IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 32

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

LONDON, June 4. Official: The troops on the night of the 31st of May, partly wading and partly in boats, skilfully executed a turning movement against the Turks north of Kurna and seized the Turk-

ish heights. By noon they had cap- - tured three guns and taken 250 prisoners. They pursued the enemy for 33 miles up the river, sinking several boats and capturing more guns and 300 prisoners. The British casualties were trifling.

GERMANY’S HERO WORSHIP

HINDENBURG AND WEDDIGEN THE ‘IDOLS. LONDON, June 3.

A neutral correspondent writes: “Germany is given over to hero-worship. Next to the Iron Cross, the names and portraits of Hindenburg and Weddigen are idolised. They were unknown to most before the war, but are now sacred. “ Hindenburg stands alone in the foreground, as he saved his country from the Russian danger when it was so imminent that„ even Berlin trembled. He is commonly called ‘ Our Hindenburg.’ His deeds probably ensured the absolute confidence in the military position now 7 pervading the country. Whenever people analysed the reasons for this spirit of confidence they always came as a last resort to the name of Hindenburg. Legends are woven around his person, scores of 'books describe him, poets sing his praises, and volumes of anecdotes record the sayings of this idol. The German women smother him with letters and presents. In every home hangs Hindenburg’s picture, and miniature statues of him are being sold by thousands. “The fame of Weddigen is of a different quality, and touches deep the German romantic feeling more than the Emden’s deeds. He stands as a vindication of German.sea power against an overwhelming foe, personified in the ruthless warfare of Britannia.

“ A subtle change has put the Kaiser in the background compared with Hindenburg and Weddigen. Yet he was never more popular: His subjects believe that he tried at least to prevent the war.

“ The Crown Prince has faded out of eight, and all interest in his doings has waned. He is rarely mentioned in public, and stories of all kinds are whispered.” i GERMANY’S FOODSTUFFS. ' BERLIN, June 3. Official: An inventory shows abundant supplies of grain and flour, and the maximum prices of flour and bread will be lowered on Jnn'e 7. HISTORIC MEETING OF '• PARLIAMENT.

MINISTERS RE-ELECTION BILL LONDON, June 3,

A historic sitting of the House of Commons passed off quietly. Many of the .new Ministers were absent, pending the. passing of the’Bill abolishing the necessity for the re-election of Privy Other leading Unionists occupied the Front Opposition Bench, and Mr Chaplin acted as leader (unofficial) of the Opposition section The Radicals were sharply critical of the Re-election Bill, which was sent to the House of Lords, after an amendment had been accepted confining the operation to the present crisis. A Bill creating a Ministry of Munitions was then introduced.

The suggested appointment of Mr J. H. Campbell as Irish Lord Chancellor is arousing intense opposition in Nationalist tircles.

MR LLOYD GEORGE BEGINS WORK. MEETING AT MANCHESTER. LONDON, June 3. Mr Lloyd George, accompanied by Colonel Sir Percy Girouard and Lord Derby,- addressed a private meeting at Manchester of 1000 makers of war munitions.

Mr Lloyd George said he came as an emissary of State to carry the most urgent message ever told to a Man= Chester audience. It depended more upon the masters and men running the workshops than almost any see* tion of the community whether Bri= tain would emerge from the present colossal struggle beaten, humiliated, stripped of power, honour, and in= fluence, and a mere bond slave to a cruel military tyranny, or whether she would emerge triumphant and free, more powerful tiian ever for good in the affairs of men. Our Russian allies had suffered a severe set-back, and the Germans had achieved a great success, not because of the superior valour of their soldiers, but by pouring thunder showers of shot and shell. The Russian protecting trenches were demolished, yet when the Germans advanced there arose out of the shattered earth legions of dauntless men to face the foe. The German triumph was due entirely to superior equipment and overwhelming superiority of shot and shell and munitions of war.- The battle w r as

won by skilled industries and superior £ organisation in the German workshops I; Two hundred thousand shells were concentrated in a single hour on the de- * voted heads of the gallant Russians. I Had we been in a position to apply

