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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1917-08-16, Page 7ALLIES MENACE THE WHOLE PRUSSIAN LINE OF SUPPLY Date Toward Roulers threatens to Cut the Huns From Their Base. Battle of Flandars Again Raging ---All Foe Counter -Attacks Fail, {By R. T. Small.) (Staff Correepondent of the Associated Prem.) British Front In Franee and Bel- gium, August 12.—T1de morning fouad the British holding all the newly ac- quired positious etrongly. The Britisb occultation of this high ground in the early morning yesterday was followed by a heavy bOmbardinent from the German guns which lasted hours. The enemy launched five suCeeective lines of enfantry in quick succesa against the centre of the sector near West - hook village and ale° eounter-attacke ed on the left wing above Westhoek. As the assaulting troops swept for- ward toward the dominating position held by the Britieh they were met by a withering machine gun and rifle fire which they found it impesstble to face, Tee German losees undoubtedly were eevere, but further attempte to retake the ridge are expected. REGAINED PART OF WOOD. Iland-toehand fighting of the meet furious nature, in which hayonettaud cluabed rifles were utilized, develop- ed in the Glencorse wood yesterdaY, as a reettit of a German counteir-at. tack by which the enemy retook the southeastern ,portion of this elevation, Glencoree wood was the eouthern ex- tremity of the line taken by the Brit- ish in Friday's offensive, awl owing tothe fact that it overlooked tlie our - rounding country the Germans deter- mined to regain it at any cost. Yeaterdat"s counter-attack was moat determined. The Germans preceded their infantry advance by an iutense bombardment from gene of all calibres and then sent troops forward under a heavy 'barrage. The Germans were met by a etrong fire by the British artillery., and, as they approached the wood, were mowed down in large num- gore by machine-gun fire. But the expenditure of life did not enter into the German calculations. Teey were willing to pay the price for this im- portant pceition, and the infantry were hurled forward through a rain of death until the wood itself was readied. Two British battalions, the Queen's Royal West Surreys and .the Bedfords, made a valiant'figlit againGt the num- erically superior forces of the enente, but were forced gradually to with- draw; battling every inch of the wat with their bayonete and their rifles used as clubs. In the northwest per - tam of the wood, however, they made such a determined stand that the en- emy was unable to continue his ad- vance,and the British retained Pose cession of it. The German Imes were eaceedingly heavy, being greatly in exseee of the British -casuaittee. WHERE THE LINE EXTDNDS, The. Westhoek ridge position which the British took on Friday morning, has been held against numerous Ger- man counter-attacks, and the line now extends along the forward crest Of the ridge with ite lett on the Ypres-Roulera railway and with the right merging into the Glencorse wood. GermanprisonersGay that they wre taken by eurprise in Friday's of- fensire, and that the British were upon them before they were aware that an attack was impending. The fighting along the ridge and in the Glencorse wood on Friday was meet bitter and sanguinary, a large Part of the ridge being taken with the bayonet. Heavy casualties were in - Meted oij the defenders. At one strongly -defended point the Germans withstood the British for three hours wattli machine-gun fire, and then the peaftiort wae rushed by the attackers, the Germans being forced out. Gleneorse wood also was filled with Machine guns, and the Queen's and Bedfords, who finally captured it, had to fight their' way through a ver- itable halt of death. THREATEN SUPPLY LINE, • London, Aug, 12.—W1tit the eturn of fine weather the Battle of Plantlers has been resumed and the Franco- Britieh forces are continuing their eastward drive in the region of Ypres with an energy that Promises to net Me greater results than thou° of the firet part of the battle. The usual ar- tillery preparation has been going on Lor five days With intermittent local attacks culminating in the Ineash completing. the capture of Westhoek Ridge Med the advance of the 'French toward, Langemarck. SIX Pruselan couater-attacks were made on th.o new British positions Ate,. Friday night, but they all broke down and on Saturday Geheral Haig re- ported further gains on the Ypret- Menai road. At the same time the Frenelt further north have crossed the little Steenbeek creek and occu- pied a numner of farms frail which. the Prussians have been driven by con- centrated gunfiee. This treek is one tef a large number draining the flat lands and acting as feeders to the Yser River, which has been Used as a canal for many yeare and is connected with all the main tanal systents Of Belgium and North- ern France. These small streams are rather shallow and Offer little ob- stacle to the advatee of an army. More difficult to negotiate are the Marehes and lakes, of which there are two or three still swollen by the re- cent wet weather. - Just east of scene of the 'French positions gained yesterday is the For- est of Hotithillst, which is filled with Pressfan machine gun stations and premises to be a nuisance to this part of the advance. Only one road tra- verso it, that from PoeleapPelle to Manua°. The French line here is not very long,. less than