TERRIBLE CARNAGE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 258, 4 December 1914, Page 7

TERRIBLE CARNAGE

GERMAN MASSES' SLAUGHTERED RUSSIAN ENVELOPING MOVEMENT NEARS THE END DE WET CAPTURED GRAPHIC STORY OF RELENTLESS PURSUIT ALLIES REPULSE ACTIVE ARTILLERY ATTACKS IN THE WEST In many parts ill West Flanders and Belgium the German artillery has >een increasingly active, hut their attacks have been repulsed, and, in the main the Allies have made satisfactory progress. In the eastern theatre German reinforcements had a desperate encounter with the Russians who, however* completely overwhelmed them, inflicting terrible carnage. It is stated that the Russian enveloping movement is approaching completion. De Wet, the Boer rebel leader, been captured. An interesting story is told of the pursuit,. and the final surrender. The German Chancellor, Herr von BethmainvHollweg, in the course of a speecnMri the Reichstag, defended Germany's attitude, and laid the whole "blame for the war at Britain's door. ~

By Cable. — Press Association: — Copyright.

LIVELY CANNONADES.

GERMAN ARTILLERY ACTIVE. ALLIES PROGRESS INARGONNE. (Received December 4, 8.50 a.m.) PARIS, December 3. A communique states: There have been lively cannonades upon Nieupbrt and to the. south, of Ypres, and a violent bombardment at Aix-Moulette, to the west of Lens. We have repulsed several attacks in Argonne and have slightly progressed. The German artillery is -active in the Wcevre district.

ALONG THE ALLIES' LINE. COMPARISON OF LOSSES. RUIN AT YPRES. "Tirries" arid' "Sydney Sim" Services; (Received. December 4, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. A correspondent who was officially conducted along the Allied Knes states that the Allies' losses in killed and wounded at the Ypres-Armentieres battles numbered 80,000, and the losses of. the Germans were 120,000. He visited Ypres while it was still under shell fire, and gives a. vivid account of the ruined, deserted streets. Amongst many other devastated building's, the Cathedral of Saint Martin is a mass of. ruins. , .. , LIFE IN THE TRENCHES. JOKE WITH A GRAMOPHONE. THE COOK SAVES THE SOUP. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. — (Received December 4, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. A correspondent, describing the conditions round Wcevre, says: —"The advanced trenches are sometimes only thirty yards apart, and a certain amount of familiarity and good-fellowship has grown up between the opposing ranks. In some places they have. agreed upon fixed times daily for meals, the drawing of water, and washing, when no shooting is allowed. The soldiers also roll up German and French papers and toss them between the trenches. The French love to play little tricks, and a corporal stole out of the trench, and, in the? darkness, placed a gramophone near the German trench playing the "Marseillaise." This caused a wild; fußilade, and the Frenchmen, safe in their shelters, enjoyed the joke.hugely. "A cook, carrying two pots of soup, stumbled into a German trench. Placing the soup on the ground, he knocked down two Germans, picked up his pots, and ran for his life. He was a target for a few shots, but escaped.

I AN UNTIMELY END,

FAMOUS AVIATOR KILLED. HEEO OF CAIRO-KHARTOUM FLIGHT. (Received December; 4, 8.50 a.m.) PARIS, December 3. The French aviator Marc Pourpe, famous, for his Cairo-Khartoum flight has been killed while reconnoitring in the Somme district. '."'*".'" [Marc Poiwpe was one of the bestknomn of French airmen, his fame resting chiefly on the great flight made by him from Cairo to Khartoum at the , beginning of this year. The distance between the two points is some .1500 miles, and the flight was rendered supremely hazardous owing to the enormous tracts of desert country which had to be traversed. Pourpe started from Heliopolis on December 11, using the Morane monoplane, on which Garros (how at the front with the French flying corps) had previously used in his flight Across the Mediterranean. He had proceeded but ar "** short distance when he was caught(in an air-pocket, and his machine was dashed to the ground, being considerably damaged. The pilot, however, escaped unhurt, and set to work to repair the machine, which was soon ready for another attempt. Petrol stations were established along the Nile, and Pourpe flew from one to another, starting from Cairo on January. 10. That day (Sunday) he flew 300 miles to Sobag, and on Tuesday he went on to Luxor,, bringing his machine down in the desert, near the Karnak temple. Next day he went to Wady Haifa. After eight days' flying he reached Khartoum, after severe battling with side winds, and was welcomed by the Sirdar, Sir Reginald Wingate. He left Khartoum on January 21 on the return journey, which was successfully accomplished, despite ; severe dust storms, which more than once necessitated com-1 plete overhaul of the engine.]

