ORGANISING THE WORKERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 21

ORGANISING THE WORKERS

GREATER POWERS WANTED. LONDON, June 17. It is understood that the Government, with the assent of trade unions, has resolved to ask for greater powers than lave just been conferred by the Defence of the Realm Act, in order to deal with labour. A new measure will probably be introduced next week to increase the mobility of labour, to limit profits in State controlled establishments, where all trade union’ restrictions will be abolished, and committees will be appointed to inflict fines for slackness. LABOUR LEADER’S ADVICE. PARIS, June 17. Ben Tillet has visited the front. On his return he was interviewed. * He said he had learned the meaning of the word “strike.” “We have got to strike now,” he said, c : Avith every ounce of British grit, energy, gold, and brain behind the bIoAV. When the workers of England realise the situation they will get their coats off and give the soldiers a proper backing. We want shells, gas, and every death-dealing device conceivable.’ ’ MACHINE GUNS WANTED. LONDON, June 17. The Daily Mail' urges the Government to hasten of machine guns bp placing orders Avithout limit in Britain, Canada, and the United States. The paper says that the Germans are virtually substituting men armed Avith machine guns for the old-fashioned infantry armed with rifles. Experience proves that an army which attempts to fight machine guns with rifles is committing the same mistake as a man Avho attempts to run a foot race against a locomotive. “ SHELLS—MORE SHELLS.” LONDON, June 17. The deputation of workmen from Sir Wm. Beardmore’s ironworks has returned to Glasgow. The members are telling their fellow workers that it* is a case of “ shells —more shells.” There-must be no stoppage of work for any cause whatever. What they saw in the trenches was awful., [The deputation referred to was one appointed by the workers to ascertain whether there was really a necessity for the abrogation of trade union rules in order that munitions might bo turned out at high pressure. They Avere franked through to the trenches, so that they might have ocular demonstration of the absolute necessity for turning out high-explosive shells with the utmost rapidity.] ALL-ROUND SERVICE. LONDON, June 17. Lord Milner, addressing the National Service League, said that opposition to the national service movement was negligible, and emanated from people avlio clamoured against war. It was the almost unanimous desire of the nation to cease fighting with half its strength and utilise the whole strength. He believed that an equal all-round system of national service, instead of the present haphazard methods, involved only the slightest actual compulsion. AMERICAN FACTORIES. LONDON, June 17. The guards at the ammunition and arm

factories in America have been strongly reinforced in consequence of the secret service reporting that in the event of a rupture with Germany a concerted attempt would be made to blow them up. MANUFACTURE OF MUNITIONS. MELBOURNE, June 18. The State Premier has announced that the manufacture of shells has already commenced at Newport Railway Shops. A committee representing various interests has been formed to forward the movement. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. LONDON, June 17. In the case in which Robert Irvingdale and Henry Wilson, partners in the wellknown Glasgow firm of Jacks and Co., are charged with selling iron ore to Krupps, the defendant Wilson in his evidence stated that he believed it Avas impossible to di\ T ert a cargo from German hands after it had reached Rotterdam, and therefore thought it better to save some money. He did not think he was acting unpatriotically in trying to squeeze silver bullets out of German fires. GERMANY’S LATEST EFFORT. LONDON, June 17. The Kaiser has invited the Bulgarian and Rumanian Ministers to visit the German headquarters. FIGHT ON MONTENEGRIN BORDER CETTINJE, June 18. Official: Four thousand Albanians led by native chiefs under Austrian officers, attacked the Montenegrin frontier at Djokovitza. We repulsed the invaders and left many dead and wounded. DE WET’S TRIAL. BLOEMFONTEIN, June 18. Do Wet testified that while he considered the operations against German South West Africa a war of aggression, he would have been the first to defend the Union against attack. He quoted the text, “ Cursed is be who removeth his neighbour’s landmark,” and added that the Boers Avere tired of the Botha Government. AMERICA, AND GERMANY. NO MORE ENEMIES WANTED. AMSTERDAM, June 17. The American Note has created a deep impression in Germany. The Cologne Gazette has abandoned its truculent tone. It admits that it Avould be imbecile for Germany to desire another enemy; nevertheless, it says, the torpedoing of merchant ships cannot cease until England relinquishes her economic blockade. Tire Cologne Gazette falls foul of the Lokal Anzeiger (Berlin), which does not share the Gazette’s belief that the British blockade is vile, and Avhich points out that Germany would be very glad to employ similar tactics against Britain. The Kreuz Zeitung is similarly indignant at the Lokal Anzeiger’s candid admissions. It says; “ There must be weakening of the weapon of submarine warfare, which is the foundation of all our negotiations with America.”