six mules, It runs from the Yser Cenel near Noods- ehopte, around Ilixseboote to the Boo- sitighe-Langemarck road, about half a mile beyond Pilken. They ere thus astride the railroad from Ypres to Bruges by way of Thouroni. Tito Britieh Mho no the line at the Langemarek road and swing around a 'wide end -circle frona three to four Mites distant from Ypres. All the Prussian posititns ott a front of two Mites from Frezenberg te the Ypres. MenIn road were tarried PridaY, Ulla nail eirele by a third, or e,lnlI. Thie Ad% ante malb tit • both odes of the Ypres-Roulers all- roati. FOE'S SUPPLY LINE THRISATENED At Routers about six miles away, this road takes a juncture with the railway running north frona Lille, through Roubaix and Turcoing to Bruges by way Of MOM and Thou. - rout, The latter is the main line of communication behind tlae Prussian front In Belgium and northern France. Should the allies -succeed in cutting it the results would be disastrous for the Prussian occupation of a large part of Belgium and would loosen their hold on Lille, if not compel its evacuation. Thus the allies are driving a wedge' deeper and deeper into the Prussian lines in Belgium, threatening the en- emy's flanks both north and south. The evident design of the campaign is to repeat the process adopted further south in Franco, where the Prussians have been squeezed out of one import- ant posItion after another, losing heavily in men. The gradual wasting of their strength is shown in the fact that their counter-attacks are becom- ing more feeble and they have almost entirely lost their initiative; such attempts on other parts of the front as were made Friday by the Crown Prince to divert attention from the Belgian offensive, being very weak effort e and easily repulsed. BRITISH REPORTS. London, Aug. 12.—The British offi- cial communication issued this even- ing says: "The number of prisoners captured In the successful attack of the 10th and in subsequent operations east of Ypres has reached a total of 454, in- cluding nine officers. In the same Operations were also captured six German guns. "An attempted enemy raid this morning south of Armeutieres was sue cessfully repulsed by the Portuguese with bombs and rifle fire," Sunday afternoon's report read: "The weather was wet and stormy, During the night fighting occurred for possession of a mine crater east of ,Givenchy -La Besse% We established ourselves on the near lip of the crater and drove off counter-attacks. "The hostile artillery showed great activity last night east and north of Ypres (Belgium)." Saturday night's report read: "Tills morning the enemy again attacked our new .positions on the Yares-Menin road, and, after heavy fighting, pressed back our line slightly in the Glencorse wood. In the neigh- borhood of the . Ypres Railway we gained ground on the right bank of the steenbeek. A further 124 prisoners were captured by us in the course of the day," PRENGH REPORTS. Paris, Aug. 12.—Tee ectnmunication issued by the War Office Sunday evening said: "To -day the cannonade assumed at times rather considerable violence in Belgium, -in the sector of Hurtebise (Aisne), and on both banks of the Meuse (Verdun region). "The Germans have directed a scattered artillery fire' over the City of Rheims. Two civilians there were Killed and'one civilian was wouonded. "The day was quiet elsewhere. Sunday afternoon's announcement read: "In Belgium there were artillery duels north of 13ixschoote. There were no infantry actions. "Bast of Fayet (north of St. Quen- tin) our troops reconquered all the trench elements which the Ger- mans haed occupied on the night of August 9-10. We took twenty prison- ers in the course of this action.: "In the sector of Noisy Farm and Laffaux Mill our scouting parties penetrated the enemy lines at a num- ber of places and returned with pri- soners. "South of Allies the Germans re- newed their attacks upon tho trenches which we had previously conquered. Two attaeks, one of which was very violent, were repulsed with serious losees to the enemy. Our troops main- tained all tbeir positions and in the course of the night realized further progress. "In the Champagne and on both hanks of the Meuse the artillery born- bordment was quite heavy. West of AvocoUrt (Verdun region) we checked an enemy surprise attack. "In Alsace there were .patrol en- counters in the Carspach Wood." The Saturday night statement said: "ln Belgium the ttrtiliery fighting was very spirited throughout the day. To the north of St. Quentin, a German infantry attempt against our positions to the east of Fayet was stopped short. "In Champagne, the activity ot both artillerthe has slackened a little. In the region of Monts which the enemy attacked last night without success in the Carnillet sector, they to -day di- rected two attacks against our trench- es at letont Haut. The assailants were caught under our fire and forced to fall back on their departure trench. Other enemy attempts against Mont Blond were similarly repulsed 4 - A STRANGE BURIAL. Canadian Indians at Front Inter Their Brother. (By Stewart Lyon. 'Canadian Press Car - respondent With the Canadian Forces'). Vanadlatt Army eteadquartere, Aug. 12. • •One of the Irina remarkable berint ser• vfeps ,Iver itrid on a Phiropran battle. fichl Is dogerlbed bv thr chaplain of a iNt stern Ontario battalion. If rvs That of an Thelion by a boinl,. flhaY Indians, rointunitdtti by rot Indian lc ralil. altemird ihr funeral. They rep. rectnted the Mohauks. Oneidas, Mon- tlggese i'laytntas, 11.11Se12.eatigat?, DOE.. %Plitt's, Iroquois and Blaekfteet. The zOldler V. a Presbyterian, and the borvi-'l. wan eondutted according to the ritee of the Murcia Mugglits--Thatt fellow Screech. 