HELPING THE AVIATORS. INGENIOUS SIGNALLING METHODS. NEW GERMAN RIFLES CAPTURED. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Scrciccs. (Received December 4, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. A correspondent says that for the assistance of aviators ingenious methods of. signalling has been adopted. The hands of church clocks, the bells of their towers, linen spread on the ground, lighted windows, and open or closed shutters are amongst the ruses cmployed. German shell cases picked up at the commencement of the war were dated 1903/7, and now the date is 1913/14. Many new rifles have been captured, from which no shot has been fired, indicating that they have been in the hands of untrained recruits.

JUST-IN TIME. GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S ESCAPE. AIRMEN DO DAMAGE AT KBUPP 'S. • (Received December 4, 8.50 aim.) COPENHAGEN, December 3. A message from Berlin states . that during his recent visit to the west front Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg had a narrow escape. A British aeroplane located his headquarters and a. British battery destroyed-a room which Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg had just vacated, killing tw6 men on a spot he had previously stood on. THE HAGUE, December 3. It is rumoured in Berlin that airmen flew over Krupp's works on Wednesday, and dropped bombs on the Cannon Hall. The amount of the damage done is unknown. The airmen escaped. [The Krupp works at Essen are probably the biggest establishment of the Kind in the world. Not only guns and other armaments of war are made there, but machinery of all kinds, and a large portion of the works is devoted to making instruments of war. The establishment covers a great acreage, and is practically a town in itself, since it [ employs over. 70,000 persons, nearly 40,000 of these being employed in the steel foundry and gun-testing grounds.] BRITAIN TO BLAME. GERMAN CHANCELLOR ON THE WAR. "WE MUST AND WILL WIN." (Received December 4, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. Herr Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Chancellor, speaking in the Reichstag, said their troops had carried the war into the enemy's country, and there stood firm. They could regard the future with every confidence, but the enemy 's resistance had not been broken. Germans were not yet at the end of their sacrifices.. The nation would continue to support these with the same heroism as hitherto, for they must and would fight to a successful end a defensive war for right and freedom.

They would then remember how their defenceless compatriots in hostile countries had been maltreated in a manner which was a disgrace to all civilisation. The world must learn that none could hurt a hair of the head of a German with impunity. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, continuing his speech, said it was evident who was responsible for the greatest of all wars. The apparent responsibility rested on those in Russia "who had ordered the mobilisation of the army, but the real responsibility fell on the British Government, which could have made war impossible, had it, without ambiguity, declared to Petrograd that Britain would not allow a universal war to develop from the Austro-Servian conflict. .''■ Such a declaration would have obliged France to restrain Russia, and then Germany might have successfully mediated* \ between * Petrograd ] and Vienna. Britain was aware of the bellicose machinations of the partly irresponsible, but powerful group, round the Tsar; she saw how the ball was rolling, but interposed no obstacle in its path. Despite all its assurances of peace, London informed Petrograd that Britain was on France's side, and consequently on Russia's side. Turkey joined Germany, and this shattered the foundations of England's colonial power. Bri-. tain permitted a monstrous world-wide war, hoping that the war, with the Entente's help, would destroy the vitality of England's greatest European competitor in. the world's markets. 1 ' Therefore England and Russia, before God ■ and men, were responsible; for the'catastrophe.

frozen mutton among the distress committees in the London boroughs, the various hospitals where the wounded are being treated, and the various Belgian relief committees. Much tinned mutton has been distributed in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and the Midlands.

