THE BRITISH FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 5

THE BRITISH FORCES.

WHERE SOLDD3RS ARE STATIONED

LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The Australian Press Association understands that the following is the disposition of the British forces outside France :— Three divisions in Italy, but being reduced by demobilisation, also a battalion at Fiume; another in Northern Tyrol; three divisions in the Balkans, including one in the Dobrudja garrisoning; another between the Bulgars and the Rumanians; another division in the vicinity of Constantinople; also a battalion at Scutari. Three divisions of British troops are at Alexandria awaiting shipment Home, as well as another at Cairo, and three divisions in Palestine and Syria. The latter are largely composed of Indians. There are also four mounted divisions, of which two are Australian. . These are about to be repatriated. / We have five infantry Tdivisions and one cavalry division in Mesopotamia. These are necessary to preserve the civilisation introduced during the war, which is a remarkable innovation, including as it does the making of the modern port of Basra, the construction of hundreds of miles of railways and improvements, and the irrigation and navigation of rivers. It is hoped that a considerable portion of the British will be withdrawn from Mesopotamia before the hot weather if ships are available. There are other small forces in Persia, Siberia, and Northern

Russia, and of 70,000 men garrisoning India it is hoped to bring 40,000 Home before the summer.— A. and N.Z. Gable.

THE'GRAVES COMMISSION. HALLOWED SPOTS IN EUROPE. FAOTLITIES TO VISITOBS. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) Mr Andrew Fisher and Sir Thomas Mackenzie urged at the meeting of the Graves Commission that the commission should provide facilities to Australians and New Zealanders to visit soldiers' graves in France and Flanders. Mr Churchill, who presided, promised preference to overseas friends and relatives. The commission appointed a military sub-committee to co-operate with France and Belgium in the selection of sites for war memorials commemorative of victories. General White represents Australia on the commission.

NO PRISONERS SECRETED IN GERMANY. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p,m.) The Press Bureau states that the InterDepaxtmental Committee on Prisoners of War has announced that the German authorities have-assured the Netherlands Minister in Berlin that there are no secret prisoner camps, and that none ever existed. The Netherlands Minister states that there is no evidence of the existence of such camps. Search parties are still in Germany seeking prisoners whose whereabouts have not been disclosed.

• DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDALS. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) Eighteen Now Zealandcrs have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals.— A. and N.Z. and Reuter.

FURTHER AWARDS. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p-m.) Sixty-four Now Zealanders have been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. — A. and N.Z. and Reuter.

COAL STRIKES IN GERMANY. ROTTERDAM, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) Fresh coal strikes throughout Germany are regarded as a political move against Ebert.

POOLING THE WAR DEBT. OTTAWA, January 24. (Received Jan. 26, at 11.5 p.m.) Deep official interest is manifested in the Australian proposal for pooling the Empire war debt. It is pointed out however, that the chief difficulty lies in finding an equitable basis for an assessment of the cost—whether it should be on a per capita or a national wealth basis.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

GERMANY'S WEALTH. NEW YORK, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The Chicago News Paris correspondent states that Germany expected to pay an annual indemnity of 500 million pounds, provided she is allowed to resume her normal commercial national life. These figures are based on Herr Helferioh's prewar \ estimate of Germany's national wealth.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) Despatches from Vladivostock state that the Americans will control the TransSiberian railway from Porgraniohana to Omsk, under an agreement for international control, and the British from Omsk to the battlefront, while the French will control the Khabarovsk section, and the Japanese from Blagovestchensk to Ghita. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

JAPAN IN OPPOSITION. NEW YORK, January 24. (Received Jan. 27, at 0.30 a.m.) Dispatches from Tokio state that members of the Lower House of Parliament are opposed to control by the Chinese of the Eastern Trans-Siberian rail-way. lb is said that American control disregarded Japan's special position in the Orient.

.CHINA AND GERMANY. NEW YORK, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The New York Times Peking correspondent states that the sequestration of German property in China, is effective from February 1; the repatriation! of enemy aliens, not including medical men, invalids, and septuagenarians, is effective •from March 1.

The public burning of the opium stock has started at Shanghai.—A. and N-Z. Cable.

OCCUPATION Or' SCHLESWIG.

GERMANY'S THREAT IN REPLY. COPENHAGEN, January 23. . (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The German Government threatens to oppose any Danish attempt at the military occupation of Schleswig with all means at its disposal, and draws attention to its preparations' against Poland by way of warning Denmark.—A. and N.Z. Cable.