'eigh Is certainly finished Inaelcian, Iltigente--qotill 'Inn killed him? HUNS REAR ATTACH. Renewal of Great British Drive„,.Anticip_ated. Copenhagen, Aug.10.—A special des, patch from Flanders to the Voesisehe Zeitang, of Berlin, cabled the ninth, describes three heavy British attacks On that day, resulting in the forcing and crowing of the Steenbeek River at a point where the railroad from Bees- tughe aad Langmarelt cream the creek. It says that in consequence of better weather the 'artillery bombard- ment flamed up aloug the whole Irma. Title and other preparations indicate that a renewal of the general attaelt tiasti. itnla cilding as soon as the ground conditions permit the infantry to at the coast section the British at- tacked at 2 o'clock In the morning-ot the 9t1O, after a short drututire proper- etion, venting to grips with the Ger- mans at various -mein% but, according to tite Vet:else:he Zeituag's they did net succeed in ejecting the Germans from their peoltione. Further to the south the British were more mucceesful. Here two hours of drum - fire from alerket to lerezenberg was the prelude to violent infantry at - teaks in the sector between Draaibank and Saint Julien. The eltief effort Was concentrated south of the Boesingee and Langemarelt railway, where the Brltlsh esta.blishad themselves on the west bank of the Stembeek. GREEK TREACHERY. Pro -Hun Ministry's Secret Deals With. Berlin. Athens, Aug. 11—Finance Minister Isieg- repeals, replying to an interpellation 111 the Chamber, stated that the Cabinet of ex -Premier Sitottlotulis contracted two secret loans with the 131elehroeder Bank of Berlin, of 30,000,000 marks each, re- payable in three months after tho nature of peace. The first loan was arranged Jan, 2, And the second in April, 1916( and the Lambros Ministry obtained a third similar loan ot forty millions in January, 1917. Of these loans only 60,000,000 marks had een paid up by the bank. M. Nee- ropontes further declared that the Vent - kolas Government would accept liability tor these loans, At the same time, he emphasized the heavy responsibility of the Skouloudis Government, which ne- gotiated the loans without the author- ity of the Chamber, and kept them secrst, while at the very time they were trying 10 C.bitge the west..trn Dowers to make them another loan of 120,000,000 marks. The Minister also called, attention to tdhe fact that the second loan almost co- incided with the abandonment of Fort Buprel to the Bulgarians. PROVE TO HUNS DRIVE NOT OVER British Attack On Westhoek • Ridge Showed. Ten Foe Divisions With- drawn Over Losses. (Reuter Despatch.) London , Cable.—lieuter's corre- spondent at British Headquartere itt Flanders, telegraphing to -day, says: Early title morning the Germans received definite proof that their newspapers were talking bosh when they declared that the British offen- mve in Flanders had come to a stand- still. That their 'high command does not think Go is snown by the etrenu- ous advantage. it has taken of the ends Willett bad weather has imposed .on us, to etrengthen their front and rear defences. I learn that no fewer than ten enemy 'divisions !lave been withdrawn since the 31st of July, which is a fair criterion of their losses, since we know that most of these troops were ftia-eeskh.in tht .e line on the eve of the a Operations this morning were not of the first magnitude, but rather a battle for position, to try and coin. plete our partial dominance of West- hoek Ridge. Following :the usual thnnderous preliminaries by the gun- ners our infantry went ever at 4.30, on a front of 2,600 yards. We car- ried the advanee to an extreme depth of 500 yards. At the time of writing the Germans are prepariug counter- attacks, but eur artillery le warning them off in no uncertain voice, The weather is pretty fair except for local showers which temporarily mar visi- bility and !hasten the drying of the ground. Telegraphing this afternoon Reu• ter's correepondent says: Fighting -continued throughout th.e Morning in the development ot: our Operations against the German posi- now between Frozeuberg and south- east of Westhoek. The Gerniane launched several counter-attacks, but latest accounts show that all galne have been pretty well inaintained, Up to the epreeent two hundred pris- oners have been counted. The fine weather is enabling the airmen to render fine service. The ohms le still resisting vigorously, some of the southern sections of the front being attacked. French patrols to the northward !melted forward and found several farms evacuated, with the to - suit that our line of oalposte is now established Well into the area of the tflonoodoet. decountry northeast of Bac- xhThis eveningteer the fanaoue Kor- tekeer cabaret, on the Bixscholata- Langemarek road, the French found five guns abandoned. Our artillery is most busy counter -firing with their batteries and the most eatiofactory results aro reported. Your correspon- dent has been ohowtt aerial photo. graphs of Hollebeke, from which it le plain that not the least Gign of a habitation remains. Laat night two British eartlea ear - lied out a Mast satisfactory raid in the neighborhood of Monchy, taking aixty prisoners, eapturing two light mine-firena, bombing dugouts and gen- orally coesiderably damaging the en. emy ()gene! work sin the direction Bolevert. LAKE STEAMER OVtROLIE, ItIngeton, Aug. 10.