UNAUTHORISED AGENTS IN IRELAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 31

UNAUTHORISED AGENTS IN IRELAND.

LONDON, July 17. Ernest Blythe and L. Mellows, who are engaged organising Irish volunteers in various parts of the country", have been ordered to be expatriated. They are allowed to select their place of residence, subject to the military authorities’ approval, but must not leave the district without permission. Both refuse to leave Ireland on the ground that no charge has been formulated against them. Blythe and Mellows are organisers of Sinn Fein volunteers. Their expulsion is under the Defence of the Realm Act. THE COST OF WAR. AN EXPERT’S STATEMENT. LONDON, July 17. At a representative meeting of financiers and business men of the city to recommend increased thrift and new taxation upon all classes of people, Mr Harold Cox said that before the war was over Britain would have to borrow £2,000,000,000, and our annual expenditure afterwards would bo at least £130,000 over the peace standard. Lord St. Aldwyn (who presided) said that private extravagance was visible among all classes. A deputation is to wait upon the Prime Minister. GERMANY’S FINANCIAL STRAIN. CAN SHE STAND IT? LONDON, July 17. Mr J. M. Robertson, M.P., speaking at Middlesbrough, said that Germany will be bankrupt in six months. It is impossible to over-rate the financial side of the struggle. Ho did not believe that the war would last as long as some of the military experts predicted, because Germany cannot endure financially. He added; “She is spending £140,000,000 monthly, arid it is our business to wear down the enemy.” He did not believe' the nations had the power to lend the money", for they" had had been exploited. NEW YORK, July 17. The Wall Street Journal says it is possible the war may be over in October. Germany was beaten in the first rush, when she failed to capture Paris. She is now not merely beaten, but bankrupt. All her gold is concentrated in the Reichs Bank, where she has the merest parade of value, while the paper mark in another six months will rank as little above a shin plaster as far as the world’s trade is concerned. BRITISH WAR LOAN. LONDON, July 17. Mr Herbert Samuel announces that subscriptions through the Post Office, apart from vouchers, totalled £24,000,000 —an increase of £9,000,000 since the 10th inst. - MORE GERMAN ASSURANCE. LONDON, July 17. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent states that a neutral, with access to Ministerial circles in Berlin, reports a member of the Cabinet as saying that Germany is willing to cede Lorraine to France, and later Germany ought to divide Belgium and then form an alliance. LABOUR MEMBER’S PREDICTION. LONDON, July 17. Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P., speaking at the Wesleyan Conference, predicted that the war would last for another year.