GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16399, 2 June 1915, Page 7

GENERAL ITEMS

UNEASINESS IN HOLLAND. MORE TROOPS REQUIRED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, May 31. The Times correspondent in Amsterdam says that Holland is uneasy over the sprefd of the war,, and is doubtful if her army is sufficient for her safety. Leading men are advocating universal service in Holland, saying that 6C0,000 troops are necessary to preserve her neutrality. RUBBER FOR GERMANY. ATTEMPTED~SMUGGLING IN AMERICA. LONDON, May 31. The Times correspondent at New York says that at the British Consulate an examination of some bales of cotton by the X-rays indicated that five Austro-German merchants were conspiring to smuggle rubber into Austria and Germany. The German authorities furnished these merchants with large cTedits. At first the rubber was packed in barrels of resin, but this was declared contraband. It was then hid in bales of cotton, and the shippers sought to export it in British ships to Genoa. They have bsen charged -with defrauding the American Government by making false declarations. PJIESS CENSORSHIP. THE TIMES^ioSECUTED. INFORMATION USEFUL TO THE ENEMY. LONDON, May 31. The Government is prosecuting the publisher of The Times and Major E. Richardson, a breeder of dogs for army police woTk, for_ publishing Major Richardson's letter, -written after a visit to the front, stating that the last French reserves had been called out, and that young, raw recruits were being called up, and other information useful to the enemy. The case stands adjourned-. MAJOR RICHARDSON'S LETTER. A COMPLAINT BY FRANCE. LONDON, May 31. Major Richardson's letter said that France was looking to us to supply enormous numbers of men; failing this, there was a distinct danger of public sentiment in France wearying of the war. He saw here scores of lusty yotmg men utterly callous and indifferent to the anguish of their brothers, so long as they got the .war bonus. Mr Bodkin, K.C., who was prosecuting, said The Times, in common with other newspapers, received an order as to what 'might not be published, and ought to have consulted the Press Bureau if in the slightest doubt. The French military authorities seriously complained to our War Office about the letter. The War Office appreciated the seriousness of the statement in tending to assist the enemy by making them consider the French "oTces had reached their limit. A detective testified that Major Richardson admitted writing the letter, but said he thought it would be submitted to the censor THE PRINCESS IRENE. OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. LONDON, May 31 The verdict od the Princess Irene victims tt'as that the explosion was due to au unknown cause. TRYING TO ESCAPE GERMAN SOLDIER SHOT. LONDON, May 31. A German soldier, trying to escape at night from Leigh prison camp, climbed on the. roof of a shed. The sentries thrice ordered him to descend, but he refused, and was rhot dead.