SUBMARINE LOST ON DUTCH COAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 7, 8 January 1916, Page 5

SUBMARINE LOST ON DUTCH COAST.

The House of Commons, by 403 to 105, passed the first reading of the Compulsion Bill after a keen debate. The opponents of the bill included Mr. Walter Runciman (President of (the Board of Trade), Mr. John Burns, and Sir John Simon. It jwill be six weeks before the bill becomes operative. The debate ■sA the Trades Union Congress, which opposed the bill by a ■majority of over two to one, was at times of an acrimonious ■nature. f It is reported in Greece that the Allies are to occupy ■Epirus and some of the lonian Islands. The Central Powers ? are reported to be preparing to invade Greece. The growing unrest among the Greek troops, one brigade ,of which recently mutinied, demanding war or demobilisation, 'and King Constantine's expressed belief that ultimate victory jhas slipped from Germany's hands, are significant indications :of a changing opinion on the prospects of the respective bellig- ; jerents among the Balkan peoples. The Russian progress on the Bukowina front continues. JThe advance here is very important, threatening, as it does, to wedge into the German forces. p?» Germany, in her latest reply to Ameribap attempts -to jus•fify the Lusitania outrage by declaring that it was an act of , reprisal against the British blockade. She gives assurances ;J;ha£ her Mediterranean commanders will not torpedo privatelyiflwned vessels without warning. A British submarine was lost off Texil, on the Dutch •iwast, her crew being rescued by a Dutch cruiser. i Baron Okuma declares that Germany is feeling the financial strain acutely, and offered separate peace to Russia and Japan* The offer was immediately rejected.