AFFAIRS IN GERMANY GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17069, 30 July 1917, Page 5

AFFAIRS IN GERMANY

GENERAL ITEMS

GERMAN INFLUENCE IN CHINA. EXERTED ON THE NAVY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. TOKIO, July 27. The Germans spent £300,000 in suborning the Chinese navy, whose defection makes it difficult for the Peking Cabinet to declare war on Germany. JEWISH REGIMENT. TO BE FORMED IN BRITAIN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, July 27. The War Office announces that arrangements are being completed for the formation of a Jewish infantry regiment, experienced British officers "filling the higher appointments. Jews serving in British regiments who have a knowledge of the Yiddish and Russian languages are being transferred to the new unit. HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 27. Ten thousand East End Russian Jews will hold a procession to Hyde Park on Sunday as a protest against the Government's order that all Russians of military age in Britain must join the British or Russian army. v , GERMAN MUNITION FACTORY EXPLODES. A HUNDRED AND TWENTY PEOPLE KILLED. GENEVA, July 27. The German frontier guards state that an ammunition' factory at Feringen blew up, and that 120 workmen were killed. SENTENCED TO DEATH. PENALTY FOR ESPIONAGE. ' PARIS, July 27. A court-martial; sentenced to death Michaelsen, a Finnish' officer, and Marguerite Zelle well known as a Japanese danseuse under the state name of Matalari, on charges of espionage. LORD KITCHENER'S FATE. SISTER OPTIMISTIC. LONDON, July 27. Mrs Parker, Lord Kitchener's sister, in opening a bazaar at Hastings, said' she did not .share the general belief that her brother went down in H.M.S. Hampshire. Her firm belief was that he was still alive _ and would return. This was the first time she had publicly announced her opinion, but ever since the loss of the Hampshire she had been trying to find out what had happened to her brother. (Peh United Press Association.) ' PALMERSTON NORTH, July 28. Apropos ,of the cable concerning Lord Kitchener, ! a lady in a responsible position in Palmerstbn recently received a letter from a well-known Belfast resident stating that the mother of a sailor on the warship Hampshire, known to her, had received a letter from her son, whom she had thought dead, but who'was a prisoner of war in Germany. The son added at the foot of the letter : "K- is also here." MINISTRY OF RECONSTRUCTION, LONDON, July 27. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) In the House of Commons the Ministry of Reconstruction Bill was read a second time. ALLIED INTERESTS. DISCUSSED BY GENERALS AND ADMIRALS. PARIS, July 27. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) Generals Petain, Foch, Robertson, Cadorna, and Pershing privately discussed the Allies' general military interests, and' the Allies' admirals discussed the question of submarine warfare. CANADIAN RAILWAYS. GOVERNMENT CONTROL PROPOSAL. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. OTTAWA, July 27. A Bill will shortly be introduced to provide for the Government taking over the Canadian railways, with the exception, of the Canadian Pacific, for the duration of the war. Government control will operate until financial conditions permit of national ownership. GALLANTRY REWARDED. , NEW ZEALANDERS HONOURED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reutnr. LONDON, July 27. The Military Cross has been awarded to Lieutenant C. T. Gillespie, of New Zealand, for extinguishing burning boxes of ammunition under heavy shellfire. He worked amidst exploding shells in total disregard of danger.. Two men assisting him—Sapper U. Butler and Corporal Norris (New Zealanders) are awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for heroic artillery engineering feats. ALIEN ENEMIES IN AUSTRALIA. Australian and N.Z. CnMo Association SYDNEY, July 29.' (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Hughes states that 3600 alien enemies are interned in Australia. It is ! claimed that all whose conduct has been i unsatisfactory have been interned. ! Carry on! You will do your work more ' cheerfully and successfully if you drink an occasional cup of DESERT GOLD, the Quoen of Teas. De.lick.us. refreshing, stimnIxfcjig, wholesome. Ocdcn Uvdajt.—Advt

CHANCELLOR CONFERS WITH LEADERS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERNE, July 27. Dr Michaelis lias had a series of conferences with the Reichstag party leaders, the longest interview being with the Socialists. Deputies representing the majority Socialists adopted, a resolution allowing members of that party to accept posts under the Government. CRITICISM OF CHANCELLOR. HOSTILITY IN AUSTRIA. _ . . ROME, July 27. The Austrian newspapers are unfriendly towards Dr Michaelis, pointing out that he is a Jew, a bitter enemy of Catholicism, and a mere parvenu, without the least diplomatic training. DEPRESSION IN GERMANY. SUFFERINGS "OF~THE PEOPLE. . _ . GENEVA, July 27. A Swiss who has recently come from Berlin describes the people as thin, emaciated, pale, and morally depressed. Everywhere he heard the same refrain: "We are lost." ATTITUDE OF SOCIALISTS. PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM DEMANDED. BERNE, July 27. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) A Berlin wireless message states that the executive council of the Majority Socialists, overruled the party's decision permitting members to accept Ministerial posts. H ? r !u S s h^ idemann has iss ued a statement that the Socialists will not join the Government until a complete parliamentary system is introduced. HUNGER RIOTING. BAVARIAN CROPS GUARDED _ .' T , GENEVA, July 28. (Received July 29, at 5.5 p.m.) ■ooSll*? % are &****« the Bavarian cornfields and potato fields, owing 'to hunger riots and raids on the ripfning

