INDIAN QUESTIONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 12807, 27 March 1916, Page 5

INDIAN QUESTIONS.

INTERESTING STATEMENT BY VICEROY. Received March 27,- at 8.5 a.m. Delhi, March 26. The Budget debate speeches expressed regret at Lord Hardinge's forthcoming departure. l<ord Hardinge 'attributed the fa viable reception of the new taxation measures to the fact that the burdens were fairly distributed and because of the desire to help the Empire in its time of crisis. He reiterated that the cotton duties would be reconsidered after the war iu connection with the general fiscal policy of the Empire. He had been authorised to make, in the name of tlie Imperial Government, a promise foi broad reconsideration of the fiscal interests of India from a new angle of vision, which he thought would place the future position of the country mucli higher than it would have been bv a simple acceptance of the proposals of the Government of India. India's relations with Persia were most friendly. and Persia was doing its utmost to suppress the machinations of enemy bands. The Amir of Afghanistan had renewed his royal word to observe strict neutrality, and, except for certain Malisud raiders, who will presently receive drastic,punishment, frontier tranquility had prevailed, except in Bengal where there have been a regrettable number of murders and dacoitfes. The internal situation could hardlv be more favorable. He thoughtthe Government had ample evidence of the designs of tho Germans to create trouble on tlie fallacy that India was disloyal to the Empire. Tlie loyalty and patriotism of India were beyond all praise. Sh© bad sent 300.000 .soldioi s overseas and contributed over £1,000,000- in war material. ■Referring to the movement for sclf- ■ overuiiicnt in India, Lord Harding© said he did not wish to discountenance j ♦.l- national idea. It was a perfectly legitimate aspiration, and had the warm sympathy of all moderate men, but in the present position of India it was not idealism, but practical politics and practical solutions of questions arisin" out of the special political conditions of the country that were needed. To raise extravagant hopes and encourage unreliable demands wotild nnlv tend to delay. None was more desirous than himself to see an earjy realisation of the .ju.sfe and legitimate aspirations of India, but he..was equally desirous of avoiding tho danger of reaction from -a premature consummation. He advocated greater decentralisation and the delegation of mort power to local governments. He felt sure that the dominion Governments would approach the Indian emigration question in a broader and more generous spiit than hitherto.

THE TUBANTIA'S CASE

Received March 27, at 11.25 a.m. London. March 26. Commenting on the description of the pieces of metal in the Tubantia's boats, the Admiralty state that they corres-" pond with those <ii a,German torpedo, and are dissimilar from the metal In tho English" and French; torpedoes. The Haeue, March 26. • The result of iah official inppectioja of the metal fonnd iix the Tubantia's .boats supports tHe theory t]iat the vessel was torpedoed. «- - I

SINKING A.GERMAN RAIDER

MOEWE'S .SISTER SHIP C AUGHT. Received March 26, at- 5.5 p.m. London, March 25. The Press Bureau states that the Al eniitarn sank the Greif by gunfire an was herself apparently torpedoed.

The news of the engagement is now

published because of the German wireless admitting that the Greif was destroyed before passing the. British patrols.

The British lost seventy-four lives and the Germans 180.

The Greif, which was a sister ship tc the Moewe, was disguised as a Norwegian.

Received March 26, at -11 p.m. London, March 25.. The Press Bureau says After the Greif had been sunk, British destroyers sank a German submarine. Tho message^adds: The fight was apparently determined and grim. The raider first appeared to be an innocent merchantman. Ti>e Alcantara's gunnery iras effective and she badly battered the raider, though the raider was heavier and speedier. British destroyers saved as many ot the crew as possiple, German and British being treated alike. - •

A fantastic German version of tin sinking of the 'Greif says she fought three British cruisers, and one. destroyer, that she torpedoed a great 15,000-ton cruiser and fma;ly blew herself uo.

Received March 27. at 8.5 a.m. Loudon. March 26.

The Greif was a light protected crnisci- carrying two Tin and 6 4in guns "and having three torpedo tubes. _ She left Wilhelmshaven in the beginning of the month. The Alcantara was dissatisfied with the Greif's assurance, that she was n peaceful merchantman, and lowered a boat. The Moewe tricks were repeated, a button was pressed, ami the merchantman was transformeo into a foe.. The three torpedo tubes were immediately worked. Tho first missed, lint the second and third fount, their mark. The British commander, like a Hash, ordered a terrific broadside to be fired into tho enemy, whose delirium of tielight- was turned into tense anxiety. Though the British gunners were su;rounded l>v stricken men and the Alcantara was mortally wounded, they worked feverishly to <lo the utmost damage, and their guns raked the Greif until br.tli vessels were sinking. _ 'Hie Greif foundered with a number or hei crew.

Received March 27, at 11.25 a -™' London. March 20. Two of the, Greif's crew have been buried at Edinburgh with the utmost respect. The coffins, covered by the German flag, were borne on a gun carriage drawn by six horses. German officers and men marched io procession, and the public respectfully saluted the remain?. ■ . The Germans were unable to conceal their surprise at this treatment. . Tt transpires that at one time t-Jifi Alcantara observed the Greif with two funnels, at another time with three, and then with one. The Alcantara s .runs were trained on the stranger, and the first -shot carried away the bridge with everything on it. >

SUBMARINE WARFARE

lIENEWED GERMAN ACTIVITY"

Received March 26, at 11--15 p.m. . Washington, March Jo. The Entente Powers and the Allies, replying separately, have declined the suggestion of the disarmament of nieichant ships.

