St. John's Daily Star, 1917-07-14

              The st. John's Daily Star. Newf«TuJland VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1917. (Price. No. flfr/6( RUSSIANS PRESS ADVANCE ALONG FRONT OF FIFTY MILES Early Advance Of The Russo-Rumanian Forces In Rumania Now Expected BATTLESHIP VANGUARD DESTROYED AT ANCHOR ...British Warship Is Br royed And 700 Officers And Mc n Lost ADMIRALTY SAYS CAUSE OF DISASTER TO SHIP WAS AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION [ONDON, July 13—The British battie ship Vanguard was blown up and sunk on on Juy 9, says an official statement issued tonight by the British Admiralty. The British battleship Vanguard dis- I 19250 tons. Her complement before the war was 870 men. TheVan guard was launched in March, 1909. • armament consisted of ten 12-inch guns eighteen 4-inch, four three-pound ers, in addition to three torpedo tubes. An internal explosion while the ship was at anchor caused the disaster. Only three men of those on board were rescued, and one of them has nnce died. Twenty-four officers and seventy-one men, however, were not aboard at the time of the explosion. The official statement reads: — "H. M. S. Vanguard, Capt. Jas. D. Dick, blew up while at anchor on the night of July 9, as a result of an internal explosion. The ship sank at once. "There were only three survivors among those on board at the time of the disaster, one of whom, an officer,, has since died. There were, however, twenty-four officers and seventy-one men who'were not aboard at the time, thus bringing the total number of survivors to 97. "A full enquiry is ordered." EMBARGO ORDERED Only Pivileged Commodities to be Carried on U. S. Railways Washington, July 13.—An embargo • e immediately against all shipments intended for export of comrholamed in President Wilson's exoclamation, except when the till ot lading is presented with a federal license number, furnished or. authorised by the Export Council at Washington, was ordered today by the American Railway Association's Commission on car service. TOTOTOTOTOTOTO Commandeers Crops London, July 14—Baron Rhondda, Food Controller, by an order to-day, ha< taken over control of 1917 crops of wheat, barley, oats, rye potatoes. READY FOR NEW MOVE Russians Expected to Drive Toward Styrj, Railway Centre. Petrograd, July 13—Now that Halicz is in Russian possession the eyes of General Korniloff's cavalry Cossacks are turned toward the railway centre of Styrj, a town of 30,000 inhabitants, at a junction of the line from Lemberg to Lawoczne and a branch line to Chod orow. Military writers, describing the defen sive, say its chief strength is on the east and northeast, but weaker on the south. There is widespread expectation of an important counter-attack on the Northern front. m ibv. ufc ADVERTISE PERSISTENTLY IN THE ST. JOHN'S DAILY STAR OUR MAP SHOWS THE SECTION ON THE NORTH END OF THE WESTERN FRONT WHERE THE BRITISH TROOPS MADE THE GALLANT STAND DESCRIBED IN THE WAR NEWS TO-DAY. RUSS. DRIVE PROGRESSES Russian Advance Gathers Momentum As It Moves West And Is Proceeding Along 50- Mile Front i ADVANCE~SOON IN ROUMANIA JjEW YORK, July 13.—Gaining momentum as it moves west, the great Russian drive along the Dneister in Galicia continues successfully. Fighting is progressing on a 50 miles front from Halicz to the foothills of the Carpathians, and all along the line the Russians are advancing. Northwest of Halicz on Thursday the Russians enlarged their gains north of the Dneistei and captured important heights between the river and Bukazowice, and occupied two villages. This advance is in the direction of Lemberg. • ; In the centre and southern line the Russians were victorious in heavy battles for possession of the crossings of the River Lomnica. They have made progress on the road to Dolina and have captured the crossings of the Lomnica at Perchinsko, about 15 miles south of Kalusz, and four miles west of Bohorodozany. The probable resumption of heavy fighting on the eastern front north of the Pripet marshes and in Roumania is indicated. On the Dvina and Shara Rivers and near Smorgon, north of Pinsk, there has been more active infantry fighting. j In Galicia also is the threat against the line in Roumania. The Russian and Roumanian artillery has been hammering the Teuton positions there in the past few days, and already advance parties have been thrown forward to test the- enemy's strength. Raids and reconnoitering engagements have occupied the British and the Germans on the northern end of the front in France. South of St. Quentin, along the Aisne front, and on both sides of the Meuse in the Verdun region, artillery only was active. French airmen have brought down ten German airplanes and driven eight enemy machines down behind their own lines in a damaged condition.The British battleship Vanguard has been blown up by an internal explosion, with the loss of approximately seven hundred lives. Artillery Battles Paris, July 13—During the night artillery fighting was particularly active in