BRITAIN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 274, 4 November 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

MUSTERING THE ELIGIBLES. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS COMBED. (Received 4, 10.55 a.m.) London, Nov. 3. Mr. Lloyd George has combed out civilians of under 26 years of age from the War Office and subsidiary departments who are fit for general service, leaving 171 fit men out of a staff of 7200, inclusive of women. There will be a similar combing out of non-commissioned military employes. As many as possible of the commissioned men will be released for the front. RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN. J (Received 4, 10.55 a.m.) London, Nov. 3. During the committee examination of the Rhodes Estate Bill, it was explained, on behalf of the trustees the reason for the abolition of German scholarships of £3OO each. The chairman stated that the committee considered these scholarships were needed within the Empire and preferred not to widen the area of their availability. Mr. Cecil Rhodes had often expressed a wish that the Empire should come first. The bill was accordingly reported. EXCHANGE OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.j (Received 4, 11.30 a.m.) London, Nov. 3. The White book, with reference to the exchange of German civilians over 45 years of age, shows that the agreement applies to the whole Empire of Germany. It is stipulated that Germans from the British colonies and dominions shall be repatriated with the utmost ispeed possible. Retired officers of the Army and Navy, not receiving pay, and officers and crews of Anglo-German merchantmen are to be considered civilians.