Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1916-02-17, Page 7AVY FIGHTING ON Inor ot the contemplated eettleri be - eating a berdett to the 001111111Witee tel many would be in receipt of vtin- , stone. These famtliee ot men who bad ef eaerificed themselvee for the Empire '1' t 81101.1h1 prOve A valuanie contribution Germans Makinl Attacks From Belgium Right Across to the Vosges Both Sides Make Gains—London Sure a Drive is Coming. London, Feb. 13.—German attaeOs of varying intensity on varioute parts of the French and British lines from Belgium to the Vosges have made the Past two days of great activity on the western front. The attacks ranged from minor encountera between re- vonnoitring parties armed with hand - grenade to assaults preceded by ex- tensive artillery preparations and etude(' out by conelderable bodies of troops, The most vigorous of these offensives were in Champagfie and in the region north of Arras, where there has been almost coustaet tiglit- ing for days. The greatest gain claimed by the Germans, they say, who made pe- tween St. Stouptet anti Somme -Py. Here the German official stateMent claims tne capture by storm of 700 yards of French positions, with 206 prisoners, The French communique issued to -night says that the Ger. mane gained a foothold in some ad - valued trench casements eaot of .tbe road from Tahure to Somme -Py. These two references may refer to the seine action. Five separate asp:sults were made to -day on tile Vimy sector north of Arras. Four of the attacks failed, the Germans succeeding in the fifth at- tempt in penetrating the French po- sitions west of Hill 140,. but were driven out again by a counter-attack, oo that the series of assaults resulted in no gain. The German offensive extended as far north as Boesinghe, north of Ypres, where the Germans announce the capture ot 40 British prisoners: GAINED 300 YARDS. The French also,made a gain in the sector to the northeast of the Butte- thi-Mesnii, in Charepagne, yesterday afternoon, occupying the German trenches on a -front given by the aerench as about- 300 metres Oa yarde) and by the Gernaans as not :mite 200 yards. The attack was preceded by aoheavy .artillery fire after which the French infantry column advanced, using hand grenades. The Germans made a coun- ter•attack last night, but were corn- onetely repulsed: leaviag one officer and 64 men in the hands of the French. The, Germans, after artillery prepar- ation, made' several attempts to cross the Yser canal, near Steenstraete and Heteas, but were repulsed. The Ger- mans renewing their counter-attack in. Champagne, penetrated a small sali- ent between the Na.varin and St. Soup - tet Roads, but ,were repulsed in at- teMpts to retake the trenches occupied by the French Friday. A German infantry attack were made also in the Vosges, north of Wis. sembach. Thio failed to reach the first line of the French positions. A German. attack on the British trenches near Pilckem, in Belgium, Saturday morning gave the attackers a footing in the trenches but bombing Parties isoon drove them out again. Two more German attacks made in the afternoon on the Pilckem Road were repulsed. • TRYING TO 'FOOL ALLIES.' The German eactivity on the west- ern front the last week has been more or less oonfusing. A.. week ago it ecemed certain an offensive of great proportione would develop in the (leers(' of a few day. The intensity of the artillery fire increasednailer than diminished, but A wavered little all the week. The Belgian, French and British fronts were deluged under a rain of shells, which continued even last night. In one twenty-four hours the Beigiane'blockingbie Yser passage beta en Dixmude• and Nieuport with - retied the effect of 20,000 high explo- sive shells. The bombardment of the frents to the south was maintained In uhnost the some proportions, bet aside from the sector between Souchez and Arrae and that betwe.en the Altera, and Dempierre no Infantry actions oc- curred. In Artois the Germans persieted in their drives against" the French lines, eseectelly along La Folio road, where they gained additional ground.. The Feench have been active in counter- attacks, and have made the Germans pay dearly for every foot of ground recovered. South of the Somme,. rhere the Germans made appreelable advances ten days ago, a battle of e..ome 6ize has continued, Berlin says •artother half, mile of French lent line ereneh has been. taken, but Parts has mot confirmed. the report. In the forty miles in whidi the main 'thrust has been felt the Germane are believed to have used four, and possi- bly five'army corps, or 200,000 men, Troop trains are going weetward through Belgium at all horirS ot the day and night, and have beea moving thee regularly for more than two odile weelse. These fresh troops, some of them brought from the eastern Urea - tri are being concentrated at Douai, Reebitix, Cambrai and Leon. So, while the operations up to this time have not. assumed a partieularly formidable motet, London is certain a blow of tiementious force will be rtruch against the Anglo-French front in the come of a fortnigiito The Genian artittre Chiefs itre using