' 'Belgium neutrality, which: England pretended to defend, was nothing but a disguise," 'continued the Chancellor. "On August 2 we informed Belgium that self defence and ' France's war plans compelled us to march through Belgium." Earlier on the same day the British 'Government had promised un-, conditional assistance if the German, fleet attacked the French coast, but nothing was said about Belgian neutrality. How could England maintain that she drew the sword because we violated Belgian neutrality?" Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg claimed credit for endeavouring to improve Anglo-German relations, and <iaid he hud succeeded in the individual questions concerning Africa and Asia Minor, bxit Britain's first principle was that Germany 's free development Of strength must be checked by the balance of power. He warned Britain last July of the danger of her secret negotiations with Russia concerning the naval convention. Germany's military and financial strengthhas already stood the test of her heroism. They may call us ''Huns" and "barbarians, 7 ', but, we must, and will be victorious.

DE WET CAPTJRED. SURRENDERS WITHOUT A SHOT. DETAILS OF RELENTLESS PURSUIT. r. . • LONDON, December 2. It is officially stated that De Wet has been captured. " . . , (Received December 4, ,8.50 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, December 3. Official: After De Wet crossed the Vaal River on November 23,. Dutbit continued the, chase in motor cars, but De Wet eluded him, joined a commando

IN BRITAIN. IRISH NEWSPAPER SUPPRESSED. RECRUITING GOES ON BRISKLY. (Received December 4, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. The Press Bureau states that British pressmen will be given permission to visit the front. A Sinn Fein newspaper in Dublin has been suppressed. Since the beginning of August Manchester and Salf ord have enlisted 47,000 men. DISTRESS AT HOME. POOD PROM OVERSEAS. METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. (Received December 4, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. The London Chamber of Commerce has appointed a special committee to distribute the Sydney Chamber of Commerce's foodstuffs. It will divide the

in the Schneizerienske district; • and moved westwards. Heavy rains blocking the motors, De Wet crossed the railway near Devondale to the north of Vryburg, where Commandant Brits took up the chase. With the assistance of the motor car contingent, "Commandant Brits captured a portion of De .Wet's commando on November 27, but De Wet had' left' the day before, still going westwards. After a relentless pursuit, Commandant Brits overtook De Wet at a farm at Watertmrg on Tuesday. The.; loyalists surrounded the farm and captured the whole 52 rebels without a shot being fired.

Commandant Brits captured 6*o other rebels, including Commandant Cost, the editor qf the, journal "Metyolk." ~. ; HEAD OF THE CARLISTS. ARRESTED IN AUSTRIA. SENT TO SWITZERLAND, (Received December 4, 8.50 ajn.) PARIS, December 3. Don Jaime de Bourbon, who appealed to the Carlists to enlist thejr sympathies with the Triple Entente, has been arrested at his castle in Frohsdorf in, Austria, on the ground that, he is a colonel in the Russian army. Don Jaime protested to.the Emperor that he was a member of the Austrian Imperial family, and ultimately was given his choice of remaining a prisoner, or of going to Switzerland. He chose . the latter. [Don Jaime" Jqari-Charies-Alphonse-Philippe is the head of the Carlist branch of the Bourbon family, whose members reside in Italy and Austria. He is a* grandson of the Carlos who was pretender to the throne of Spain under the name of Charles V. in 1833. With all his descendants he .was excluded from this succession-to the throne, and deprived of his title of. prince by Royal decree on October 27, 1834, confirmed

by the Cortes in 1837. He took the title of Duke of Madrid in 1868, and this is the title now held by Don Jaime. Other members of the family use the title of prince or princess of Bourbon, with the qualification' of Royal Highness. Don Jaime was born at Veveyy Switzerland, on June 27, 1870, the son of Prince Charles and Princess Marguerite of Bourbon-Parma. He is an officer of the Hussars of the Russian Guard of Grodno.]

