THE MOTHER COUNTRY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16741, 23 December 1914, Page 7

THE MOTHER COUNTRY

THE RIGHT OF SEARCH. AMERICANS WATCHING CONTRABAND. -! By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright LONDON, December 31. ' Tho “Manchester Guardian” states, that the United States Government-has drafted a Bill providing for the fining and imprisonment of thceo violating neutrality. Hitherto the United States has been unable to prosecute American shipowners for sending coal and provisions to German warships. Cargoes of cotton destined for Germany, wero also found to contain copper and; other contraband. Such violations rendered tho United States liable to heavy damages to Britain and the Allies. The Bill enables the Government to examine vessels leaving American ports, and to ascertain that they only carry what the manifest states, thus, largely dispensing with the present 6Ur--vcillanco by Allied warships. NOTES FROM LONDON. INDIAN PRINCE’S EXASIPLE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. *• LONDON, December 21. '! The Maharajah of Gwalior has pro* ! seated to the King as a Christmas gift 1 forty-one ambulanco ears, four motorcars for officers, five motor lorries and repair waggons, and ten military mo-' tor-cvcles. COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS. DELHI, December 21. Tho Ambulance Association in India is vigorously. assisting the Red Cross movement. Thirty thousand pound* wortli of material has been despatched .. to the front and £IO,OOO (in cash) i*.! in hand. Ladies throughout India are working hard to provide comforts for the troops. ■ —— i PRESSURE ON BELGIANS. (Received December 22, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 22. ; Renter’s Amsterdam correspondent states that under German pressure ninoi Belgian provincial representatives mer at Brussels and hold a so-called Landtag session, asserting that the Diet had agreed to the issue of Treasury bonds., A group of bankers undertook to advance nineteen million sterling, payable in twelve monthly instalments. The} 1 German Governor promised that all) goods would be paid for in cash i 8 these instalments were promptly forth.* coming. HUNGER RIOTS IN BRUSSELS. (Received December 23, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Deoember 22. . Hunger riots are commencing ixi Brussels. REJUVENATED. " Times ” and Sydney " Sun ’’ Service*. LONDON, December 21. A tailor detects a remarkable shrinkage of fire or six inches during the past! three months in the waistcoat measurement of elderly and middle-aged clients* owing to violent army and military’ training. Inquiries elsewhere confirm the wonderful effects of drills and route marches. In the suburbs old boys sprint for trains .who lure not run ten yards since they ceased cricket. In top hats they jump into motor-'buses in motion with the agility of two-year-olds. They aro growing contemptuou* of umbrellas. THE FINANCIAL SIDE. \ PARIS, December 21. ‘ I M. Ribot, Minister of Finance, digcussing tho financial proposals of the French Government, said that the Bank of France had certainly played as great a part in grappling with the situation as the Bank of England. Up to December 15 its Assistance amounted - to 3,600,000,000 francs at 1 per cent.