GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1916, Page 5

GERMANY.

AN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. KEEPING UP THE DECEPTION. Berlin, July 4, A communique states:—The enemy lias not renewed his attacks north of the Anere, hut instead has brought ft strong force between the Anere and the jSoinme against Thiepvail, La Boisselle | and the line llaiicux to Bclloy. South of the Soimne attacks were repulsed everywhere. The losses under our artillery and infantry fire corresponds to the great number employed. We ejected the French from Hardecourt after hitter fighting. Eneinv advances northwest of Ypres, west of La Baseee and south-west of Leus were repulsed and attacks on Damloup were easily repulsed. The French reports of the re-capture of Thiaumont and Damloup are invented fables. German patrols eaat and south-east of Armentieres attacked an English reconnoitring position. We brought down nine aeroplanes. BRITISH ARMY FEARED. VVAHNTSG NOTE SOUNDED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Published in The Times. London, July 4. The Cologne Volks Zeitung says the position is fraught with significance, and possibly may be decisive. General Haig's army is strong and well equipped and has now its first chance of showing its fighting quality. The Cologne Gazette says that the Germans welcome the infantry attacks as a deliverance from the awful outpouring of shells. THE COMMERCE WAR. BOURSE AT A STANDSTILL. New York, July 4. The Berlin Tageblatt states that trustworthy reports indicate that Britain is negotiating with near-by neutral States with the object of preventing any export to Germany, Britain agreeing to buy the total neutrals' surplus output. Italy is being urged to abrogate her commercial treaties with Germany. The Tageblatt says: "We won't look on quietly while our side and back doors are slammed and bolted." A Berlin message states tliat, owing to the British offensive, the business in the principal speculative stocks on the Bourse is nt a complete standstill. EVACUATION, NOT DEFEAT., GEK.ua.-V EXPLANATIONS. Received July 5, 10.15 p.m. Amsterdam, July 3. German newspapers abound in explanations regarding the events on the Western front, and assert that the foreknowledge of the offensive justified the evacuation of various points. They are stressing the terrific bombardment, and statj that it was accompanied by poison gases. The Lokal Anzeiger boasts that the Germans have seven lines of defence works. NO WINTER CAMPAIGN. GERMANY BUYING NO WINTER BOOTS. Received July 5, 5.5 p.m. The National Tidente reports that Germany lias ceased purchasing army boots because she is not preparing for another wintej campaign. There are persistent rumors that a new secret military convention has been arranged between Austria and Germany, lasting for twenty-five years. DISMAY EVIDENT. Copenhagen. July 4, The dismay exhibited on the German western front is reflected in Berlin newspapers. The Politii:en quotes their correspondent at the front, who says: "Never in history nave such colossal quantities of ammunition been collected as are now in the possession of the British, French, and Belgians." Newspapers in Berlin hint that Germany is prepared to evacuate more ground, although the situation is not considered desperate. SOCIALIST SUCCESS. London, July 4. A wireless message from Berne states that Muller, an anti-war Socialist, in the Reichstag by-election for Rcibach Nenrode in Silesia, crushinglv defeated his opponent. Alnller's victory was noteworthy as his opponent was the nominee of all the other parties. It strikingly illustrates the trend of opinion. This is the first election contest in which Prussian militarism lias been subjected to the people's verdict. Contests have hitherto been nvoided by the truce between the parties. Muller loudly championed Dr. Licbkneelit.