TUNNEL UNDER CHANNEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 28 October 1916, Page 7

TUNNEL UNDER CHANNEL.

SCHEME TO BE CONSIDERED I WAR HAS TAUGHT A LESSON. A. and N.Z. Cable LONDON, Oct. 26. Replying to a deputation, Mr. Asquith promised that the Committee of Imperial Defence would review the Channel tunnel proposal in all its aspects in the light of the experience gained during the war. He added that in response to a deputation in 1913, he directed th? Defence Committee to reconsider ! the strategic aspects of the proposed tunnel. The committee in July. ! 1311, decided by a majority I adversely to the scheme. He | agreed with to-day's deputation : that the experience of the war had j been a new factor of immeasurable. I importance for statesmen and mili- ; tary and naval experts, and he pro- , mised to refer the proposal to the . War Committee or to the Defence . I Committee. j NO HOPE OF VICTORY. : i GERMAN OFFICIAL VIEW. FIGHTING FOR A DRAW. A. and N.Z. Cubic. LONDON", Oct. 26. The Stockholm correspondent of th 0 Daily Chronicle states that a distinguished neutral resident in Berlin, who is visiting Sweden, gives the facts concerning the official Herman attitude towards tin- war. The ; authorities realise that the war is | lost. They know that Germany has | still power to manufacture munitions at a formidable rate, but heoutput of the allies is greater. In I the second place, the Germans reI cognise that the reserves of men are I not sufficient to allow Germany to carry the war to a victorious conclusion, though a defensive war could bo conducted for a -considerable time. They acknowledge that sooner or later the allies must break through on the Somme. The neutral estimates the limit of the. German endurance at 12 months. The German authorities are coordinating their efforts to secure a peace which will not brand them as being defeated. They are determined to smash Roum.'mia, and to use their submarines to the utmost to hurt Great Britain, believing that she will thus accept peace more quickly. EYES OF THE NAVY. ; NEED FOE BETTER SERVICE I 1 SIR J. WARD'S SUGGESTION. J . A. and N.Z. Cable LONDON, Oct. 26. r When speaking at the Pilgrims' 3 Club Mr. Massey explained the " terms of the Compulsion and Pen--3 sions Acts, the details of which were 1 cordially received. He concluded 1 by giving the gathering a message from New Zealand, " Stand fast. men of Britain, for the glory of the flag and the glory of humanity." Sir Joseph Ward paid a tribute to the navy's work, and said that but for it the Empire would not now be extant. British statesmen ] had lessons to learn from the war, of which, as a citizen of the Empire, ho would suggest that one was the necessity for an air fleet equal in efficiency to the navy. The Do- . minions could share in that .work by , training aviators. The Jutland battle had proved that the enemy with ! its airships had superior eyes for ' their navy to those of Britain. It ' must be recognised that air fighting ' had come to stay. Regarding the ' after-war treatment of Germany Sir Joseph said they should not show , any sentimental stupidity towards a > country which had attempted to put 3 the British under. If he had his way he would not allow German ships to pass the Suez Canal on j terms equal to those of the British . or give them coaling facilities. Lord Charles Beresford, who presided, complimented Mr. Massey on New Zealand's thoroughly businesslike compulsion scheme, and agreed entirely with Sir Joseph Ward's views on the matter of an air fleet. [ ALLIED TRADE PROPOSALS - ALARM IN UNITED STATES. { A. and N.Z. Cable. NEW YORK. Oct. 28. 7 American officials have completed • a report on the conference held by ' the allies in Paris which drafted a ' scheme which would protect tho 1 ! trade of the allies against enemy 'countries. At first it was thought ! j that the agreement into which tho allies entered would be impracti--1 i cable, but now it is considered tho ' allies will dominate the world's raw 'materials to the detriment of the j United States. The allies' plans ' are, therefore, regarded with alarm, |, and further investigation has been ordered. ABSENT FROM HIS POST. 1 - CROWN PRINCE IN BERLIN. 3 A. and N.Z. Cable. AMSTERDAM. Oct. 2d. 5 The German Crown Prince was not - at Verdun when the latest French - victory was achieved. He was in s Berlin, taking part in the celebration of the birthday of the Empress. CAMPAIGN IN PERSIA. > i OCCUPATION OF A TOWN. 6. A. and N.Z. Cable. I'ETROGRAD. Oct. 25. f- A communique reports that the e' Russians have occupied Bijar, north--3-1 west of Hamadan. in Persia. Many I prisoners were taken, •)