Advance on Egypt

First shots exchanged

Western victories

British loan to Romania

The Kaiser’s birthday has passed without any solar phenomenon in keeping with the importance of the day. Yesterday’s statements underestimated the achievements of the allies and with the story from land and sea now complete we have every reason to feel the slight elation which is so profoundly lacking in Berlin.

Late last night the Admiralty issued a preliminary telegraphic account of Sunday’s naval action received from Vice Admiral Sir D Beatty.

From this it appears that the enemy’s squadron consisted of four battle cruisers, six light cruisers and some destroyers.

Immediately the British force was sighted the Germans made for home and a stern chase followed.

Steaming at 28 to 29 knots the British cruisers oversized the enemy and deliberate fire was opened, the Lion and Tiger were in action first and met the enemy’s concentrated fire but the damage to the British fleet was not serious.

The unofficial counts of the success of the British troops in the region of La Bassee may be taken to have been confirmed in yesterday’s communique, which with according caution, speaks of a severe check being administered to the enemy.

As was stated the fighting appears to have been of a desperate nature, weight of numbers at first compelling the British to evacuate their trenches only of them to be retaken soon after in a violent struggle in which the bayonet played a principal part.

On Monday the enemy attacked towards the east of Ypres a whole brigade was given the task of hacking through and that their losses amounted to a Battallion and a half.

As the bodies of six officers and 400 men were found in front of the British positions near La Bassee it would appear that the German losses figure.

The French and German reports of the operation in the Craonne district are very widely at variance, the Paris message asserting that the French troops held their position in the trenches recaptured on Monday while the Germans publish a circumstantial story of the recapture of ground, nearly 1000 prisoners and much material.

The Germans are apparently pushing forward towards Soissons and it is stated that they will tempt to bridge the Aisne.

It would appear that anticipations of fighting on the Egyptian frontier are likely to materialise. The Turkish advance is developing and an encounter took place on Tuesday on the est side of the Suez Canal 29 miles south of Port Said.

The British losses were small but losses of the Turks were reported as heavier. The British forces in the are are more than ready for them.