SUEZ CANAL. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister lias received the following cable, dated London, October 22 evening):— Oflicial: Tlic Government has issued a notification in the following terms to representatives of foreign maritime. 'Powers:—Since tho outbreak of war certain ships of enem\ countries have remained in the Suez Canal. Some of these vessels are detained by the Egyptian Government on account of hostile, acts committed in the Canal, and some because there was reason to apprehend that they only contemplated hostile acts. Others, though perfectly free, refused to leave the Canal, in spite of an offer of a free pass, thus disclosing the intention to use the ports on the Canal merely as ports of refuge. The British Government do not admit that the conventional right of free access to and the use of the Canal enjoyed •by merchant vessels implies the right to make use of the Canal'and its ports oJ access for an indefinite time to escape capture, sines it is obvious that the result of permitting such a course must incouimodu and block the use of ports end the Canal by other ships. They are i nsenuontly of opinion that the ilgvptian Government is fully justified in the steps taken to remove from the Canal all enemy ships which have I/em long enough in the Canal and its ports to show clearly that they have no intention of departing in" the ordinary way. RUSSO-GERMAN OPERATIONS.

The German, army advancing upon Warsaw was forced into precipitate re- I treat on Wednesday. The Russians are in pursuit of the enemy, who is abandoning the positions which he had organised for defence. The Austrian forces in the south are failing. THB NAVY ASSISTS LAND FORCES. London, October 23 (12.40 a.m.). Official: On the 18th instant requests for naval assistance were made to the Admiralty by the Allies' commanders. In consequence, a maval flotilla, mounting a large number of powerful longrange guns, came into action at daybreak on the 19th off the Belgian const, (supporting the left of the Belgian army, and firing against the right of the iGerman attack, which they were, by their position, able to enfilade. The Germans replied by shells from heavy guns, bat, owing to the superior range of tie British marine artillery, practically no damage was done. A heavy bombardment of the German flank was ataiataincd without intermission since the morsing of the 19th, and continued to-day. Observation is arranged from the shora by means of naval balloons. All reports indicate that substantial louses bave been inflicted upon the •nemy. The fira waa well directed and effective •gainst bis batteries of heavy guag.

Yesterday a considerable explosion, probably of an ammunition waggon, followed upon « naval shot. The naval losses go far are very small, considering the damage done and the important assistance rendered to tho Belgian left flank. Reports received by the Admiralty show tho courage with which tbe Belgian army, animated by the King in person, is defending the last few inches of Bclgiaa toil. Submarine K3 is eonsiderably overdue. It is feared that «bc was sunk in the North Sea, presumably on tho 18th unt.

Reliable: The first phase of the battle on tho Vistula ended in the complete (tfoat of the Austro-Gcrmans, who retreated II miles west, where the conflie* w«j renewed. Rain made Poland a moras!, and the enemy is abandoning his etrtaiery.