the same process to the Germans on our front, they would have been turned out of France and well out of the country which they have tortured and tormented with dastardly cruelty. More than that, we should actually have penetrated Germany, and the end of the terrible war would have been before us. Mr Lloyd George said he was not there to brandish great Powers under the Defence of the Realm Act before them. To what extent and in what direction the moral duty that each citizen had to give his best to the State should be converted into a legal duty would be decided as necessity arose. There was a dreat discussion over conscription. We were discussing it as if we were discussing land reform or Home Rule, in leisure and tranquillity. One could not argue under shell fire; one could only decide. But the introduction of compulsion as an important element in organising the nation’s resources of skilled industry did not necessarily mean conscription in the ordinary sense. We had saved the liberties of this land more than once by compulsory service. All the same, it was a great mistake to resort to it unless it was absolutely necessary. Dealing with recruiting, Mr Lloyd George said the numbers raised on the voluntary basis were far ahead of the equipment. It would be a proud'thing to be able to say at the end of the war that without compulsion we had done something no other country had ever done. —(Cheers.) We were the worst organised nation in the world for this w r ar. He was not sorry for. that, because it was our defence. When the history of the war came to be written it would be judged that the proof that we were innocent lay in the fact that we did not prepare. Mr Lioyd George concluded his Manchester speech by saying: “ The nation needs all the machinery, all the skill available to turn out munitions and equipment. Both employer and worker must be subject to. complete State control. The latter’s control must be for the benefit of the State, and not for increasing the profits of any industrial private organisation. We must increase the mobility of

labour, and have a greater subordina tion of labour to the same control.”

The Manchester workers have carried a resolution pledging themselves to support the efforts and increase the output of munitions. v *

GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, June 3,

The Paris authorities are providing the police with masks similar to those used by the troops as a protection against asphyxiating bombs. British naval ■ losses from April 26 to May 24 are: Killed—Sixty-seven officers and 309 men; died of wounds, 13 officers and 119 men; wounded, ICO officers and 1706 men; in addition to 23 officers and 829 men believed to be lost.

Official: A party of 15 Germans on April 20 surprised the picket guarding a bridge of the Uganda railway between Makindu and Simba. The Germans blew up a portion of the bridge and disarmed and released the picket. The bridge has since been repaired.

PARIS, June 4,

M. Ribot is asking for a credit of £224,000,000 to provide for the third quarter of 1915. Since the beginning of the war £960,000,000 have been voted. AMSTERDAM, June 4.

The Tyd says that Krupps are constructTng a mysterious war engine, it is believed to be utilised in squirting burning liquid for long distances.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. MELBOURNE, June 4

Senator Pearce is appealing for further reinforcements. He has officially notified that the height minimum for recruits has been reduced from sft 4in to sft 3in.

In the. House of Representatives Mr J. Cook spoke of the necessity for further reinforcements. He was not sure that the time had not come to compel the registration of all able-bodied men to meet the exigencies of defence. In the House, Mr Cook, debating the Estimates, blamed the Government for not increasing the output of ammunition.

Mr Page interjected; “Half you over there ought to be shot; you ought to be interned with the Germans at Langwarrin.”

Mr Page subsequently withdrew his offensive interjection. SYDNEY, June 4.

The Governor-General (Sir R. MunroFerguson) has opened the Soldiers’ Club. The premises are comfortably fitted up, and will he used as a gathering place for those enlisted during their period of training.

A SERIES OF ESCAPES

SYDNEY, June 4

Ray Cook, a young Australian serving in the British navy, writing to his parents, gives details of some thrilling adventures. He was aboard the Amphion when she sank. Ho also participated in the Heligoland fight, and narrowly escaped when his gun crew were blown to pieces. He was aboard the Aboukir when she sank, was rescued and taken aboard the Hogue, being blown into the water when she was torpedoed, and was again rescued. He participated in the fight when the Blucher was sunk. The only hurt he received all through was slight damage to his arm. i

THE POLICY OF THE FUTURE. SYDNEY, June 4.

The British Immigration League has resolved to appeal to the Imperial authorities to make clear to the Era* pire that at the close of the war a definite effort must be made to com serve British capital for the employ* ment of British workers throughout the dominions; that British interests must not be sacrificed to the preser* ration of trade relationships hitherto existing with enemy countries; that the free investment of British capital in the manufactures of enemy coun= tries prior to the war made it possible for our enemies to create the stupen* dous armaments now used against us; that the firm policy of the British Government in the future should be to prevent a recurrence of such danger.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLES.

LONDON, June 4, (3.5 p.m.). Dardanelles.—Naval Casualties: Men killed, 21; wounded, 78; missing, 3. It is presumed that the German transport submarined in the Sea of Marmora is the North German Lloyd’s Corcovado, of 8000 tons.