OFFERS OF PEACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3965, 25 June 1915, Page 5

OFFERS OF PEACE.

ENEMY NEGOTIATIONS WITH! BELGIUM AND SERVIA. SEPARATE PEACE TENDERED. IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS IMPOSED. ATHENS, June 23. The newspaper "Messenger” says that Germany and Austria have, offered a separate peace to Belgium and Servia. They have agreed to evacuate Belgium and purchase the Belgian Conga conditionally that the troops of the Allies are not alia wed to cross Belgium, while Servia was offered Bosnia and a portion of the Adriatic. NOT DOING ENQUCH. AUSTRALIA AND THE WAR. POLITICAL AMENITIES IN THE HOUSE. (Received June 24. 11.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE. June 24. In the House three months’ supply (.£'8,(511,581) was passed. Mr. Cook drew attention to the fact that Britain was spending three millions daily, and Australia, with oneninth of her population, only £40.000. He maintained that we were not doing enough. On. the second read in" of the First Referendum Bill. Mr. Cook moved an amendment—" That, in view of the war, the Bill be not proceeded with, arid that there should be a cessation, of all party conflict, and measures absolutely necessary for the most strenuous prosecution of the war and the proper administration of public- business alone he dealt with.” The Speaker took exception to the wording of the amendment, and Mr. Cook, withdrawing it, announced that his party would not participate in the debate, and led the whole of the Opposition from the House. The Ministerialists continue:! onedebate. “ After six of the Referendum Bills had passed the Committee stage, Mr. Cook and the Opposition returned. DISTINGUISHED SERVICES LONG LIST OF AWARDS. GALLANT SOLDIERS OF THE ALLIES. » LONDON. June 23. An addendum to the French despatch of April 5 includes four thousand names, occupying thorty-nine pages of the Gazette, i c-co mm ended for reward for gallantry and distinguished service in the field, including" many Canadians, Indians, and fiftyeight nurses. Military honors have been awarded to General Birdwood, Commander of St. Michael : Colonel Doughty Wylie and Captain Wolford. Victoria Crosses. The latter organised an attack at Seddulbahr on Colonel Wylies death. Both were killed at the moment of victory.

The following honors are announced : > Companions of the Bath: Colonel Chaytor, New Zealand; Colonel Howse, Sydney. Companions of St. Michael an* ~-t. George: Colonel Hayes. Victoria : Roval Red Cross: Matron Great- *•-.

Victoria Crosses: Captain Sc-r mger. of the Canadian Medical Serv e. for removing wounded under a her y fire from a dressing station at Ypr * in April. He also carried a wound- 1 officer, and when unable to carry hr * further remained with the officer under fire until relieved. Lieutenant George Roupell, Ea.si Surreys. Though several times wounded, he lc-d his company and repelled a strong German assault at Hill GO. Later, when the company weakened he returned to headquarters. obtained reinforcements, brought them up under a heavy fire, and heki the position with magnificent courage. Victoria Crosses: Color-Sergear Hall, a Canadian, mortally wounded whilst bringing in a wounded maa under a heavy" enfilading fire. Lance-Sergeant Belcher, tinder circumstances cabled on May 24. Lance-Corporal Fisher, a Canadian, for covering with a machine gun a retreating battery at Saint Julien. Later Fisher was killed while covering the advance of supports. _ . Private Mariner, King’s Rifles, who left the trenches near Cambria, crept up to the German entanglements, and reached the emplacement of a machine gun hindering our working parties. He climbed to the top of the German parapet, and threw a bomb under the roof of the gun emplacement. The enemy fled, but returned. Mariner threw a second bomb and crawled back to his own trench. Flight-Lieutenants Wilson _ and Mills'." whose exploit was referred to in a message on the 7th, have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

GERMANY IN THE BALTIC. TIMBER SHIPS CAPTURED. LONDON, June 23. Germany captured in the Baltic five Swedish ships bound towards England with timber.

GENERAL ITEMS. (Received June 24. 5.15 p.m.) (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) At the Shell Transport Company> meeting Sir Marcus Samuel stated that the desire to develop the production of petroleum in the Empire had not met with conspicuous success and they had abandoned hope of obtaining it iii New Zealand. General Maxwell in Egypt has torbidden the sale of alcohol. between 10 o’clock at night and five o’clock in the morning. In the House of Commons Mr Tennant, replying to a suggestion that 3000 aeroplanes ought to he manufactured in Britain in six months, said lie did not believe tins was possible without additional plant. The steady development of tlie manufacture since the beginning of the war had been continuing as. rapidly as possible. The training pilots remained for a time in care of machines. The output of machines and pilots was engaging constant attention. Iu the House Mr Tennant repudiated Air Giunell’s suggestion that young total abstainers, upon enlistment, became confirmed drunkards and said no such complaints had reached tlie Mar Office. He was sorry anyone in a responsible; position would make a suggestion so devoid of foundation. s>tringent measures were taken to lnnrt ike consumption of drink and all iiisoxicauts sent to the front were exclusively for the wounded, except rum. - Lieutenant Markill, an Army aviator, was killed at Shorehain.