SIAM ACTS PROMPTLY.

Mataura Ensign, 27 July 1917, Page 4

SIAM ACTS PROMPTLY.

ENEMY SUBJECTS INTERNED. THEIR BUSINESSES WOUND UP. Received Julv 27, 8.50 a.m. BANGKOK, July 20. The. machinery of the Auslro-Ccrman steamers was damaged by small . explosions. AJI the male enemy subjects have been interned for the duration of the war and enemy businesses wound up. Siam has declared war on Germany and has seized 18,965 tons of German shipping. The Kingdom of Siam, or MuangT'ai (area about 195,000 square miles; population, 1914, 8,t50,000) is a buffer\Statc between British Burma and French Indo-Chiua, and its integrity is guaranteed by the British and French Governments bv the Anglo-French Agreement of April", 1901. Over two-thirds of the Siamese sea-borne trade, which centres at Bangkok, is with the British Empire, and is largely in the hands of Brit ish firms or of Chinese trading from Singapore and Hong-Kong. German shipping, which has held the lead in tonnage for many years past, has ceased to visit Bangkok since August, 1914, and as a'consequence there has been a large increase in Norwegian and British shipping.

THE BALKANS.

MATERIAL AtD OF GREECE.

200,(100 COMBATANTS

Received Julv 27, 8.50 a.m. * PARIS, July 2G

M. Jonnart (who was Allied High Commissioner in Greece) states that there are now three Greek divisions at Salonica. AVhen the plans are completed there will be 15 divisions on a war footing, including 200,000 combatants.