GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17317, 17 May 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

exchange of prisoners. BRITAIN MAY RECONSIDER QUESTION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 15. •Lord Newton announced in the House of .Lords that France and Germany have agreed to an equal exchange of military lvl ' ian prisoners, including ablebodied men who have been in captivity ior 18 months or more. The arrangement affect® about 330,000 French and German prisoners. Britain, he announced, was now prepared to reconsider the matter. LjOrd Xsi ewton suggested three years' captivity as a possible qualification for exchange. The number of the men affected was not great, the procedure slow, and it "would.be impossible for the enemy to grain any military advantage from the exchange. Lord Burnham pressed for a speedy decision on the matter, and made a strong appeal on behalf of the dying and tortured remnants of our old army. TRANSPORT IN BRITAIN. INCREASED BRITISH POWERS. . J LONDON, May 15. A drastic regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act empowers the Board of irade to requisition horses and horse vehicles for the road transport of anv goods; also to restrict the carriage of certain classes of goods to specified roads, and. otherwise fix routes for transport. CANADIAN FARMERS. PROTEST AGAINST CONSCRIPTION. m. , OTTAWA, May 14. 6 farmers throughout the dominion are making a monster protest against the conscription of farm labourers for the army. They have been informed by Sir Robert Borden that, no matter what hardship it entails, it is the supreme duty of the country to maintain the reinforcements for France. BRITAIN'S OBJECTION. IT WOULD PRiOLONG THE WAR. fu • j Mav 15. (Received Mav 16, at 7.30 p.m.) Lord Newton, Assistant Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs,, explains that though the British authorities were entirelv sympathetic, they were opposed to the exchange of prisoners, because it would prolong the war.. The Government thought that if it acquiesced the other allies would follow suit, thus leading to an enormous exchange. He was surprised to find that Trance and Germany had agreed to a farreaching exchange. The Government had oH y f A 6 6" te ? t " bllt the agreement altered the whole situation. Lord Newtons idea was that the exchange would apply to combatants and civilians alike. REPUBLICANS IN SOUTH AFRICA. ANOTHER WARNING BY BOTHA. Reuter's Telegrams. m CAPETOWN, Mav 15. (Received May 16, at 8.30 p.m.) General Botha, in a speech in the South African Congress, again warmly condemned the Nationalist Republican propaganda as nothing but an attempt to gain votes. ITertzog and his friends had been paying with fire, but Hertzog had now called a halt. General Botha emphasised that after the Boer war they nearly despaired in deep sorrow and mourning but in everything they could see God's hand A great <x>ntented South Africa had been established. It was nonsense to talk of an oppressed nation. There must be an end to all this talk about raising commandoes. They could not allow that kind of thing to go on. * PATRIOTISM IN tNDIA. A PRACTICAL DISPLAY. Reuter's Telegrams. . . DELHI, May 15. (Received May 16, at 8.30 p.m.) Since the Delhi Conference remarkable energy has been displayed throughout India in carrying the recommendations regarding the development of resources munitions, recruiting, and in other directions into effect. Extensive advantage is H ln? , of the . special facilities afforded the people to invest in the new loan. v? RECRUITING BOOM IN AUSTRALIA. A "DEFERRED" BATTALION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. . , SYDNEY, Mav 16. (Received May 16, at 9 p.m.) The recruiting hoom continues. There will be a great rally military parade tomorrow, Mil en an attempt will be made to en.ist 500 during the dn,v. A "deferred " battalion is being formed for those not quite up to the standard, to be gradually developed until they are fit to draft into the force. A " TANK " FOR AUSTRAIJA. MELBOURNE, May 16. The tank presented to Australia bv the Imperial Government for exhibition' purposes is due shortly. FLAGS FROM DOMINIONS. PRESENTATIONS AT EXETER. The Times. LONDON, Mav 16. (Received May 17, at 1 a.m.) General M'Cay, Major Hart, and Captain Oates, on behalf of their Governments, presented the Australian, New Zealand. and African flags to Exeter, out of gratitude for hospitality extended to overseas troops. The flags were deposited in the Guildhall with commemorative tablets. The Mayor (Sir James Owen) .said the ancient city had never received gifts of greater significance. Thev were emblematic of the unity of all nations of the Empire.