“SLACKERS” IN BRITAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 19

“SLACKERS” IN BRITAIN.

LONDON, October 22. Lord Derby has addressed a personal appeal to every man of military age who is not marked for other war ser= vices, asking him to reconsider whether the reason why he lifs hitherto not enlisted holds good in the present crisis. TRAFALGAR DAY. LONDON, October 21. A great Red Cross appeal was made in London on Trafalgar anniversary, and many thousands >of lady collectors participated. Though the weather was showery, Trafalgar square presented a memorable scene. The base of the Nelson Column was smothered in wreaths, and from the pedestal between the lions the voices of those engaged in recruiting floated over the dense crowds. At intervals the people were thrilled by the clear notes of a trumpeter playing “ The Death of Nelson. ’’ The service at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields was impressive by its solemnity and simplicity. The Bishop of London’s impassioned appeal and his denunciation of Miss Cavell’s murderers deeply stirred the congregation. Many Red Cross collectors were on duty at the early markets at 3.30 a.m. Collections made by Australians in the Strand from the sale of flags and kangaroo souvenirs were devoted to the Dardanelles funds, Among the collectors were

Ladies M‘Bride, Robinson, Newton Moore, and Madame Ada Crossley. AMERIC AN NERVES “ JAGGY.” NEW YORK, October 21. The newspapers hysterically comment on the shakiness of Britain’s position and the peril threatening in the Balkans. They suggest that Britain should muzzle the croakers and political schemers, and prevent the stories which are circulated here with flaming headlines. American nerves are jaggy, and some hysterical people apprehend a German invasion of South America and Mexico and the bombardment of New York. FOREIGN SECURITIES IN GERMANY. AMSTERDAM, October 21. The Telegraaf states that the German newspapers are recommending a special tax on possessions of foreign stocks in order to force holders to send the stock to neutral banks as security for credits, thus relieving the exchange. It is estimated that foreign stocks held in Germany amount to between £1,250,000,000 and £1*500,000,000. STEEL HELMETS FOR TROOPS. LONDON, October 21. Mr Tennant, in reply to Mr Bryce, stated that some thousands of steel helmets had been issued to the troops. It was expected that all that were asked for would soon be supplied. GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, October 21. Mr Balfour said that in no circumstances did the authorities consider that aeroplanes alone could provide an adequate defence against Zeppelins. Tire Evening News learns from an official source that there has been in the last fortnight a pronounced increase in the number of applications from men eligible for service for passports to leave Britain. The British and Foreign Sailers’ Society has sent Sir John Jellicoe a bust of Nelson mounted on Victory oak. Mrs Panksurst, at a recruiting meeting, said that Mr Lloyd' George was prepared to fix the minimum wage for women working at munition making at £1 per week. At a meeting in the Strand the Hon. S. Beresford moved that King George dissolve Parliament and take personal command of our armies in the field. Though this motion was carried amid cheers, the suggestion is regarded as merely freakish. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. MELBOURNE, October 22. After the Cabinet meeting to-day, Mr Fisher announced, that another War Loan Bill was certain. Of 551,961 war census cards so far sorted, per cent, are classed as fit, 32 per cent, doubtful, and the rest unfit. Over 80 soldiers escaped from the detention camp. The majority have not been captured, and unless they return, the authorities propose to expose them by publishing their names and descriptions. The Federal Government has decided to begin the construction of an arsenal at Canberra, at a total cost of £95,000. An additional £IIO,OOO will be spent on a garden suburb for the arsenal workers. SYDNEY", October 22. The workmen at Walsh Island have given a fortnight’s notice of a strike, owing to the Government’s slowness in awarding the men. deferred and holiday pay. The

island is manufacturing munitions, and the strike will cause great inconvenience and delay. The carpenters and bricklayers erecting the new military camp at Liverpool struck as a protest against the authorities’ refusal to pay the railway fares to reach their work. The strike has seriously inconvenienced the accommodation of recruits. Over 1000 employees in the Australian woollen mills struck because they were not allowed to participate in the bonus paid to the foremen. Military contracts are held tip. A feature of the new recruiting campaign is the addresses by returned soldiers and their pressing insistence upon the urgent need to send immediate help to the boys in the trenches. All the speakers are adopting a sterner tone than in the previous campaign, with a hint that events may require something stronger than the present system of voluntaryism. Though recruiting has improved, it is not fully up to expectations. r CONSPIRACY CHARGES FAIL. SYDNEY, October 22. Mr Arthur Kidman and Major O’Donnell were found not guilty of the charges of conspiracy made against them, the conspiracy consisting of arranging so that Kidman should obtain higher prices for goods supplied to the Defence Department than he was entitled to under terms of his contracts. The jury expressed surprise at the loose methods of the Defence Department, making irregularities possible.