THE MIDDLE EAST

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 May 1916, Page 5

THE MIDDLE EAST

THE SUDAN SULTAN OF DARFUR CAUSES TROUBLE. LONDON, May 27. The War Office states that'the attitude of Ali Dinar, Sultan of Darfur, towards the Government of the Sudan has for some time been, unsatisfactory and truculent. He concentrated a force at Jeh-el-hella, on the Kordofan frontier. Colonel Kelly, with a mixed force of all arms, defeated him at the village of Berincia, twelve miles northward of El Fasher, Alidinar's capital. The enemy numbering between two and three thousand, were strongly entrenched, but were induced by our cavalry to quit their position. They attacked us with the utmost rapidity and desperation, but were met with a withering fire. Some few penetrated to within a few yards of our line. We counter attacked, and inflicted losses estimated at 1000. Our "losses were five killed and 23 wounded.

Before and during the action an officer of the Flying Corps, by bombs and machine gun fire, forced a large body of cavalry and then 2000 infantry to retire in disorder. The officer was. wounded, by a bullet in the thigh, but returned safely to Abiad. We occupied JEI Fashar.

(Darfur is a country of East Central Africa, the westernmost state of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. It has an area of .some 150,000 square miles, and an estimated population of 750,000. .;. The population consists' of negroes and Arabs. The negroes, forming quite half the inhabitants, occupy the central highlands and part of the Dar Dima and Dar Uma districts. Genuine Arab tribes, the Bogara and Homr, are numerous, and they are partly nomadic and partly settled. Slaves, ostrich feathers, gum, and ivory? used to be the chief articles of trade, a caTavan soing annually by the Asbaan ("Forty Days") road, to Assiut in Egypt, and' taking back cloth, fire-arms and other articles. The slave trade has 'ceased, but feathers, gum, and ivory still constitute the chief exports of the country. Following the overthrow of the Khalifa at Omdurinan in 1898, the new (Anglo-Egyptian) Sudan! 'Government recognised' Ali Dinar, a grandson of Mahomed-el-Fadhl, as Sultan of Darfur, on by that chief of an annual tribute of £500.)

SUBMARINE WAR GERMAN ACTIVITY THREE STEAMERS SUNK. LONDON, May 27. The British steamer El Argentino, the Italian: ship Australia, and the Italian steamer : Washington Cormigliano were sunk. TWO ITALL4N VESSELS SUNK. (Rec. May 29. 9 a.m.) LONDON, May 28. The Italian steamer Maravia has been torpedoed in the Mediterranean. The Italian vessel Rita has been sunk. BRITISH BLOCKADE AMERICAN; MATLS QUESTION. WASHINGTON, May 27.

The Note protesting against the Anglo-French treatment of neutral mails has been published 1 . It denounces the alleged arbitrary methods of forcing neutral ships to enter ports in order to seize their mails, and complains of the loss of important and irreplaceable documents and delays. The Note concludes toy declaring that only a. radical change of the AngloFrench policy restoring the . United States' full rights as a neutral Power will satisfy her. The general sense of the Note is friendly. It admits that the difference concerns practice and not principles, and. concedes the right to seize securicheques, and) notes, which, has hitherto been contested . •

AIR SUPREMACY THE FOKKER BEATEN. _ . LONDON, May 25. The Times's correspondent at British Headquarters states that the German air losses are more., than three daily on the West front, while 191- machines have actually been destroyed during the last two months. The Fokker is still formidable, but even without the newest type of Allied machine it' would have been robbed of its chief terrors. The figuring methods are more a matter of tactics than the quality of the machines employed. We still continue to make more trips over the enemy lines than they do over ours. !'-.'• A curious story is told of Lord Kitchener when visiting an English flying ground at the beginning of the war; He advised the aviators to fly in regular formation, and was told that it was impossible, because' the'machines could hot travel far enough or stay long enough in the air. Lord Kitchener replied, "You will have'to do it before the war is over." His 'remark has come true, for the whole of the French reconnaissance and observation work is now carried on in Tegular battle formation. Aerial warfare is gohijr through the various stages that sea warfare went under, and three months of war development has been equivalent to a century of sea development.