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES _ Among the list of names mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of April 9, submitting names deserving of special mention occurs that of Second Lieutenant (now i?my° r) WilSoD ' R:G - A -' Serial .Advice has been received by Mr F J Monson,- 6 f Messrs Neill and Co., thai "the rl S ™° nd Lleu tenant Harold Frederick John Monson of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New. Zealand Expeditionary S' Wa t P e^ ,one d in a despatch frohV inrn"T r ? hal Haig, dated t£L ,•«'■■«!*■ f^ nt T and distinguished service m the Held. In forwarding the advice Colonel Graham (Assistant Military Secretary) expresses the King's high appreciataon of these services, and adds *that his Majesty trusts that their public acknowledgment may be of some consolation to Mr Monson in bis bereavement THE SALVATION ARMY AND ITS WAR WORK. For many months the fact has been an. parent that the British troops interned in Germany could not maintain, their health and strength on the pittance of rations supplied by the Germans.- From many generous organisations thousands of parcels are despatched every fortnight, and received with thankfulness by our . interned men. ■1 lvat, on Army works in conjunction with the general scheme, and every name on its hsts to receive a parcel is approved, by the authorities, so that overlapping and waste do not occur.. According to the arrangements provided by General Booth, the parcels are of a useful arid varied character and enable the recipient to supplement the German food with, those articles necessary to sustain life. At the present time the cost ot tne parcels works out at £450) per

The Salvation Army has erected. 153- refreshment and recreation huts in the military camps in Great Britain, France, and other countries at a cost of £70,000 Saeventy-seven hostels and naval and miliMnnnn meS ' 4000 beds, costing over ±.80,000, are m operation, whilst extensions amounting to £20 000 are in progress. J.hirty motor ambulance cars have been supplied for the war zones in France, Rus«a, and Egypt as an expense of £10,000 inirty thousand wives and relatives of service men have been entertained at teas and sooial gatherings. Forty-one thousand rood parcels and articles of clothing have been sent to prisoners of war and the troops. Three hundred thousand soldiers and sailors are catered for weekly in the 'various institutions of the Salvation Army at Home and abroad. EAST TAIERI PATRIOTIC BAND. Taf ?». Patriotic Band has sent to the Otago Women's Patriotic Association: £1 for eight dominion parcels, 88 handkerchiefs, 20 soap bags, 15 balaclavas, lo pairs socks, 60 service bags, 21 tea towels- also to the Red Cross Society, Dunedm 12 suits pyjamas, 6 under flannels 2 pairs underpants, 4 bed jackets, 5 day shirts, 13 pairs ward slippers, 1 scarf, 4 eve bandages, 4 pairs socks, old linen. N.E. YALLEY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. It is very gratifying to the committee to see quite a number of new workers coming forward to help the association. The following is the list of work for tlie week- — For Early Settlers' Hall: 16 pairs socks, 10 balaclavas, 6 suits pyjamas, 120 service bags, 12 housewifes, 24 handerchiefs. For Red Red _Cross rooms: 7 dozen swabs, 20 manvtailed bandages, 6 handkerchiefs, 1 dozen pairs ward slippers. Donations from the following are acknowledged Mrs j Koberts, Mrs Begg, Mrs T. G. Auld' Mn and Miss Campbell, Mrs Bailey, Mrs' Fowler, Mrs iaaliman. FATHER'S HEAVY SACRIFICE. FARMER SON RELEASED FOR WAR. A case illustrating a father's readiness to make heavy sacrifices so as to release his son for service was heard by the FiW Auekland Military Service Board last week, ixi supporting the appeal of Ernest D Wilkinson, farmer, Pukekohe, his father submitted a statement declaring that he himself was crippled, and that the son was working a 59-acre farm in. order to support his parents and live brothere and sisters, in addition, they were also supervising the adjoining farm of the writer's late brother (Captain A. E. Wilkinson), killed at GalliPo the farm could not support a manager, the father said ho intended to get the crops out, put the naddocks in grass to sell his stock and implements, retaining bnly Jus milking cows, in order that hS son might perform his duty to the Empire. All that was asked for was time to complete these arrangements. The board expressed the opinion that the case was one deserving of special consideration, the father having shown a very fine spirit in his willingness to let his son go, when he might, with very good cause, have applied tor an adjournment sine die. The Jad was bearing a heavy burden, as the livelihood of the whole family depended on him. Leave until December 31 would be granted. h! £n f ? r th ? Y-M.C.A. War the proceeds of a

concert at Tahatika. [The cable news in this issue accredited to J. he limes has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stilted is such news tlie editorial opinion of The Times.]