SCENES OF CARNAGE. RUSSIANS OVERWHELM THE ENEMY. ANOTHER ENVELOPING i MOVEMENT. \ (Received December 4, 8.45 a.m.) . PETROGRAD, December 3. ; German reinforcements, from Kalisch' were engaged in a desperate encounter: near Lask, but were repulsed. The carnage was terrible,, .and whole regiments fell under the Siberians' onslaught. The Russians, by re-taking Strykoet, have regained possession of the Lodz-1 Warsaw railway. The Russian plan to I envelop the German left flank to the; south of Plock'is progressing, and the Russian' movements, as a whole, arc! maturing* towards final victory.:,... ■ :■: It is stated that the failure" of the; enveloping scheme a week.ago.was due' to the late arrival of General Rennen-i kantpf whichshould have closed the trap. It is also stated: that General! Rennenkampf has been- superceded. ' One hundred ,and .twenty, captured: German and Austrian officers, includingtwo generals,' six colonelsj and eighteen: majors, have been 1 taken 'to Kieff. ;'';

Irish visitor to the Foreign Office,' ' which implied that Sir Roger Casement had been making offers to the enemy. Another message received the same day said'that notice- had been given in the House of Commons to ask a ques- - tion concerning the. .action of this official, but had been withdrawn at the Government's request. A .subsequent message announced that Sir Roger Casement's action had aroused indignatioTi in England, though apparently the! censor had been at work on the details concerning what he ; had actually done. Yesterday we published a message stating that there ' was much comment. on his action, and many demanded that he should be deprived of. his pension, while his friends suggested'that he was suffering from'mental derangement.'.'He came into some notoriety in October last, when he was in America, for having written to a Dublin newspaper in bitter terms against the- Home Rule-Bill being passed in order to stimulate recruiting in Ireland, and objecting ":. strongly to Irish recruiting. Sir Roger Casement's notoriety is due. to the fact that ; ;he has held some very important consular position's., : He was born, in 1864, and in 1895 he was appointed British Consul to Lorenzo Marquez, and from 1898 to 1905 he held the position of Consul to all the Portuguese, possessions south of the Gulf of Guinea, Con- *». sul in the Gaboon, and Consul to the Congo Free State. He was ConsuFat Para in 1908-9, and it was while in that,position that" he exposed the conditions under which\±he Peruvian; natives rwere f orbed to work, and: charged" the agents and overseers of the British companies owning rights in the rubber territory with perpetrating terrible cruelties, and \ holding the natives as slaves. A Commission was held in England at which the directors' of the" companies had'to give, evidence,, and the. "Red Rubber'''* charges gained; a great,deal of notoriety through the newspapers. From.'. '.'jLSjOft' until quite.recently, when, he £etired„on a- pension, Sir Roger., ; Casement.y.-jwas .' British Consul-General at Rio ~.tt.e Janeiro. He was knighted in 19.1-1;/

