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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1915-7-15, Page 3--SERBIAN ARMY READY FOR AN OFFENSIVE i KAISER'S PLANS Sanitary Conditions Are Again Normal, and Forces Have Been Supplied With Money and .Munitions A despatch from Rome says:— Large quantities of war munitions. have reached Serbia. The Serbian Na- tional Assembly has voted a credit of $50,000,000 for the continuation'of the military operations. Sanitary conditions are reported now to be virtually normal; the ty- phus epidemic, however, resulted in many deaths. Large numbersof recruits, on fur- lough, have been recalled to the col- ors, and it is the intention of the Serb- ians to undertake an offensive move- ment at an early date along the Dan- ube -Save sector. Austria and Hungary are concen- trating new troops at Sarajevo and. Semlin. The Serbian Crown Prince has rejoined the general staff, The Montenegrin army; it is stated, will march side by side with their allies into Herzegovina. ALLIES REPULSE THE TURKISH ATTACKS Enemy's Batteries Silenced at Tekke Burun by the Guns of the Fleet. A despatch from London says; Fur- ther Turkish attacks on the extreme right wing of the allied forces on the Gallipoli have been repulsed, accord- ing to the Daily Mail's correspondent at Athens, with heavy losses to the enemy. The Turks opened a bombardment from the Asiatic coast on the British positions at Tekke Burun and in the neighborhood of Sedd-el-Bahr -to pre• vent the allies from landing reinforce- ments. The Turkish batteries were silenced, however, by the guns of the fleet. FRENCH FORCES HOLD EVERY HILL New Position on Lorette Heights Do- minate Whole Plain of Flanders. A despatch from Paris says; —After battling 120 days for the hill eoantry between Bethune and Arras, the French forces are in possession of all the eminences looking out upon the plain of Flanders. Lille, Douai end Gambrai all are visible from here. Every position along the broad na- tional road betwen Arras aud Beth- une has been won except Sanchez, and also another quarter -mile of tren- ches in the Souchez web -was torn away. The attack was made under parachute rocket lights, the French burning bluish white and the Ger- mans greenish whiter covering the scene of the desperate conflict with a ghastly glow. The most desperate fighting has been along the short ten -mile front from Arras to Aix Noletto, which be- gnu March 0th with the taking of a few hundred -yards of trenches on the Watershed of Norte Dame de Lortte, Where there are the ruins of an old Merovingian military road. Every day since then some section of the puritan trenches has been taken, lost or retaken. Each side has been employing for- enidable artillery, both of small and heavy calibre, the French guns some- what the more numerous and served with unlimited quantities of high ex- plosive shells. A correspondent of the Associated Press went through five or six miles pf the trenches formerly held by the Vermans and reconstructed by he k'reneh, who now have abandoned them to move forward. Upwards of 100,000 Germans have fallen or been captured in these trenches, ac- cording to the French official count, since the second week of March. The French losses, the correspondent was have been much smaller than those of the Germans. FRENCH APPROPRIATION TO PAY FOR SEIZURES A dispatch from Paris says: The French Senate unanimously appro- priated $600,000 to be used by the Minister of Marine in payment for cargoes of neutral vessels that have been seized, and especially of that of the steamer Dada. The Dacia formerly belonged to the Hamburg -American Line. After changing her registry she sailed from Galveston, Texas, with a cargo of cot- ton destined for Germany. On reach- , ing European waters she was picked up by a French cruiser an* taken into Brest. A French prize court, after bearing the case, recommended that theFrench Government purchase the $ergo. A babe in arms is worth two armed With toy pistols. SAYVILLE STATION TAKEN OVER BY U.S. Naval Operators Hereafter Will Copy Berlin's Wireless Yarns. A despatch from Washington says: The II,S. Government has taken over the Sayville, L.I,, wireless station, the only remaining privately operated direct means of communication be- tween the United States and Ger- many. Secretary of the Navy Dan- iels announced that Captain Bullard, in charge of the naval yard, had gone to take over the station, and would continue its operation with naval forces. Secretary of Navy Daniels issued this statement: "It is understood that the Sayville radio station