INVASION OF GREECE 25,000 BULGARS AT DEMIRHISSAR (Rec. May 29, 1.45 p.m. ATHENS, May 28. Twenty-five thousand Bulgarians invaded Greece and occupied Demirhissar. The Greeks retired'. GERMANY?FQQD SUPPLY STRINGENT MEAT TICKET REGULATIONS. AMSTERDAM, May 27. The Tageblatt says the commune Friedman of Berlin has adopted' stringent regulations for the numbering of meat tickets to stop rioting at butchers' shops. There is a great shortage of eggs, which are selling at sevenpence each. Dealers are asking for the abolition of the egg trade monopoly. GERMANHATE BISHOP OF KEIL AND' ENGLAND. (Rec. May 29, 9.10 a.m ) COPENHAGEN, May 28. Bishop Kaftan, of Keil, in an extraordinary article in the Schleswig Sunday Journal exhorting the Germans to thank God for His merciful support in allowing submarines to torpedo' American vessels carrying supplies to their enemies, says it is true that such submarines are barbaric, but England drives the Germans thereto. "Thank God," he says, "England's insularity has gone for ever. May hundreds of Zeppelins raid her." GERMAN TACTICS WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR? (Rec. May 29, 9.20 a.m.) PARIS, May 28. Le Matin says at the end of 22 months Professor Schwalde, director of the German Weekly Medical Review, writes an follows:—"It is untrue that aviators on August 2nd, 1914, bombed N-urnberg. The 'Mayior of the latter recently declared that the commandant of the 3rd Bavarian 'Corps was never aware of the bombardment of stations at Nurnberg, Kissingen and Nurnburgansbach, either before or after the declaration of war." This charge, made with visible emotion by Schoen, has been Germany's principal argument, with a view to giving neutrals the impression that France was the- aggressor. It is an obvious fabrication paralleled by the Fames Ems telegram precipitating war in 1870. leakage~o7admiralty instructions NO ALIENS TO' COMMAND. BRITISH STEAMERS. t (Rec. May 29, i 0.30 a.m.) I " LONDON, May 28. I Owing to leakages of secret instruc- ; tions the Admiralty is forbidding aliens, -whether naturalised' or not, to command British steamers. MR LLOYD GEORGE'S VIEWS. TO BE REPRESENTED BY A NEW PAPER. (Rec. May 29, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 28. Nearly £IOO,OOO capital has been subscribedl for a new Liberal morning new's- ; paper representing Mr Lloyd_ George's views. . , AMERICAN SECURITIES THE PUPLIC AND PAPER MONEY. (Rec. May 29, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 28. ! Owing to Mr McKenna's forthcoming ; additional income tax om American \ securities, many holders congregated at the-. National Debt Office on Saturday, | offering to selL j Professor Foxwelly in a lecture in '. London-; hoped that now the public had ! taken kindly to paper notes there j would be no sudden replacing of paper ! notes after the war by gold. Otherwise ! there would be a sharp fall in prices ' comparable -with the depression after the conclusion of peace in 1805. ITALY TO ADOPT DAYLIGHT SAVING. (Rec. May 29, 10.30 a.m.) ROME, May 28. v ; Italy is adopting daylight saving from I 6th June. MINES IN SWEDISH WATERS. LARGE NUMBER ACCOUNTED FOR - (Rec Mav 29, 10.30 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, May 28. Since 19i4'600-mines have been washed up on the s Swedish coast, while Swedish marines have destroyed 500 MILITARY TERORISM IN GERMANY. AMSTERDAM, May 27. In the Reichstag Herr Dittman, _ a Socialist, made a violent protest against the military violating and arrests under military law. He~instanced_ cases of innocent persons being kept in gaol for fifteen months untried. The speech caused a great impression. The Government's reply will be made next -week.

