GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16964, 28 March 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

BRITAIN'S MILITARY EFFORT. THE COST IN MONEY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, March 26. The immense military effort made by Britain is strikingly illustrated in the Army appropriation account for 1916, showing that the total net expenditure on the army was £543,187.548. This amount includes : —Pay, £93,157,156; supplies and clothing, £212,960,815; quartering, transport, and remounts, £96,373,107, of which the sea transport of troops cost £30,687,382. 1

A_ sum of £5,570,320 was credited to tlhe Indian Government for the ordinary expenses of t'he Indian Expeditionary Forces;

LONDONERS "NERVY."

RUMOURS OF INVASION.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. March 26. Invasion rumours have been current in London and the provinces for the past 48 hours, but were dispelled by Mr Bonar Law, who in a statement in the House of Commons said he was unable to find any foundation for them.

MERCHANDISE FOR ALLIES. NECESSITY FOR SELF-SUPPORT. .... PARIS, March 26. A Ministerial Council's decree prohibits the importation into France or Algeria of all merchandise except on behalf of the State, or unless the goods are specially authorised by the Minister of Finance. M. Ribot, Premier, states that each, country in the Alliance must become as far as possible self-supporting. The war has become .very largely one of transport and finance, ana any measure saving tonnage or restoring the exchange brings victory nearer.

The French Government intends to encourage the home -production of foodstuffs France during 1916 spent £600.000,000*

AMERICAN JOURNALIST AS SPY.

SENTENCED IN ENGLAND.

NEW YORK, March 26. George Vaux Bacon, an American journalist, has been arrested in England for spying. He pleaded guilty to a charge of. conspiracy in organising on American soil a military expedition against a friendly Power. He was sentenced .to 466 days' imprisonment.

PRISONERS IN BRITISH HANDS. LONDON. March. 26. In the House of Commons, Mr J. F. Hope said the war prisoners in British hands were 55,397 Germans 16 Anstrians 763 Bulgarians, and 15,512 Turks. He believed that Germany held 32,500 British prisoners.

NEW ZEALAND EES DECORATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Seuter.

LONDON, March 26. Three New Zealanders have been awarded military medals.

FINAL RUPTURE.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, March 26. The Chinese Minister at Berlin has asked for his passports.

TROUBLES IN GERMANY.

ADMISSION AND DENIAL;

COPENHAGEN, March 26. A Get-rman official statement denies the rumours of a great fire at Hamburg, but incidentally admits that riots occurred on February 21 and 22. ,

niPERIAL AIRCRAFT FLOTILLA.

OVERSEAS' CONTRIBUTIONS.

Router's Telegrams. LONDON } Maroh 26. (Received Maroh 27, at 5.20 p.m.) British subjects in the Dutch East indies' have sent £3815 to tho Overseas Club to purchase two aeroplanes. Overseas residents' have now paid for 95 units of the Imperial Aircraft Flotilla formed by the Overseas Club.

APPAM'S RETURN ORDERED. Router's Telegrams. _ WASHINGTON, March 26. (Received March 27, at 5.20 p.m.) The court has ordered the immediate transfer of tin Appam to tile former British owners.