has made application to the Secretary of Commerce for a license. The Secre- tary of Commerce declined to grant a license, and so informed the Secre- tary of the Navy, who, after confer- ence, directed Captain Bullard, as the expert of the department, to take over and operate the station, This action, which was taken under an. Executive order issued by President Wilson, giving the navy authority to take over "one or more" stations, was deemed necessary be- cause of alleged violations of neutral- ity by the company's operators. It has been charged that when the navy censors had .left the wireless room for a minute or two, unneutral mess- ages had been sent, and that only by a difficult and trying supervision could neutrality be strictly preserved. BALTIC RAIDER A BRITISH BOAT Official Report Concerning the Sub- marine That Sank Ger- man Warship. A despatch from London says: The British Admiralty stated that it was officially announced at Petro- grad that the submarine which made a successful attack on a German war- ship on July 2 in the Baltic was a British boat. The statement of the Admiralty contained the first public announce- ment intimating that British subma- rines were operating in the Baltic Sea. Itis presumed that the under- sea boat passed through the Cattegat from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and then traveled eastward for 200 miles, as the Bay of Danzig, where the warship was attacked, lies in the south-eastern part of that body of water. The distance from an English port to Danzig is about 900 miles. The Russian official communication announcing that a German warship had been sunk by a submarine said that the battleship, which was of the Deutschland type, . was steaming at the head of a German squadron at the entrance to Danzig Bay July. 2 when she was blown up by two torpedoes fired by a submarine. UBM S ARINE RAN A N INTO AN ITALIAN TRAP Strategy of Captain Leads to Capture of Undersea Boat in Novel Way. A despatch from Turin says: The 4 iorpale d'Italia says: A steamer be - caging to one of the neutral Balkan fetes was caught laden with benzine rid naphtha by an Italian warship. he captain of the steamer confessed at he waswaiting to deliver the largo to a German submarine. - The naval commander,ther-eupon took pos- sbssion of the vessel, manned it with a crew of his own bluejackets dis- guised as ordinary seamen and armed the ship with machine guns. Then he Set out to keep his appointment. Pre- cisely at the hour and spot arranged the periscope was seen emerging from the surface. Greetings were being ex- changed when the commander of . the steamer stepped forward and cried: "Take your choice—surrender or be sent to the bottom." Stupefied, the Teutons chose the former, and with their craft were tow- ed to a well known naval port. HAVE GONE AWRY CHECK TO AUSTRIAN FORCES IN POLAND BLOCKS GERMAN OFFENSIVE. A despatch from London says: The check which the Russians have impose ed on Archduke Joseph Ferdinand's army in Southern Poland and the ad- ditional strain which this has placed on the German Gen. von Mackenzen's army to the right has postponed, it is believed in military circles here, the threatened German offensive in the west, and there is now a possibility that the allies will be the first to take the offensive. In support of this it is pointed out that the attacks by the German Crown Prince's army in the Woevre, which the German press announced was the commencement of a general move- ment forward, have ceased, and what fighting is going on along the western front consists of artillery engage- ments and a few isolated attacks and counter-attacks by infantry which make little or no difference hi the po- sitions of the opposing forces. So far as the Germans are con- cerned, military observers assert that they are bound to carry out their of- fensive against the Russians until there is some decisive engagement, such as the capture of the Lublin- Cholm railway, which, it is asserted, would have been in their hands before now if the Austrians advancing to- ward the former city had not been driven back. Reports from neutral sources are to the effect that to make good their efforts against the Russians the Ger- mans are moving troops which were intended for the western front to the ease. Te a certain extent this seems confirmed by the statement in the Russian official report that reinforce- ments have reached Archduke Ferdi- nand and that General von Macken zen also commenced an offensive which, however, broke down under the Russian fire. A despatch from Vienna indicates the fierceness of