RUSSIANS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED. THE ENEMY REPELLED. Germans against wall.. of "■' . \ ' ■ -steel; - :: '■■ ;,;■.:;■;; ■-;.. PETROGRAD; December 3* An official statement says: "Fighting in the Lowicz district is less intense. Towards midnight the enemy, marching; in ulose order, violently attacked the Russian positions northward of Lodz. Wc repulsed the attack. '' We entered Wieliczka, miles southeast of Cracow." The'*'Bourse Gazette" publishes an interview with General von Richter, who was captured. ' . The .General, who was. a member of the Crown Prince's entourage, declared that the Germans' basic confidence had beep shattered. The despised Russian* had proved strategists and fighters, and the Germans had found themselves against a steel wall formed by .the strongest army the world had ever seen, but they would make the fight long and hard, always supposing that the worst didnot happen* . LODZ BATTLE ENDED/ ENEMY'S HUGE LOSSES. AN UNOFFICIAL MESSAGE. ROME, December 3. A Petrograd- message to the '' Giorflale d'ltalia" says that it is reported that the battle of Lodz has ended in the Germans retiring after losing 300,000 men. The Austrians are reported to have made a fresh sortie from Przemysl, but were driven back, losing 20,000 men. The message is issued with all reserve. VICTORY IN POLAND. GERMANS' LAST HOPE GONE. LOOKING TOWARDS SUEZ. LONDON, December 3, "The Times," in a leader, says:—"A Russian' victory is maturing in Poland, and-with.it the last hopes of Germany on the eastern frontier should vanish. German newspapers having ceased to take any further interest in Calais, are now professing the deepest preoccupation in the Suez Canal. We can well understand that neither Flanders nor Poland ; is an attractive topic for German writers at this, juncture. The German public has been led to believe that the Turks have already crossed the Canal. The facts are that our mail steamers continue to traverse the waterway with the utmost indifference, that our defending forces have been strongly reinforced, and that from end to end of the Canal not a Turk is in sight." A BELATED MESSAGE. MYSTERIOUS VISIT TO BERLIN. SIR ROGER CASEMENT'S - INDISCRETION. '■ (Received December 4, 8.50 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 23. It is reported that an Irish visitor to Berlin was officially told that Germany, in the event of victory, would not invade Ireland or overthrow her national; institutions. Up till the present no news as to what Sir Roger Casements indiscretion consisted of lias been transmitted, but the first message (a previous one having evidently been censored), dated London, November 27, gave a hint. That message stated that '' German advices allege that Sir Roger Casement was the

; TO INSfIRK:;C()NFID£NCE v ',' VON MOLTKE BACK AGAIN. ' GERMANY .-.'■ APOLOGISES TO '.''' PORTUGAL. ' LONDON, December 3. v Amsterdam reports state that General von Moltke has recovered from his illness and is returning to the front. ROME, December 3. Advices from Berlin state that the Kaiser intimated that General von Moltke's return to the front, even if he was unable to undertake any work, was , nectary to inspire confidence in the troops'! ] *'"" "''"'. LONDON, December 3. Reuter says that'-Germany has apologised to Portugal' _; for the invasion ]o£ Angola,^;(Received December 4, 8.50 a.m.) i LONDON, December 3. ■-• > The Germans thrice unsuccessfully invaded.' Angalo, firstly at Lake Nyasea, secondly at Cuaiigax,/' and thirdly ■at Nanlila/ •• > MORE VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. '•' ALLIES' STRENGTHENING 7 POSITION. ' : ; : SUCCESS- IN ALSACE. .; v:"' PARIS, December 3.-,' v An official statement in Belgium sas'S tliere has been a violent bombardment of Lampernisse, westward of Dixmude. "In Argonne the enemy has blown up a salient north-west of the wood at Lagrurie. On the .whole we are strengthening and. developing our progress in that part of the front. ** Mln, Alsaee our, troops have taken. Aspaeh-le-bas, south-wrest of Thaun. "On the rest of the front there is. nothing to report." IN FULL SWING. TROOPS EASTWARD MOVEMENT. NO GERMAN INFANTRY ATTACKS. PIAEi% December 3. Jt is_ understood the Germanson Sunday evacuated several villages behind Dixmude, on the PoelcapefleBecelaewe line. Large stores of ammunition, and also w-ounded, were removed from Thielt, Denyme, and Roulers, eastwards. ■'. A desultory and aimless German bombardment of tlfe .Allies *i lines continues, but it is feebler,; aitfl there is no indication of a renewal, "of infantry attacks, which it was thought the bombardment foreshadowed. .. .., German efforts to; prevent the leakage of news from' Belgium to Holland. are more stringent. The frontier patrols have been increased. Fresh reports state that the eastward movement of troops is in full swing. ■*" BRITISH ARMY'S POSITION,, MORE SECURE THAN EVER. THE INTERNED NAVAL MEN.;; LONDON, December 3 W "The Times" military says that the British Army now.occupies a more contracted and more:'''secure position than that which it; de-

