PEACE PETITION IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2702, 23 February 1916, Page 5

PEACE PETITION IN GERMANY

RUIN FACES THE HANSA STATES GERMAN CHANCELLOR AND PRUSSIAN DIET QUARREL DISCUSSED IN THE PRESS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriplit London, February 21. ' The "Daily Mail" correspondent at Copenhagen reports that five hundred prominent business' heads, senators, and shipowners at Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen have petitioned the Government to begin peace overtures in order to end the war within three months, otherwise the Hansa. States will bo totally ruined. The "Daily Mail" discounts the seriousness of the proposals. DIPLOMACY, % OR RUTHLESS WARFARE? ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, February 21. The German Press is discussing' a quarrel between the Prussian Diet and Horr von Bethmann Hollweg, the Chancellor. The "Cologne Gazette" says that the Government and the whole of the peoplo are unitedly behind tbe Kaiser, who is making war ruthlessly by sea, land, and air. The "Kreuz-Zeitung" says that -the Diet passed a resolution which expressed a national desire for full freedom for the leaders of the army and navy, and was also directed against the possibility of diplomatic negotiations restricting military operations. Herr Maximilian Harden, in the newspaper "Die Zukunft," warns Germany of the danger of an interminable defence. 'He says a three years' blockado will expel German traie from the chief markets of the world—a feat hitherto believed impossible. He suggests peaco offers, including partial disarmament and pooled war expenses. If tliese terms are refused, Germany will have paid her last debt to the world and humanity, and will then wage a still more frightful war. Count von Reventlow, the well-known German writer on naval matters, in protesting against the negotiations between America and Germany regarding armed merchantmen, says that none_ of tbe guarantees Germany is giving America would a submarine's crew from attack. MERCHANT SMUGGLERS* HEAVILY FINED London, February 21. The Danish Merchants' Guild, whjeh is- administering the Anglo-Danish trade agreement, Ims fin'xl three merchants from 10, to 134.000 kroner on charges of attempting to sell cocoa and coffee to Germans.

The Copenhagen authorities have approved of severe penalties with a view to ending smuggling. GERMAN WOOL IN SOUTH AMERICA ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services;) ' London, February 21. The Buenos Ayres correspondent of ''TE3- Times" states that the Germans are loading wool in their ships to save storage expenses. It is estimated that there is £5,000,000 worth of t Gorman wool at Buenos Ayres and Monte Video. STOCKTAKING COLONEL REPINGTON ON OTJR MAN-POWER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 23, 1.10 a.m.) London, February 22. Colonel Repington, "The Times's" military correspondent, in an interesting article, entitled "Stock-taking," estimates the German field armies at 3,000,000, Austrian at 1,750,000, and the Turkish and Bulgar forces at a million. The Allies' numerical supe-. riority, he says, is not enough for a decisive victory, and their superiority is discounted by the uneconomical use of their forces in distant theatre?. The German reserves lie estimates at two millions, the Austrian at , 1,250,000, while tlie Allies' reserves are superior. Britain lias nearly as many men at Homo as abroad, apart from tho Derby enlistments. 1 Over 200,000 single men have enlisted in the Derby groups. Since the middle of December Franco had not used her 1916-17 classes. Italy lias two men at tho depots for every man at the front; Russia has as many trained reservists as Germany had, and these will be available directly their rifles are ready. We ought, further, to exploit, the natives of India and Africa. " DEATH BY MISADVENTURE.-' DR. A. N. HOUGHTON, OF NEW ZEALAND. | (B; Telegraph-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. February 22, 9.40 p.m.) London, February 21. Dr. 'Arthur Noel Houghton; a New 1 Zealander, who had recently served in ' the Armyi Medical Corps, was found dead in his hotel on Waterloo Road." The evidenco at the inquest showed that death was due to an overdose of morphia. A verdict of death by misadventure was returned. FREE TRADE BALLOT MANCHESTER, REPfIRT REFERRED BACK. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. February 22, 9.40 p.m.) London, February 21; The Manchester Chamber of Commerce oil the free trade ballot, by 93S votes to 527 referred the report back for reconsideration.