the struggle which is in progress along the Krasnik line. The Russians have brought forward strong reinforcements, probably from the interior, and are malting repeated heavy attacks. Archduke Joseph Ferdinand's army has the task of holding and, if possible, repulsing the Russians. Additional great battles, says the despatch, may confidently be predicted between the Vistula and Bug Rivers. AN EXPLOSION ON AN OCEAN LINER Mishap to Steamer Regarder as the Work of German Sympathizers. A despatch from New York says: An explosion occurred on the Atlan- tic transport steamship Minnehaha on Wednesday, the day on which Frank Holt, the assailant of J. P. Morgan, prophesied a steamer should sink, "God willing." Fire followed the explosion and the Minnehaha, which had on board 15,000 tons of munitions and food- stuffs for the allies, but no passen- gers, turned back for Halifax, while her crew endeavored to keep the fire from reaching the cargo of high ex- plosives. Frank Holt's prophecy in his let- ter to his wife was written after the attempt to destroy the Capitol at Washington and before the attack on Mr. Morgan. In it Holt said: "The steamer leaving New York for Liver- pool on July 3 should sink, God will- ing, on the 7th. I think it is the Philadelphia or Saxonia, but am not quite sure, as, according to schedule, these left the 3rd." On the margin was written: "Tear this off till after it happens." The substance of this paragraph was telegraphed at once to New York and wireless warnings were sent broadcast, with especial reference t9 two vessels mentioned by Holt. The captains of both replied that' their vessels had been searched and no bombs found. The Minnehaha was scheduled to sail from New York on July 3, the day mentioned by Holt, but because of delay in getting her big cargo aboard, did not finally get away until Sunday night, July 4. - She is said to have passed out •of Sandy Hook at 11.30 o'clock that night, though no mention of her sailing was . made in the usualhi s Aping information, and it was evident that some attempts at secrecy were being made. 'H—• GERMANS PLACE GAG ON BELGIAN SCHOOLS. A despatch from Brussels says: An order hasbeen issued by Gen. von Biasing, German Governor of Belgium, providing a year's imprisonment for school teachers, directors or inspect ors who "permit, further, bringabout or effect anti -German actions or state- ments in their teaching, or in other,. school exercises." Power is conferred upon German officials to supervise and inspect schools at all times. Courts-martial will have jurisdiction . over violations of this order. Queen Victoria of Sweden. who has been visiting her mother in, Germany. The Germans gave her a good time and a rousing send-off. She has, however, denied some of the pro -German statements attributed to! her. BOTHA ACCEPTS ENEMY'S SWORD Colony of 322,450 Square Miles Added to Empire in Five Months, A despatch from London says: Gen- eral Botha, according to an announce- ment received from Pretoria, has ac- cepted the surrender of the German military forces in German South-west Africa. The surrender is uncondition- al, and follows the issuance of an ulti matum by General Botha. It is stated that with the exception of the necessary army of occupation,. the citizen army of the Union of South Africa will return home as soon as possible. Reuter's Cape Town correspondent, in a despatch filed before the an- nouncement of the surrender, ascribes the success of Botha's campaign to his tireless and swift advance and mas- terly enveloping movement in the face of great natural difficulties, whereby the Union commander completely out- generaled, outmanoeuvred and out- witted the Germans, As a result of the operations, this despatch adds, all the British prisoners in the hands of the Germans have been released; 700 prisoners already had been taken and any attempt at scattered guerrilla warfare had been frustrated. Gen. Botha's victory, with the Ger- mans cut off from the rest of the World, was a foregone conclusion, but the fact that he won it after five months of warfare, despite the rebel lion in his own country, and under many natural disadvantages, is con- sidered by military observers to have been a remarkable achievement. To gain this victory Gen. Botha's forces had to march in the blistering heat through an almost waterless country in which the few wells had been poi- soned, and.where sandstorms made it necessary for the soldiers to wear goggles. With rapid, sweeping strokes, Gen. Botha worked round the Germans, who were forced to surrender or suf- fer annihilation, and thus