fended with such conspicuous heroism in the severest battles. When the Worcester left the trenches for the advance one man stuck a notice on a wooden hut: "This undeeirable residence to let; owner going to Potsdam. Gravel soil; lovely view." Commodore Henderson, commanding the naval men interned in Holland, writes: "It was crushing bad luck being outrun so early in our innings, but we refuse to be downhearted. At.the back of our minds we all cherish the firm conviction that some turn will release us before the war ends. We must have revenge for Antwerp.'' . He mentions that the interned men are busy knitting warm garments, and at other occupations. A POOR RESPONSE. AUSTRIAN WAR LOAN. SCHOOL CHILDREN'S CONTRIBUTIONS. ROME, December 3. Advices from Vienna state that the ■ytuT loan subscriptibn is still unsatisfactory, notwithstanding the forced levy on all banks, even on small rural depositors, for contributions. Civil Servants have now beeti notified that the Government, correctly interpreting their enthusiastic desire to contribute to the country's needs, retains a percentage of their salaries. Children of all schools have been asked to bring a contribution to the loan, however small. Advices from Berlin state that the Reichstag passed a. war credit of £250,000,000. Dr Liebknccht, the Socialist leader, was the only dissentient.

A WELL-BAITED HOOK. GERMANY AND ITALY. "STEP IN AND TAKE TUNIS." LONDON, December 3. The "Standard "publishes a dispatch from Rome, stating that the German Government has not despaired of seeing Italy take a well-baited hook. The Italian papers declare that it would need more to draw Italy into the net than the latest snare, which is an article in the "Deutsche Tagezeitung,'' which invites Italy to step in and take Tunis, now that"the chance offers* It points out that the Turkish, Austrian, and Italian navies are easily a match for the Anglo-French warships iii; the Mediterranean. Energetic action would result in. a quasi-automatic acquisition which would be legitimate by the predominance of Italians there. The jpaper adds that a little reflection will : convince Italy that all. she needs is decision io do and dare. - •■•■ • ' . f

Italian papers claim that the article ■was directly inspired by the German Foreign Office. ''■' y- v Eeking y iTeport«>?atate; thai ,the ;: Germans are redoubling the intensity of their Press campaign and flooding China "with pamphlets with a view to creating suspicion regarding Japan's attitude in -Manchuria.

STUPID AND UNNECESSARY. A GERMAN ON THE WAR, CAUSE NOT UNDERSTOOD. NEW YOEK, December 3. Dr Dernburg, ex-Colonial Secretary for Germany, addressing the Economic Club, alluded to the war as stupid, unnecessary, and uncalled for, Germany's «ause was misunderstood. Her enemies "we're able to supply the United States fully with their side, therefore American and German relations were becoming strained. He hoped that the resumption of business between the two countries would find the same spirit of friendliness prevailing as before the .war. He believed America would play the part of mediator at the close of the war. AMERICAN DEFENCE. A GRAVE ASSERTION. STATE OF UNPREPAREDNESS. NEW YORK, December 3. Mr Garner, a member of the House of Representatives, asserted that the United States defences were most in•efficient. British or German warships ■could easily shell New York without danger to themselves. There were only about 150,000 men really available in ease of war, and only seven aeroplanes and no dirigibles. The militia was wholly inefficient. There was not enough ammunition to keep the guns going for more than a single day. ALIENS ON BRITISH SHIPS. ADMIRALTY FORBIDS THEM. BELLIGERENTS AND SOUTH AMERICAN WATERS. LONDON, December 3. The "Daily Telegraph" states that the Admiralty has forbidden Grimsby trawlers to employ aliens. Fifteen hundred men, chiefly Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes, are affected. Aliens among crews of oil steamers attached to the Admiralty's mercantile fleet and auxiliaries, have also been discharged. , WASHINGTON, December 3. The South American Republics are submitting to th 6 Pan-American Union Conference the question of the use of American waters by belligerents. The " Argentine, Chili, Uruguay, Peru, and

