GENERAL NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 11 December 1917, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS.

AMERICA'S ENTRY. 1,300,000 MEN IN TRAIT* IN It. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. The latest official figures are that the United States army for France comprises 1,360,000, or, including marines and auxiliaries, 1,500,000. THE TORPEDOED DESTROYER. WASHINGTON, Dec. 0. A submarine picked up one of the Jacob Jones survivors. POLITICS IN GERMANY, PROPOSED REFORMS RESISTED. AMSTERDAM, Doc. 0. The Fatherland Party, whose, constitution excludes, interference with home politics, is forming a league of faifhtul- followers of the Kaiser for the purpose of resisting all attempts to ;mtrrid'uce Parliamentarj Government in Germany.. ENEMY LEADERS CONFER. ALLEGED WESTERN INTENTIONS. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 10. Field-Marshal von Hindenburg and General von Ludendorf conferred witli Baron von Herding (Chancellor) regarding the terms to be imposed on Kussia, also . regarding Hindenburg's new scheme, to smash the British. •French and Italians before the Americans become effective. The continued great rush of men and material westward is reported. = Hindenburg is reported to have said* "If we sign peace in .Paris we. can force almost any terms on the French and British."

AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIPTION. I - ' "i, —■"* 'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) ! MELBOURNE, Dec. 10. m, Hon. W. M. Hughes (Prime Minister) bas announced that negotiations are proceeding among the Allied nations wherehy subjects residing in Allied countries other than their own will be liable for military service. Until "Ebe negotiations are concluded the Government propose to issue a regulation prohibiting the, employment of eligible Allied subjects, thus combating opposition statements 'that Allied subjects take the places of Australians called up under the Government scheme. NEW ZEALAND Sk THE WAR DELIVERY OF GIFT PARCELS. (Per United Pre«s Ascociation.> WELLINGTON, Dee. 10. General Richardson, reporting to Sir •Tames Allen regarding the delivery of -lift parcels for New Zealand troops at The front, says that, ''owing to the abnormal conditions 1 which exist in France, it is quite unreasonable to expect' the Imperial authorities to specialise in regard to our troops. For example when preparations are being made for some move, everything else is held Up, and if our troops ai-e likely to be moved from one part of the line to another, it takes weeks to get the goods through; whereas on the other hand, if all is quiet, and our troops are -united* the goods are received more speedily. We never expect them to pet to out- troops in less than two or three, weeks after they get to Le Havre, and we are quite satisfied that the military authorities in France do their best for us."

30TH REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE. (Per.United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The Minister lor Defence has received advice that the .30th Reinforcements have arrived at their destination "All Welt." BRICKS AND THE WAR. AUCKLAND, Dec. 10. The appeal of Charles F. Gardner, of Gardner Bros. and ParTcer, brick :njiniifaetur.ing company, with works it NVw Lvnn, came before the Mill- 1 tary Service Board to-day following upon the adjournment, of the case for inquirv. At the previous hearing appellant professed a special knowledge of chemistry and "its application to the manufacture ■ of bricks, and _ that lie was the only man capable of running the works of the company, to which he was essential, and in which he had -;<>]ue. financial responsibility. The case as presented apparently aroused a- good deal of public interest about New !',vim, the. result being the. holding of a meeting a I which decided opinions were expressed on Gardner's anpenl. A number of motions were passed condemning his action, and a petition was sent, around the district urginy the Board to re-'onsidor the matter in the light that Gardner was not essential to his business as alleged. The petition was brought before the_ Board to-dav, and contained 259 signatures, including those of 30 men who had experience of brick-making in the district.

Major Conlan 'said that since the !irsfc hearing, as the outcome of an inquiry, he was surprised to find that there ' were no less than live firms earrving on the brick trade, despite what (fardtier had said that his was the onlv firm which had survived. Counsel'had discovered that tdnce the war the firms engaged had found it necessary to curtail the output, and some bad decided to close down-cer-tain of their works making common bricks, with the exception ■of that of Gardner Bros, and Parker. The firms which had closed down were receiving a bonus as their share, of the undertaking to close down. Mr Rlom field strongly resented Major Conlan's remarks, which he said were entirely 'out of place until evidence had been heard. When making arrangements with other brickmaking i firms, "Gardner had made an alternative proposition, which was that they should pav him a royalty and release him so thai, he could go to the war. He was attacked bitterly before he had <>iven a chance to further explain

himself. Evidence was p;h r en hr to the position of business, and .the .appeal was adjourned for ii week. RE-EXAMINING "D" MEN. WKMJNOJTON, Dee. 10. The of Medical Services has Kent a memorandum to I In- Minister I'or Defence regarding the cases ol' men originally classed f), who Siavt' been rolled upon to present themselves I'or medical re-examination. Suigooti-Oonoral Henderson states that at the beginning the Medical Hoards had insufficient experience to guide them in the grading oi" men partially uiifit lor service. They did not fully understand Hint the men must not. ho graded 1> unless they were mental ov uhwsical wrecks. Some oi' the men "•radod D should have heen ranked C. or even hi'dier. The Mcdieal Hoard which has been re-examining Uie file* of the men, also looked over those ol ' I) men. ami when it was apparent that Kiev should not have been classed .1). 1 and that possiblv. they might be made 1 fi! for active service, Ihe men have 'been railed up tor re-examination.