prevented them from breaking up into parties and continuing a guerilla warfare. GERMANY CORNERS THE COD LIVER OIL SUPPLY. A despatch from New York says: Germany has cornered the supply of cod liver oil, and American dealers are doubtful whether they can obtain sufficient stock for next Winter, ac- cording to a drug market authority. Dealers in cod liver oil said they un- derstood the Germans are using it as a lubricant in place of petroleum oil, said to be difficult to obtain in Ger- many. Norway, the centre of the cod liver oil trade, is said to have not more than 20,000 barrels which have not been contracted for by Germany. ITALIAN CRUISER SUNK. Torpedoed' While. Reconnoitring in Upper Adriatic. TERRIFIC FIGHTING AT THE DARDANELLES Prisoners Tell of Flagging Spirit of Turkish Troops and Desperate Nature of Fighting. Positions termed veritable inferno. A despatch from Mitylene says: The recent fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula has resulted in the capture of a large number of prisoners. Many of them, though they were not badly clothed and appear to have been fairly well fed, are all of one mind as to their good fortune in be- ing "rescued,'+ as ,,one termed it, from the inferno which the Turkish posi- tions on the peninsula have been for a considerable time, It is always es- sential to discount to some extent' the statements of Turkish prisoners, I gas they generally think it necessary to make declarations by which they hope to find favor with their captors,' but allowing for that there can be no doubt as to the general reliability of what they say, They all agree re- garding the flagging spirit of the Turkish army. They state that the feeling between the Germans and the Turks is becoming increasingly bad, and they tell many tales of Germans being shot in the back in return for the frequent emptying of officers re-,volvers into wavering or hesitating, ranks, Robert Lansing, the new America Secretary of State TWO GERMAN MARINERS CONVICTED AS SPIES. A despatch from Venice says: Capt. Liebsicher and Engineer Hoppeof the German steamship Lownis, un- der detention by the Italian authori- ties since the outbreak of the war, were condemned to ten years' impris- onment in solitary confinement. They were convicted by a military tribunal on the charge of spying. The other members of the crew were acquitted. It was alleged by the Italian au- thorities that the captain and the engineer of the Lownis had tried to obtain information regarding Italian batteries and submarines, and that they had signalled to an Austrian squadron when it attacked the port , of Ancona on May 24. - BAVARIA TO IMPRISON SPECULATORS IN FOOD. A despatch from Munich says: The military authorities of Bavaria issued an. ordinance providing for a maxi- mum of one year's imprisonment for dealers charging excessive prices for articles of daily consumption, includ- ing food and heating and lighting substances. A similar penalty is to be inflicted on those withholding stocks from sale to produce higher prices, and on retailers refusing to sell to intending customers. BRITAIN WILL STOP EXPORTS ON METALS. A despatch from London says: Steps have been taken by the British authorities to prevent the further ex- portation from Great Britain of lead, spelter, antimony, nickel or any other metal necessary in the manufacture of munitions of war. Announcement to this effect was made by Munitions Minister Lloyd George in the House of Commons. THE RAIDER EMDEN WILL BE SALVAGED. A despatch from Rome says: The Italian navy has suffered its first serious loss, an Austrian submarine having successfully torpedoed the cruiser Amalfi in the narrow waters of the Adriatic Sea. Most of the crew were saved. This is the second allied warship to fall a victim to an Austrian under -water craft, the French cruiser Leon Gambetta hav- ing, earlier in the war, been caught in the Ionian Sea. It is realized that the loss of the Italian warship is only one of the incidents which must be expected where fleets keep to the sea, ' blockading enemy ports or pro- tecting commerce. As an offset, it is claimed that a French warship has sunk a 'German submarine in the Channel. BRITISH IMPORTS GROW. Exports Show a Decrease of Thirty- three Millions. A despatch from London says: The British Board of Trade figures.' for . the month of June show an in- ore'ase in imports of $89,180,000. The principal increases were in food, raw material and cotton. The exports showed a decrease of 33,195,000, chiefly in manufactured articles, of which $7,500,000 was in cotton textiles. • A despatch from