, 1916-11-18

of Benucourt Sur Ancre, hut that every
where else their violent assaults broke down
with heavy losses.
Petrogra Nov. 16th.-In the Tirgujiuly,
Alt and Jul valleys on the Transylvanian
front the Roumanians have been forced buck
by the Austro-G Germans who have brought
up reinforcements, the War Office reports.
London, NOV. 14tb.--The French War
Munster, General Roques, has arrived at
Athens and had conference with King Con.
s%tantine, according to a Reuters despatch
from the Greek capital. The subject of The
discussion was the Allies demands for the
establishment of a zone to avert collisions
between the Roynlist aud Venizelist armies.
Havre, Nov. 14th.-The Belgian Govern
ment is in possession of the text of IA decree
issued from German headquarters under date
OF October Bird. subjecting TO forced Labour
all Belgians able to work and who for want
of employment or for any other reason
are receiving public support. Those subject
to this decree it is pointed out may be COM
PEELED to work away from their domiciles,
that is may be sent to Germany. The BeIgi-
an Government fears that the decree is about
to be applied to the whole occupied territory
as a census is being taken by the German
military authorities of all the unemployed ii in
Belgium, The German Governments object,
II DCiSldb OOFtIDIutulO GCinIBH, III ntllllOn
to-ruining Belgian industries and forcing
Belgian workmen to accept against their
conscience work offered by the Germans is
thus to release German workmen for the
purpose OF supplying to- the army, losses in
cured in the fighting, if it were otherwise,
the Belgian government contends if the
Germans only designed TO combat the idle
ness OF the Belgian wOrkmen ii could employ
them on public works iii the Heighbourhood
of their homes and families.
Washington, November 14th.-The de-
pOrtatloE of Belgian civilians into Germany
for forced labour has reached such serious
proportions that MIR. Grew, the American
Charge AT Berlin, has been directed by the.
State Department to take the matter up person.
ally With Chancellor Won l}ethmunn HOliweg.
The charge was requested to say that such
deportatlous could not but have a most I'M
fortunate effect on neutral opinion, particular
ly Iii the United States which has the welfare
OF the Belgian civilian population very much
at heart. The depo'tations are viewed here
not only as u violation of international law
buI in a degree as "A violation of Germany's
assurances 10 Ambassador Gerard last June
which though relating TO the 10000 French
women and girls deported from Lille, Rouba-
TX and Ioui CONG are felt to be applicable
to the Belgian situation. All that time when
Mr.. Gerard had gone to General headquar-
teIs IN France to discuss the attack on the
Sussex with Emperor William, all the Amer
lean relief workers III northern France were
called into conference and assurances given
by the Germans that no further deporta ions.
would be MAIDS. The case of the Belgians IS
considered identical in principle.
London, Nov. 15lh.-The diplomatic re-
personalities of Russia, wires Reuters Petro-
grad correspondent, have been instructed 10
hand TO the Governments to which they are
accredited, the following protest against the
Austro- German proclamation establishing the
Polish Kingdom in defence of the law of ma
tions. The German, aud Austro- Hungarian
military authorities at Warsaw and at Lubliu
have proclaimed the Russian provinces of
Poland henceforth to form q separate state.
The Imperial Russian Government protests
against this act as a fresh violation of an ill.,
ternatlonal convention solemnly sworn to-.
Austria Hungary and Germany declare it null
and void. 1t reafirms that the provinces of
the Kingdom of Poland have not ceased to
form an integral part Of the Russian Empire
and that their Inhabitants will be bound by
the oath OF fidelity which they took to the
Emperor, my August Master.
London, Nov. 18th According to the