—The steamer Wattle, owner]. by the Swift Coal Come natty, of Kingston, le long overdue •at PairhaVen, and the friends of the crew are decidedly anxioua. The steamer cleared light on Tuesday night, and tamed 'have been in ratrha,von in thq morning. SIM Was ..tit 1» Ulf : MUM of that night, when the selnamer 13. Marsh foontirred. ateesartea ohy front Oawr,g,) say 1,10 craft It not ihr,e or sit Pairiteven. Tito captain is Chtirks 13eaume, 1>f this eltY• • "1 trust, Miss Tapit, said the kind- ly employer to his stenographer, "that you have something In reserve for a rainy day." "Yes, sir," answered the young women: "I am Ong to marry a nisn battled Maeltenteelt.'-- • Chile:elan R 410 er. 4-471V1 ENEMY PLANES DROP DEATH. ON ENGLISH TOWN mewl LLOYD GEORGE . you yeeterday afternoon, etating that You 'ought to Inform me after moat . , cereful consideration that you had come to the conclueion you eould 7 SP, , . take no other eourse than to &and by the advice you had given the daY after your return from Russia: aunt HoN, HENDERsoN ii.itleial zusrpeecAlleivagave lfl1'olmed the geebeiy:tul batoe4buieant To You entered the conference, , , . . .. "When you spoke at that confer- re0 ence you were not merely a member them! Report Tells How Disgruntled Mon- archists Created Disorders, DISPLEASED AT CAUSED THE RUSS DEBACLE 23 Killed, 50 Injured in Raid Says Labor Man in Cabinet Sunday On Southend, Acted Unfairly by in Essex, Confreres, FRANKFORT BOMBED temoomeerearrIT......01 Mazy Air Battles in Belgium ---R.N.A.S. Planes Smash Huns Rails. 1111••••••,•••••,MM.1011•MOk London, Aug. 12.—Twenty-three persons including nine women, and six children, were killed and fifty per- sons injured at Southend, in Essex, forty miles east of London, by bombs dropped by German raiders to -day, says an official statement issued to- night, Considerable damage to pro- perty was caused at Southend by nearly forty bombs dropped upon the town. Two men were injured at Rochford, but four bombs dropped on Margate, in Kent, did little damage. The latest statement follows: "Enemy raiders caused consider- able damage at Southend, where they dropped about forty bombs. The casu- alties thus far reported are: "Killed: Eight mon, nine women, six childreu. About fifty people were injured. "At Rochford two men were injur- ed but no damage is reported. At Margate four bombs were dropped. One uninhabited house was demolish- ed but there were no casualties. RAID ON GERMAN CITY. Paris, Aug. 12.—Two aviators yes- terday dropped bombs on Frankfort - on -the -Main, one of tee most import- ant cities of tlae German Empire, hav- ing a population of more than 300,000, A French official statement, announc- ing the raid, says it was in retalia- tion for the German aerial bombard- ment of Nancy and the region north of paris, Both French machines re- turned undamaged. The text of the announcement reads: "In reprisal for the German bone bardments of Nancy and the region north of Paris two of our- machines, piloted by Lieutenant Moergues and Sub -Lieut. Beaumont, yesterday drop- ped bombs on Frankfort -on -the -Main. Both machines returned undamaged. "It is confirmed that a German aviator was brought down Auzust 9 on the Belgian, front. Yestereay a Ger- man machine was shot down by ma- chine gun fire north-east of Vaux- anion." Frankfort -on -the -Main is 160 miles within the German lines at Verdun. AIR BATTLES IN BELGIUM. London, Aug. 12.—Sir Deuglas Haig In a despatch from British headquar- ters in France says: "Yesterday for the first time in over ten days a full day's flying was possible. Enemy aircraft showed themselves in a great many places, attempting to prevent our artillery work and attacking our bombing Ina - chines. In spite of their efforts a great deal of observation work was carried out by us. A large number of photos were taken, many targets On the ground engaged effectively with machine gun fire and in the course of the day and night six and one-half tons of bombs were dropped on ene- my aerdromes, munition depots and other points of military hnportance. Fighting was very severe all day and the enemy was encountered in large tqrmation. Ten German machines were brought down by our aeroplanes, tive others were driven down out of control, and another was driven down, out of control by gun -fire, Twelve of our machines are missing." Sunday night's report said: "in spite of repeated storms and strong westerly winds, which greatly tavored the enemy, our aeroplanes carried out much suecessful work yes- terday. In air fighting three Gorman machine.s were downed and four oth- ers were driven down out of coetrol. fwo of our aeroplanes were forced to land behind the enemy lines and three other British machines are missing." Tite French airineu Were also busy. file Paris War Offiae report says: "On the night of August 10-11 and during the day of tho ilth, our aviators on the front in Belgium bombed enemy encampments to the north of -tho Ilouthulst forest and also the stations at Cortemarcit mat Lichterverde. A fire was started and violent explosions were observed at Clothier (Tipper Alsace) also has re- eelved many projectiles." "Two German aeroplanes were brought down by our pilots on Friday, and two other machines, seriously damaged, were forced to land within their own lines. Our aviators success - tally effected various bombing opera- tions. The aviation ground at Settles- tadt and the encampments la the for- est of liothalst received many bombs." "British aviators bombed enemy hangars in the region of Drama." ENEMY 'RAILROADS BOMBED. London, Aug. 12.