GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

OUTRAGES ON DUTCH VESSELS. | Renter's Telegrams. THE HAGUE, May 17. The Nieuwe Courant, Rotterdam, points out that in the last three weeks German seaplanes have attacked three innocent Dutch vessels outside the danger zone. Iho paper demands that the Dutch Government shall protest to Berlin. AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING. TREMENDOUS EFFORTS. Reuter's Telegrams. NEW YORK, May 17. Mr Charles Schwab, the Pittsburg iron magnate, says he expects the production of three or four 10,000-ton ships daily. 'This month," he says, "we will place one 10,000-ton vessel every day, by October two, and by the middle of next year three or four." Government concrete shipbuilding plants, at a cost of £2.000,C00, will be erected at Oakland, California, employing 4000 men. It is expected that the output will bo 400,000 tons, and an average launching rate of one ship per week "will be achieved. AMERICANS REINFORCE BRITISH. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, May 17. The United Press correspondent announces that the Americans axe arriving and are now reinforcing the British front in Northern France. AUSTRALIA'S WAR LOAN. MELBOURNE, May 18. The House of Representatives read a first time a new War Loan Bill, which Mr Watt (Federal Treasurer) stated would be the last loan to be raised bearing interest free of income' tax. The Government is preparing the basis for a new system of loans for the duration of the war. .AUSTRALIAN LABOUR PARTY. I CONDUCT OF THE WAR. MELBOURNE, May 18. Mr Tudor, M.H.R., has sent Mr Watt (Acting Prime Minister) a letter stating that the Labour party i 6 desirous of doing everything necessary for the proper" conduct of the war, and asking for an uncensored press, the removal of regulations limiting sport, and the removal of rules prejudicially affecting the status of industrial organisations. THE GERMAN BIRTH RATE. A MARKED DECLINE. LONDON, May 17. German statistics 6how a decline in the birth Tate. Compared with the pre-war rate they represent a decline of 2,000,000 babies in three years. The infantile death rate is fairly low, but high compared with that of England. COMPULSORY MARRIAGE URGED. AMSTERDAM, May 17. The German Commission on the declining birth Tate recommends compulsory marriage, and in this connection suggests an age limit of 20, -with financial help, but penalties to be provided for childless unions. BRITISH SUBMARINES IN THE BALTIC. SPLENDID SERVICE. LONDON, May 17. The Admiralty records show that the seven British ualtic submarines had done splendid service, including the destruction of three German cruisers, also a number of munition steamers and other cargo boats. In all cases the merchant crews were removed to safety before the vessels were torpedoed. MORE BRITISH RECORDS. LONDON, May 17. The Morning Post's Petrograd correspondent states that there were nevei more than nine British submarines in the Baltic, and that there were still sever when the end came. Despite the greal amount of close fighting by the submarine: during the course of three years' incessan work, the Germans captured none and de stroyed none. There is not a German har hour on the Baltic that our subma-rine: had not entered and charted, creeping under tJhe minefields and through the shallowest channels. One submarine destroyed nine German transports in a single day. It was the British submarines that preserved Petrograd last summer. THE FAR EAST. SUPPRESSING GERMAN ACTIVITY. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) The Entente Powers have agreed to cooperate with Japan in order to suppress German activity in the Far East. THE GREEK ARMY. NEW YORK, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) The Greek Legation has been informed from Athens that the mobilisation of the Greek army is progressing rapidly. The total strength of the army will be 300,000. KiiRENSKY OFF TO AMERICA. NEW YORK, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) The Tribune states that M. Kerensky is expected to arrive at an American port from Russia in a few days. > ITALY WA&TS AMERICAN TROOPS. NEW YORK, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) Italy has informed the United States Government that the presence of American troops on the Italian front is much desired. Italian officials feel that the sight of the American flag in Italy would have a good moral effect on the Italian troops and people. A few thousand American troops would be sufficient. INDIA'S ATTITUDE. A NEW ARMY TO BE RAISED. LONDON, Mav 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) The Government of India has decided to immediately raise a new army of more than 500,000 men. The Provincial Governments have affirmed their loyalty in a resolution passed at the Delhi Conference. BIG FIRE IN GOTHENBURG. VAST STORES BURNT. Reuter's Telegram*. COPENHAGEN, May 18. .Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A large part o'f the Gothenburg vast stores have been burnt. The damage is estimated at several millions. GERMAN RATIONING. REDUCTION OF BREAD ANNOUNCED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERNE, May 17. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A Berlin official notification states that the daily bread rations will be reduced on the middle of June from 200 to 160 grammes owing to the arrivals of grain from Ukrainia being disappointing. MORE GERMAN ATROCITIES. BOMBING HOSPITAL AT CALAIS. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A Belgian communique states that German airmen bombed the Belgian hospital at Calais, killing 10 and wounding 20.