the method of tonfueing the allied command as te the ',reposed point of attack tainted by General Joffre in September. That they are conducting a vhatent hem- hardineet of the whole front from the 'ea to Switzerland, with ite strength telt most along the Yeer and the Somme and least *in the Aisne and in the Vosges. BRITISH REPORT, London, Feb. 13. -The Saturday etight official statemone said: "Early. ehis morning tho enemy trelie Wee o'tir strenehee near hut ryraft. driven out lite bombing par - having twine nead and wounded le bind. Tele afternooa the enemy made two emelt infantry attache abotit the mad, which were re- pulsed. ,-There has been mining activity eeetout Which and north of the Yens- Cowley:A Canal. set the latter awe an underground fight took place, resett- ing in the enemy being driven baelt, our miners successeelly firing their charge.", Th e• Sunday statement said: "Last night we sprang a mine west of Ilulluch. Our troupe occupied the near rim and suffered no casualties, ''There was considerable artillery fire on both sides during. see day. The enemy artillery was active about ,Au• thulle, the Noneuzollern redoubt, Cuinchy and Armentieres. Our trenches north oZ Hooge were bom- barded, "There was considerable aerial ac- tivity on both Mlles about Ypree." leleENCH REPORT. Paris, Feb, 13.—The ofticial com- munique issued by the French War Office to -night follows: "In Artois the (ley was marked by a series of German attacks from Hill 140 to the road from Neuville to La Folie, In the morning a first enemy attempt at an attack to the west'of Hill 140, was, without result. In the afternoon, after a violent bombard- ment of our pesitions, the enemy at- tacked four different points of our front. Three of thee attacks were stopped short be' our fire -curtain and our infantry fire. "In the course of the fourth attack the enemy succeeded in penetrating our first line of trenehes to the west of Hill 140. He was driven out again by an immediate counter-attack, which inflicted uponhim perceptible losses in killed and wounded, "A German aeroplane bombarded by Our batteries fell in flames east of Givenchy. "To the south of Frise a grenade attack on our works was checked. "Eat of the .01se we bombarded ttetoy. hen eeiny organizations before Fon- "Between Soissons and Rheims the German artillery was particularly active in the sectors of seoissons, Chas - scaly and Pompelle. Our fire checked infantry actions which were in course of preparation. "In Chanipagne, in the course of an action de detail between tlfe Na- varin and St. Souplet roadie, we made some prisoners. East of the road from Tahure to Somme -Py the enemy gained a foothold in some advanced trench elements. "In the Argonne a destructive fire was directed againee the opposing or- gpaairilizs. a.tions north of Le Four de "In Upper Alsace an enemy attack east of Sepnois was stopPed by our artillery fire." The Sunday. afternoon statement said: "To the north of Vic -sur -Aisne our artillery dispersel the enemies' de- tachments, which had advanced as Lar as our wire entanglements. "To the north-east of Soissons the Germans were able,following a bom- bardment, to reach one ot our trench- es in the neighborhood of the CrouY Road. The counter-attack. ejected them immediately. The enemy -left a nutnber of uead on the field and we made some prisoners, of whom one was an Officer. "In t ohampagne, in the region to the north-east of the Butte-du-Mes- ril, t -e Germans late yesterday and during the night directed five sueces- si e counter-attacks agsenst the trenches pr iously captured by us. All these attempt., were repulsed, "In Lorraine there were artillery duels in the sectors of Reillon and the Forest ef Parroy. In the same region several reconnoitring parties of the enemy were dispersed by our Lire." • Saturday afternoon: statement told of the capture on Friday of 300 yards of German trenches in the di- rection of the Taltne Heights in reehpaonritpasgoriide; 1.11111e the Saturday night "In Belgium after .quite a violent artillery preparation, the Germans several times attempted to cross the Yser Canal at the Steenstraete Height and at Het -Sas. Under the combined. fire of our artillery and machine guns these attempts failed, "In Champagne there svas very marked artillery activity in the re- gions 'of the Butte-du-Mesnil and Navarin, After a bombardment last- ing several hours the enemy was able to penetrate a small Salient of our line between. the road from Navarin .and that from Saint Souptet. "To the north-east of the Butte-du- Megnil the Germans attempted by a new counter-attack to drive us from those parts of the trench occupied by. us yesterday, but were repulsed. We continued to progress by the use of grenades to the east of these parts and have made some prisoners. "In the Argonne, near the Four de Paris, we exploded a camouflet, which shattered the inine works of the enemy. "In the Vosges, to the north of Wissembach, east of St. Die, an enemy infantry attack, Met by our fire, was not able to approaeh our first line." TO SETTLE HERE. S. A. CoMMiSSi011er tO Bring Dead HerebY' London, • Feb, 14.