TERMS OF PEACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 18

TERMS OF PEACE.

LONDON, October 25. The New York paper, The AmerL can, publishes an interview with Dr Delbruck (“ representative of the Chancellor ”) on the terms of peace Germany hopes to secure if President Wilson and the Pope would consent to act as mediators. The culminating passage of the interview is: “it is quite possible that peace might be secured by ceding Germany such colo= nies as Uganda by England, and French and Belgian Congo as a ran= som for the evacuation of the north of France and Belgium. There would probably have to be an indemnity to Germany, which I think England ought to pay.” DECLARATION OF LONDON ABROGATED. OLD CUSTOM REVERTED TO. LONDON, October 25. An Orcler-in-Council has been published, abrogating article 57 of the Declaration of London, by which a merchant ship’s flag is the sole test of nationality, and substituting the old “pride” law. Experts are of opinion that the object of the order is to prevent the traffic of many vessels trading under neutral flags, but which are in reality, wholly or partly, Germanowned. The Anglo-American doctrine is now reinstated, which takes into consideration the shipowner’s nationality, and permits

condemnation if an enemy’s interest in a vessel is proved, irrespective of the flag. It is expected that the Germans will retaliate as far as possible, including Bri-tish-owned vessels under the Scandinavian flag in the Baltic, though most of these are now leaving, owing to the “close” season. AN OFFICIAL EXCUSE. NEW YORK, October 25. Herr Zimmerman, German Under-sec-retary for Foreign Affairs, has received a message from Berlin stating that the female sex in law has only one preference—namely, that a woman in a delicate condition must not be executed; otherwise there is equal treatment for men and' women. The evidence in connection with Nurse Cavell was so clear and convincing, proving a well-considered world-wide conspiracy and the rendering of nine months’ most valuable service to the enemy. No court-martial in the world could have given any other decision. The message adds : “ There are several girls among our Russian prisoners. If these had been killed in battle the world would not have called us cruel. Heedless of the world’s verdict, we must travel on the hard road of duty.” The message denies that the officer shot Miss Cavell with his revolver. The official report states that the execution was in accordance with the regulations, and the firing party did not fire faultily. The physician attending testifies that death was instantaneous at the first volley. FIRE AT SEA. NEW YORK, October 26. The Mallory liner Colorado is on fire at sea, bound for New York with a cargo of cotton. It is reported that another steamer effected the rescue of the crew. There were no passengers aboard the Colorado. The Colorado was abandoned at sea. The crew are safe aboard another steamer. GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, October 26. The court has ordered the destruction of documents tending to jeopardise recruiting seized in the Labour Leader Office and belonging to the Independent Labour party. The German guns captured at Loos will be placed on public view at the Horse Guards Parade after Wednesday. After trial at the Old Bailey a British subject was sentenced to penal servitude for life for collecting and attempting to communicate to the enemy information regarding our forces’ munitions. Sir A. Conan Doyle, after tracing the British operations on the west front and at sea, adds : “It seems to me we have made remarkably few mistakes, and have been wonderfully fortunate in our leaders. If we search the glorious pages- of British history we shall not find a man so fitted by nature and training as Lord Kitchener. His cold, mathematical brain, his power of thinking in terms of the year after next, his enduring and inflexible will, make him an ideal leader. Unreasonable criticism tends to dishearten our best men. We have no cause for pessimism.” LISBON, October 26. The Government is arranging to receive British wounded from the Dardanelles and Serbia, and preparing the necessary hospital. BERLIN, October 25. The Admiralty admits that it was the Prinz Adalbert itself that was sunk on the 23rd inst. by two shots from a submarine. Only portion of the crew was rescued. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. SYDNEY, October 26. The Presbyterian clergyman at Lindfield has applied for a chaplaincy, because every one of fighting age in his congregation has enlisted. During the week ended October 20 2380 men in the commonwealth were accepted for service abroad. A monster recruiting meeting in Sydney opened with all present baring their heads in honour of martyred Nurse Cavell, the band playing the “Dead March.” Sergeant Coates, a winner of the D.C.M., characterised' those -who refused to enlist because a few Germans had not been interned as “ damnable slackers.” The Lyceum Club has opened a Cavell Memorial Fund.