GENERAL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 6805, 8 December 1916, Page 5

GENERAL

M|MASSEY URGES IPERIAL CONFERENCE. A m biti O n for Creat.on of \ Imperial Parliament. Ben «j London, Dec 6, ■4»7 i j ■ MaB W» Premier of W?™' ln an . ioterview with htoi. . Gazstte, atrongly urges > 'atettooing of an Imperial Gonfer\i6lV flatlie^ Possible date for P«rPose of considering the '^JJJ^wofthiEinpiie.- He says ««. . ltlOB;"or' Proiectß in the *nll* °» an Im P3rial P«liament. *Uractive BUch a 8cl»em« « W!? !lßta !t ia P'«mßture, and a *«8i pretentious structurej would - P«sent requirements- Tbe crea-

tian cf an Empire Council, with executive power, wjuid deal with certain practical questions, and would be a great step. Rumour of General Joffre's Removal. Reutcr's Telegrams Rec Dec 7, 10 20 a.m New York, Dae 6 The " New York Times " publishes a story f-oin Paris stating that General Joffre may be removed fiom the post of Gtneralissiino of thu Allied Armies. The Italian Front. Australian and N Z. Oabie* Asjoc Home, Dec 6 An Italian communique states : fC An attempted enemy surprise attack cm positions northwards of of. St. Catarina collapsed under our fire." Food Shortage in France Increasing. ;^ % .' Paris, Dec 6 The food shortage is increasing. Ib is expected that, the Government will reorganise food and coal supplies under a special minister New Pre iident of Russian Duma. Aiistn'-i m and N,Z. Cable Assoc. ii c Dec 7,- 11 5p in Petrograd, Dec 6 M.. Rodziauko has been re-elected President of the Duma. Tory Plot to Overthrow Liberals. Australian and N.Z Cable Asso Ree Dec 7, 10 p.n>. New York, Dec 6. The New York Herald says the Tory , plot to overthrow the Liberals sue- j ceeded. Mr Lloyd George lent - his great powers and repute as a Liberal to the partisan pcrpoie.s of the Toiy cabal, which m3y next turn upon him. Explosion in Ammunition Factory Australian and N Z Cable Asso London, Dec 8. An official statement says an explosion in a national factory in the north of England last night resulted in the death of twenty six women workers. Thirty others were injured. The damage was slight. Russian Scandal. Australian and N Z Cable Asso Rec Dec 7, 2 50 pm . Petrograd, Dec 6 M Stunner, ex-premier, is issuiug a claim for libel against W ftlilenkoff, who in a speech in th^ Duma alleged that the former's* private secretary acknowledged, ehariug a bribe with his employer, . '..,. i . President Wilson's Sympathy wth the Allies. ■..-■• Washington, Dec 4 Diplomatic circles me stirred at President Wilson's crypSic liberty speech iv regard to the expression of In 3 personal sympathy with the cause of France ami England against .Prussian autocrucy. Teutonic officials .are puzzled. One snid sarcastically : " Perhaps tho President refcrrjd to Mr Asquitb and his associates/ on whom the responsibility foi prolonging the war rests."

Deportation of Belgians. Eeuter's Telegrams ' : Amsterdam, Dec 5 " The Telegraaf s'fatca that preparatious are afuot to deport at least £0,000 people from Brussels and neighbourhood. Londou, Dec 5 Belgian workmen threatened with slavery are appealing to the world's neutral workmen to move on their behalf They point out that hal£-i»-uiillion have been forcibly made idle Deportees are forced to c?rry out German military work or mining in Germany and are paid threepence daily. -.-.■,'