THE EUROPEAN WAR.

Mataura Ensign, 30 January 1915, Page 7

THE EUROPEAN WAR.

THE EASTERN THEATRE. I ZEPPELIN AIR RAIDERS. I IN RUSSIAN HANDS. ELECTRIC TELEGRA I'll COPYRIGHT. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. PETRODRAD, Jan. 21). The Zeppelin crew at Lilian are. not treated as prisoners of war hut. as criminals. They arc lo be court-martialled on charge ol numier or attempted murder in attacking an undefended place. A report from Pctrograd states that on Monday a Zeppelin appeared above Lilian (a Russian naval port on the Baltic, about 125 miles north ol Konigsburg), and managed to drop nine bomb* on an undefended part of the town, but alter being fired at by the torts it lei! into the water. Small crait destroyed the Zeppelin and took the crew prisoners.

KURDISH SHEIKS. JOIN RUSSIAN FORCES. MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS. PETROGBAD, Jan. 29. Influential Kurdish shejks at Shahinadiznotf have joined the Russians. They state that the Turks massacred almost the entire Armenian population in the Alshkert Valley.

THE “SCRAP OF PAPER.” BELGIUM’S NEUTRALITY. Sill EDWARD GREY’S REPLY. TO GERMAN CHANCELLOR. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH -y- COPYRIGHT, j TIMES AND SIDNEY SDN SERVICES. . LONDON, Jan. 29. The reply of Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Minister) to the German' Chancellor (Herr von Bethmann-Holhveg) says, “Dr von Betliinann-Hollwcg now asks America to believe that the phrase “scrap of paper” meant the exact opposite, namely, that Britain regarded Belgium’s neutrality as a mere trifle, and that Germany took her responsibilitiesl towards neutrals seriously. Herr i,von ißothmann-Hollweg’s allegation that England in 1911 determined to throw troops into Belgium without Beli gium’s assent is absolutely false.” After detailing the British and Belgian negotiations which led to Belgium in 19113 receiving a. categorical assurance that no British Government would violate her neutrality, Sir Fdward Grey added that the reasons why military conversations occurred between Britain and: Belgium was that Germany’s' establishment of elaborate' networks of •strategical railways from the Rhine to the Belgian frontier wore deliberately constructed to permit of a sudden attack oni Belgium, such as was carried

out last August. This fact alone was enough to Justify communication between Belgium- and other Powers, if Germany took seriously her responsibilities towards neutrals why did she refuse to respect Belgium’s neutrality? Herr von Bethniami-Holhveg, when .speaking in the Reichstag claimed 1 the right to commit a wrong, in virtue of military necessity, hy hacking a way through. A treaty which forbade a wrong was by comparison a mere scrap of paper. Apologies and arguments since forthcoming were afterthought# and excuses to explain away a flagrant wrong and came badly from a man who, on July 211 asked Britain to enter iuio a bargain to condone the violation of the neutrality of Belgium. The shipwreck of Herr von Bothniaim-Hollwcg’s hope consisted not i' l the fact of a European war, out in.-the fact that. England did not agree to stand out. If Jforr von Bethmunn-Hollwcg really ashed for peace why <1 id he not, like 'ranee, Italy ami Russia, accept the proposed conference ?

Herr von Botliniann-Hallweg, the Imperial Chancellor, in an intorvicAv, explained that the “scrap of paper” phrase simply meant that the Treaty had lapsed oAving to Belgium’s forfeiture of neutrality. Britain’s intervention- Ava-s due to a desire not to see a victorious and stronger Germany emerge from the Avar. England had destroyed a considerable part of the neutrals’ trade.

IN EGYPT. ALLEGED MURDERS. < NO TRUTH IN REPORT. TER UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, Jan. 2:\. An ‘Otago Daily Times’ representative who called on Hon. J. Allen (Minister for Defence) to-day was informed by him that information received from Egppt was to the effect that there was no truth whatever in the reported murder of two New Zealanders in Cairo. Mr Allen said. “Newspapers have .boon publishing information to the effect that two New Zealanders were killed in Egypt because they had insulted Egyptian womeii. I did not believe tins to be correct, and I stated so to the press representatives, and my statement was published. 1 was certain that General Sir A. J. Godley (Commandant of the Now Zealand Forces) would have supplied me with information if any such was to be given. Each death that . has taken place has been reported to line, and vet this publication has been /made. I'cabled to General Sir A. J. Godley this week as follows papers here report that one New Zealander’s throat was cut in a low quarter of Cairo about December 11; also that a second New Zealander was stabbed to death for removing a woman’s veil. Please cable confirmation or otherwise and names'of victims.” General Sir A. J. God ley’s reply is as follows, dated January 28: ‘No shadow of foundation for newspaper reports. Our men axe on best of terms with the Egyptians.’ .... , “It is very difficult tor me to know exactly what to sav about the matter.” said Mr Allen, “hub 1 feel very strongly that the Press Association, which circulated this information, should justify to the .public its right to circulate it. It derived it from somebody— l do rot

know from whom—but I think it owes it to New Zealand to prove to the bottom its source of supply. Not only is it a slander upon our New Zealand troops but it is a sort of thing that tne enemies of our country and of the Empire would do, and not our friends. Enemies who want to stir up strife between the New Zealanders and the Egyptians would start and circulate lying rumors of the kind. J feel I cannot allow the matter to rest where it is and I believe that the press itself will bo just aV anxious as ] am to set the matter right if it is possible now to do so, and to prevent any smh thing occurring in the future.”