Sydney, N.S.W., The Department of Defence has awarded a contract for the salving of the German cruiser Emden, which was sunk off Cocos Island, in the In- dian cOean by the American cruiser Sydney. The contractors say the raider can be easily floated. The Em- den will be exhibited. Recruiting in Victoria has been very successful, and New South• Wales is about to begin a campaign for men. KAISER AT LODZ POSED AS MESSIAH. Jewish World Says Report Has Gain- ed Currency in Russia. The Jewish World says: "An ex- traordinary report has gained cur - fancy ie Russia that the Kaiser, dur- ing a visit to Lodz, 'entered a syna- gogue, and raising a scroll of the law told the congregation he was the tax. The fine amounts to 20 times the Messiah whom they 'were `awaiting sum of which the government con-. and that he had been sent by God to M save them." ends it was defrauded. FORCE TEUTONS TO GIVE GROUND Strong Russian Farces Push Back Enemy to South of Lubin. A despatch from London says; Interest in the eastern war theatre centres in Southern Poland, where the Russians, strongly reinforced with both men and guns, and with their railways and fortresses of Ivan - gored and Brest -Litovsk to draw upon, have held up the Austro -Ger- man attempt to outflank Warsaw from the south-west. The Austrians made the admission that before su- perior Russian forces to the south of Lublin they have withdrawn from the hills to the north of Krasnik. Further heavy fighting must occur in this region, but the Russian mili- tary writers express confidence that now any effort of the Germanic allies to deliver a lightning blow has been discounted, and that the Grand Duke's army will be able to hold its position and perhaps drive the invad- ers back. While this is going on, it it believed that there is little prob- ability of the Germans detaching any part of their eastern armies for a re- newed offensive in the west, and that if such a move is made it must be undertaken by fresh troops. Nowhere east of the Vistula do the Austrians claim to be making pro- gress in their official report. The Vienna communication declares, how- ever, that "numerous severe Russian attacks have been bloodily repulsed." A retreat is flatly admitted in the Krasnik region, where the Austrian troops, it is announced, were with- drawn from both sides of the road leading to the heights north of the town, as the result of attacks bye superior Russian forces brought up. for the protection of Lublin. TRANSFER SHIPS TO THE U.S. FLAG INSTRUCT SUBMARINES TO AL-. LOW PASSENGER BOATS 'TO PASS SAFELY. A despatch from Berlin says: Ger- many's offer embodied in the reply to the American note regarding the sink- ing of the Lusitania and submarine warfare, was delivered to James W.' Gerard, the American Ambassador, of which the following is a summary: First—Reiterated assurance that American ships engaged in legitimate trade will not be interfered with, nor the lives of Americans upon neutral ships be endangered. Second—That German submarines will be instructed to allow American passenger ships to pass freely and safely, Germany entertaining in re- turn the confident hope that the Am- erican Government will see that these ships do not carry contraband. Such ships are to be provided with distin- guishing marks, and their arrival an- nounced a reasonable time in advance. The same privilege is extended to a reasonable number of neutral passen- ger ships under thee American flag, and should the number of ships thus available for passenger service prove inadequate Germany is willing to per- mit America to place four hostile pas. senger steamers under the American. flag to ply between North America. and Europe under the same condi- tions. RICH BAVARIAN FINED FOR INCOME TAX FRAUD.. A despatch from Frankenthal says: - Jean Ganes, factory director, comnrer-' tial councillor and former associate judge of the Commercial Court, has; been fined 255,000 marks ($63,750); for making false returns in connection with the levying of the armament Belgians Are Loyal � 1 Unt® Death A. despatch from Brussels says: The Belgians have suddenly adopted the practice of wearing sprays of ivy as an expression of. loyalty to Belgium and the allies. Gen. von. Kissing, the German military govern- or of Belgium, a few days ago issued an order prohibiting the d.emonstra- live display of Belgian colors as per- sonal adornment. The Belgians obey- ed the order, but the following day almost every man, woman and child blossomed out with an ivy spray, the significance of which, in the Ian- guage of :lowers, is "attachment, united v_:to death.'.'