TRAITORS IN FRANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 16

TRAITORS IN FRANCE.

Senator Humbert has been arrested on a charge of conveying intelligence to the enemy—a grave charge equivalent to treason, and punishable by death'. The police have visited the bank and opened Humbert's safe.

Figaro states that an extensive "Defeatest" organisation has been discovered at St. Etienne (south of France)., A German wine seller, whose customers are largely soldiers, has been arrested; also his Spanish wife. Documents which were seized at his shop included a pass toi;he war zones. Figaro adds that the arvowed v object of the. organisation is to stir up insurrection during the coming German offensive. The St. Etienne wine merchant apparently had relations with other agents in different regions. His pass to the war zone was an unconditional safe-conduct for a hawker and his behicle in any army zone. The seized documents showed that he would have received a large sum if he had succeeded in a certain dangerous enterprise. The officials are now deciphering numerous cipher message*.

HONOURS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. The Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Lieutenant E. W. (Anzac Camel Corps). The MiLitary Cross has been awarded to Lieutenants F.> S. Cornett (Machine Gun Squadron), L. L. Milton (Anzac Camel Corps), and L. W. Sutherland (Flying Corps) Fifteen Australians and two _ New Zealanders have been awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals. A second bar to the Military Medal has been awarded to J. Matthews and the following New Zealanders: —Sergeants W. N. Thorn, W. H. Burrows, J. T. Gearside, J. Scott, Sapper T. E. Linney Woods, Corporal G. H. Bager, and Private T. J. Parsons. Military Medals have been awarded to 34 New Zealanders At Buckingham Palace the King conferred 290 decorations, including the Disr tinguished Service Order on Colonels W. Cunningham and J. Duigan, of New Zealand. SOLDIERS' GRAVES. The War Graves Commission announces that Mr Rudyard Kipling has agreed to write suitable memorial inscriptions for monuments to fallen soldiers. At a meeting the Imperial War Graves Commission approved of a report by Lieu-tenant-colonel Kenyon, making a recommendation as to equality of treatment in regard to headstones for officers and men. The Government will bear the cost of the outlay and maintenance. It was stated that some, if not all, 'of the dominions would decide -on headstones representing the dominion rather than the individual. GENERAL ITEMS. The Entente are pressing the Chinese Government to deport enemy subjects. It is expected that China will consent to this. In connection with the blowing up of the Sengio Dynaoig" factory in Italy in February, 1916, the three perpetrators—Galto, Pej'azzano, and Lagzette—have been shot. In the House of Commons, replying to a suggestion that there ought to be a legal defender when a soldier who had previously suffered from shell shock appealed against a death sentenco, Mr Macpherson said that, considering the extraordinary numbers of the army, comprising all classes and creeds, the executions for cowardice and desertion had been the smallest in the world's history. The amended regulations demanded that all favourable facts should bo stated regarding a soldier who had fallen from grace under the strain. Unquestionably he should receive British justice and fail- play-. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Victoria Racing Club and the Victorian Amateur Turf Club have each voted £SOOO towards the War Council's appeal for wounded soldiers. During tno war the Victoria Racing Club has granted l £44,000 and the Victorian Amateur Turf Club £36,000 towards the various war funds. > At the State Committee of Inquiry into the sale of intoxicants to soldiers, the State Commandant said that out of the whole number of men who enlisted m Tasmania only 1191 had failed to go to the front Drink had not to any extent interfered with the efficiency of the Tasmaman troops. He favoured a wet canteen for the sale of drink of reduced strength, and the introduction of an Anti-shouting Act. Mr Hughes has outlined the new recruiting scheme providing for the appointment of a Royal Commission to decide how manv recruits will be wanted monthly;' increasing the separation allowance for married men by 33£ per cent.; paying 4* per cent, interest on soldiers' deferred pay. Eligibles are to be asked to submit their names to a district ballot, and enlist if drawn, to make up the quota for any particular month; recruits to be insured; bonuses to be paid to recruiting sergeant; returned soldiers to replace eligibles whose circumstances do not debar them, but who will not enlist. ALLEGED FRAUD. A returned soldier named Joseph M'Auliffe. alias Joseph Henry Turner, was committed for trial at Sydney on a charge of knowingly signing a false name to a military pay-sheet. Accused, in a statement made to the police, said that, undei? the name M'Auliffe. ho enlisted in Auckland in December, 1914, went to Egypt, and was thence invalided to England. Ho there met an Australian soldier named Maxwell, who was detailed' to return to Australia, but did not desire to return. Ho gave M'Auliffe his boat ticket ancl papers with permission to use the paper* and sign the pay-sheet in Australia. H« signed Maxwell'* name and obtained £2.