DOMINIONS' OFFERS OF TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 5

DOMINIONS' OFFERS OF TROOPS

WELCOMED IN PARLIAMENT REALITY OF THE EMPIRE , . (Rec. August 6, 11.25 p.m.) London, August fi. Lord, Einmotl', Under-Secretary for.the Colonics, in the House of Lords, in reply to Lord Denman, said there was no immediate necessity to accept the Overseas offers of troops. The Government-would not hesitate to accept if it were necessary. They gratefully accepted Australia's offer of her navy. Lord L'ansdownc, Leader of. the Opposition, said the offers proved the Empire a great reality. ', .- • ;■'■'" JAPAN READY/ OBLIGATIONS TO BRITAIN WILL BE DISCHARGED ■ ■ ,"V— ' (Rec. August 6, 10.40 p.m.) , I "' ~ . '\ Tokio, .August 5. Tiio Foreign Office has issued a State-ment-reiterating that Japan will; take the necessary measures .to discharge-her obligations to Britain. '- ENEMY IN NORTH PACIFIC GERMAN CRUISERS ABROAD. (Roc. August 7, 0.30 a.m.) : Sydney, August G. The Admiralty has informed' the Port authorities that two German,! cruisers, operating in the North PaciSc,,.were;unaware of w-ar conditions, - and; attempted to , pass the examining control.; Shots were fired' across. their ; both submitted to the regulations! BREAKER QE TREATIES. GERMANS IN SWITZERLANDCOUNTRY to. be Stoutly DEFENDED , London, August 5. The Germans have entered Switzerland, thus violating the international treaty guaranteeing Swiss neutrality. ("Times" and Sydhoy "Sun" Services.) ~"'■'' Berne, :August 4. Mobilisation of the Swiss forces is complete, and every able-bodied man has been placed for military duty. The authorities are confident'they can prevent combatants from crossing the frontier. TtjE ULTIMATUM TO BELGIUM. IMPLIED THREAT TO SEIZE CONGO; . London, August 5. Germany's ultimatum promised Belgium, if her wishes were granted, to maintain the independence of Belgium and ■ her , possessions. ■. '. The "Daily Mail" sees in,this an'implied threat to seize the Congo in the' ovent of a-refusal. . The "Daily Chronicle" states 'that Ger4 many's theory of war is to make plansyears ahead, and nothing is left to improvisation. "Probably the plan of crossing Belgium was made years ago, when Anglo-German hostility was" an- axioni. It is ti'agic irony that an inelastic-chain of such .a character should entail a collision." ■'■ ' ' The Belgian Congo has ah area of 909,651 square miles,, and stretches across from tho west coast of Africa to the boundary .'of German East Africa. It was originally the Congo Free State and was formally annexed by Belgium in ,1907.;: . ' ■ netherlands neutrality. , germany says she will respect it. : ■ ' ' ■'■•■'■'".■ The Hague, August 4. The German Minister-has given a. positive assurance that Germany will respecJil the Netherlands' neutrality provided it strictly observes neutrality. ■< PARKIN WAR TIME -, GERMAN REFUGEES , PRESIDENT POINCARE'S .■' ... , MESSAGE ■-■ (Rec. August'iG, 10.40 p.m.-)- :; Paris, August 5: _The streets re peaceful. .Germans are Rocking to the Airerican- ConsulateV tryi "ng to get home, but the authorities are sending then to towns on- tho West 'of France, where they,will remain till the war, is over. Forty-two were arrested as spies since Saturday. . The Germans shot seventeen Alsatians for endeavouring to'cross the frontier at Mulhausen. . '...." '■■•..« ■.■■-■ The French Press describes Sir.OEdward Grey's speech a3 a masterpiece of faithfulness to treaties,' and faithfulness -to engagements.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. . ' Paris, August 5. President Poincaro, in a. Message to the people, declares: "Franco, has-been the object of brutal and premeditated aggression, which is nn insolerifc challenge to tho rights of,lmmunity."--:i>:i '. Tho President adds • that boforo war was declared i nd before the German Ambassador had demanded passports Frenoh. territory had been violated. A NAVAL EXPERT'S VIEWS GERMANY MUST STRIKE QUICKLY."By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 6, 5.40 p.m.) • ■.:'■*■■■ . London, August 5. Rear-Admiral Malum* of' tho United States' Navy, the well-known authority on naval strategy,, in an intorviow at Now York said that Germany's naval hope Li to strike immediately, as otherwise the stagnation of her sea;,trado would threaten her very life. Ho expects a North Sea engagement immediately, and anticipates tho British to win. Hebelieves Italy must join in tho war as an ally of France. She will be compelled to do so in order to hold tho Aus'trinns in check' and for .the* salvation of the Balkans, which Will become the prey of tho Turks, unless the Austrian Navy can ba kept from the shores of Greece. TOURING AUSTRALIANS ILL-LUCK AT ANTWERP. . . (Uco. August 0, 8.45 p.m.) . London, August 5. The Belgians have seized tho Nord Dcmtscher Lloyd's Company's Australian liner. Gheisenau, at Antwerp,, and turned off the passengers, including many Australians with return tickets. They suffered great- hardship?, mid. *ome reached London almost penniless: Tho AgentsGeneral are arranging 'for their passages in an English vessel. Professor Marshall Hall, tho well-known Melbourne musician, was among Hie last- passengers to got through from Zurich. The Gneisenail. is a steel screw steamer of 8185 tons cross register, and she was built .in 1903. Her dimensions aroi— Length. 453.0 ft.; breadth, 55.7 ft, and depth 05.8 ft, The Gnelstmau is a well--known trader to Australia.