the region of St. Quentin, Dupanthon and on the two banks of the Meuse, says the official War Office statement to-day. The communicatipn adds the enemy attacks east of the Mantyres salient near the Vidalet Wood at Hill 304 and the Cauriere*s Wood failed under our fire. Will Sit at Irish Conference Dublin, July 14—-Sir Horace Plunkett, a prominent Irish agriculturist, has accepted the invitation of the Government to act at the coming Irish convention as delegate by nomination. KAISER RESIGNS THRONE? London, July 14—A despatch to The Morning Post from Amsterdam says rumors are current that the Emperor William has abdicated in favour of his son, Prince Joachim, but are unconfirmed and must be taken with all reserve, mmmmmmit Firing on Peking Ceases London, July 14— A despatch to The Times from Peking, dated Thursday, says that the firing on the capital ceased after nine hours bombardment. The damage is unimportant. 11 NEUTRALS TAKE CHANCES 10 Dutch Ships and One Scandinavian all Laden with Contraband Will Try to Get by Blockade. ARE ALLSAILING FROM A U. S. PORT AN ATLANTIC PORT, July 14—Elev en neutral steamers, loaded with grain and other cargoes which could not be exported except under license, after President Wilson's embargo proclamation becomes effective Monday cleared from thu( port to-day for European ports without British letters of assurance and will attempt to run the Allied blockade. The neutral ships to run the blockade are ten Dutch and one Scandinavian. They have been lying at the Docks here some time, while vain efforts ere made to secure from the British authorities the usual letters of assurance which would permit of a passage to destination. Beside grain the ships carry a great quantity of meal cake and other cattle feed, included under the terms of the embargo proclamation. No statement was available tonight from these directly interested in the transaction, but it is presumed that the shipping companies decided to take chances with the British blockade and the Admiralty Courts, if necessary. Will Investigate Air Raids London, July 14—Lloyd George and General Jan Smutts will undertake the general investigation of the German air raids over London. TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY Lloyd George Assures Commons Mesopotamia Affairs Will Be Investigated Carefully GUILTY PARTIES WILL BE PI ISHED * [ONDON, July 14.—When the debate onv Mesopotamia was resumed in the House today, Sir Archibald Williamson memberi of the Commission that investigated the Mesopotamia campaign, defended its findings. Full justice could not D£ done the report, he said, without considering the evidence on which the Commission acted and if the details were published they would deepen the sad impression created by the report. Premier Lloyd George expressed regret at the resignation of J. Austin Chamberlain, Secretary for India. He was surprised at the action of the Secretary, but it was part of the sensitive honor that animated all Mr. Chamberlain's motives. The Premier added that every attainable remedy had been applied to meet of the system which were called for. In the Mesopotamia report, as affecting individuals, the point was whether they made the best of the system with which they had to work. If they were guilty, punishment ought to follow; but before being punished they were entitled to a fair, impartial and judicial review of the facts. The soldiers concerned were legally entitled to a full investigation nor could anybody doubt that civilians were entitled to the same protection as soldiers. Lloyd George thought the inquiry suggested by the Government was the best method, but if the House desired a statutory inquiry the Government would acquiesce. The Government did not desire to shield anyone responsible for the catastrophe in Mesopotamia, the Premier said, but was bound to point out the better part. For three or four days the Army Council, the Chiefs of the Army and the War Cabinet and both Houses of Parliament had been engaged discussing methods which had nothing to do with the practical prosecution of the war and all this time events on which the whole future of civilisation depended were happening. In conclusion the Premier begged the House to realise its responsibilities and to urge and help the Government to get on with the war. TO TOTOTO TOTOTO Salved Spanish Steamer London, July 14—The Spanish steamer Eolo was towed into a British port by a trawler which picked her up after she had been attacked by a German submarine. The crew of the Eolo, which was loaded with iron ore, had taken to the boats after the attack. The Eolo measured 3,803 tons, and was owned in Bilbao, Spain. TOTOTOTOTO^TO. Champions Allies Mexico City, July 13—El Universal, which has been conducting a campaign in favpr of the Allies, will request editorially to-morrow that the Government declare a poky of benevolent neutrality toward the Allies as soon as possible. ISOLATED OUTNUMBERED THEY 'FOUGHT TO DEATH' (By ASSOCIATED PRESS) British Valor Immortalises The