LATE WAR NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 5

LATE WAR NEWS.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] V-p-n T'FESS AspnCIATION. Received May 6, at 1.55 p.m. London,. May 5. A Colonial Office communique states •that when Swakopmund was cccupied on, the 14tli January it was discovered that six-wells hadbeen po:'sonecl with arsenic-, and all the cattle had died. A hap: poison was found at the wells. iGeneral Botha addressed a; note- to G-enefal. Ffanke, tlio German comman•dei-,: pointinc; out this breach of Artilce 23 of the Hagne Convention, and said 'if the practice were persisted in he (Botha) Vould'hold the German officers responsible and would employ reprisals. G-enefal 1 Franko replied that salt had proved-ineffective, and therefore he had used more effective methods to compel] 'the enemy to carry water. General Botha replied repeating his intention to hold the officer commanding; responsible. Mr Harcourt adds that *ince then the Germans have systematically poisoned the wells, and the patrol at Gabib was also instructed' to thoroughly infect the Ida mine with disease.

Received May 6, at 2.40 p.m. London. May f>. A Berlin wireless states that the Engiisli continue to retreat with heavy losses, in the diuction of Bridgehead, situated, at Harply. East Ypres. We penetraietl the third Russian line in West (Jalicia, the whole line retreating at Wesloka. The Russians are beginning to evacuate threatened positions on their northern flank in the Carpathians, south-west of Dulka. The prisoners in \Vist Gab'cia total 30.000. Received May 0, at 2.55 p.m. London. May G. Other reports state that an •uliimatuni will Ijo issued in 48 hours, but the Chinese ,ind Japanese Embassies are ignorant of the matter. The latter states that China's reply is decidedly .uriconciliatory in tone. China has withdrawn the substantial agreement which her delegate had already con- ] ceded during negotiations. A Tokio telegram states that China, has demanded a pledge of the absolute 'restoration of Kiiio-clnvu should be inserted in the protocol. Japan averred ■a: willingness to return the port, but .must await a. post helium settlement. China also demanded that Japan should pay an indemnity for all damage done to (Chinese interests consequent on the war, and that China should be included at the. Peace Conference.

THE DARDANELLES BATTLE. Received May G. at 3.5 p.m. London, May 5. -V Daily Chronicle telegram, dated Thursday from Motor Launch Bay, under Gabatebeth, says that Monday night witnessed a land battle wherein si portion of the fleet assisted. Searchlights picked out as tarkets for the great l guns the opposing artillery working across the valley running inland from the bay. The fire was so continuous one could discern the outline of the'valley, across which two land forces were also contending. Often the whole valley seemed to be a river of flame. The-'Turkish position on Monday was ■'roughly from the crest above Maidos to Bulcale, the British holding the .seashore at the mouth of the valley and the- Hazmaic valley. Received May (5, at 3.25 p.m. London, -May 5. The correspondent adds that during Monday the British left was thrown along the northern and commanding ridge towards Btdcali. The Turkish left during the night advanced westward along the southern ridge, endeavoring to cut off our forces. The warships, including the Queen Elizabeth, replied with shrapnel, while land forces- on the .northern ridge rained a hail of deadly shells. . The lire was kept up at night, wherein the British extended their position, making the southern ridge extremely dangerous. The Turks iate on Tuesday afternoon made another attack, assisted by a thick mist and rainstorm, intending to make it impossible for the British transports to land supplies overnight. Meanwhile the ships at the entrance to the Dai'danelles bombarded the Narrows, and the Ereneh landed at. Morton Bay, astride the road leading to C-rithia, on Wednesday.

"DOKGTHY OF THE HALL." The presentation of the pi:', v '•Dorothy <v the JlnJl" by the Alusgrove Company hist night. wa:; thoroughly enjoyable. The work was handsomely staged and dressed-. and the cast was sufficiently .strong to do the book justice. The plot deals with an interesting period in British history, and in troches both Queen Elizabeth, and Alary Queen of Scots-, but they are dragged in: and play a qu't?. snbcnlinate part to that fii'iod by Dorotliy.-the wilful, hoyden isli. splendid heroine, which AJiss Xellie- Stewart depicted -so well. Age cannot wither nor custom stale her infinite variety, and, if ALhs Stewart- has lost a little of her pristine vivacity, the experience she -has gained m'oro than compensates any -suck slight deficiency that there •may lie. She held Iter audience throughout trying and- almost tiresome scenes —for the movement of the play frequently pregresscs slowly—and, full of enthusiasm, she gave herself wholly to the work in hand. Air H. Roberts ranks among the best of our romantic actors. He has made for himself a name far afield, and his playing of Sir John' Manners last- night showed that his reputation was well earned. Air James. Athohvood v.-as by no means at his best as the irascible father of Dorothy, though he worked- in that conscientious: spirit that always marks his work. The other members of the company, with the exception of Air Blakiston, who played the jester Pr-r----kin, were mediocre in their work, and ah suffered' from the .same fault "f faulty phrasing, Air Blaki.st-on. had' little opportunity..to show his undoubted' worth, but he made of an uncongenial task as much as could have boon expected. A feature of the performance worthy of comment was the enjoyable work of the orchestra.