STATEMENT FROM GISBORNE. GI SHORN E, Jan. 29. Further light is thrown upon tlie alleged murders in Egypt by a letter reeeived I'rom a Gisborne l)ov with the Expeditionary Forces. He writes: "Gee! You have to he careful how you Ho about here. There was one of the Auckland mounted* done for the other night iii the slums, and also another not stabbed in the back, so I am keeping out of it.” The writer also says- ‘‘Things arc noun to be pretty hot here when the Turks have mobilised—2oo miles away from us. Our old colonel told u s we would see a, fight in another month, and I will tie nlad, as wo are gettiu;n tired of lounging about here.” FROM AUSTRALIA. GERMANS AND WOOL. SYDNEY BUYERS’ PROTEST. SYDNEY, Jan. 29. A deputation of wool huvers and sel- ( lers sought Government aid to prevent Germans fro.m operating on the wool: market. They gave evidence that Ja-j panese, Yorkshire, French and Belgian buyers were handicapped by naturalised j Germans buying for indirect despatch to Germany, generally through America. 1 Hon. W. M. Hughes (deputy Prime, Minister and Attorney-General) agreed that the matter was of vital importance. He assured the deputation that the Government would support the buyers in discouraging German competition mid would prevent any wool or finan-j eial aid. a« the result of dealing in wool, reaching Germany either dierctly or through America in any circumstances .whatsoever. Mr Hughes added that the Government had information that Britain was able to take the whole of Australia’s wool clip. Mr Hughes also agreed to consider the tightening of the conditions regarding the export of wool and the licensing of wool-buyers.

NEW GUINEA’S GOVERNMENT. _ SYDNEY, Jan. 29. A petition is being ? signed at Port JMorcshy (New Guinea, formerly the, capital of Gorman New Guinea) against the proposal to make Rabaul the Government headquarters. ■ The appointment of a separate Governor and administration in the late German position is desired. IN NEW ZEALAND. NURSES FOR THE FRONT, PUB UNITED PBEB9 ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON. Jan.. 29. 'The number of New Zealand nurses who have been accepted' by the Army Council is 50. The nurses, who should bo fully trained For three years in a general hospital and should: have a. certificate of efficiency from the matron under whom they were trained and under whom they last served, will be selected from the. fist already prepared for membership. The New Zealand Army Nursing Service candidates when, ■selected will be despatched to England for sendee wherever they are required. Any communications or correspondence regarding the i nurses’ contingent imist be addressed to the matron-iii-chief (Mists McLean), New Zealand Amy Nursing Corps Wellington, and not to the Minister for Defence or any defence officer. TIMARU RELIEF FUNDS. MONTHLY CONTIMBUTIQNS. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. TIMARU, Jan. 29. The focal committee of the BritishBelgian Relief Fund has adopted a proposal and made arrangements to collect monthly contributions throughout South Canterbury. It was pointed out that 8d per capita would produce £I2OO. A second proposal was adopted, that of circularising farmers, urging them to give a- percentage of receipts from all sales of stock and produce. Tire committee allocated! £250 to Staff-Captain Short, representing Commissioner Hodder, for the Salvation Army War Emergency Relief Fund, administered by General Booth.

PRICE of drugs. AUCKLAND, Jan. 29. A general reduction 1 has been made in the prices of drugs and chemicals, which advanced 1 immediately after the outbreak of war. The latest lists issued by wholesale merchants show a .small advance on the prices l ruling before the war, but in, most instances the increase in cost is not sufficient to be distributed . among retail customers. Little difficulty is pow being experienced in obtaining supplies of drugs, and efficient substitutes have been placed on the market to supply requirements which were formerly met by German laboratories. A letter received by an Auckland chemist from a London wholesale firm indicates that the prohibition upon the export of drugs does not materially restrict the supply for the-Dominion, although the prohibition has not been removed. “We are abbs,” the firm wrote on December 11, “to obtain Government licenses lor- practically everything. Regular sailings are being made, and we can execute all orders promptly.”

DOMINION AND THE WAR. i GISBORNE, Jan. 29. An optimistic not© was struck by Mr John, Bright (president of the Chamber of Commerce) in his address at the annual meeting of the-Chamber to-day, Ho said, that the 'business of the Chamber had! been overshadowed during the past six months by the unfortunate war which, was raging in. Europe. This district, however, had perhaps benefited by the rise in the prices which had' been brought about as a. result of the war, arali the approaching season should prove one of the most prosperous! in its history. It- also showed an appreciation! of the products which wo were producing/ here. ‘T have never seen our products .at such high prices as they

are realising the present,” the president continued. “We arc getting 4id per lb for fat wethers, 4 l-16d' for fat ewes, and Gd for lambs, while beef is bringing correspondingly high prices. With regard to wool, that, too is maintaining record values, and it is worthy of note that while there was a slight fall at the December sales, this was more than recovered. At the recent wool sale at Invercargill not a single bale on, the main catalogue went under double figures.” The whole of the pimple, of this district had been enjoying: prosperous times. It was pleasing tx> record that the 'hulk of the producers had risen, to the occasion, and hadi given freely' .and- generously to the war and relief f mulls and' the cost of equipping tire troops going to the front. “I can only' express the hope,” said Mr Bright, ‘‘that when the next annual meeting comes round, we will be able to congratulate the Empire and the district on. an assured and honorable. peace to Great Britain and her Allies.” —'(Applause.)