THE CRISIS IN THE EAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4006, 12 August 1915, Page 5

THE CRISIS IN THE EAST.

cerman Attacks shifted. THE NAVAL REVERSE UN THE BALTIC. further activity predicted POSITION GRAPHICALLY SKETCHED. (Received Aug. 11, 8.35 p.m.) . . LONDON, Aug. 11. Ihe '-Daily Telegraph’s” Petrograd correspondent says that following the Russian retirement from Warsaw, the Germans shifted the momentum of their main ) attack to the left flank with the immediate object of cutting the Petrograd-Warsaw railway somewhere between Pskof and Vihia. “The fleet is actively co-operating in this fresh operation and, though it lost a cruiser and two destroyers in the first attempt to enter the 27-mile passage between Oesel and the main land, it is not likely that this will he the last attempt to penetrate the Gulf of Riga. None of the Russian vessels suffered. The purpose of the Germans is to secure the passage so as to supply water to the troops . operating towards .Riga. They already hold the western shores of the Gulf, but desire seaward access.--The focus of the enemy’s pressure is eastward of the Ponievitch-Wilkamer line.Genoral Sehemettans’ cavaky made extensive reconnaissances, turning southward from Ponievitch, indicating that-the objective is Vilna, which has recently been the special target of aviators.

On the roads from Riga we repulsed on the night of August S after hand-to-hand fighting several German attacks supported by a powerful force of heavy artillery. The same night and the following dav, in the direction of Dwinsk and Hu* district- of Schocnburg-Wilkomicrz the enemy fell hack, leaving a .hundred prisoners and several machineguns and munition chests. There is desperate fighting on the Narew front. Our artillery repulsed the offensive against Ngvogeorgievsk. On the roads from Vcfldara, we repulsed attacks made under cover of asphyxiating gases. Geneva reports that the investment of Novo Geordersk became effective on the night of the St-h, and a bombardment began. An army of 60,000 men is investing Noviv Alexandria. Details of the assault on Korn on August 8 show that the enemy, about midnight, opened a bombardment from tho village of Piple, guns of all calibres up to 16-inch, being employed. A hurricane of fire lasted two hours.

Our batteries vigorously replied. About 3 o’clock in the morning an assaulting column in close formation marched against our positions, hut, by concentrated fire, the explosion of mines and gallant counter-attacks, the enemy were thrown back on the whole front within an hour, suffering enormous losses. The exhausted. Germans were hurled into a neighboring ravine, where they prepared fresh assaults. At noon on the Bth the enemy’s fire increased to terrible intensity, but the protracted and destructive hurricane of fire from powerful guns failed to shake our troops. Our artillery valiantly supported the infantry. The incessant cannonade lasted all day. At nightfall enemy columns, massing, rushed to the assault, the attacks lasting two hours. < - They succeeded in taking part of the trenches in our advanced position, but later our reserves swept forward and repulsed the Germans with enormous losses, the enemy only retaining the works at Warpiple. Two Zeppelins bombed two Red Cross trains in Poland, killing a number of wounded men and wounding some attendants. GEE MA N STATEMENT ON NAVAL LOSSES. (Received Aug. 12. 12.20 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 11. Berlin alleges that the .Baltic action was merely a. reconnaissance to ascertain the position of the mines. Two mine sweepers were lost. BRITAIN’S SHELL OUTPUT. A MORE SATISFACTORY REPORT. (Received Aug. 12, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 11. Mr Lloyd-Goorge states that- the shell output in August will he one hundredfold greater than in September, 1914.

GENERAL ITEMS. CANADIAN WAR EXPENDITURE. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, Aug. 10. The war expenditure of Canada to date amounts to eighteen million pounds sterling. The Minister for Finance estimates the war expenditure at six hundred thousand pounds sterling per day. The genera) financial conditions "are exceedingly satisfactory. 1 , The Tsnigtau Customs agreement re-establishes the post-bellum system, whereby Chinese Customs shall conduct business under Chinese control, Japanese being employed instead or Germans. Japanese are also promised increased representation m all Chinese Customs. Whereas formerly Japan demanded the instant admission oi Japanese, she has now agreed that Japanese shall enter the service in the ordinary way. The agreement demonstrates that Japan desires to re-estab-lish good relations with China. A Paris correspondent learns that Captain Hauterbach, second in command of the Emden, escaped from internment at Singapore, and reached Batavia. South African subscriptions are freely coining in to the Separation Fund. It is hoped to realise sufficient to add 50s monthly to the Imperial allowance. Single men will not benefit. ~ , - Sweden has been under negotiations with America for a concerted neutral protest against British OrdcvSFinCouncil regarding contraband. Lao negotiations have failed. Sweden c tinues the representations alone. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie visited Weymouth, where over 80 New Zealand wounded, are progressing, though some will never return to the front. The Germans chased and compellec a French ‘aeroplane to descend at layerne. The pilot officer was interned(Received Aug. 11, 8.5 p.m.) Ataritz,. the Boer leader, has bcQii arrested in Angola. Portuguese- authorities arrested Moritz and also a handful of the Union rebels. , . , The American reply to Austria, s Note rejects the contention that the export of munitions infringes neutrality. The Noble Dynamite Trust Company, with the British Government s sanction, has arranged to sell tincompany’s German assets to the Norddcutsclies Bank in consideration of the bank surrendering 1,800,000 of the company’s ordinary shares or paying compensation for. any shortage. Mr Ellis Griffiths, ALP., and Mr Ghiozza Money, M.P., in a letter to the “Daily Mail” iirge the Government to immediately institute national service. The Exchange Telegraph states that official quarters emphatically deny that Herr Von Jagow is leaving the German Foreign Office, though it h well known that he and Dr Von Betli-mann-Hollweg differ on important points.