THE COAL OUTPUT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 26

THE COAL OUTPUT.

CONCILIATION BOARD’S FAILURE LONDON, June 10.

Despite their increase of per cent, in their wages, the South Wales coal miners persist in giving notice that on the expiry of the agreement at the end of June it is their intention to compel the coal mine owners to concede a new agreement, embodying the chief items of their highly contentious pre-war programme. Two meetings of the Conciliation Board, at which the workers’ arguments were heard, emphasised the impossibility of a mutual settlement. The employers expressing their willingness to postpone to the end of the war the discussion of their own grievances, and they offered meanwhile to continue the existing agreement. The men’s representatives, however, declined this offer, and negotiations have been broken off.

The executive of the South Wales Miners’ Federation has decided to summon a general conference of South Wales-dele-gates ; also to ask the coalowners to agree to a joint audit of their sale prices as from July, 1914. The President of the Board of Trade (Mr Runciman), in the House of Commons, referring to the increased price of coal, said it was largely due to the heavy enlistment of miners. The output of the remainder was largely increased per man, therefore an advance in wages was justified. Taking all the facts into account, the price at the pithead was excessive. 'He hoped that his negotiations with the companies would effect an improvement; if not, Parliament would not tolerate any exploitation. At one time, the Minister continued, there was a danger of the wheat margin being reduced. That fear was now removed, and he hoped a fall in price would not stop before the new and abundant harvest was garnered. He looked forward to the opening of the Dardanelles to further reduce the price. A FINANCIAL COUP. dl - CHICAGO, June 10. Tire Chicago Herald says that local hankers, assisted by Count Bernstcrff, are scheming to purchase the chief American munition plants, thus preventing the export of contraband to the Allies. MR BRYAN’S ATTITUDE. WASHINGTON, June 11. Mr Bryan has issued an appeal to the American people, saying that the real issue is not between President Wilson and himself, but between the systems of government. He adds that force represents the old system, that is passing, and persuasion represents the new. As a humble follower of the Prince of Peace, he urges the United States lead the world out of the black night of -war . into the light of that day when swords shall be beaten into ploughshares. Mr Bryan issued a second statement to-day, appealing to German-Americans. GERMAN NOTE IN REPLY. RIGHT TO SINK NEUTRAL^. WASHINGTON, June 10. Tire German Government’s reply to the American Note relative to the sinking of the sailing vessel William P. Frye (wheat laden) claims the right to destroy any American vessel carrying contraband, while agreeing to pay damages for such acts. , June 11. Germany’s reply to the American Note

regarding the sinking of the William P. Frye declares that the Prussian-American Treaty of 1799 expressly reserves the right to stop vessels carrying contraband. It follows that if this cannot be effected in any other way it must be effected by destruction of the ship. A prize court is only necessary to fix compensation, and the owners of the William P. Frye should enter a claim, THE AMERICAN NOTE. GERMANY’S CONTENTIONS LOGICALLY REFUTED. WASHINGTON, June 11. The American Note to Germany, referring to the Cushing and Gulflight cases, notes that Germany will acknowledge and meet liability -where she attacks neutral ships that have not been guilty of a hostile act, and promises full information relating to the Cushing. Regarding the sinking of the Falaba, where an American lost his life, the United States is surprised to find Germany contending that an effort on the part of a merchantman to escape capture and secure assistance alters the obligation after seeking to make a capture, to respect the safety and lives of those aboard a merchantman, especially as the vessel had ceased to attempt to escape when it was torpedoed. After quoting the. international law, the Note states : “The United States does not understand that Germany is seeking in this case to relieve itself of liability, but intends to set forth the circumstances which led the commander of the submarine to allow himself to be hurried in the course taken.” Regarding the Lusitania, the contention of the Germans that the liner was equipped with masked guns, supplied with trained gunners and special ammunition, and w’as transporting Canadian troops and carryino, car°o not permitted by the laws of the United °States to a vessel carrying passengers, and serving in virtual effect with the'* auxiliary naval forces of Great Britain, this is refuted. The Imperial Government is informed that special attention is paid to these matters by proper officials of the American Government. If the Imperial Government deems itself possessed of convincing evidence that officials of the United States do not perform their duties thor oughly, the United States hopes that it will submit the evidence for consideration. The “contentions of the Imperial Government regarding carrying contraband on the Lusitania are declared to be irrelevant to the question of the legality of the methods used by the German naval authorities. “ Whatever be the facts regarding the sinking of the Lusitania,” says the Note, “the principal fact remains, that a great steamer, primarily and chiefly for the conveyance of passengers, and carrying more than ICOO souls, who had no part or lot in the conduct of the war, was torpedoed and sunk without. warning, and men, women, and children were sent to death under circumstances unparalleled in modern warfare. It is upon the principle of humanity, as. well as the law founded upon this principle, that the United States must stand. The Government of the United States confidently looks to see the justice and humanity of the Government of Germany vindicated in all cases where Americans have been wronged and their rights as neutrals invaded. t “ The proclamation of the war zone is not admitted by the United States to affect the right "of American shipmasters or citizens as passengers hound on lawful errands. The Government of the United States deems it reasonable to expect that the Imperial Government will adopt such measures as are necessary to put the principles into practice with respect to safeguarding American lives and American ships, and asks assurances that this be done.” BRITISH CASUALTIES. LONDON, June 11. The casualties announced to-day are 2492, including 1800 in the West and 528 Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Mr Macnamara announces that the loss of life in the Navy during the war totals 6409, including the Bulwark and Princess Irene. CAMPBELL CONTROVERSY SETTLED. LONDON, June 10. It is understood that the Campbell incident has been settled. Air J. Gordon, K.C., Unionist' member for Derry, becomes Irish Attorney-general, and Mr Campbell receives an English judicial post, AAIERICA’S WAR TRADE. NEW YORK, June 11. Official reports from the explosives, automobiles, and leather manufactures trades, as a result of the European demand, showed record increases for April. Explosives valued at £1,220,000 were exported, while the automobile exports increased by £1,280,000, and leather manufactures by £1,440,000. It is stated that new orders, moderately estimated at £20,000.000, are ready for placing on behalf of Great Britain. WORK OF BRITISH NAVY. LONDON, June 10. Commander Carlyon Bellairs. replying to criticisms in the United States papers as to the incapacity of the British Navy, said the man who wrote them ought to procure a chart and study it for a few minutes with an American naval officer'at his elbow. Then he might learn a lot.