MUNITIONS

WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS. APPEAL BY MR LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, May 27. Mr Lloyd George conferred with representatives of the engineering and shipbuilding employees oro ■ the Clyde and the Tyne. He made a strong appeal to them to forego the Whitsuntide holidays when the fight will have developed to the hottest point. The j Easter holidays, nominally two days, actually resulted in the loss of a -week's output of ammunition. ' "The French, Russians, Italians, and Germans and Austrians are dispensing with holidays," said Mr Lloyd George. "The demand for ammunition is very great, and Britain must make a special effort to produce munitions' diurimg the* ■next few months. The fighting is getting hotter on the British front, and the Army is clamouring for big guns. I should be ashamed' to write to Sir Douglas Haig and explain that I could ' only send half the usual fortnight's ammunition 1 , and hundreds fewer machine guns." \ A meeting of workers on Monday will discuss. the proposal. The labour leaders cordially support Mr Lloyd George regarding holidays, and predict that there wiil be a general Response. ANOTHER APPEAL TjD MUNITIONERS ORITI.CAL STAGE OF' THE WAI?, UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF SHELLS ESSENTIAL. (Rec. Mav 29, 9 a.m.) LONDON, May 28. Mr Griffiths, M.P., after 14 months at the front, makes a striking appeal to J ■munitioners through the Weekly Des- ' | paten. He says that the next- six months j will be the most critical time' of; the whole war. We are passing rapidly to I our zenith, and the enemy's efforts are ever increasingly violent. We will be in the gravest danger if caught short of ammunition) or guns, with the enemy commanding apparently unlimited Supplies of both. ', . 'Whitsuntide holidays, with the inevitable curtailment of output, will be little, short. of murder for the troops in the trenches. This is • a gun war. Verdun has proved' that any shortage is fatal to the men without guns and: shells. You cannot count the shortage or waste. It meant the sacrifice of thousands of lives. We never, until recently,, had the guns or ammunition approaching any-. where hear the. total available against US. - ' ■ ' . r • ■ ' . . (Bee. May 29, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 28. All these long months we have been struggling to equalise the conditions, and we are now on the. right road for taking-, the Germans. I. do not believe: we are going to be let down because; are determined to take, the holiday. The science of gun-reading enable tne enemy, to discover' your .weak-: ness, whether you are conserving ■munitions or awaiting guns. Let munitioners, treat themselves. to the best of all holidays, one enjoyed byi the mind -from the sense of duty dbne,; in giving. the mind a rest from the terrible thought that slackness on your part ha? comour safety; - If we all play up well we can put the soldiers: well on to the goal. If there is any slackness, 1 fear to contemplate the. consequences. It is just as serious as that." ADMIRALTY REQUEST TO WELSH MINERS. • {Rec. May 29, 9.10 a.m..) LONDON, May 28. The Admiralty has requested xhe Welsh miners to restrict the Whitsuntide •holidays to a single day. ENGLISH NEWS VARIOUS MATTERS. LONDON, May 27. An interesting constitutional question is raised by the"passing of a Bill in- the House of Commons to enable the Canadian Parliament to be prolonged till October 1917, for which the Imperial Parliament's consent is necessary. ' In a speech at Rawtenstall, Mr Harcourt said the Ministers bitterly resented the outrageous and scurrilous abuse of Mr Asquith, who- commanded, his colleagues' affection and! confidence. It 'was"useless to discuss peace terms, The Allies must endure much more oefore, pacific discussion was possible, unless there was an early and complete collapse of the enemy, which he did not prophesy. He could -not imagine that he could ever have communion; with- a German again, andh desired' to inflict as much retributive justice upon our toes as they deserved. - The Meat Trades/Red Cross Fund raised £4400 by a special effort at Smithneld on Thursday and Friday fcy the auctioning of meatand produce presented to the British Government oy NoTth and South African producers. It is hoped that Australia andl New Zealand will contribute similarly. There was a sensational incident -- at St. Paul's during the Empire Day ser vice. While naval cadets bearing the flags of the Empire were kneeling at the altar receiving the blegging, two young men rushed in. One shouted,. # 'Bah ! Where's your patriotism. .-This is not patriotism." The second ihouted, "You are breeding war in the hearts of your children.' ' • ".' They were promptly seized andi ejectThe congregation consisted almost entirely of children, including Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and military and 1 naval school cadets. who had' previously

