GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17084, 16 August 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

GERMANY'S DIFFICULTIES. MONETARY STRINGENCY. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. AMSTERDAM, August 14. Millions of Dutch eggs have been delayed at the German frontier, the exportera refusing to despatch them to Germany in the 'absence of payment for th'em in gold. GERMAN BOMB PLOT. NINE MEN PROSECUTED. CHRISTLANIA, August 14. (Received Aug. 15, at 6.30 p.m.) The Tidens Tegn states that as the result of investigations concerning the bomb plot in July the Government is prosecuting seven Finns and two Germans, all in the pay of the German espionage headquarters at Stockholm. The men are accused of espionage and also with transporting many trunks of explosives froma Germany to Norway. Two Finlanders named Landvik and Landstroem were arrested at .Ghristiania in July for being implicated in a plot in 1916 to destroy railway bridges and hamper transport in Finland. Baron von Rauteni'els supplied thom with bombs resembling bricks. They- went to Vardor Harbour last December to try to blow up the ships conveying goods to Russia, and-in Aoril they weht to Kirkanaes on a similar mission against Norwegian and British traffic with Russia. GERMAN AEROPLANES DISABLED. CREWS INTERNED. AMSTERDAM, August 14. (Received Aug. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) A tihird German aeroplane has landed in Holland in a week. The crews have been interned. AMERICAN AEROPLANES. EXPORT TO NEUTRALS PROHIBITED. Router's Telegrams. WASHINGTON, August 14. (Received Aug. 15, at 6.25 p.m.) The Government is prohibiting the expert of American-made aeroplanes to neutral countries. PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS. BIG SAYING IN COST. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 14. The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons estimates that, notwithstanding the rise in wages, a saving of £43,000,000 will bo effected in the cost of ammunition during 1917 by the development of the system of ascertaining the exact .cost of production. Upwards of £8,000,000 has been spent on the Gretna factory, our largest projectile and shell-filling establishment. It is estimated that in another 12 months Gretna will pay for the whole of the expense incurred in its erection and equipment, owing to the difference between the prices formerly paid to American munition producers and those at which Gretna is able to turn out munitions. t GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. CORPORAL'S RESOURCE AND BRAVERY. SPLENDID RESULTS. (Special from the Official War Correspondent. August 13.) • WELLINGTON, August 15. In all recent lighting hi which the New Zealan-ders took part there was nothing finer than the splendid heroism and leadership of a Wellington corporal, who had been specialiy detailed to attack and capture an enemy machine-gun position in an isolated estaminet. He led. his men forward, only to come unexpectedly upon another gun that was sending out a continuous stream of bullets and was holding tip the advance on the left. The corporal immediately attacked this position, killed several of the gun crew, and put the rest to flight. After this adventure he was able to get only three of his men together, but with these__ three he proceeded to gain his ultimate objective. Observing that a frontal attack would mean the destruction of his little band, he led his party through some thistles, and attacked the position from the rear. As soon as they were close enough, tihe intrepid quartette threw bombs at the gun crew and rushed upon the Germans, killing four and putting the rest to flight, and capturing' the gun and the position. Leaving two men behind to remove the gun, the corporal took the remaining man with him and advanced on a reconnoitring expedition as far as our barrage would permit, and lie brought back valuable information. _ Throughout the whole of these operations enemy shells were pounding into the position, and there "was mudh machine-gun and rifle fire. TRIBUTE TO THE DOMINIONS. PLEA FOR THE NATIVES. Router's Telegrams. , LONDON, August 14. (Received Aug. 15, at 6.30 p.m.) In the House of Commons, on the Colonial Office vote, Mr Long paid a tribute to the part played by the dominions in the war. He said tihe soldiers had shown themselves to be worthy of the best ,traditions of the British army. He was constantly receiving proofs of the admiration of the native ra-ces for Britain and of their loyalty to the King. He read messages from British East Africa and the Indian Association at Zanzibar, and emphasised the statement that lovaJty and trnst in Britain should be encouraged and justified bv our future treatment of the natives. (Received Aug. 15, at 8.35 p.m.) Mr Long mentioned that conscription had been enforced in British Africa, Uganda, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, the Malay States, and was being considered elsewhere. Hongkong found it unnecessary because every white man had already The Crown colonies had fully done their duty. Referring to the suggestion that the campaign in German East Africa ought to be brought more rapidly to a conclusion,' he enlarged upon the stupendous physical difficulties to be overcome. The overseas representatives at the War Conference had frequently expressed the hope that the resolutions passed would not l>e pigeonholed. He assured them that he would do his best to ensure that effect-would be given to them as early as possible. - Referring to Imperial preference, he said that obviously any policy, of preference must be framed to meet the views of the Allies. The subject demanded continued consideration. The appointment by the Prime Minister of a conference to report on the best methods and machinery whereby effect could be given to the Imperial Conference resolutions evidenced the Government's intention to take all the steps it could to give effect to them. Mr Long said he believed the result of the conference would give strength in prosecuting the war and help to take some steps after the war to reap the full advantage of the lessons learned and make the Empire more strong and powerful than before the war. Every overseas Minister showed a strong desir' to promote the interests of the Empire. What they really desired that he should realise strongly their feelings, but that it did not originate in a. desire for increased territory or any question of that kind. Their desire was that after the war there should be a permanent peace in the world and security for the Empire. The knowledge of the past efforts of the dominions and the experience gained at the Imperial War Conference showed that the whole Empire was one and was prepared to use its resources to make a combined 'effort to secure a final and complete victory. A Wellington correspondent writes:—A largo -lumber of entries have been received in the Desert GoV! Tea Competition. The coupons are now hcir.g counted, °.nd results will be announced as oarly *9 possible.— : Advt.