—Montreal Gee zette)—A scheme for settling over. seas the widows and families of fall- en soldiers is the object of the trip to Canada of Commissioner David Lamb, of the Salvation Army emigration de - pertinent, Who sailed by the Missatia. ble. Prier to sailing, he had Inter- views with the Colonial Secretary and the President of the lioard.of Trade. "We fuIly recognize," said Cominis• tiloner Lomb, in tin interview, "that Canada *will have to deal with its own widotve and families, but, 'With the Dominion's great resourees, arid the insistent deMand for wOmen ser- vants, Canada' i own problent does liot appear to present serions eemiCanie difficulty, There ie MS danger 'Of the reether country :saddling the Dornill- ion With the fortner's tesponsibinties, to the inflow of British stoek, whicit woul(j be more then ever desirable if the newest eonceptions • of a etrollg empire are to be realized." Commiestioner Lamb thought that the Salvation Army's capaeity for handling tile preinasen selleme would be revognized by the DoMinion, as the army offtcers are familiar with Canadian conditions, are accustomed to dealing with •toilet% and have an excellent immigration machinery at their die:meal. Moreover, the ArMY has for many years paid epectal atten- tion to the needs of widows, one in - Mance being the activ•e part played Dy the army in the InaPrees or ire - land's widowstuna FRENCH FEAR CO.NE The . Andral Chanter Believed Torpedoed oa Syria.. Germans Lose a Gunboat Sunk in the Congo, Paris, Feb. 13.e -The following of. ficial etatement was given out here to -day; "The Ministry of Marine fears for the fate of tile 'cruiser Amiral Char- ner, which has been patrolling the. S•y- rian coast. No news has been received from the cruiser since Feb. 8, when, according to a German telegram, a submarine milt a French warslOp." The Amiral Charner under normal conditions cored a crew of 370, She was 347 feet long, 46 feet beam and displaced 4,680 tons. She was arraed with two 7.6 -inch guns in turrets for- ward awe aft, six 5.5-111e1e guns, four 9 -pounders, fem. 3 -pounders, six 1 - Pounders, and four torpedo tubes. Sne was laid down in 1889. GERMAN GUNBOAT SUNK IN • CONGO. Havre, Feb. 13.—The Belgian War Office announced to -night that the German gunboat H'edwig von Wiss- mann wan sunk in Lake Tanganyika. Two officers and 19 sailors were taken prisoner. The Belgian and Britisbe flotillasuffered no loss. Lake Tanganyika.forms the western. border ot German East Africa. • FOUR SUNK. .'rwo British, One Belgian and One • Norwegian Ship. • Lonelon, Feb. 13.-- The British steamship SprIngwell lied been sunk in the Mediterranean wbile on her way from London to Calcutte. A Reu- ter despatch to Malta says sha was torpedoed without warning. The offi- cers and crew, numbering 73, were picked up and lauded at Malta. The Springwell was a 425 -foot boat of 5,593 tons gross. She was built in 1914, and owned by the Well line, O. Newcastle, England. Lloyd's reports that the British steamship Cedarwood has been sunk. Two members of her crew were saved. The Cedarwood, 654 tons gross, was, built in 1907, and 'owned in Middles- bcrough, England. The Belgtan steamer Aduatiek, of Antwerp, has been. sunk. Two of the crew were lost. The Audatiek was a vessel of 1,333 tons. She was last reported as having arrived at Bilbao Jan. 9. Hartlepool, Eng,, Feb.. 14. --Sixteen members of the Norwegian shin Ala- bama, which was sunk by a mine or a torpedo in the North Sea Thurs- day night, have been landed here. Two of the men are injured. ' The explosion shattered the after - pert of the ship and she foundered in two minutes. The crew escaped in a boat and were picked up by another Norwegian ship and hroeght here, . ODD IVIISHAP. Toronto Boy, Accidentally Stab- . bed, is Paralyzed. Toronto, Feb. 14.—While singing the dosing hyinn, in College Street Me- thodist Sunday School, Elmer Brinn, the 14 -year-old eon of Isaac Brinn, of 60 McKenzie Crescent, was stabbed in the spinal cord by a knife held in the hand of a classmate, Herbert Hill, and now lies it 'et private hospital, par- alyzed Item the waist downward. According to the story told by the injured boy, the affair was purely ac- cidental. When the clase rose to close the service 'young Hill was standing directly behind him. While the singing was in progress Hill commenced to sharpen a lead pencil, A boy passing in front of 'Brinn gave the latter a playful shove and he fell backward on the blade of the knife, which penetrat- ed the spinal cord. Dr. John W. Russell, of 1084 Col- lege street, was summoned, but par- alysis had already set in, and he could do nothing beyond having the lad re- moved to a hospital, where it was stat- ed last night that he was restitig com- fortably and suffering no pain. ALT.,Y UNITY, Shown by Arrangements lidade at Italian Conference, Itonte, Feb. 13.—The allies have de - tided upon e mutual. exellange ()Omit. Mons and raw material needed in connection with the war. They have also agreed to intensity the production of munitions by utilizing eortnrion labor. If accessary, Italian worker's will be sent to France for this object. Signor T. Tittotil, the Italian Am- bassador to France, the SignotTerre, assistant chief of the Italian general staff, have been appoluted Italyee dele- gates to the allied eonference to be held in Paris the beginning of Mar -h. •••••• • • — 'EXPLOSION KILLS 25. Indiana, 1/enn,, reit. 1.1.