THE EMPTY HUSK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4007, 13 August 1915, Page 5

THE EMPTY HUSK.

GERMAN DISAPPOINTMENT AT WARSAW.

HOW THE ENEMY ENTERED THE CITY.

EVERYTHING OF MILITARY SIC NIFICANCE REMOVED.

GERMAN OFFICER’S TRIBUTE TO RUStSIAN THOROUGHNESS.

(Received Aug. 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. The “Daily Telegraph's” Rotterdam correspondent states that the first Gorman descriptions of the entry into Warsaw betray the truth—that Germany has grasped an empty husk, everything of military value having been destroyed and leaving an impression of gaping emptiness. A superior German officer describes tho extraordinary character of the fighting when tho Russian rearguard with indomitable courage harassed, from Praga, the advancing enemy. Motoring to Warsaw past scorched fields, burned farms, wrecked carts, and fresh graves, the Germans were compelled to stop and remove trees which the Russians had placed across tho roadways approaching the suburbs-

On arriving in the city they found the fortress constructed of earthen walls, with antiquated defence works. There were endless streams of refugees coming out and along the roads and .standing 011 the side of the roads watching the Germans marching in. Every window and balcony was occupied by residents eager to see the entry, and the cafes were crowded and the shops open. Though the city remains calm, a few hundred yards away on the riverside flic Germans, lying behind street barriers or hiding round tne corners of houses, fire across the <river to where tin' Russians arc entrenched. Machine guns rattle on both sides, and occasionally there is a louder greeting from the heavy guns. Black smoke rises beyond the river, where the Russians continue their destruction.

Another officer writes: —“The population had no, sleep on Thursday night. There were loud explosions as the forts were blown up and the military buildings and workshops set afire. At IL o’clock in the evening the forces in control of the city, comprising civil and police troops, commenced to cross the bridges In. masses, and St 5 o’clock in the morning the bridges uero blown up. At 6 o’clock an automobile containing two German officers arrived, followed be six cavalrymen with their lances decorated with (lowers and singing “Die Watch Am Rhine.'* Higher officers arrived in motor cars at mid-daY, when Russian shells and shrapnel were falling in tne town. On the third day after the German occupation the city gave the impression of a German town on festival day, except that flags were absent. The Russian Government departments at Kovno have been transferred to Bobrinsk. Various factories are being removed to other towns. Berne reports that dui'iim RussoGerman street fighting at Praga fifteen civilians wore accidentally killed and two hundred wounded. A Russian official message is as follows: —Oil the night of August 9 I lie Gormans persistently attacked the eastern works at Kovno, but our counter-attacks almost annihilated three German battalions. We took 100 prisoners.

On the whole of the Bug ire are reinforced and are resisting vigorously, the Germans advancing from Knolm being driven back, towards the river Ukharka. Tho Austrians in tlm region of Stryia arc using explosive bullets. Civilians are .evacuating Dvinsk and the Government institutions are preparing to leave Menshikoff. An article in the “Xovoe \ remya says the one objective of the German offensive is Retrograd. The distance 00s not offer insuperable difficulties, and it is necessary to boldly recognise the fact.

THE B ALTS G ACTIVITY. GlvßYl \N STORY. OK THE ATTACK OK RIGA BAY. SIGNIFICANT SILENCE ON ESSENTIAL POINTS. 1 Received Aug. 12, 9.40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 12. A German naval official communique says: We attacked on August 10 the fortified island of Uto at the entrance to the Aland* Archipelago, and compelled the Russian Force, including a cruiser of the Ma'karoff class, to retreat. We also silenced the enemy’s coast batteries. 'The same day our cruisers drove .Russian destroyers back into the Bay of Riga, one being afire. Hostile submarines repeatedly attacker! us, ' but all their torpedoes missed.

A GERMAN’S “CELEBRATIONS.” NEARLY CAUSED A RIOT. (Received Aug. 12, 1.0.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 12. Frederick Hcppner, a Gorman descendant, was lined 0100 for saving 111 a hotel at Alburv that lie was celebrating tho fall of Warsaw, His remarks almost caused a riot. THE FEDERAL BUDGET. ENORMOUS AVAR EXPENDITURE PREPARED FOR. ESTIMATED AT £45,749,450. NEW INCOME TAX EXPECTED TO YIELD £4,000,000. (Received August 12. 11.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Aug. 12. In the Budget Mr Fisher estimates the revenue for the current year at £23,540,000, and tho expenditure at £74,045,104, an increase of £37,219,489, chiefly for special war expenditure, which is estimated at £45,749,450. The new income tax is expected to yield £4,000,000.

BRUTISH PATROL BOAT SUNK. GERMAN A UNI LI ARY CRUISER BLOWN UP. TO ESCAPE BRITISH WARSHIPS. LONDON, Aug. 1. The German auxiliary cruiser Meteor sank the small English patrol ship Ramsay in the North Sea. The Meteor was blown up by her own. commander to escape pursuing English warships. ' The Admiralty announce that four of the officers and 39 of the Ramsay’s crew were saved. (Received Aug. 12, 9.20 p.m.) The Meteor was formerly a H'am-hurg-A inerica liner, and had a powerful armament and quick-firers.

GERMAN 'STORY OF THE AFFAIR (Received Aug. .13, 12.10 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Aug. 12. A Berlin official message says that the Meteor, after sinking the Ramsay, picked up forty of her crew, including four,officers. Next day, four British cruisers surrounded the Meteor and the latter’s c-ommander'Vmnk her. After the crow,' the -British prisoners, and the crow of a sailing vessel previously ..sunk as a prize Ibid boon Fa veil, the jlctcor s crew reached aGerman port.