GERMAN SUBMARINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 29

GERMAN SUBMARINES.

COPENHAGEN, October 1. The German Admiralty has not received any news of 47 submarines, which are supposed to have been lost. The real number is believed to be 54. TAXES WITHDRAWN. DIVISION ON IMPORT DUTIES. LONDON, September 30. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr R. M‘Kenna) has withdrawn the taxes on hats and plateglass. In the House of Commons the Freetraders continued the Budget debate. A division on the imposition of certain import duties resulted : Ayes, 174; Noes, 8 (including Mr Outhwaite). Mr M'Kenna withdrew the hat duty owing to the difficulty of sayings at what point the articles coming under the hat tax could easily evade it, and also because it would probably harass the Allies’ trade. PARLIAMENT LONDON, October 1. The House of Commons has adjourned until the 12th hist., when a Finance Bill embodying the Budget changes will be taken up. GERMAN INTRIGUE IN AMERICA. ONE BIG PLOT THAT FAILED. _ LONDON, September 30. Freeman’s Journal details German plans for promoting strikes in America. Matthew Cummings, a Bostonian, approached Mr William. Dempsey, secretary of the Atlantic longshoremen, and promised that strikers would be paid 10 dollars a week. He considered a six weeks’ strike sufficient. As a bait to the leaders he suggested that they should give the workmen five dollars a -week, and the leaders could pocket the balance. gummings communicated with Mr T. ’Connor, the longshoremen’s president and an Irish Labour leader, who led him on. Cummings refused to state who his principal was, but said lie could raise £327,000. Mr O’Connor said he had no doubt that the principal was Herr Dernburg. Cummings said the scheme would tie up the shipping on the Atlantic coast, cripple the Allies, and assure German success. Mr O’C mum told i lie whole story to the TTmted lb-'!■■>* officials, and the conspiracy was diUeaUi. Cummings was previously connected with a political intrigue in Ireland.

GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, October 1. Private telegrams from Britain and Prance to all neutral countries have been suspended for 48 hours. AMSTERDAM, September 30. Jubilation over the Allies’ victory indicates that, however correct their Government's neutrality may be, the Dutch people are heart and soul with the Allies. BERLIN, September 50. Herr Zimmerman, Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs, states that Germany has no idea of prejudicing Holland’s political or economic freedom. It is impossible to say what the relations of Germany will be to Belgium after the war, but England must be prevented from laying hands on Belgium. MELBOURNE, October 1. A Patriots’ League has been formed, and at a demonstration in the Town Hall members pledged themselves to sever all dealings or intercourse with enemy subjects. SYDNEY, October 1. The Executive Committee of the Farmers and Settlers’ Association carried a resolution in favour of universal service. The Labour Council opposes any form of compulsory service of life, health, or limb that does not first of all bring wealth under conscription. The council resolved : “ That, as the British Government did not deem it advisable to introduce conscription, we see no reason for the action of the Universal Service League in advocating its adoption by Australia.”