GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16874, 11 December 1916, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

BRITAIN'S COPPER SUPPLY.

TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.

LONDON, December 8.

The Minister of Munitions prohibits the use of copper, in manufactures, also tho sale or purchase of copper outside the United Kingdom. He requires manufacturers to deliver returns of stocks of unwrouglit copper.

NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS' VISIT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 8. Mr W. F. Massey and Sir J. G. Ward visited the New Zealand troops that are on the Salisbury Plains.

FRENCH BATTLESHIP OVERDUE.

TOTAL LOSS FEAEED,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

LONDON, December 8.

A Paris official report states: The battleship Sufren left on November 24 for the East, and has not arrived. It is feared that she is a total losa

GERMANY'S PLANS.

SPECULATION IN EUROPE.

Australian and N.Z Cabin Association.

LONDON, December 8. Speculation is rife in European capitals concerning Germany's plans. M. Marcel Hutin states that the Rumanian First and Second Armies have reached the Brizen line; also, that the Seretli line is strongly entrenched; therefore von Mackensen's advance in Mol--is not expected. Berlin boasts that it is San-ail's turn next.

The Italian press insists that the Central Powers intend to launch an offensive against Italy.

GERMAN PRESS VIEWS. Reuter's Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, December 8.

A German paper, commenting upon the fall of Bucharest, says: The victory in Rumania is a defensive victory. Our enemies are still strong, unconquered, and confident of ultimate victory. Hence M. Sturma has been replaced by M. Trepoif, and Mr Asqnith has yielded to a stronger man. We must still shout that we desire peace." The Rliein Westphalisch Zeitung warns the jbeople that the war will last a long time. It says that the Ministerial changes in Britain mean that the victory party is determined on war to the knife.

NEW ZEALANDERS* SERVICES.

MR MASSEY'S TRIBUTE.

Au»tralian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, December 9.

Lord Salisbury, Mr Massey, and Sir J. G. Ward visited the Codford and Sling camps and 'hospitals, accompanied by Sir T. Mackenzie, General Richardson, and Sir Andrew Russell. The troops were paraded, and Mr Massey and Sir J. (1. Ward delivered addresses expressing, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, their warm appreciation of the splendid services rendered by the troops. Mr Massey said that from the King to the humblest citizen all were loud in their praises of the military capacity of the New Zealanders. British officers who had seen their work told him that they were deeply impressed by it. Another excellent feature was the splendid behaviour of the men when on leave. The war might not end as soon as was expected, but he was confident that there would be no weakening on New Zealand's part. FLOUR FOR SHIPS. AN EXPERIMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, December 9. The Board of Trade has approved of the use of ordinary flour, instead of standard Hour, on board ships, pending a test of the latter's keping quality. EXTRAVAGANT GERMAN CLAIMS. LONDON December 9 (Received Dec. 10, at 11.5 p.m.) A Uerman communique claims to have captured a number of Australians at Transloy. and immense booty in Rumania, including 184 guns and 70,000 prisoners. CLUB FOR OVERSEAS TROOPS. Australian and N.Z- Cabin Association. LONDON, December 10.

(Received/ Dec. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) The Duke of Connaught opened, the Victoria League Club for overse-a soldiers, ira Dover street. He eulogised the work of giving comfort to oversea troops and preventing imposition.

PROPOSED IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

MR MASSEY'S VIEWS,

DELAY DEPRECATED,

The Times. LONDON, December 9. (Received Dec. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Massey, in the course of an interview, said an Empire Council would help to develop the political and economic unity of the Empire. • The creation of an Imperial Parliament would take years. He added: "We cannot afford to wait; the matter of a closer union should no longer be the sport of party politicians. The Empire Council should bo composed of Ministers of the Crown of Great Britain and the dominions, and an Imperial conference should be called to decide the constitution, subject to ratification by the various Parliaments. The holding of this conference should not be delayed. The admission of dominions statesmen to meetings of the Imperial Cabinet was a great point gained. It must be clearly understood that the dominions do not accept the restrictions of their representatives to an advisory capacity."

SIR JOHN JELLICOE.

LONGS FOR NAVAL BATTLE

The Times. LONDON, December 9. (Received Dec. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) Lady Jellicoe, in opening the Naval Institute at Invergorden, read a message from Sir J. Jellicoe, stating that the day lie left the fleet was the sadde-st day of his life. He thinks constantly of his old comrades, and hopes they will speedily meet the enemy, knowing 'how great will be the victory.

DISGUISED AS j\IERCHANTMEN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, December 9. The Admiralty reports that German armed vessels, disguised as merchantmen, were sighted in the North Atlantic on Monday.