“ Cuxhaven and Kiel,’’ says Commander Bellairs, “are hidden behind miles of heavily-mined sandbanks. - Lying behind the breakwater at Heligoland there are only a few German torpedo-boats and submarines. In naval warfare one goes by probabilities, not by possibilities. The British submarine does not have one chance in a million of getting beyond the stone walls where the Germans hide their fleet. “It is not a question of initiative. What our submarines have done in scouting around Heligoland and the Dardanelles proves that this is just a question of com-mon-sense tactics. The German fleet only needs to come to sea and leave its stone fortress for a few hours to get all the trouble it will ever be able to seek.” WIDENING RECRUITING. LONDON, June 10. Mr Asquith, in reply to a question, said that the extension of the age limit had widened recruiting and enabled eligibles who were hitherto debarred to serve their country. The number of men already sanctioned by Parliament for both services was 3,200,000. CANADA’S QUOTA. LONDON, June 10. The Canadian Minister of Militia has announced that 36,000 more men are wanted at the front as quickly as it is possible to train and equip them. The new force will comprise 87 regiments of infantry aud six batteries of artillery. This makes Canada’s quota nearly 150,000 men. DE WET’S TRIAL. BLOEMFONTEIN, June 10. De Wet’s trial has commenced. He pleaded not guilty to a of high treason and guilty to that of sedition.

GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, June 10.

A British cruiser in the Strait of Gibraltar arrested aboard an Italian steamer the Prinz Eitel Friedrich’s fugitive on: lor, disguised as a cook. A neutral correspondent in Germany emphasises the German reliance on paper erftrency to keep the country’s internal credit sound, in consequence of the belief that Germany’s enemies will be compelled to pay. The German sword is pledged to redeem this German paper, ana its failure to do so will mean a national financial catastrophe. The Attorney-general (Sir J. A. Simon) in the House of Commons, said that additional internment accommodation was being got ready rapidly. About 9000 Germans and 4000 Austrians in London were not interned. Mr E. G. Pretyman, Secretary to the Board of Trade, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said it had been agreed that Britain should purchase beef for both France and Britain, the price therefor to be the same for both. It was not, however, in the financial interest to publish the price. Russia has arranged with the CanadianPacific Company for a through goods service with North America via Yladivostock, granting special facilities to traders. Mr A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, in the House of Commons, stated , that no death sentences had been carried out in the navy. Mr H. J. Tennant, Under-secretary for War, admitted that death sentences had been inflicted in the army. Mr William Hayes Fisher states that 75 per cent, of Lord Kitchener’s army are married. This is apropos of the fact that a number of members of the House of Commons are raising an agitation against men of the party being asked to enlist, since 10 out of 12 of them are married. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. SYDNEY, June 11. The New South Wales contributions to the various patriotic and war relief funds hawe passed the million mark. / MELBOURNE, June 11. Mr Frank Clarke is organising the members of the State' Parliament for a week’s recruiting campaign in their electorates. The naval men of the commonwealth are now being given a chance of getting into the firing line. The Government has approved of the enlistment of the naval reserves and men with naval experience as reinforcements to the Infantry Brigade. In the House of Representatives, in reply to a question, the Prime Minister (Mr Fisher) said ; “ We want every able-bodied man in Australia to join the ranks and be trained, so that he may go to the front when necessary. SYDNEY, June 11. Senator Pearce (Minister of Defence) has asked" the press to give the widest publicity to his statement that recruiting has lately shown a marked falling off, and it is of vital importance that there should be no shortage of recruits for the Reinforcements. APPEAL TO “ SLACKERS.” MELBOURNE, Jims 11. The newspapers are teeming with letters from the wounded, all characterised by a spirit of pride showing that the Australians and New Zealanders made the Dardanelles cheerful. There is a desire to get back to the firing line, and many urgently appeal to the stayers at home to give a hand. One says: Fellows want to shake themselves up in Australia and enlist. They are all wanted to take the boys’ places. It’s got to be did with*

out delay. Every young fellow ought to take his turn now.”

Another says: ‘‘There s no place like home, but those blokes got stopped quick and lively on the 3rd. After this war there will be a great brotherhood of all men and women participating. Any family which cannot show a scar of some kind will sorter be without the circle.” “WE MUST WIN OR GO UNDER.” MELBOURNE, June 11. Mr Fisher (Prime Minister), in the House of Representatives, in reply to a suggestion that he should take steps, as leader of an enlightened democracy, to find out on what terms a general peace is possible, said he did not think the time had arrived for intervention or suggesting anything of the sort to the British Government, which was carrying on the war. Such action would be misrepresented by our enemies as a sign of weakening. “We are prepared to go on to the bitter end,” he said, “and win or go under.” HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLES. LONDON, June 11 (2.20 a.m.). Army casualties : —Officers —killed 19, wounded 22, missing 8 ; men —killed 300, wounded 1741, poisoned by gas 24, missing 389.

Naval casualties —Officers —killed 6, wounded 7; men—saved from torpedoboats 31.