, 1916-12-30

Berlin, Dec. 26th.-The Russians have
been driven from several positions iii north
eastern Wallaclia, says tonighl'S oficiul
statement, which reads: "On The north bank
of the Somne, there was temporarily strong
artillery fire. Elsewhere on the western
and eastern fton $, nothing of importance
occurred. l. Gteat Wal'achia, The Ru SLAMS
were elected f ON several positions. Condi-
tons iii Macedonia we've calm.
London, Dee. 27lh.-An official statement
on the Me~'potamin situation issued tonight
reads: "On the 22nd British detachmeuts
advanced to the right b,uk OF the Tiytis.
Their position subsequently has been cou-
solldated and extended south ANU east Of
Autelamara. The enemy's trenches on the
right bank Of the. Tigris southwest of Kut
have been systematically bonlharded. Our
cavalry, by Il night march, reached and
destroyed Gassabs Fort, 20 miles southeast
of hut,' wHlch had long been II base of
operations of he hostile AInbas. Sixty tons
OF grain were destroyed, cattle were cap
tured and Il number OF hostile Aral encamp-
meut~ Were burned"
London, December 2Glh.-The Secretary
of State for the Colonies has sent Il telegram
to the Dominions, explaining the purposes OF
the forthcoming Imperial Conference nm
nounced By Mr.. Lloyd George. The tele-
gram explains that what the Government
~contempIates is not an ordinary Imperial
Conference, but a Special War Confer ence
OF tue Empire. Tie Prime Minister of each
Of the Domiuious is "iuvited to attend u
series OF special meetings of the War Cabinet
IN order TO consider urgent questions affect
ing the prosecution Of the war, possible
conditions on which in agreement with our
Allies we could u-seut to its lerminptIon, aud
problems which would then immediately
arise. The PremIers are ulged 10 attend
AT an early date, not later than the end Of
February.
Pariy. Dec. 26th-The Government has
decided TO raise General Joffre to the uignity
OF AtaIshni of France IN recognition Of his
eminent services to the country. A decree
nominating HIM viii be submitted Tor the
ratification OF Parliament us soon Ms possible.
The title Of Marshal Of France has fa4en unto
dlsuse since the establishment OF the third
republic. A bill in 1878 regulating the army
grades, retained the rank, but specified the
conditions under which it could be- conferred
should be fixed by II supplementary bill, that
bill however, has never been proceeded with.
Washington, Dec. 26th The preliminary
statement sent to this Government by Great
Britain saying the British steamer Arabia,
sunk by Il German submarine without warn
ing, was nor at the time, and had not beeL
III Admiralty service, was sent Oh today to
Germany. announcement to that effect was
made at the State Department. In the case
OF the MalInn in which SIX Americans were
lost, no comment was added. Further facts
are expected from Great Britain shortly, aud
possibly a reply from Germany.
Amsterdam, Dec. 26th-The "Fraukfurter
Zeitung" reports That the Buudersrath has
forbidden the sale abroad of German ship.
ping shares, the object being to prevent au
undesirable foreign influence in Germnn )
shipping.
London, Dec. 26th-A despatch from
Amsterdam to the Exchange Telegraph say 4. 4
Preparations for the Hungarian coronation
are almost completed and that the indica,
tions are that the ceremony will be carried
out with all the pomp of the days before the
war. On the ground that the coronation
should not be celebrated luvlshly dur
ing such times of stress, the Croatian
opposition party, according to q d~espntch
from Agram has declined the official. Invita-
ton 10 the ceremony received by the Croa-
tian Diet Dr.. Pavelic leader of The cpposi-
ton, formally declined the invitation in The
name OF the three opposition parties, and :
the members of the opposition then left the
House. "a