-Stx bodies were yesterday at noon alltted, to the nitAteen alrefulY reetwered from the mine of tin) Jefferson & Clearfield 'Coal & iron Vornbarty at Ernest, where an ex - Weston oeturred met,' esrlday. This brings the total known dead to tweety-ftve. _ • , 11E11111 SANS BY RUSSIANS OVER• TEUTONS Two Big Hun Centres Threatened With Enve1oPment-4-Mile Advances Made, WELL EQUIPPED Czar's Troops, With Plenty of Big Guns and Munitions, Now Going Forward, London, Vele 13, — The Russian armies along the entire front from Volhynia to Bessarabia are rtirsuerg an, offensive which if it does not re- sult in immediate gains is expected to prevent the withdrawal of 0/1:11cta forces from thiso front for sereice in the west. The Oftensive was 'under- taken shnultaneously with the arrival qf the Czar at the frOnte The immediate objective of the Russians, is the crossing of the Sereth, Pratt and Dniester. Rivers. Iniportant progress has been made against Czer- nowitz, capital of Bukowina, and against Tarnapol, both of which are seriously threatened. • The Russians have already thrown tones across the Dniester at Uscieczko, this success not only aiding in the development of Czernewitz, but interrupting an im- portant line of communication be- tween the armies of General Pthmeer end General von Bothaer. DRIVEN FOUR MILES BACK. Near Zale Szczyky a Russian coun- ter-attack routed the Austro:Hun- garian troope and drove them bacic to a new line four milea to the rear of their former positions. The Ruse stens also have captured important heigats southeast of Izebroff, in the Stripa River district, commending important railway connections. Both sides suffered heavily in the fighting, watch remitted in the capture of the position. ,„ The P.ussians are now attempting to- throw large , forces across, the Dniester to the northwest of Czer- nowitz in their campaign against that city. German efforts to continue the of- fensive on the Dvinsk front are ham- pered by the mild weather, which has threatened the Gernean trenches in tho marshy ground with inundation. French prisoners are being employed In -drainage work in this region, ac- cording to German prisoners. • DVINSK MORE SECURE. Reuter's Petrograd correspondent eays significance is attached by Rus- sians to the capture of the village of GarbounovIta, announced yesterday by the War Office at Petrograd. It is eta possession of this' town lenders the defenee of Dvinsk more sechee, as Oarbounovka lies oh the direct road to Dvinsk. A determined. counter-attack ley the enemy to recover the village Was repulsed according to to -day's ot- ficial despatch. RUSSIA AGAIN ON THE MOVE. Russia'sfour months' concentra- tion on the task of reorganizing and re-equipping her • army is beginning ,to show in the field. -.Huge trains of new artillery are going to the front and equally large consignments of rifles and ammunition have reacned the men in the trenches. This is evi- denced by the grauual increase in ac- tivity trom the Pripet to the Pruth. The Russian offensive of a month ago in Volhynia and Galicia Was stopped by the strength of the •A.ustra-Ger. man positinos, long prepared in anti- cipation of an attack in force. The middle of the week, however, saw a new and greater Russian effort launched, with its weighe felt princi- pally in the Bekowina sector. Here General Ivanhoff reached the heights dominating the district in which runs the main railway line between the • Chodorov and Stry Rivers. He also octupied the high ground east of- Tehemerine, between Boyne and Lutsk. The latter advance, if it can be persisted in once raore, will endan- ger the Austrian hold on the fortress CS of Leask and Debno. nee change has occurred on the front north of the Pripet, although some fighting has beeli reported from the vicinity ot Riga. RUSSIAN REPORT. .. Petrograd, Feb. 13.—The following official communication Isras issued i rem- general headquarters Saturday: "Western (Russian) front ; In the Riga sector the Germans fired largo bombs into our trenches adjacent to the Dvina. Near Dvittsk fighting for the crater formed by a mine explo- sion lasted the whole day and ended to our advantage. • "After a lively bombardment we cccupied the village of Garbounovka. Near Lake Sventen there was a very intense bombing duel. Near Tohein, erine the 'enemy directed from time to tinie a sweeping tire against a height we lied occupied. "In Galicia, in the Tsebroff region, the enemy made deSperate efforts to dislodge no from 'a, height. He suc- ceeded .tst the cost of enorMotts loeees; but one of our glorious old regiments ejected the enemy for a scond time by a terrific attack against the height Pritoners' taken. here stated that our artillery inflicted enormous losses on the Widely, "Caucasus front: "Our offensive continues with success." ehe Sunday °Metal statetnent read: "Western (Russian) front: the Riga sector there has beet' an in- tense artillery duel in the Olai arid 13ersemunde regions. Our artillery caused etil explosion within the en- emy lines near Vever, south of lkskul. "Near Jae:bet:1dt the Germans tried to approaeh our trenches west Of Lievenhof, but our troops pualted theta back. • "On the Dvinsk sector the firing has been most intense near thoulort, where the 'Gentians threw hand gren- ades which eniitted asphyxiating gas. A Gernia,n etteinpt to surround the village of ilarbottnovka, Which we had dipturede was defeated by our eross-fire. _ ' • "On the Black Sea Friday our de- stroyers demolished by their shon fire bridges ht the coast region arid eank eight sailing sliOps." * "Did you Say he lived in New York day in find day Mit?" "No; day in and night out."