GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 13 October 1914, Page 5

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS.

NEGLECT OF HARVEST OPER-

ATIONS CONDEMNED

OFFER OF PAPER CLOTHING,

ENTHUSIASTIC JAPANESE SUB-

JECTS.

A JAPANESE DISCOVERY

(Received Oct. 12, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 12

■ It is hoped that soldiers at the front will receive at the end of the month, a pair of. woollen socks and a woollen bodylet, gifts from the Queen's Women of the Empire.

The Indians are generally popular in France. They show great eagerness to reach the front. Features of their equipment are a- great number of batteries of mountain guns and maxims carried on raulebaek, and a hundred goats in the Sinks' lines in camp. Each race has its own customs and food brought from India.

General Joffre has circularised the prefects of departments in the war zone 5 laying stress on the neglect of harvest operations. He says he has been struck with the numbers of strong men from 36 years of age onwards chattering and loitering in villages whilst a considerable quantity of the crops has not been gathered. Foodstuffs needed, for the continuation of the war are being allowed to rot in the fields.

The Japanese Government has offered to provide the British" and French armies with a special kind of paper convertible onto--warm, winter clothing^ which is worn by Japanese soldiers with satisfactory, results.

The native princes and tribes of the Caucasus are showing great enthusiasm for war and are raising large bodies of fine horsemen. Princes contributing tens of thousands to the war find are contented to serve as plain troopers. One crack Guard regiment formed two whole companies entirely composed of Polish noblemen. ■.

A Ministerial crisis in Italy is threatened. The Press- is attacking the Minister for War for culpable negligence regarding army equipment and is demanding his resignation.

Owing to the discovery of more mines in the Adriatic, the Italian Admiralty has suspended services to Austrian ports excepting from Venice,to Trieste.

The Japanese Navy has- located the source whence the German' warships, obtained coal enabling them to keep raiding in the • Pacific.'