NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 52, 11 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

' THE BALKANS WAR. TURKISH CASUALTIES. CETTINJE, Eeb. 8. Forty thousand Montenegrins and 20,000 Servians, are attacking Schutan, which is defended by 12,000 of nizams and some iregulars. The Servians captured a' hill southward of Scutari. The Montenegrins are operating from Bar-« danjolt;. eastward. The Servians Jent the Montenegrins a number of captured quicklirers and some Servian officers. The 'Standard's' Sofia correspondent reports that Turkish •casualties in the rout at Kavah numbered 12,000. HYDROPLANES IN ACTION. ATHENS, Feb. 8. An aviator named Michaelas Mutusis and a naval officer named Moritikis, hydroplaned from Lemnos in 140 minutes. They crossed and re-crossed the entrance to the Dardanelles, twice circled over Nagara, and dropped four bombs into the arsenal. They escaped j the shots of the Turkish warships and the land battery, and descended near I Imbros. BRITISH POLITICS. HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. LONDON, Feb. 8. A demonstration at Dublin protested against Home Rule. Mr Redmond (leader of the Nationalists) lias predicted that Home Rule will become law by May, 1914. He added that the debate in the House of Lords foreshadowed even an earlier date. Possibly when the measure next went before the Holise of Lords it would make the suggestion of a compromise. Settlement by agreement was so blessed a thing that it was worth a large price to obtain, but for no earthly consideration could the Nationalists submit to the partition of Ulster. Ireland was one nation and one it would remain. They would rather be governed by Orangemen than by the best Englishmen. THE INSURANCE BILL. LONDON, Feb. 8. ' The House of Commons in committee agreed to the supplementary estimates of the Insurance Bill. Hon. D. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) declared that the Act had been made extraordinarily successful, beginning with 14,000,000 people paying contributions, 5000 people receiving sanatoria treatment 4 and 13,000 doctors working. A PREFERENTIAL SYSTEM. LONDON, Feb. S. Mr Bonar Law (Loader of the Opposition) speaking at a Unionist dinner, said that the moment the Unionists were entrusted with power they would be able, without food duties, to give the dominions precisely what they asked for at the Imperial Conferences, namely, preference on existing duties. It was impossible to have a preferential system which would help the consolidating of tlie'Empire without food duties. Then they would endeavor to carry the latter, but only after submitting the proposals to the people and convincing them that they would be of advantage, both' to the Empire and to the United Kingdom.

NAVAL BUPREMACY. LONDON, Feb. 8. The 'Daily Mail,' quoting Hon. Winston Clnirchill's (First Lord of the Admiralty) January speech, in further qualification of his speech made in July, 1912, in which he made reference to Canadian ships, and also eventually to the Mediterranean Powers undertaking a considerable programme, says, 'Hence the (30 per cent, superiority asked for in the speech applied to the past and not the present or the future, consequently Britain's programme is subject to alteration if the Mediterran-

ean Powers increase their fleets as they are now doing. If Admiral Von Tirpitz (German Secretary of the Admiralty) accepts the ratio with these qualifications, the first step towards better relations will have been taken. But on , the present programmes the British margin of Dreadnoughts in 1916 would be only 50 per centum if the dominion ships are not counted. The 'Telegraph's' Berlin correspondent says, "The statements made in the Reichstag are calculated to strengthen the erroneous German impression that Mr Churchill offered a 16 to 10 ratio for all ships for all time. Admiral Von Tirpity, would doubtless like to tie Britain to such ratio; but when the British Dreadnoughts were obsolescent, and the ratio altered, there would be an outcry demanding a further ,Navy Bill. Apart from Admiral Yon Tirpitz's willingness to accept the ratio, it will be some time before Germany was ripe for another naval project. The people's shoulders are sore with the last burdens and the high prices of necessaries. Moreover, it is difficult to squeeze out £s,ooo,<X\o sterling annually under the new Army Bill. 'The Times' Berlin correspondent declares that Admiral Von Tirpitz's announcement was merely a declaration that Germany intends to make a fresh spurt. No agreement has been made, but negotiations have begun. PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM. LONDON, Feb, 9.

| The 'Evening Standard' declares that ! the Anglo-German understanding is probably" due to the dominions' practical patriotism. ! DISASTER AT A COLLIERY. i LONDON, Feb. 8. A chain attached to a tank containing; 800 gallons of water at Bolsover colliery broke and the. tank fell 160 yards, killing or drowning 13 persons who were sinking a shaft. Five persons were rescued. SUFFRAGETTE OUTRAGES. LONDON, Feb. 8. Suffragettes entered two orchid Tiouses in Kew (Jardens at night, smashed, 30 windows, and uprooted some priceless Orchids, besides doing other great damage. A woman smashed ££! Bo' worth, of windows at Selfridge's stores. Suffragettes cut 30 telephone wires, including the trunk line to Dumbarton, and five telegraph wires between Birmingham and Coventry. CUBA AND THE STATES. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, The American Minister at Cuba has presented a peremptory demand to the Cuban Government, insisting on the punishment of the Dersons responsible f?rtht>r©©ent atfa{£s on the American £e£*sitoi l>y * ne*«pqp«r k Cub*.

TEN MEN DROWNED. LONDON, Feb. 8. _ A hopper (clumping sscow) capsized in a gale in tlio Mersey. Ton men were drowned. NEW WHEAT IN INDIA. DKLHT, Feb. ft. Ilesearelies made by Mr Howard, <Jo vernment botanist at Pusa, bavo been made in connection with it wheat vyitli milling and baking qualities similar t< the best on English markets. It will i| is said, give a large yield to the acn without manuring. Irrigation experiments in other parts have been inosl successful, and tin's lias led to a large domand for Pusa wheat. CHEMISTS' PROTEST. BUENOS AVIIEK, Keb. S. Chemists have closed their shops throughout Argentina as a protest against the tax on pharmaceutical preparations ami nurfuuics. Hairdressers, and other tradesmen are supporting them. MRS EDDY'S BEQUESTS. WASHINGTON, K<?b. 8. A settlement in regard to Mis Eddv's bequests has been reached, the lieirs agreeing; to hand over the money to the Christian Science Church, as directed by the founder. CANADIAN TRADE WITH JAPAN. OTTAWA, Eel,: 8. Negotiations are pending in connection with a proposed new trade agreement between Canada and Japan. Hon. («. E. Foster (Minister for Customs) when returning from Australia is likely to visit Japan.