--,Tedge. GERMANS DENY OTTAWA BLAZE Berlin, Feb. 13. ---The charge that a Germaa agent was respon- sible for the fire thet destroyed the Canadian Parliament Build - lugs at Ottawa is utterly false, the North German Gazette, offe eta' organ of the German 00e- ernment, eeclared to -day. The paper added that the de- struction et tie buildings by such means would have been a "detestable and nonsensical ciente." ..t++++++++4+++44.-+..-+++++.-+ CHANGES IN WAR OFFICE Rumors That Shifts to Come Will • Have Big Effect. Sir Wm, Robertson Stands for. Merit Alone, London, Feb. 13.—The correspon- dent hears from a source of the very highest authority that important changes affecting the administrative control of the -War Office and having great influence on the more vigorons prosecution of the war during the sumnier campaign will take Wale within a few day. The changes will probably be accempanied by modifi- cations in tee composition of the Cab- inet., Although the rumor nas not .yet crystalized into anything definite, the facts are well known in political cir- cles in touch with the Cabinet. A straw showing which • way the wind blows is the growing importance of the doties which Sir William. Rob- ertson, ROW .ellier of the general staff, is undertaking—duties which have hitherto been exclusively in the hande of Lord Kitchener, Robertson, whose career is one of the moat bril- liant and romantic in military his- tory, rose from the ranks and knows tile array thoroughly. Those who la- ment that the war has not produced a Napoleon on either side are hopeful that he will prove the missing genius. He stands , for merit and merit alone. Those who ;sought back stairs lenience to gain, promotion for their friends have, since hie advent in the war office, been shown the door. If there is merit he does not care whether it is exhibited by an officer barely thirty or an old campaigner. Blue blood and social standing leave him cold. As his star rises, as your correspondent has been told that it will rise in the war office firmament before many days -have passed, the younger generals and commanders Will have the chalice they crave, • Those behind the scenes say that all is not perfect harmony between the. war °Mee and the Admiralty and .that therein is to be found olie of the rea- sons for the corning changes. The • dispute over the control of the air service, which finally resulted in victory forethe war office, created much bitterness. Next week Parliaraent MeetS and as an outcome of pertinent questions which are to be put, interesting reve- lations are expected and also the an- nouncement of important changes. An influential position will be probably found for Lord Derby. It is signifi- cant in this connection that Lord Kitchener did not attend yesterday's War council, which was,. the biggest on record, including nearly all of the most prominent generals. It is known that an important con- ference was held yeeterday at the Ad- Miralty, in reference, to the aerial de- fence e of London. The Evening Standard in its comment on this, stating that the Government con- templated the 'appointment of a Minister in charge of aerial tomes, said that the names mentioned in connection with the new position were Lord Derby, Lord Curzon, now Lord of tne Privy Seal, and, Lord Selborne, the present Minister of 'Agriculture, who was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1901-1905. "If, however," it continues, "the new Minister is to be invested with. administrative powers, it is considered that the appointment of aman of military and naval experience such as Lord Sydenhamesvould be more satis- factory to the militaiy and naval ser- vices. We understand that tlie whole question of the Creation of the Minis- try of aviation was considered at yes- terday's war council. It is also pro- posed tohatipoint a strong committee of experts to assist the new Minister' in inaugurating a more vigorous air policy." • • WANT BLOCKADE WOE STMEP, London, Feb, 14.—A. largely attend-. ed meeting for the purpose of urging` the Government to establish a Moro. effectual blockade against the Central` POWers was held In London tbis after- nooli. Baron Devonport, chairman of the Port Authority of Leaden, pre- sided. The diectissien hinged on the follow - ng resolution: "That this meeting of citizen e 'of London, viewing with grave alarm the enormous quantities of eommodities reaching the enemy through the North Sea, call upon His Majesty's Govern- ment to give our navy freedom to ex - erase fuller and more effective use of our sea power in the war." isoPP MUST APPEAR, San lerancisto, Feb, 14.