THE HOUR STRIKING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 20

THE HOUR STRIKING.

LONDON, Juno 21. The crisis of the 1916 campaign is approaching. Pressure is increasing on every front, and tho aerial reconnaissances are of an unparalleled nature. The advance of the Bulgarians into Greece is a precau-

tion, showing that Germany suspects that the Allies' insistence on Greek dcmobiJisa- j tion is the forerunner of an offensive in the Balkans. The cannonading on the Balkan front continues, but the activity of the Allies everywhere is bewildering the enemy. Tho general military situation is such that great decisions are to be expected shortly. j A message from Paras states that Deputy Cochem writes in the paper Humanite : "The hour of the British Army's intervention has struck. This immense wellequipped army, most powerful in artillcry and with an enormous quantity of munitions, will now give efficacious aid to France." BERNE, June 21. j The German mark has fallen two points " I in value since Saturday,

VON MOLTKE'S DEATH. COPENHAGEN, June 19

Field-marshal von Moltke had become exceedingly stctit of late. He was speaking at the memorial service to General von der Goltz, -whom he described as one of the world's best organisers, when the audience noticed that von Moltke was taken suddenly ill. lie expired a few minutes after. (luring the Turkish Ambassador's speech The solemnities closed at once. The Kaiser telegraphed to Marshal von Moltke's widow expressing grief at the loss of a true friend, and paying a tribute to von Moltke's great military services The fall of Czernowitz and Field-marshal vo i Moltke's death have had a depressing effect on Berlin.

PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS

GENEVA, June 20.

Peace demonstrations have taken place in Vienna for several nights past. There was no violence, the public being dazed rather than in a state of consternation over Russia's impetuous advance. The theatres are empty, and streets and restaurants are filled nightly with anxious crowds discussing the situation.

JAPANESE ADMIRAL INTERVIEWED. SYDNEY, June 21

The Japanese admiral with the two visiting warships says that there is no doubting in Japan as to who won the Jutland naval battle.

Referring to iho Russians, he said : "They will fight wonderfully if they possess plenty of ammunition, and Japan is a huge arsenal for Russia." He did not think that Japanese gunners were helping them —they were there only for instructional purposes. The admiral expressed the opinion that Germany was at the bottom- of Mexico's declaration of war en America..

GERMANY'S PLIGHT. JOHANNESBURG, June 20. Sir Abe Bailey, in a speech at Krugersclorp, said that before leaving England he asked Lord Kitchener how things were going, and Lord Kitchener replied : " Germany i« in » much more serious position than people think, especially in regard to her interior. She reminds me of a prizefighter staggering and dazed, and if our army gets what it wants we will give them the knockout." QUESTION OF TAXATION. LONDON, June 22. In the House of Commons, Mr Annan Bryco moved an amendment to the Finance Bill providing that if income tax was paid in any dominion for purposes of the war the amount should be deducted from that payable in Britain. Mr E. S. Montagu said the amendment asked the Government to lose a. certain revenue of £2.500.003 and a prospective revenue of £13,500,000. The matter must be submitted to the Colonial Conference. The Government's concession already meant the sacrifice of £1.000.000, thus doing something which dominions with the same tax had .not yet done. Sir C. Reid said he was unable to support the Government on this occasion. The war made the matter urgent. Australia wa.s sending forces to partake in the war at her own expense. The Fedora! Government had no income tax before the war, but had now imposed a. war tax, and therefore people with investments in Australia were paying twice. After several members had supported the amendment, Mr M'Kcnna said the Government proposed under the Bill that

money remitted to Australia should not pay excess duty. If British money from Australia was remitted here with the same concessions the British Government would thus lose the whole income tax over 3s 6d. The amendment wanted the Government to lose the whole income tax to ss. This matter was for arrangement between the Government and the dominion Governments. Meanwhile the concession dealt very fairly with the matter. The amendment was negatived by 128 votes to-32 votes. GERMAN EXCHANGE. AMSTERDAM, June 23. The German exchange has fallen 87-2 cents since Wednesday. The hundred marks are quoted at 42.9 florins. TRADE WITH HOLLAND. LONDON, June 22. Holland is resuming the shipment to Great Britain of considerable quantities of food, equal to about half the quantity which Germany has recently been taking. The shipments include weekly 200 tons of butter, 5000 bales of bacon, and a quantity of cheese, eggs, and fish. It is believed that this is the result of a reciprocal arrangement between the Dutch and British Governments, whereby we send to Holland coal and fodder. LABOUR REPRESENTATIVE TAKES UMBRAGE. LONDON, June 23. Addressing the Canterbury Diosesan Conference, the Primate declared that he had found as yet no basis to encourage or justify our approaching the belligerents with peace proposals. The Bishop of London stated that he had heard of hospital ships being held up for 12 hours with wounded because the firemen were drunk. Mr Ben Tillett, speaking at Canning Town, stated that the inference from the above was that the workers were drunkards. That was a cowardly libel. The average bishop spent more on drink in a week than a working man did in six months. VICTORIA LEAGUE. ' LONDON, June 22. A meeting of the Victoria League at the Hotel Cecil presented the High Commissioner with an address, paying a tribute to liis services to the dominion's troops. Lady Jersey and other speakers paid a tribute to the generosity of the league's branches, especially tho;e of Australia and New Zealand.