GENERAL ITEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17326, 28 May 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ITEMS

PENDING IMPERIAL CONFERENCE OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 26. The Government regards the meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet as of considerable importance, coming at a time when the war is likely to reach a decisive issue. Many matters of Empire concern will eng&ge attention which can only be dealt with bv the personal attendance of dominion Ministers. Since the last conference many new points of interest have arisen, demanding a settlement. It is generally believed that the meeting will be far more important than last year's. The session will occupy some weeks, and it may be necessary to extend that period if affairs in the war theatre call for prolonged consultations. BRITISH MUNITION FACTORIES. MR KELLAWAY'S TRIBUTE. LONDON, May 26. Mr F. G. Kellaway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Munitions Ministry, in a speech referred to the wonderful achievement of the munition factories since the German offensive commenced on March 21. Despite the releasing of 8000 workers every week for the army, the estimate of the number of guns to be delivered had been exceeded by 30 per cent. The works : have responded magnificently to the demand for certain shells, and have increased their output by 800 per cent. PRISONERS WITH CENTRAL POWERS. ITALIAN PRISONERS DYING. AUSTRIAN HEARTLESSNESS. ROME, May 26. A released Italian officer states that 350 Italian war prisoners died at Stgmunderburg camp in the 15 months ended October, and since then the mortality has been threefold greater, mostly from tuberculosis. The Austrian Government has taken no measures to alleviate their sufferings, and many of the prisoners are actually starving. BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS FOR EXCHANGE. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT PROMISED. LONDON, May 26. Lord Newton will make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday regarding negotiations for the exchange of prisoners. The change of the British Government's opinion is due to France taking the initiative. ° The prisoners longest imprisoned receive first attention, especially privates, who are not exempted from manual work, like officers and non-coms. It is expected that it will take a year to repatriate 150,000 French prisoners, who have only to make a railway journey across Switzerland; therefore it will take several months before British prisoners even begin to return, particularly in view of the tonnage difficulty. FRANCO-GERMAN CONVENTION. DEPORTATIONS TO BE ABOLISHED. ANOTHER " SCRAP 01' PAPER." LONDON, May 26. (Received May 27, at 8.15 p.m.) _ The German Red Cross Society has published the principles governing the FrancoGerman Exchange Convention. In addition to the exchange of prisoners as already disclosed, the convention abolished the category of civilian prisoners. Civilians henceforth will have the choice of returning home or residing at a, fixed address. Deportations will be abolished. Inhabitants of occupied territory may be forced to work, but only near home. FRENCH FEMALE SPY. SENTENCED TO DEATH. PARIS, May 26. Madame Mort, a Frenchwoman, has been sentenced to death for espionage, and her son, aged 16, has been sent to an industrial school. The woman has been acting as agent for a German spy in Spain, and she utilised the services of her son and daughter, the latter being in a convent in Barcelona, for conveying information of the movements of troops and other facts to the enemy. DEATH OF REICHSTAG PRESIDENT. COPENHAGEN, May 26. Berlin advices report the death of Dr Kaempf, President of the Reichstag. AUSTRIAN SOCIALIST CONGRESS. COPENHAGEN, May 26. According to the Arbiter Zeitung a great Austrian Socialist Congress will meet at Vienna on May 30. CLERGYMEN AS COMBATANTS. LONDON, May 26. Sixty clergy in the London diocese are joining the army for combatant service. ALIEN BUSINESSES IN ENGLAND. LONDON, May 26. The Board of Trade has closed 507 Hun businesses in England, their capital a"arlegating up to £2,000,000. RATIONING TEA. LONDON, May 26. Tea will be rationed in Julv 2iox per head weekly. PROHIBITION IN" AUSTRALIA. APPEAL TO WAR LOAN SUBSCRIBERS. . SYDNEY. May 27. (Received May 27, at 7.15 p.m.) The Australian' Prohibition. Council is appealing to every subscriber to the war loan throughout the commonwealth to donate a £10 bond to a fund to assist to carry prohibition as a win-the-war 1 measure.