—British naval aer- oplanes dropped several tons of bombe on the German aexodrame in the Bel- gian: town or Ghistelles, on the Zuld- wege railway sidings and on the Thourout railway junction, the British Admiralty announced yesterday, On Friday afternoon British airmen drop." ped bombs on the German aerodrme at Sparappelhoek, The Adridralty statement follows: . "Several tons of beanie were drop- ped by the Royal Novel Air Service Thursday night on the Ghistellea aer- adronte, on the Zuldwege railway std. titg and on the Thourout railway junc- tion. Donee clouds of smoke were caused at 'Zuitlwege. The railway Nue- tion at Thourout also was attwited by gunfire from the air." Walking and Health. As a fortidation for health there is nothing better than four miles a day itt the open air, taking tbe weather as It eeines. Your family, your work and your lire ineuranee eompany witi aU niatreektie the benefit.; derived, Ilea sour face will ehow the dltferente 11.1 a few Montlee Collier'e 'Weekly. And if yoU enema 'make it four Mlles a day better than nothing le two millet.; or a nilla ,or .esen a ban a Mlle if It in done brisktv with chin up, ehooldere bark arid to 1.110 aerom rentinent of tieep 'tweet:10g, Hatt - ford Post. BARNES TO SUCCEED Wide Difference of Views as to the Stockholm Conference. London, Aug, 12,.—The announce- ment by Premier ]4OY4 deorge yester- deer of Arthur Henderson's resignation from the British War Cabinet foloiwed quickly on the action of the British Labor party, an - der Mr. Henderson's guidance, id de - eating to send delegates to the Stock- holm conference. This sequel caused no surprise. The dual position of Mr. Henderson as a member of the Cabinet and es leader of the Labor party became impossible when he began to conduct important measures of public polite/ in his latter capacity, without the knowledge of or consultation with his colleagues in the Cabinet, This slaw tionadds another to the difficulties ot Premier Lloyd George, but may prove only a temporary embarrass- ment. Friday's decision by the Labor party caused a sharp difference in the ranks of labor organizations as well as in public opinion. W. A. Apple- ton, general secretary of the Fed- eration of Trades ,Unions, charges that Mr. Henderson has desteaoyed the unity of the allied democracy and labor. The seamen's union is dis- cussing the advisability of calling for a referendum of all labor unions on the question of sending delegates to Stockholm. Meanwhile the seamen tilhireeadteelengatotes.prevent ships sailing with The divergence of opinion in the newspapers on the situation is wide. important journals like the Times and the Morning Post bitterly oppose one section of the public conferring .with other nationalities, particularly with enemies, on war questions. On the other hand, the important and in says: "Thepacifist Westminster Gazette "The Goverhment should have taken a clear line from the beginning, and should have told the Russians that it absolutely trusted our working people In conferring with the working people of any -other country, and was confi- dent that the allied cause would be safe in their hands." BARNES MAY SUC.CDED. George Nicoll Barnes, Minister of Pensions, who has attended, the meet- ings of the War Cabinet since .Arthur Henderson started on his mission to Bassin., probably will succeed Mr. Hen- derson as labor representative la the "War Cabinet. The press agencies say the other Labor Ministers in the Gov- ernment unanimously opposed Mr. Henderson's eourse, and that Labor's support of the Government is not wee_ ClY0 Rt bEeS Pa Of eNe e NMADE PUBLIC'. CE . Premier Lloyd George last nigat made public Arthur Henderson's let- ter of resignation and his acceptance, both dated Saturday. Mr. Henderson's letter follows: "Dear Prime Minister: At our in- terview last night I gathered you had reached the conclusion that my re- tention of the secretaryship to the With my meinbership in the War Cab- inet. Recent experiences have im- pressed me with the emparraseing complications arising from the dual- ity of office. In those circumstances, therefore, I deem it advisable to ask You to release me front further enem- bership in your Government. I con- tinue to share your desire that the war should be carried to a successful conclusion, and I trust that in a non - Government capacity I may be able to render some llttle assistance to this end. "I remain, yours sincerely, . "Arthur Henderson." RESIGNATION ACCEPTED. Premier Lloyd George replied: "My dear Henderson: I am in re- ceipt of your letter If thiit morning tendering your resignation a your position as a member of the War Cab.not and have received the perm's - Glen af his Majesty to accept it. My colleagues and I have received with satislaction your assurance of your unabated desire to eetsist iu the prose- cution et the war to a successful Con- C:11S1011, and they greatly regret that you can no longer be directly and off:cially aesociated with them in that enterpriee, "There are, however, certain facts with which it is eesential that -the public ahouid Le acquainted in order time they may form a correct appre- clatiou of the