BRITAIN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 272, 2 November 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

OCTOBER CASUALTY TOTALS. (.AUSTRALIAN AND N ?. CABLE ASSN. I (Received 2, 9.0 a.m.) London, Nov. 1. ■ October’s casualty lists for the Army aggregated 4,366 officers, and 101,340 men, including, approximately 1050 officers and 19,865 men killed or died. There were also 415 Naval casualties. RUSSIAN PRISONERS. SUBJECTS FOR REPRISALS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N Z CABLE ASSN ■ Amsterdam, Nov. 1. A number of Russian officers have been placed in special camps for severe treatment as reprisals for the alleged ill-treatment of German prisoners in Russia.

The “National Tidende” at Cop-1 cnbagen states that a Russian prisoner escaped across the border into Denmark. German guards pursued and beat the Russian senseless. Danish farmers attempted to interfere, but the Germans threatened to shoot them, and dragged the Russian on to German soil, STATE CONTROL OF FOOD. MUNITION WORKERS' DEMANDS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 2. 9.0 a.m.) London, Nov. 1. A conference representing 100,000 munition workers of Woolwich, Enfield, and Waltham Abbey passed a resolution in favour of State control of food, and the fixing of retail prices in order to prevent a national calamity ; also demanding increased wages. SHORTAGE OF WHEAT. PROBLEM OF HOME CONSUMPTION. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] London, Nov. 1. The Associated Chambers of Agriculture adopted a resolution that there will be a disastrous shortage of wheat and other essential foods if the farms are further depleted of skilled labour. Captain Bathurst said that if the Government’s policy was to import food with all the submarine risks and at tremendous cost, well and good ; but the Board of Agriculture ought not to exhort farmers to grow more wheat, when a powerful department was doing its best to render this impossible. The men required for the army could be found by combing out the Government Departments of Munitions and Works. HIDDEN ENEMY TRADERS. FACTS REGARDING FIRMS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED. [AUSTRAIJAN AND N.Z. OABLB ASSN. | London, Nov. 1. Mr. Protyman moving the Registration of Business Names Bill said it was intended to enable the public to know the. nationality and business history of firms wherewith they were dealing. It would be valuable when considering the commercial situation after the war. Sir Edward Carson deplored that the Government in peace time had never contemplated the laws necessary in war time and seen them carried out. He. demanded the elimination of German influence in trade, which was established as part of Germany’s general war policy. The Government had done nothing. The mischief would not have arisen but for laxity in the naturalisation laws. He hoped the . facts regarding firms would fie published broadcast.

UNFAIR EXEMPTIONS. DRASTIC CHANGES URGED. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z CABLt ASSN. London, Nov. 1. The. Army authorities are increasingly insistent on more men for winter training and renewed operations in the spring. The military demand young men, and do not favour raising the age. It is estimated that 3,500,000 under forty are now serving in the munition works, and badged trades which are nationally essential employing many thousands. The exemption of scores of thousands by the tribunals has created dissatisfaction. Mary members of tribunals give exemptions to one another’s employees. The Government departments are setting a bad example, and Ministers have exempted a thousand young clerks as indispensables. The newspapers are urging drastic reforms. It is suggested that the badged trades be reduced and tribunals reconstructed, and all exemptions revised, and that the army should take all men under twentysix or alternatively to raise the age to forty-five, employing older men in defence of invasion, releasing the present home army for foreign service.

I HALLOWED GROUND. I ON THE HILLS OF GALLIPOLI. I AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABI.E ASSN Rome, Nov. 1. The Pope instructed the Apostolic Delegate at Constantinople to inquire as to the unfavourable reports on the condition of the Allies’ graves on Gallipoli. He is informed that the graves at Ariburnu, Suvla Bay ,Anafarta and Seddul Bahr are in a decorous condition. Some of the latter were damaged by bombs, but Enver Pasha instructed repairs to be effected. The Turkish Government guarantees their preservation. DISPOSAL OF ENEMY PROPE RTY. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 2, 2.30 p.m.) London, Nov. 1. Sir. Asquith said that it was not in the public interest that any statement should be made regarding the Government's intentions regarding the disposal of enemy property which would necessarily come up for consideration in the peace terms. IRELAND AND CONSCRIPTION. NOT THE TIME TO TALK. I AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN. J (Received 2, 2.30 p.m.) London, Nov. 1. Mr. Asquith said he was unable as vet to announce Government’s intention regarding the extension of the Conscription Acts towards Ireland.

GERMAN EAST AFRICA. PROVISIONAL BRITISH * GOVERNMENT. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z CABI.E ASSN. I (Received 2, 12.15 p.m.) London, Nov. 1. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law said an experienced official from the Colonial Office would shortly be despatched to establish provisional administration of the conquered portion of German East Africa. LONDON NEWS ITEMS. AUSTRALIAN AND NZ CABI.F ASSN ! In the House of Commons the Anzac Trade Mark Prohibition Bill was read the second time. Mr. Arnold Lupton, a civil and mining engineer and ex-M.P., was summoned for publishing pamphlets prejudical to recruiting headed •‘What Are We Fighting For ” and “Why Don’t We Make Peace?” The case "was not finished.

Mr. Lloyd George (Secretary for War), deprecated the number of questions asked in the House. He said he would gladly arrange a secret session following Lord Kitchener’s precedent. (Received 2, 9.0 a.m.) Official. —Irishmen recruited for the General Service will in future be given the option of enlisting in an Irish regiment. A Petrograd cable states that the Czar has authorised the. issue of a loan of three hundred millions sterling at per cent., repayable in ten years. (Received 2, 12.15 p.m.) The Wheat Commission has appointed a number of firms as Government agents to sell Indian, Argentine, Pacific, American and Canadian wheats. At present, they are only allowed to sell to millers at a remuneration of per cent.