Battle In The Belgian Dunes HUN FIRE WIPED OUT SAND BARRIERS; BRITISH SWEPT ASIDE BY HUN MASSES DRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN " "RANCE, July 13—The German attack along the sand dunes of the Belgian Coast on Tuesday, was nearly \k all respects a miniature of the ish attack on Messines Ridge on June 7th: It seems as if the Germans had studied that battle in detail and planned a thrust wholly upon the lesson learned. There was a vast difference in the sizes of the two operations, however, for while the German attack on Tuesday was limited to 1400 yards, the British charge at Messines was along a ten-mile front. The depth of the two attacks was also in ratio of ten to one, the Germans having advanced only about six hundred yards to the British supporting line, where they are now endeavoring to entrench themselves, while the British have fallen back to the west bank of the Yser. This little battle on the sand of Flanders will live through the valour of the defence of the English troops, who met the shock of the German massed forma tions after having their protecting defencesdefences blown to pieces about them by the greatest concentration of German shell fire seen on this front for more than a year. The trenches dug among the blowing and shifting sand dunes were speedily obliterated by a storm of high-explosive shells which the Germans were able to pour upon them. Most of the shells were the famous 5.9 centimeter pro jectiles and upward, only a few field guns having come into play. During the terrific bombardment, which lasted through Tuesday, the fortifications recently taken over by the British could fairly be seen to dissolve. The German lines from the Yser to the sea formed a triangle base along the coast line. In this angle of sands, which are now dyed red with British blood, were the Northampton troops and the King's Royal Rifles The British fought to death, and the German report of 1250 prisoners can't be correct. Temporary bridges across the Yser had been blown to pieces by a barrage fire, and the Britishn troops, who eventually escaped acqss the river, had to swim the stream. 'DID OUR BEST GOT THE BEST' British Mission Was Hos pitably Received In U. S., Says Balfour, And Performed An Import ant Work AMERICAALIVE TO HUN MENACE IONDON, July 13—"We did onr best" received the best," said Rt. Hon. Arthur Balfour referring in an address today to the visit of the British Mission to the United State. "Never was a mission so kindly treated by those to whom it was sent, never was hospitality more gracious or dispensed with freer hand, never was a mission from one country to another more cordial. "The results of the mission were good because the people of the United States realised that the mission was symbolic of a great new departure in the history of the world. 'They knev. it instinctively. They were able to grasp what it meant, not only for the present but for the future of the world. They saw what German militarism meant with a vision and entered into the war with an unselfish motive. "I rejoice that we have with us such a country as the United States, such a statesman as President, Wilson. They are as far removed'from pinning their faith to unmeaning formulas as from the idea of putting one nation under the domination of another. They cherish the same great ideals as we, which are our very own.' Balfour paid tribute to the memory of Joseph Choate, of New York, who, he said, was taken away at a moment when a new and happy spirit brooded over our common destinies. Among the audience were Ambassador Page, Chinese, Italian and Portuguese Ambassadors, the Roumania and Serbian ministers. Earl Derby, Secretary of State for War, Lord Cecil, Minister of Blockade, Baron Rhondda, Food Controller, and members, of the Balfour mission. Attached to the official programme was a printed slip saying, "Should proceedings be interrupted by approach of hostile air craft, of which ample notice would be given, it is suggested that the guests go down to the crypt beneath the Guild Hall." AIR VICTORY FOR BRITISH Severest Air Battles Of War Occur Over The West Front—Thirty- Enemy Planes Are Brought Down BRITISH~LOSE NINE MACHINES IONDON, July 13—British airmen ave been victorious in te most severe aerial fighting since the beginning of the war on the front in France. On Thursday 14 German airplanes were brought down and 16 driven down out of control, says the official statement from the British Headquarters in France tonight. Nine British machines are reported lost in the fighting. ADVERTISE PERSISTENTLY IN THE ST. JOHN'S DAILY STAR TRAVELLER'S REQUISITES! SUIT CASES, NICELY FINISHED WITH BRASS FITTINGS, From $1.10 to $7.50, HAND BAGS, ASSORTED SIZES, ALL SOLID LEATHER, From $5.00 up. TRAVELLING RUGS, REVERSIBLE CHECKS, From $2.50 to 8.00 & 10.00. And all other OUTFITS for your HOLIDA\. Bowring Bros., Ltd. I TO ARRIVE I I About Friday next, July 13th, 1917, I I A Cargo of I I ANTHRACITE COAL, I I Chestnut size. 1 I NEWMAN'S, I I W. COLLINGWOOD. I