—Franz 'Bopp, Gernlatt Consul -General at this pert, who was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury last week on charges of 'violation of United States neutrality, must arpear In court to -morrow to be arraigned, along with members of his offidal family and others, aetord- ing to a dedelen announced to -day by tiding United States District Attor- ney Thome. fln asked to appear by proxy, illfiKS CLAIM 1 VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA $0:3' Their Attack en the British Compelled, Latter to Flee Leaving Dead. GREAT LEADER. n.••••••••••••••••••••.04 Gen. Townshend, in Command at Kut -el -Amara, and His Brilliant Work. London, Feb, 13e -Fear lest the Turknave succeeded. in Interrupting teleeraphic communications, 'between General Townshend, Commander -in - Chief of theemain British Mesopo- tamia arimy surrounded at Kut -el - sentare, and the relief force under General Aylmer, 23 miles beloW the Kut • position, was caused here t9 - night, owing to the receipt ot -en oh tidal Turkish statement. Tills state- ment says that a Turkisiereconnoiter- ing column, advancing toward Sheik - Said, "deetroyed hostile telegraph Sheilt-Said is a point on the Tigris, about 25 miles below Kut -el - Amara, where a large Turkish force force ever since it had reached that ohseirgboi ,has been blocking General Aylmer's on to ts way from Iamitain Another report Issued by the Turk- ish Way Office told of the defeat of Britieh forces near Kenna, saying that the Britian were compelled to flee, abandoning their dead. REMARKABLE STAND AT KUT. e The remarkable etand which has been made by Major-General Charles V. F, Townshend and his comparative- ly small body' of British troops at Kut -el -Amara, - Mesopotamia, where for nearly two months' they have been besieged by a large army of Turks, has raised General Townshend to a high place in the esteem of the Eng. lish public. This far -away war thea- tre has been watched with the deep- est interest by those at storae since the British repulsed the Turks at Ctesiphon and began their retreat to Rut, and the exploits of General Townshend have occupied much space In the newspapers, some military critics hailing him as one of the most brilliant soldiers the Empire has pro- duced. During the long siege General Townshend has beaten oft all attacks. of the Ottoman troops and kept his little force intact. Every despatch which has come through from the commander has been read, with the deepest interest by the public; which has feared that the relieving army, which is said to have been held up by natural obstacles, would reach Kut - el -Amara too late, General Towns- hend's recent report that he had suffi- cient supplies for his soldiers greatly relieved the minds of the British peo- ple, who now are anxiousle awaiting the outcome. ' , A CHAPTER Ole THE WAR. When the full story is told of the battle of Ctesiplion, the retreat to, Kut, and the siege, it is expected to make as; thrilling a ehepter as any in the history of the world war, and the name of General Townshend will oc- cupy au important place in that story. The conflict at Ctesiplion was desper- ate work, and the general himself fought as fiercely as any of his sol- diers, who that day put to flight a body of Ottoman troops said to have been six times their number. There were critical moments, and it was at these times that General Townshend showed himself to be a cool and re- sourceful commander and an able tactician. Four times he rallied his men and led them in their charges. Military critics declare that the victory at Ctesiphon was a magnifi- cent one, but that the retreat to Kut will equal, if not sureass, it as a SRO- cassful military achievement under- dizadvantages of an extraordinary kind. It is stated that not only did Gen. Townshend ward off the Turks, but he did so with a loss insignificant, lender the circumstances, and he sue. ceeded in taking with him all his wounded. It has been declared that. the men under him would follow General Townshend anywhere. A STUDENT OF NAPOLEON, General Townhend is said Lo 'ewe forced his way up to a high command through sheer merit.- When he, was only a lieutenant he 'became an, avid student of Napoleon. He studied every work on the military theories Dna practices of that great general. He made it a rule to study seven hours a day and lie never failed in carrying out his investigations to the military genius of "the master." Further, he visited every battlefield on whicheNapoleon fought and recon- structed for himself the disposition of the forces ia the battles which decided the fate of nations, ft is stated that there probably is no greater authority on Napoleonic warfare in the British army than he. -Geberal Townehend long before 1914 had studied the possibility of war with Germane, Vele always held that when war did come Great Britain would not be able to rely selely on her navy, but would need to have A great army ready for the MM. 13e- lieving that this country would re- qUire, an army .of minion% not thou- eands, he favored compulsory service. He expressed the opinion that Ger- many would make her attack on. Franeee-and eventually on Ragland through Belgium, and Marty times sur- veyed what lie thought would be the writing battlefield. The general is fifty-four years old. Ile is heir presureiptive to the TOWn- shend marguisate. HUN PLANE OVER COPENHAdEN, London, Peb, 13.