There was a fierce struggle at Chailenes with strong enemy forces covering the retreat. The enemy made a great effort during the preceding forty-eight hours to remove vast stores from Chailenes with only moderate success, the British offering fierce opposition. North of the Somme they are advancing down a long slope towards Bray, which they have now probably reached. The Germans are contesting every inch of ground on the Vesle with the Americans, who are fighting with superb heroism. A German retreat to the Aisne or beyond it is clearly imminent. The enemy is showing signs of anxiety between Arras and Albert, where no material advance has been made. South of the Somme there has been a slight retirement in some places after desperate fighting, the enemy throwing in reserves and fiercely counter-attacking.
Union dispute
A considerable amount of discussion took place at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council last night relative to the refusal of Mr Ormrod (one of borough road gang) to join the Labourer’ Union. The Mayor closed the discussion by explaining that he had nothing to say against Mr Ormrod as a borough employee, but said they had nothing to do with the quarrel between and him and the union. The cause of friction with that body arose from the fact that Mr Ormrod left the union on the ground that he was denied liberty of speech. It appeared that he persisted in speaking when he was entirely out of order, and refused to observe the rules of debate. A resolution was carried calling on Ormrod to join the Labourers’ Union or be dismissed.
Punitive action
SYDNEY: An Island steamer reports the murder of two white traders in one of the outlying islands of the New Britain group. The victims were surrounded by a horde of savages and butchered, and their bodies were cooked and eaten. On the natives concerned showing further hostilities, a punitive expedition was despatched. A desperate encounter resulted in 60 natives being shot and others being taken prisoner.
Heaton Rhodes dies
A Press Association telegram from Timaru states that the death occurred on Sunday evening at his home "Bluecliffs", St. Andrews, of Mr Robert Heaton Rhodes, who succumbed after a short illness from a chill, aged 62 years. Deceased was one of the most prominent men in South Canterbury, and had been chairman of the Waimate County Council since 1902, director of the Farmers’ Co-operative for several terms, and president of the A. and P. association.
He was the eldest surviving son of Mr George Rhodes who, with his brother Robert, brought the first sheep into South Canterbury in 1852. Mrs George Rhodes came Canterbury in 1854, being the third white woman in the district. Deceased leaves a widow and a daughter (Mrs O. R Bidwill, Wairarapa), both of whom have been prominent Red Cross workers, Mr Rhodes was a most popular man, and will be much missed. — ODT. 13.8.1918.
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