Received March 26, at 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, 31 arch 2-1. The newspaper Politikcn states that steamers report seeing many of thenewest and fastest German submarines in the North Sea, near the British coasts. . . . The submarine activity caused an incipient panic on the Stock Exchange and a general fall in steamship shares till a well-known member purchased out million and a-half pounds' worth.-This caused a recovery and: a slight advance. .Washington, March 25. Four Americans are reported missing from the Dominion liner Englishman, torpedoed in British waters. The State Department- is considering taking action.

Received March 27. at 5.50 a.m. London, March 26■ The Daily News' Rotterdam correspondent says that Germany has at least two hundred submarines, andwill shortly inform all the neutrals that a complete submarine blockade of Britain exists, warning them that any vessel in British waters will be sunk. Received Marcli 27, at 10.20 a.m. Loudon, March 26. The Observer, commenting on the Sussex, says the case is. the same in principle as that of the Lusitania, and imposes newer and acuter problems for America and Britain. It is inconceivable that America will allow her citizens to be murdered with impunity, or that she will seek fresh explanations, disavowals and apologies as worthless as the former ones. The British Admiralty must grapple with a severer task than before as the new German submarines arc beginning to take toll. AVo have in nowise fathomed the reasons for Tirpitz's real or pretended retirement. The steamer Salybia has been sunk. The crow was saved. The Englishman's survivors have landed at Oban. A Dutch Government vessel preceded \bv mine-sweepers will convoy merchantmen between the North Hinder lightship and Britisli territorial waters. Received March 27 ; .-it 10.20 P.m. Washington, March 26. Official.—The Englishman's missing include four Americans."

.Received March 27, at 11.25 a.m. Copenhagen, March 20. 'The submarines arc causing increased anxiety in Norway, especially iu insurance circles. Neutral vessels worUi 40,000.000 kroner have been torpedoed in a fortnight. Washington, March 2u. Mr Lansing lias ordered an inquiry into the sinking of the Sussex and tht> Englishman. Received March 27, at 11.50 a.m. Amsterdam, March 26.

The newspapers deplore the uncertainty of the shipping situation. They point out that Dutch shipping cannot exist without free navigation of the North Sea channel routes, which are strown with German mines. They wonder wiiy the Government does not de•mand a clear declaration of Germany's future attitude towards neutral merchantmen. . Although the Dutch Government are providing an escort preceded by minesweepers, many shipping companies are not taking risks until reasonable safety is assured.

PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS' WIDOWS.

A HUMANE MEASURE. Received March 26, at 5.5 pjh. London, March) 24. The Rt. Hon. W. Hayes-Fishier is introducing a War Pensions. Bill for widows. Allowances are partly based on - the husbands' incomes, and the measure is an. endeavor to make up the allowances to widows with children to two-thirds the income before the war, but not to exceed'2os weekly. An endeavor is to be made to give orphans the same education as if the father had lived. In all, 46,000 widows and 30,255 disabled soldiers are already in receipt of pensions. Parliament is to be asked to vote £1,000.000 as the first instalment.

STORMY PEACE MEETING

Received March 27, at 9.40 a.m. Melbourne, March 27. A peace meeting was dispersed bj soldiers, who conducted a recruiting meeting.

COST OF EQUIPMENT,

Beceived March 27. at 9.40 a.m. Melbourne, March 27. It is officially stated that at the enci of February tiie quantity (ji stores am equipment of the Australian army valued at-£5,206.000. there being ovpi £2.;500.()00 worth of' uniforms sin-, clothing.

POST-WAR TRADE

Received March 27, at 8.5 a.m. * London, March 26,

Tlic Daily Chronicle asks: Does anyone suppose that England ought to refuse after the war to have any trade dealings with the'lso,ooo,ooo j>eople jm Central Europe? Such a policy would mean the loss of our commercial preeminence! whereto the United 1 • State* would succeed and New York would take-'London's place as the heart ahtl nerve-centre of -the world's trade. Sir Lloyd George would be no party to so disastrous a policy. He is no cosmopolitan. but. as a fervent patriot, holds' that the chief thing to bear in mind is what is best for' the welfare of the mass of the people of the Empire.

AIR RAID

Iteceived March 27, at 11.50 a.m. Athens, March 26. Twenty-two French, aeroplanes yesterday bombed. seriously damaging tlio German camp at Ghevgeli. Germanaviators, pursuing the raiders, brought down a Frenchman in Greek territory! The airmen ' were rescued. Machineguns brought down tlie German machine, which, fell in Lake Dorian', and the occupants were drowned.

THE FATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

"Received March 27, at 10.20 a.m. Athens, March 26.' It was proposed that German and Bulgarian troops occupy Constantinopis rind that the Turkish forces be sent to the Caucasus and Baghdad. The Young Turks rejected the proposal.