I marched in .procession, through the [ Strand. The Archbishop of York delivered an insipiring address. He .send the efforts of the soldiers and sailors -would' be unavailing unless the younger generation did its duty -with a view to- avoiding party, sex, and class disputes after the sternness of war bringing the people back to God. The New Zealand' War Contingent Association has appointed a committee with a. view to the; early establishment of a hostel for New Zealanders on tor lough .from France. There is most urgent need for such an institution.: The Association is appealing . for . funds in New Zealand for this purpose. GERMANY AND PEACE PROTESTATIONS OF PACIFIC INCIJNATIONS. LONDON, May 27. The Daily Mail's Hague correspondent states that the German censors are allowing many messages to. pass emphasising Germany's willingness for peace, and. denouncing the Allies for being wickedly responsible " for the continuance of the war. The obvious purpose is to influence the United States, hinting that if President Wilson: is. riot prompt; Spairii .\ Or Sweden will have the' honour of stopping hostilities. The Cologne Gazette, commenting on Sir Grey's however, recognises that the war must continue until militatry events' convince Britain; ON A SPECIAL- MISSION FOR THE JKAISER. LONDON, May 25. An exchange says that Count von Buelow is going to >• Washington on a, special mission for the Kaiser, and will probably be appointed German' Ambassador to the United States.,. PRKIDENf^^N^ftOfES READ'Y FOR" PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. . WASHINGTON,.May 26. President Wilson announced' that he hopes to effect mediation: with a.syiew .to ending the warV He ■ feels it incumbent. on -himself. as head of a neutral Power to participate fin- peace' negotiations on the ground'' that economic disasters are likely to follow the?; war's prolongation. -He 'welcome, therefore, overtures from' any Quarter.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S VIEWS. LEAGUE TO ENFORCE PEACE. (Rec. A/lay 29, 9.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 28. President Wilson, addressing the League to enforce Peace', said America was ready to join any feasible association of the nations to preserve the peace of the world against political amlbition and selfish hostility. He hoped America would make suggestions for peace. If the opportunity was presented the pe6ple -tarald -wish the Government to -urge firstly such a settlement in' regard to their own immediate' interests as .the belligerents may agree upon., nothing to ask for ourselves. . Our inters est is only in peace and! its future guarantee. Secondly, a universal association of nations to maintain inviolate the security of the highway of the seas fcr the common, unhindered use of all nations of "the world, and to prevent any war beginning either contrary to Treaty covenants or without warning, and after full submission of the causes to the opinion of the world. This would 1 'ie a virtual guarantee of territorial integrity, and political independence. The fundamentals of a lasting peace were, firstly, the right of every people to cnoose the sovereignty whereunder they will live; secondly that the small States of, the world have the right to enjoy -'he' same respect for sovereignty, and for territorial integrity that the great and powerful nations expect arid' insist upon; thirdly,the .world has a right to tie free from a disturbancp which originates in aggressiom and disregard of the rights of nations. I The outstanding lesson of the war was that th 3 peace of the world must depend on new and more wiholesonie diplomacy. He was sure ne spoke fpr" American when he said: _ ''We are willing to' become a -partner in anyfeasible association of the "nations formed in order -to realise, these .objects and secure 1 them against violation!.", He was convinced that the world was a'p-. proachinig the day when some cojtninqTi' force would foe created for the service of the common order, common justice, and common peace. "The desire of the world now turns more and more eagerly towards the hope of peace," continued President Wilson. "There is just reason why we should take, part in' the counsel upon this great theme. It is right that 'I, As' spokesman for our .Government,', expr_3s» frankly the thought and purpose pf the people of America. Our own rights as a nation,- our liberties," privileges, and i have bee'n profoundly affected. We are not mere discontentedi onlook-i I ers. The longer the war lasts deeper* I we are conceemed that it shall - be ended and the wdrld permitted to reI sume its normal life. When id , does end we shall be as much concerned .as the belligerents to -,see a-«permanent peace in-the interests-of all nation?. I What affects mankind is inevitably our , affair. »The nations* must in> future be ' governed by the same hagK code of„ honour that we <deiriand in < individuals. Nations would and should co-operate in the common cause whereof the guiding princilpe. should, be* evenhanded 1 , impartial justice. God 'grant that' the dawn of the day, of frank dealing, settled peace, concord, and co-operation may be near at hand." t ~ , i THROUGH NEUTRAL EYES

ATJSTRO-G'ERMAtf INTEIfcNAI, ; '. • IRON DUSCIiPUNE TO CHECK FOOD' RIOTS. (Rec. May 39, 1.45 p.m.) I/ONDON, .May 28. - In the Daily 'Chronicle a neutral traveller describes the conditions throughout the beleaguered Empires of Austria and Germany. The people are mostly dining in the restaurants, which are cheaper than the homes. There are crowds in. the cafes and -beet;"houses. Actresses are prohibited, ■ and at the music halls there are entirely male performers, specially exempted.. The halls are frequented by soldiery for drinking purposes. The prices of clothes are almost normal. Iron discipline checks food riots.- War prisbnei's are numerously employed, in the fields. French wines are largely sold 1 . It is believed that they have been stolen from occupied terri- I tories. There is a marked change in +he , attitude of the people. They are now ; full of admiration for the Russians and the French. They regard the Italians as traitors, and they uncompromisingly ' hale the British. (Continuing, the neutral says it is everywhere admitted (hat war with America must be averted, as it-"would be the final crushing blow. He noticed that thrift was carried-to the-extremest detail in Aiistria.. - Train lamps were burning oil from apple pips. An aupeatt- had been circulated asking the people to surrender gold teethplates and stoppings for the duration of the war. and dentists are- forbidden to use gold. 1 There is considerable agitation in Germany, and food dictators J have power" tcf.override 'ldeal laws, •wiioli