events that hey° led to this regrettable conclusion. The firet at that your colleagues were taken completely by surprise by the attitude which you adopted at the labor con- ference yesterday afternoon. You knew that they were in the present cittemstaneee unanimously °pawed to the Stockholm conference and you had yourself been prepared to agree to an announcement to that effect. Some days ago and at your augges- tion, however, and that of your tabor colleagues, it woo decided to - defer any sreit announcement until after the mooting yesterday. CHANGED SITUATION. "t was under the impreasion, after eeveeal tallte with you, that you meant to toe you: tafittence against meeting enemy repreeentatives at eltocithotha What ha;; happened in Ratela during the last few weeks has affected materially our position :n reterenee to finft eonfereese. You admitted to me that the situation bad changed e ompletely, even with - '11 tho alet fortetglit, and that what, 0. ver erouna you might have thon ;di t thtre was for tenegatee front allied tortitrirs in ca theft?, :atilt 0 eon - newel a forint:eh( ego, flf litr hall ,iitown you ihr tin. tv%•410111 of tilitli 0, comae. waleat writ clearly bat S oll led i:tote belle. P. It wtet aleo the im- l!'C,'4ittfl lett en the mine,: of :t.-oPr reesgete 111 V 0 t oblnet and of ;$?:111. 1!;%1.1.1.,4:,le 1111t1Pflegeig'e„lila 1,1,1 e, OW 1 I" reitte Itltvr froin of the Labor party, but it• member of the Cabinet, responsible for -the con- duct of the war, Ilevertitels YOU dill not deem it neeeesary to intorm the , conference of the views of yeur col- leaguee and the delegaten aecordingit E were jestified in aeeinning that the waditvhieethyeotru ogiazeionw:s not ineeneietena nemy Spies Seized the uhance to Swarm TO INFLUENCE BRITAIN, "The second point Is this: Yester- day morning we received a, most im- portant communication from the Russian Government, In 'which we wore informed that although the Russian Government did not deem it ref too. onsfifliebr 104 iketieez gpt rhpeeavyretn enRg autresiadn.idtel Stockholmeagsatdelegates party concern and its deeleion as, in no wise binding On the liberty of' action of the Government, and fur- eher, the covering letter which ac- companied this communication, me: tallied these words, "I hasten to lay before you the above information as I fear that the imaression hitherto has prevailed that ha the words of Crae of the London newspopers Rus- sia ardently desired the Stockholm conference and this argument has been put forward in order to influ- ence British public opinion in favor of the Labor and the Socialist parties of Great Britain participating in the conference." "Immediately on the receipt of this intimation I sent it over to you with the request that you commuuicate it to the conterences. You omitted to do ECT. It is true that 111 tile course of your speech you made a very casual reference to 'some modification' in the attitude of the Russian Government, but there is a manifest difference be- tween the effect which would neces- sarily be produced upon any audience by en indifferent summary of that de- scription and by the communication to them of official information eller,- in that the attitude of the Mission Government towards the Stockholm conference was very different from what had been suppose& "In these circumstances your action does not appear tohave been fair either to the Government or to the delegates whom you were addressing. They were left in ignorance of a vital fact which necessarily must have af- pfercetsesd. their judgment. I am senaing a copy of this correspondence to the "Yours sincerely, - "DAVID ,LLOYD GEORGE." MORAL SURRENDER. The Sunday Observer says that the action at the labor conference on Fri- day ot Arthur Henderson, the re- signed Minister without portfolio in the British Cabnet, confronts the Government wth a crisis on the solu- tion of which will depend the winning or the losing of the war. "Mr. Hen- derson," the newspaper says, rasied the flag of moral surrender." • The Observer then proceeds to ana- lyze the situation in RAMIS, and says: "The Council tre Soldiers' arid Workmen's Delegates has not a sha- dow of right to speak for Russia. Neither Mr. Henderson 'nor the Inde- . pendent Labor Party has the right to • speak for Great Britain. If the at- tempt to arrogate such right goes further there must be important repu- diation. "The only means of correcting the mischief is for the Government's allies to take Instant action in uniaon. They ought to assert that in free countries in• time • of war responsi- bility and authority belong solely to the Government representing the whole nation M accordance with a trup parliamentary system which Germany does net possess. "We hope President'Wilson without waiting for any other lead will take up this principle. He could give it an incomparably clear and grave expree sion In such another state document as he recently addressed to Russia. CONDITIONAL TO NEGOTLATION. "We hope Premier Lloyd George will take the initiative inaucing all in the league of liberty, ihcluding the United States and Premer leereniky's Government, to declare that there can be no negotiation whatever until the. absolute and unconditional withdrawal from the territories inyaded by the enemy is assured, and that there can be no peace until reparation, restitu- tion and guarantees are actually ob- tained and accomplished. "If that declaration cannot be as- sured, Mr. Lloyd George