The question has given rise to a bitter newspaper controversy, some suggesting that Herr von Jagow be replaced by an Imperial Board to conduct the Foreign policy, while others desire to recall von Bulow to power.

A GERMAN DENIAL. WASHINGTON, July 17. The German Embassy denies the allegation that Dr Anton Meyer Gerhard is really Dr Alfred Meyer, a prominent official in the German Arms Depot. President Wilson refuses to discuss the the matter, stating that there is no evidence in proof of any hoax. GERHARD AGAIN. AMSTERDAM, June 17. The Cologne Gazette publishes an interview with Mr Gerhard at Christiania. He states that there is no bellicose sentiment in America. The conflict between President Wilson and Mr Bryan is of an old origin, and arose from other causes than the Lusitania sinking. . The breach was rendered inevitable through President Wilson’s drafting the last Note to Germany according to his own ideas without reference to Cabinet or consulting Mr Bryan. Mr Gerhard adds: “The conflicting views over the Lusitania and the rest of the misunderstanding are capable of peaceful settlement.” He accused the Reuter Cable Agency of “poisoning the wells” on a grand scale by circulating mendacious reports in neutral countries. GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, June 17. The Vatican is alleged to have informed Austria of its abhorrence of aerial raids, adding that in of a raid upon Rome and the damaging of church dignitaries’ property, it would interfere with the relations between the Vatican and Austria. Sir T. A. Coghlan retires from the position of New South Wales Agent-general on Saturday. He has accepted the chairmanship of the War Office Trade Committee. In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George stated that he was consulting Lord Kitchener with a view to a body of scientists being called in to advise the Government on the fullest employment of all resources of chemical and mechanical science and invention. The Board of Agriculture has appointed a committee, with Lord Milner as chairman, to report upon what legislation is necessary to increase food production in England and Wales in the event of the war extending beyond the 1916 harvest. In reply to questions in the House of Commons Sir J. A. Simon said investigations into recent fires of factories, docks, and warehouses did not disclose evidence of incendiarism. Replying to a suggestion that the working classes should be given an opportunity to share in the war loans, Mr M'Kenna said he did not endorse the doctrine that money was no object in war. If that notion got abroad they might expect contractors to raise their prices and Government workmen ask higher pay than for private work. They must remember that

the resources of the country were not inexhaustible.

The heads of the principal agricultural organisations are urging the preparation of a national scheme to organise agriculture and secure an increased production by assuring farmers that generous expenditure on farming will be repaid by remunerative prices. The scheme, which would largely be worked on a co-operative basis, would cover four years, and would' fix on the Government the responsibility for prices and for sec ”ing the necessary labour. AMSTERDAM, June 18. The German Vacuum Oil Company’s warehouse at Hamburg has been burned and enormous damage was done. Burning oil streamed down the canal, and several houses were burned. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLES. LONDON, June 17 (0.55 a.m.). Army ;—Officers —killed 21, wounded 35, missing 21; men—killed 329, wounded 1146, gas killed, gassed 19, missing 272. Dardanelles :—Naval officers—killed 1, wounded 1; men—killed 11, wounded 48.

Cairo official ; During operations at the Dardanelles on Tuesday night a party of the enemy, led by a German officer, gallantly attacked a trench occupied by the British Brigade. A few of the enemy were killed at the parapet, and the majority before reaching the trenches. Fifty dead were counted, including the German officer and his Turkish subordinate.

The trenches captured on Saturday night were also attacked. This attack was preceded by strong bombing parties. We were forced back 30 yards until daybreak, when the vacated trenches were enfiladed by our machine guns right and left. The Dublin Fusiliers then attacked with the bayonet. The trenches were reoccupied, and were found to contain 200 dead Turks. Twelve prisoners were taken. Our casualties were very slight.