—A Reuter de- spateh front Copenhagen says: A German seaplane flew over Co. penhagen Saturday. It circled twice over the city at it height Of 8,000 feet, disappearing Over the harbor and navy yard. The Danish Government has in - eructed its Atinister at Berlin to pro. test to the German 'Government. If you set out to be the architect of your own fortune, keep• imi mind that the building inspector will be along later.—Youth's Companion. • 11110ALT,irHUN 'Austrian .Air Raid On Ravenna Wa Absorittely Without Excuse 110111e, Feb. 13. --(New York Times cable)—Intense indignation hais been arolaseti throughout Italy by the Aus- trian, air raid. on Ravenna, one of the most interesting cities in Western Europe, containing rich treteeuree of Byzantine art. ' It is pointed oitt that no Possible military advantage could, accrue front the attack, since for many miles around Ravenna there are nefortlficas tions of any kind. The Basilica of Sent Apollonare, the porch set which was deetroyed, is as famous iii the art history of the world as is the Naito - on, at Rome. Garibaldi, when fleeing from Austrian troops in 1867, took re- fuge in Ravenna'e famous pine forests where his historic wife, Anita, died, • THE glIETIIUSA STRUCK II MINE London, Feb. 14, 4,19 p.m.—The 'British cruiser Arethusa struck a mine to -day off the east coast of England, according to a statement issued by the British Official Press -Bureau. It is feared, the state. ment adds, the vessel will be a total wreck. The text of the official statement Says: "MIS Majesty's tthip Arethusa, Com- mod&re Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, hes, struck a mine off toe east coast. It Is feared she will become a total wreck. About ten men were lost." 4 4 4. U.- S1 COURSE • ANOECIDED Washington, Feb. 14.—Austria's for- mal notification of her intention to sink, without warning, armed mer- chant ships after March 1, was re, ceived toolay by the State Depart- ment. It is •substantially the same as that received from Germany, Secretary Lansing said no decision had been reached on the attitude of the United States. • HUNS cuts MORE GAINS Berlin, via London, 3.20 p.m.LIm- Portant gains for the Germans in two engagements were reported to- day by the War Office. Northwest of 'Failure positions over a front of 700 Yards were captured, seven officers and SOO mer, being made prisoner.. In the region of Anersept, near the French frontier, Allied positions 400 yards long were captured. • - • GOOD ROADS International Convention at Mon- treal an Assured Success. Montreal, Feb. 14.—An indication of the wide appeal made by the forth- eoming Third Canadian and Interna- tional Good Roada.Congress at Mont- real, in found in the fact that over five hundred tamers', representative of the different agricultural organiza- tions in the Province of Quebec alone, will attend the big gathering at the held in Sohmer Park from March 6th to 1.0th inclusive. 1 addition there will be large delegations from similar associations.in the other, provinces of the Dominion, and thus it is assured the importance of good roads to the agricultural, progress of Canada will be fully recognized at the Congress, and the question of the best methods of maintaining the tens of thousands of milea and earth and other natural roads that form the greater part of the highways and byways of Caltiada will be kept to the fore, Highways, bridges will also be thor- oughly diseussed at the Congress, and the experience and advice of experts will be placed at the. disposal of the delegates. Another class which will be well represented at the Congrees win be the motoritig fraternity, ae every good motorist is a good roads enthusiast. The annual meeting of the Canadian , Automobile Federation will be held in Montreal while the Congress -is oo, and officials and delegates from over 30 automobile clubs throughout the Dominion will attend this meeting. Therewill be elghteen lectures or papers, Covering all the main problems in road construction and maintenance, by engineers and other experts from Canada and the United States. In ad- dition to these set features there will be seine two score aildresses by prom- inent men from MI parts of the Good Roads Movement, and detailing the schemes that are being carriee out in the various provinces and the difficul- ties that have been met and overcome. BETTER TEETH. New Composition for Pilling's is Great Advance, Pittsburg, Feb. 14.