ought to take the issue to the people at a general election as soon as possible, We must know who represent opinion and power, and we must face our soldiers' and Workmen'a movement before irre- parable mischief on the Russian ntodel alternative would be for ha,s,Tbheeenondor31,ma. the Government to have a direct meeting with the chief representative of labor and to give its reasons as the Government why Friday's decision (to send delegates to Stockholm) should be reversed. That would be the beat "Tho Stockholm conference must not take plat.0 with British participa- tion apart from America and the Allies," IN FLYING SERVICE, Number From Overseas is Very Large. Wainer Despatch.) '• London Cable. ---In the IIouse of Commons to -day Mr. N. Pemberton Billing, indep trident, asked whether in view of the aptitude for aviation ehown by Canadians. Auetrallans and :nth Arra:nate, the War Office would 0011814er the advisability of encourag- ing, rather than discouraging, over- seas men to qualify for ntlmission to the Royal Flying' Corps. Mr. J. I. MacPherson Parliamentary Secretary to the 'Witt. Office, replied that the sugetestion was unsupperted by the facts. The proportion of over - 011011 among the allots of the Ply - Ing Corps has always been large. Ev- ery eneoure moment ts given them, be telaed. and Hie War Office has at pre - tent a vpreent rommlselon in 1110 Do- minions eulletine emlete. Isler itt it always lit the meet dile tinguished aehievements that men's virtues or vices may be best aleeerre od; but very often an Wien of IWO, $4hOrt saybie. Or aejest, eball liftable:111AI .1 pereetia. reel ebereeter more ellen ihr re'ti 91r?1,..,S Ail" the me t peri ant Ira 1.1 itts Through Russian Trenches. ...••••••••••••••••••••..1,•••• Petrograd Gable --,Causes ot the t mails spoke Russian so welt that they Russian debacle before the Gerniuns citing at euspicion. The spies organized sat the officere' races without ex, fraternization.. Soldiere born in the provinces occupied by the enemy were allowed to visit their homes, and af- ter a short absence returned to the trendies completely elermantzed In sentiment. The result was that before Oa at- tempt to recover Vilna many soldiers refusetj to participate in the attack, How good was Russia's Chance, says Go), Kolotkoff, is proved by the fact that weakened Germans often ran away, and the strange spectacle ot Russians flying from fleeing Germans Was teamettnies seen, The Germans t first realize() the situation, and having an iron discipline, were able to turn to advantage the Russian collet/se. UKRIANIANS FIGHT RUSSIANS, A Petrograd Cable says—(Delay- ed)—Portion or a new Ukraine rega went which paSsed through Kiev to- day in a train on the way to the trout opened fire on the Cuirasziers, who were guarding the station. The Culls eskers fired back, and a battle began, In which soldiers on both sidewere killed or wounded. When the Ukrianians reached Nov- grad-Volynsk a whole regiment of Cult-- assirs was sent .against the mutinous train, and a fresh battle began. On the Cuirassiers bringing up machine guns the mutineers surrendered. Fourteen dead were taken back to Kiev. About fifty men wore wounded. DROP CASE AGAINST GURKO. Petrograd Cable says—The case against General Guxko, former cora- mender of the ,Russian armies on the southwestern front, who recently was arrested on political charges, has been dropped. His offence was committed prior to the enactment of the law giv- ing amnesty for political offences. As Yet, however, General Gurko has not been rethesed from prison. and. Austrians are set forth M a re- markable report by Colonel Kolothoff to the ,Counell or Workuteuee and Sol - diem' Deputies, The responsibility Is Placea on the activity of ex -policemen, gendarmes and sples ot temperer NI. - Melee, who, after being deprived of heir livelihood, were compute -erne lent to the .froat. Uutil the end cif June, says Col. Koh otkoff, the soldiere on the west front were in excellent fIghtliag trim, Tech- aically, and as regards suppliee, the army aae aeyond critic:Gm. There was an admirably completed plan to ad. imitate w'hieh would probably have led to the reconquest ot Vilna. But the police, gendarmes and spies of tee autocracy consciously started an anti - patriotic counter-revolutionary cant- Paign, the first dolga of which was the dissolution of the army. Large numbers managed to get elec- ted to regimental company commit - toe, started a propagandtht against war, inciting soldiers against officere, against the provisional •Goverament's eommisearies, and even incited vio- lence. Later they secretly distilled vod- ka, and on the advance dosed soldiers therewith, Police and gendarmee ar- rested crimInal convthte, who were sent to the army, as were deserters, who, by their bad exaraples, demor- alized the soldiers. The .Germans .skilfully took advan- tage of these conditions, ana flooded the Russian trenehee with spies in Russian uniforms, finding this easy because many Russian soldiers at the front do not carry documents of iden• tity: Formerly the reinforcement un- its arriving at the front 'were slightly weaker in number than the rolls snow- ed, but now the wilts were always stronger, owing to the presence in ilsguise of Germans who, in the gen- eral absenee ef papers, it was impos- cable to detect, Many of than Ger- FEAR HUNS ARE OVERRUNNING THE REST OF ROUMANIA NOV British Military Experts Anxious Over Lack of News of Enemy Moves