Ecuador intend io propose the prevention of the use of such waters by all belligerents. AUSTRALASIANS IN EGYPT. WHY THEY LANDED THERE. LORD KITCHENER'S CONSIDERATION. MELBOURNE, December 3. Iu the Senate, the Hon. G. F. Pearce, Minister of Defence, announced that the Australian and New Zealand contingents had safely arrived and disembarked in Egypt to assist in the defence of that country and undergo complete training. They would go direct to the European front to fight with other British troops when their training was complete. The Commonwealth had agreed to this step on the strong recommendation and advice of Lord Kitchener, who pointed out that tent life in midwinter in England, after the long tropical and sub-tropical voyage, would impose a very severe trial and unnecessary hardships on the men.

IN THE COMMONWEALTH. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS. SYDNEY, Decenlber 3. During the debate on Dr Scheidel's appointment it was alleged that he, was acting as Krupp's intermediary between metal-buyers in Australia and Germany while acting as German Consul, and that he reported on deposits of sheelite and molybdenite. Dr Scheidel is now en route for Germany. MELBOURNE, December 3. The Defence Bill and the Prohibition of Exports Bill passed their third reading. Mr Fisher, replying to criticism about the leniency and generosity accorded German prisoners from Rabaul, says people must have regard for the terms of capitulation, which have been causing comment. It appears that the occupying forces agreed to generous terms to avoid loss of life and damage to property from unknown mines. Mr Fisher also draws attention to the fact that the island was handed over as a going concern, with £40,000 in the Treasury. ADELAIDE, December 3. The Grain and Fodder Board has agreed to release all seized wheat upon millers and wheat merchants undertaking not to export without express sanction of the board. MELBOURNE, December 3. The Millowners' Association has advanced the prices of flour to £l3 10/and of bran to £8 15/-, and pollard to £9 a ton. . Wheat is selling at 6/3 and 6/5 a bushel. The setting aside of the fixed price has brought large supplies of stored grain into the market.

PROMPT HELP. „ GERMANY MASSING- FORCES. NEW ZEALAND'S PART. . Presx Association. AUCKLAND, December 3. The responsibility of New Zealand to place its resources of men and material at the disposal of Earl Kitchener, in order to assist in bringing the war to an early termination, was emphasised this evening by the Prime Minister. In commenting upon the present position in Europe, Mr Massey declared that the Dominion must give all the help within its power, and give that help promptly. The messages from London during the past few days showed that Great Britain was making 3upreme efforts to put her maximum force in the field by the spring, a few months hence, and the Mother Country looked to the Dominions oversea for all possible aid. "Germany has knowledge of Britain's resolution,'' Ms Massey went on to say, "and therefore the Kaiser is massing huge forces in the western theatre, where the German attack is specially vigorous against the British. Germany's desperate ambition is to roll up the British armies, and so injure the moral of the French. Thus, the jGermans hope to influence neutral countries - to favour their side of might. Who doubts," asked Mr Massey, "that Britain's expectation' of adequate help from the Dominions will be properly fulfilled? Britain expects that every Dominion will do its duty to the Empire, and I am sure that New Zealand will not be left lagging. I am not at all putting this country's patriotism in front of the patriotism of any sister State, but it so happens thatNew Zealand was the first to offer an Expeditionary Force, and by the splendid aid of Australia's Navy, New Zealand had a body bf 1400 troops en route for Samoa, only eight days after the declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany. New Zealand's prompt and hearty recognition of the Empire's need of loyal aid was warmly prated in Canada, where the Press used New Zealand's example to quicken the preparations for a similar enterprise in that big Dominion. Equally as Prime Minister and as a citizen of New Zealand, I am,proud of this countrys' eagerness to help the Motherland in preservation of the common heritage. The gifts of men and money and material make a bright page for New Zealand in the Empire's history, and there are other pages to come. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen) has stated that heavy reinforcements will be sent to Europe, and I have every confidence that the number of those volunteering will continue to exceed the number of places to be filled. As I have already said at JJiiiirdin, the number of men' offering at present surpasses th-j quota required, and tliis great spirit, of service assures the Mother Ccuutrv l:ha*. New Zealand's manhood will le equal to any call. The position of the Allies is strong to-day, but the British plan of quick concentration of strength needs the vigorous help of all the members of the Imperial family. It is a plan to hasten the end of the war, and thus correspondingly reduce the cost to the Allies, who must conquer Germany. Therefore, New Zealand's liberality with men and material must not slacken. Self-interest alone, apart jfrom that Imperial patriotic sentiment

