GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 17 December 1914, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

- { AMSTERDAM, Dec. 16. ,',->, The "Kolhische • Zeitung'-' states that Fiance equally'-■with' Russia, rejected the Pope's Christmas'truce proposal. WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. President Wilson, has agreed to despatch 'warships to Panama, to guard against breaches of neutrality in. - the canal zone. . Colonel Goethals explained that -wireless was constantly used within terrii torial -waters, and the zone was also used as a. base of supplies for. belligerents, the radio apparatus of «nev British collier'had already been dismantjled. . The British Embassy .explained that it was improbable that : British vessels understood the - canal rules on the subject of -wireless. Great Britain did not object to the enforcement of the regulations. . The "New York Times, in. a, scatninrr. article declaring that. Germany is doomed to sure defeat says.-she. is,.bankrupt in statesmanship, over-matched; in arms, and under the moral condemna- ! tiori of the civilised, -world,. It urges the, German people to recognise the incornpetence of the Kaiser's advisers, and overthrow him and them. ..-,.'- , Sir Cecil British .Ambassador notified the State Department that the British Government was willing to fore"-o the right to search vessels carry-inn-"American cargo if shipmasters previous to departure conferred with the British consuls and] satisfied them ot the mature of their cargoes.. Franco am-ced; to give similar, assurances. °Lord Kitchener has arranged for professional footballers joining the Army to plav until the end of the thivtv 'London professionals have , joined the -new' footballers'■ battalipn of the Middlesex Regiment.- ; . „.., Financial conditions in the TJniteel States are approaching normal. Monoy is cheap, and the bank reserves are abundant. ■-'.;-- ■•■•■' SIR ROGER CASEMENT. v .(Received Dec. 17,'9.15 a.m.) . NEW YORK, Dec. 16.. ■; The United Irish League repudiates Sir Roger Casement's visit to Berlin, and states that, he was unauthorised to speak for anybody. -*. .

F'INANCES. {Received. Dec. il, 9.5 diHi.) , NEW YORK, TJec. 16: The "Sun" .states that owing to the bitter international financial situation, Britain and the United States have agreed to terminate the conferences and leave American 'indebtedness in Britain to the parties concerned. (Received Dec. 17, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. Lloyds' war risk to Australia and New Zealand is 25a.

GRAECO-BtiLOABiAN INCIDENT

LONDON, Dee- 15

.Bulgaria' has accepted a Creek proposal to set up a mixed commission to ci/cjuire into an incident on the Gracco-Bulgarian frontier.

MINES IN SWEDISH WATERS

LONDON, Dec. 15.

An investigation regarding the mines sown in .Swedish waters is being made. The Germans and Russians both deny ownership. The mines are laid in three layers, and when, the top mine lias exploded a. lower mine automatically ro r places it* Tho patriotism of the inmates of the prisons is being siioivji. Prisoners at Kingston enthusiastically worked ovclv time making coal sacks for tlio iiav* •wlieh the' Admiralty notified that the sacks were urgently needed. The censors discovered that prisoners at the Douglas internment camp were writing to Germany in invisible ink. Ono was sentenced to two months' imprison ment.