THE WAR.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2422, 13 August 1914, Page 4

THE WAR.

SPECIAL TO BYDNET fIPN. AIRMAN SIKORSKI KILLED. London, August 7. ! According to the Vienna Neve Freie Presse, the famous Russian aviator Sikorskij with three Russian officers and a pilot, was charting the Lemberg frontier outposts, when Austrian fire brought the machine down and all its occupants were killed. WHY THEY RESIGNED. The reports of the resignations of Lord Morley- and Mr John Sums are confirmed. « At the outset there was a marked divergence of opinion in the gatherings, but eventually the logic of events reduced the feeling to small proportions. Four Ministers were then unconcerned, and it is believed that two have since been converted. Lord Morley and Mr Burns did not wish to hamper their colleagues in a great national emergency. FRANCE' & ALSACE-LORRAINE. Paris, August 6. A measure which has been introduced into the French Chamber of Deputies anticipates the long-hoped-for Revanche in connection with the lost provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. The bill, apparently assuming that those provinces are now independent of Germany, seeks to confer nationality upon them. Natives of both the provinces are enlisting in the French army. Six Senators who were anxious not to be absent from the historic session were carried into their seats. The Premier recited the category of German aggressiveness yesterday over forty years. THE HOULTMAN HELD UP. Sitoe Bondo (Java), Aug. 6. A wireless message from the Royal Dutch Packet Uo.'s s.s. Houtman states that the vessel was stopped in the Macassar Straits by the German I cruiser Geier. A shot was fired across I her bows, and a boat lowered from i the warship conveyed six armed officers on board. They examined the ship's papers, and then permitted her to go on, after apologising for firing and for the inconvenience caused.

[The Houtman was on her way from Sydney to Batavia, and was expected to arrive at' the latter port to-morrow. Sitoe Bondo is a - small station in the north of Java, and the principal wireless plant in the island is there. The Geier is a i-hird-class cruiser completed in 1896, and carries eight 4.1-inch guns. Her displacement is 1597 tons, and she carries a complement' of 165 men.]

BRITISH READINESS.. , New York, August 6. All American and Canadian reports agree that the British preparations furnish a splendid vindication of the War Office, and that at the same time they have dumfounded the critics who credited Germany with superior organisation.

LABOUR'S OFFEB. Auckland, August 12. A conference of prominent Labour leaders authorised Lieut.-Colonel Bell to oifer the Defence Department on behalf of Labour a regiment for service at Home or abroad. Tjie speakers emphasised the fact that although Labour had its troubles in the past and would have in the future, it would in time of a great crisis present a united front for the Empire. Lieut.-Colonel Bell said he appreciated the fine spirit shown, and would have great pleasure in conveying the offer to the Department.

WHITHER BOUND?

Wellington, August 12.

Just before noon to-day the first contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force paraded through the.city. The detachment made an inspiriting show. In ranks of fourdeep they were marshallel in Taranaki street, and the khaki-clad lines reached from Vivian street right up to the Buckle street Barracks. The Fifth Regimental Band, under Conductor H. McComish, the Natives' Association (City) Band, under Lieut. T. Herd, and the drum band played martial music to which the rank and file kept time admirably. Leaving Taranaki street, they wheeled into Vivian street, thence down Cuba street, along Manners street, and into Willis street. At one stage of the journey Willis street was a forest ctf sloping rifles steadily advancing. The men carried their full marching kits, and over their uniforms wore their service overcoats, which kept off the steady rain that was falling. As they passed along different portions of the route there was a wild rush to the front by the onlookers to obtain better points of vantage. The fact that the Contingent's destination was not disclosed did not appear to affect the spirits of most' of the men, ■ and some of them were obviously looking forward to their un-/ known expedition with light-hearted-ness and pleasurable anticipation. Apparently they were prepared for the firing line or any less dangerous destination no matter in which part of the world it lay. Following the troops were baggage waggons and a couple of motor cars I conveying the nurses who have placed tneir services at their country's disposal. THE OPEN SEA. • Jm K ing ,, from a cablegram received by Messrs Bannatyne and Co 3P n ?rfv r and Harvey's Powder Mills the English Channel and Worth- Atlantic routes 'would seem to be clear pf the enemy. A cablegram was received yesterday to the effect that a shipment of explosives had been made to Wellington in a regular steamer and that further shipments are to follow next month, as in the ordinary course. Evidently exporters of explosives have confidence in Britain s power to keep the sea ways Tf'vVi* wa f, only on Saturday that Nobels cabled their agents of the shipment of such cargoes to New