which has inspired the whole public, should induce New Zealand to give all possible help to Great Britain, which has so long guarded the seas and enabled the Dominion to have a prosperous place in the world 'a system of trade and commerce. This is a time when effective patriotism is the best possible policy from every viewpoint; this is a time when all classes recognise that all strengths have to be one strength, to secure and maintain the place which British courage, endurance, and perseverance have won in the world to the advantage of the whole world, as well as to all Britons,. Parties which differ on-matters of domestic policy join, with the object of defeating the Empire's challengers, by giving the Mother Country all help within their power, and giving that help promptly.''

MEN FROM OTAGO. ENLISTMENT PROCEEDING. DUNEDIN, December 3. An enthusiastic patriotic and recruiting meeting was held in South Dunedin to-night. Stirring speeches were given by prominent citizens, and their strong appeal to young fellows to join the Colours resulted in a number of strapping men coming forward to enlist in Otago's quota for the next contingents NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' COOP. EMPLOYEES' RELIEF FUND. At a meeting of the committee set up by the staff of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-op., held this morning, it was unanimously decided that in addition to the amount already subscribed to the Great Britain and. Belgium Relief Fund, £4.0 be donated for the purchase of art union tickets; on the distinct understanding that should any of the tickets secure a prize or prizes the Art Union Committee be authorised to convert the same into money, and the amount so obtained -added to that already given as above. The amount distributedby the Co-op. Relief Committee to date is as follows: .- £ s - <v Local distress .... . . 60 0 0 Per month Belgium Fund 20 0 0 Purchase art union tickets 40 0 0 Huntly Relief .Fund .. 10 10 0 GLEE AND MADRIGAL SOCIETY. To-morrow evening, in the Band Rotunda, Victoria Square, the Christchurch Glee and Madrigal Society will give a concert, at which a collection will be taken up in aid of the Great Britain and Belgium Relief Fund. The charming part song, '' The Sea Hath its Pearls," by Pinsuti; Elgar's beautiful "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land," and "Laugh Right Merrily," a splendid work by Clark, are some of the works which will be interpreted by the choir. The ladies will sing two madrigals, '' Come, Phyllis'' and '' Oars are Flashing." The gentlemen will be heard in that fine work from "Tannhauser," "The Pilgrims' Chorus." Soloists in the last piece are Miss M. Harris and Mr J. J. Hall. "Haste the Nymph," one of Handel's finest works, will be given, the. solo work taken by Mrs Bruce McWhirter (nee Miss Ivy Fraser). Mr L. Flemming will take the solo work in."Rule Britannia," and Mr Chas. Bills the solo in "The Village Blacksmith." Mr J. C. McLean will also appear as a soloist. Mr Sidney Williamson, D.R.C.M.L., will act as conductor.