PASSENGER STEAMER BOMBED

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

PASSENGER STEAMER BOMBED

FORTY PERISH BY FIRE. STOCKHOLM, June 1. (Received Jane 2, at 0.5 a.m.) It is reported that 40 passengers perished by fire on board a steamer bombed by Zeppelins at Helsingfors.

COMPULSORY TRAINING. LORD DENMAN'S LETTER. "A DEMOCRATIC MEASURE." (limes and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, May 31. (Received June 1, at 6.5 p.m.) Lord Denman, in a letter to The Times, says: " Having had experience in administering the government of a great dominion at a time "when compul ory service came into operation, I venture to refer to the national service so urgently needed in England. In Australia its success is generally acknowledged. Surely if a Labour Government in Australia, where democracy is further advanced than in any other country could, in a time of peace, carry a scheme of compulsory service, a National Government' at Home shorild be able to organise our manhood for the purpose of war. It is objected in some quarters that it favours ceTtain classes. My experience in "Australia proves, that no more democratic measure can be placed upon the Statute Book. We are told, it would disorganise trade. It is precisely because trade must be organised for war purposes that compulsion is vitally necessary. National service would carry, conviction to our allies and enemies that the country is really in earnest in the prosecution of the waT. The fact that the War Office is accepting men of 40 years of age and reducing the height is proof that the voluntary system has broken down."

THE COUNTRY WAKING UP. VIEWS OF MILITARY CORRESPONDENT. ' NATIONAL SERVICE A NECESSITY. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, May 31. (Received June 1, at 6.5 p.m.) The Times military correspondent says: " The new mea~iing of national service involves the necessity that the whole ablebodied population must come forward and serve, not only in the navy or army, but in any capacity where services are needed. It is useless to posess an army of millions of men unless the munition fac tories are fully manned. Our allies have placed the whole of their able-bodied men in the field, and we cannot endure that Britain is doing less. A vast work in national organisation lies before the new Government, and victory depends upon the manner in which the Government handles it. It is impracticable and unwise much longer to Tely upon voluntary Service. It is unfair that anyone should be permitted to shirk his share of the national burden and the .country's danger. • The people must be organised for war, and the existence of national service only can ensure victory. Already there is a clear expectation of compulsion in England. We have been assailed by ships and aircraft, and may possibly yet be assailed by troops, whose bases would be in the enemy's territory. They must be attacked at those bases. The whole strength of the nation must be brought to bear to defeat the chief enemy in the principal theatre. The country awaits the call, and will throw itself into the contest enthusiastically."

THE FOREIGN OFFICE. SIR E. GREY TO REST. LONDON, May 31. (Received June 1, at 5.5 p.m.) Sir Edward Grey is to take a short holiday, owing to eyesight trouble. The Marqflis of Crewe will temporarily take charge of the Foreign Office, Lord Lansdowne assisting him. -v INTERDICTED. A GERMAJN OWNER'S VESSEL. COPENHAGEN, May 31. (Received Juna 1, at 5.5 p.m.) Great Britain has refused to allow the steamer Sydland, owned by Albert Jansen, to leave Liverpool under the Danish flag, on the ground that his company, owning 15 large steamers, was realty a German concern. BRITISH CASUALTY T.TST A MONTH'S FIGURES. OVER THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND. LONDON, June 1. (Received June 1, at 10.15 p.m.) The British casualty list, including the Dardanelles, from April 26 to May 24, is : —Officers—killed 992, wounded 2279. From April 14 to May 14 :—Non-commis-sioned officers and men—killed 5478, wounded 19,648, prisoners 3131. The latest British list from France contains 404 belonging to the Lancashire Fusiliers suffering from gas. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESOLUTION. SHANGHAI, June 1. (Received June 1, at 8.40 p.m.) The British Chamber of Commerce has carried a resolution Tegretting That the Imperial Government' has tacitly sanctioned trading with the enemy. China has urged an amendment of the regulations to preclude this.