—The discovery Of coMposition for filling cavities in ha - matt teeth wield', it is said, will Make a great change in the practice of den- tistry, has been nitoe by Dr. C. C. Vogt, a prominent chemist, and holder ef a fellowship in the Mellon research Institute at the University ,ot Pittsburg, it was announced to -day. The new composition is said to have ' the plasticity et cement, the appear - :knee of porcelain, and the stability of gold, and is thc result of two year of eonstant work ott the part of the fitseoverer. HJLNJL N NORTH SEA. Gemnian Vessels From Zeebrugge Believed at Large. Were Those Which Sunk British Mine Sweeper, Ameterdann Feb. 13, ----The Telegraae eays the Gerreen scout vresels In the North Sea are believed to have gone out of Zeebrugge, as it is known that trOme vessels wbich formerly wore not at that port have been lying ORM Mu - der stetrant etehet 1.111111111 The Britiela mine OWeepers WO a good account of themselves when GM' were attacked, awl inflicted damage. On three of the euemy. In the battle that followed thiraer- man attacks one of the British. ship Was Separated from its compenione, and heel not been accounted fora is understood that this vessel is the one. whieh Berlin identifies WS the cruiser Arabis, Stating that it was sunk by a torpedo. The naval expert of the TAW' Chrons ide thinks that "the answer is to be found in the fact that the British war - hip Arabia Is an unusual type of ves- sel, wbich might eatilly be mistaken for something elee. She is an oil -dri- ven vessel, A nuraber of ships of this class began to appear on the high seas In recent years." In addition to the British ship Ara- bia, another British vessel was sunk by a, German torpedo boat in the North Sea, according to an official Admiralty report given out in Berlin last night. The report, which is for- warded for publication by the Overseas New Agency, follows: "The Admiralty reports, relative to the sinking of the British cruiser Arabia, that a second English ship was sunk, which was hit . by a torpedo, A German torpedo boat rescued the comratinder of the Arabia, also the surgeon, one officer, one non- . commissioned Officer, and twenty- seven men. During the return, however, the surgeon and three men died becauee ot long exposure in the • • • ROUMANIA MUST IINEIR HUNS derman Agent's Threat Demands Immediate Reply. "Kaiser Knows How to Strike Swiftly." London, Feb. 14.—A despatch to the Daily Mail from Unglient, on the Rote manian frontier, says: Baron von Dem Bussche-Haddenhau- een, the .German Minister at Buchar- est, who was entrusted with a special' mission to Roumania by the German .Government, has returned from Bet - lin, where he wee received in audience. be the Kaiser and has opened his _ campaign in his newspaper, Roum- ante, by threatening Roumania. "The Germanic powers," he says in hie paper, "know how to strike swiftly and energetically." He asks on which side Rouliaania is going to range herself and deelarea that Germany wishes to know immedi- ately, hos The Times Bucharest correspondent, ' in a series of delayed despatches dat- ed from Jan. 26- to Feb. 1, tells of , purchases of wheat by the belligerent powers in Roumania. It appears from - these despatehes that Germany in a formal note to Roumania demanded the same rights for the purchase of tiepin's as aocorded Great Britain, and proposed to 'purchase at the same price charged the British all the remaining stocks of Roumanian wheat and 100,- 000 wagon -loads of maize. Roumaniaconeeded equality of pri- vileges, and, according to the news- eaPers, the Germans purchased by sec- ret centred 4O000 tens of wheat for the purpose of reventing the•realize- Hon of its sale the 13ritish Govern- ment. The Roumanian. Govern,meatoe despatches add, wiW foresee Aver--exi)Ort of this wheat. PRISON- TERMS .•••••••••••iat For Glove Makers Who Traded With the Enemy. London, Feb. 14,—At the Old Bailey to -day' William Gardiner Rigden was fined ze:500, Wihlhani. leownes Rigdeit was sented to twelve menthe' inipris- onment, and Stanley Fownes Itigden to four months' infprisonraent, on Gide with:it-awing their former defence and pleading guilty to the charge of ob- taining goods from Germany through their New York branch, and trading :nurse:se: goods, in contravention of the Trading .With the Erieray Act. The Brothers es Company, glen° manufac- three men are partners of leownes The prosecution alleged that be- tween the end of September and the end of December, 1914 the accused had obtained goods worth pogo from Saxony, through the New York branch, for which paynient was to be Made after the war. When the defendants Withdrew their Plea, of tiot geittY, the Jade° remarked that the 'trial Must necessarily have resulted in their conviction. He pointed out the gravity of the charge, stating that trading with an enemy of Great Bri- tain at the present tithe mast be dealt witli severely. The tierthence in the caee of WiBinin Gardiner Itigdett was light because he ie of advaneed age, and took only a small part in the busittess. The other sentences decnot entail hard labor. WERNER HORN ts SANE. Boston, Is'eb, 13.—It was learned to- day that Werner Horn, an' Officer of the German Landwehr, who is Mused of having attempted to wreck a rail- road bridge across the international boundary at Vanceboro, Maine, has been declared sane by three physieians who recently examined him, Horn, Igt In the EaSt CaMbridge jail.