There. London Cable—The military cri- tics here are watching the German at- tack in Roumania with anxious inter- est. The greater part of Moldavia, the only section of the country remaining in Roumanian hands, is being attack- ed, as shown in official de,spatches, from the north, west and south, and the Ruesians and leounianians; who until recently conducted a victorious effensive, are now losing ground at 111 points. Field Marshal von aiackensen's thrust in the neighborhood of Fok- tba,ni is the.most serious of the opera- tions being carried out by the German troops, and the furious resistance of the Allies is not meeting with success. The enemy's passage of the Suchitza, -eported yesterday, Is regarded • as placing in immediate jeopardy tbe Maria Sesti junction railroad, the pea- lession of which is of immense 1131. nortance to tbo Russians and Rou- manians. Attention is called here to the absence ot the Russian • official itatement yesterday, while it is re- marked that the Roumanian repoet does not appear to deei with the latest events. GERMAN GENERAl. DENIESHUN LIE ---e: Copenhagen, Aug, 12.--Lieut,-Gen. Baron von Preytag-Loringhoven, the Chief of the Supplementary General Staff of the German artny, in -aa ar- tide printed in a German newspaper, admits the falsity of the German pre- tension that the violation of Belgian neutrality in the campaign in August, 1914, was due to Military and defen- sive necessity provoked by alleged Preparations of the Freneh to invade aermany through Belgium, 'General von Freytag-Loringhoven writes that on the contrary, the French originally started to concentrate their armies along their own eastern frontier and made a belated change in their plan only after the Gorman *offensive was set In motion through Belgium, and zhe Germans profited greatly' from the resulting confusion tued delay. Stories of French troops marching through 13elgium durieg the initial days of the war and of airplane and a.utontobile attacks from Belgian ter- ritory, and other fairy tales which figure so largely in German Justifies. - tion of the itivasion of Belgium, Are not mentioned in General von lisrey- tag-Loringhoven's article. MAY BE CHANGE CANADIAN FLYER AWARDED A V.C. Bishop, -of Owen Sound, Honored for Great Work, Has Reputation as One of Best Airmen, 4.,1...1••••••imr11.•••••••••• London, Aug. 12. — The intrepidity of Captain William Avery -Bishop, •.a Canadian, and a, member of the Royal Flying Corps, in attacking a German aerodrome single-handed, bas beet jO- varded by the bestowal upoa hint of the Victoria 'Cross, the most prized 'er the British valor medaes. The °Melee Gazette gives the foliovving resume of the action which broaght Captain Bishop the Victoria Cross: "Captain Bishop flew ftrst to an enemy aerodrome. Finding no enemy machine about, he flew te anoti or aerodrome three miles Lae:alit and about twelve miles inside the German lines. Seven • machines, -some with their enginesrunning, were et: I be ground. He attacked these from a height of 50. feet, killing One of the Mechanics. "One of the machines got off the ground, but Captain Ws toe, .at height of 60 feet, fired 15 rottuds to it at close range and it mewed to the ground. A second machine got ea the ground, into which he fired 30 rounds at 150 yards. It fell into a tree. Two mere machnes rose from the aero- drome, one et which he engaged at te 'height of 1,000 feet, sending it (trash- ing to the ground. 1 -To then emptied a whole drum of cartridges into ti -c fourth hostile machine and flew back to his stainn. "Four hostile scouts were 3,000 feet above hum, for a mite divines ids return journey, but they woulenot attack: His Machine was b Idly snot about by =chile:I-gun ftre frern tl.e ground." Captain Bishop is a native cf Otetn Sound, a son of W. A.. Bishop, GraY County court clerk and registrar of the Surrogate court, Frequent reference has been made In recent war despatches to an avia- tor 'from a Nortieen Ontario avvna who was making a name for himself at the front, and it Is now apparent that Capt. Bishop was Lhe officer referied to: He is said to have thc knees( oit unnerving his opponent at, ewe by diving straight at him as alawk strikea Itis prey, Six weeks ago his father received 'reliable information to tba effect that his son had destroyed 131 German &r - craft. Capt. 1313110p, wha Is but 23 years' ot age, already holds the Distin.- guislted Conduct Order end the :Mill- tary Cross. 'Field Mardeti Sir Doug- las Haig referred to Ali most recent exploit in las despataltes and endorsed It its "remarkably work," tt, S. GUARD HELti. [hi NAVY HEADS Gunners On Sub.'s Victim 13e1ievecl Prisonfehrs. foneten. Ana. in a 011•In1'erme4 clrelete says the smplay TlinM. a tIrtiter eltaltgr in the pereormel of the adintrtIty Board h expeetea shortly, as Admiral Jellicoe, the First Sea ilord, feels that he. is in urtent ntea of rest. 1t the event or admirtl .Tellicoe'e rule:nett nt. the neweptper Adds, Vice -Admiral Sir lel val tie tette tanneueneer of the Brit:telt feeenfl aleet, arobehly ettneetellUtu WrI, t4.11, Alta. 1:R, • A-unlit:pi (1:asll.131 11111.1 e1 14:1.1P »,0 n1 " 111‘• first all i• i 1.11g l•tl 10 11;' Al11,1 lean fightitur ee take, The eaptain of the Antrilean t45810or .1.11111111:1 ".411-1 f011r Int111/)/•V4 if the erne a t ail,. 1e1e-0 vane the .1. enter %teen ' rfi the troi4 rri rtitiCo. relt•tY.S0441.. *111% 1,0,11, ell. Ow 01.8 V 11111'1 '04. AO ft 1 11.1 Onkel.. bee fy410