prohibit exports ffoni Bavaria' arid* 6fii.pt States, where' food' stuffs are plentiful. Or: Von.Bethmann-Hollweg has .gone to Munich, Stuttgart,' and Karlsruhe with a view torevising, the--, food-fiorganisa-tion. Important negotiations are beginning at Berlin to _decide , the; position in Alsace-Lorraine. Be learned that the Germans had;rebuilt the Liege forts with concrete" and : irpn.;V ;' * ■ > EAST AFRICA GENERAL PROGRESS. (Official.) ' ' • liQltoON, May 27. General Smuts' advanced troops occupied unopposed Ruwu . laager, ..'26 hiiles southward of Kahi, on-the. Usarh;bara railway; Lem'beni, on the "same way, and- Ngulu, sbuth-eastward;vol' Lembeni. . . .' ■ ' ,: Renewed enemy activity is reported in the-Kondo Airangi area. AUSTRALIA THE COMPULSIONS ISSUE. (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Asked as to 1 the -possibility of the Federal Government following New Zealand's example in introducing some measure of compulsionary service, Senator Gardiner said the recent secret meeting of Parliament showed that" -at present conscription was neither noc'es"-* sary nor wanted. Only those who- <fid not know <were advocating conscription. SINN FEIN REBELLION IRISH ATTORNEY- GENERAL'S EVIDENCE. ■» ' LONDON 1 , May 26. The Right Hon. J. H. Campbell; At-torney-General for Ireland, deposed that during his nine days of office prior to the outbreak he had not -received official information of any -lurid,.was not present at the conference at-the Vice-Regal Lodge on Easter Sunday, and was- not informed l .thereof. not see Sir Matthew Nathan* during those mine days, though be- was ; only separated from him. by a partition* ; >£t Dublin Castle. - , '" , Sir Maurice Dockrell <fnoted *» J Speech which Sheehy-Skeffingtbri - delivered*, declaring that the weakening of Britain was an advantage.to Ireland, an)d describing Germany as Ireland's iriend. Mr Booth, President of, tntf .Dublin Chamber of Commerce, deposed that.defects in, - the administration' •' welfe mainly responsSble for- < the ».' industrial troubles and the rebellion. The Irish, , Government's inactivity yeaTsr of industrial • unrest - encouraged the growth of the most dangerou* elements participating inithe rebellion. v . Mr Justice Shearman i . Armed volunteers and unarmed - means anarchy? ' ; - * Witness: Yes, in Ireland. ;. , , THE PRIESTS 1 AND THE SINI*' FEIN. "IibiNDON, M*y 27. . Evidence was given that although < some of the younger ' priest® «ide with the Sinn' Feiners, the. great bulk were opposed to the movement.*/, ; Monteith has not yet been arrested. . A proclamation, signed'' by Mr Justice Wylie and Lord Chief Justice ChoiTy declares that whereas - disaffection, and - imrest still prevail in certain parts <of Ireland, causing anxiety.. ,and' alatm ampng His Majesty's peaceful-andi law abiding subjects martial law will * continue until further' notice. „/. •- * The Commission is expected to conclude early next week.. In a speech at Rowtenstall Mr , HArcourt said Mr Birrell had l paid a ptcibably for-thinking thincrs were better than they were. Tho retribution for-the,- ifisiafc: :vhadf',been stern, sharp, rind' snQrt,; but nfioi malignant or extensive in, proportion to the number of Boldiers killed arid maimed. ■ GERIMIAN RIFLES US^ED.

(Med. Mdv"29Csf a.m."\. ." LONDON, May 25. A tminber.of German 1 rifles, were seiz-; e'd amonc; .the Irish.,rebels.'- Those seized at "Wexford wer^' mostly .Germart. :;; . . Lonal,. leader ,ai, JKiikennSy./who., '•&*& arrested, surrendered a jnoaerii Lee-En-field rifle. . The police found .in -ihfel houses of .the people,stands ••with..arias and ibandoliers. ; ":" ;-'...■ ■ ■ ■