EGHOES OF THE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 17

EGHOES OF THE WAR

AN EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATION. LONDON, January 11. Lord Alfred Douglas, in an article entitled “ Plain English About the Jutland Battle,” said that the German wireless code was discovered shortly after the fight began, and all the German wireless was rapidly translated during the battle. He asks why these were not printed with the report, and adds : “ The Government cannot deny that the translation of the German naval code revealed the fact that during the actual fighting at Jutland Germany was iiv communication with some powerful individual at the Admiralty, and plans for the escape of the German fleet were devised through this means.” EX-OFFICERS AS BEGGARS. LONDON, January 11. In connection with the sentence of a month’s imprisonment on a military exofficer, or .gang leader, on a charge of begging in the West End, investigation disclosed that pensioned ex-officers who had been organ-grinding in the West End were living in luxury at hotels. Thev were earning up to £2O a week. It was not unusual to see queues of women in Regent street waiting to drop coins into the caps of ex-officers, who were generally masked. . The scandal had become so glaring that the Ex-officers’ Association instituted a prosecution with a view to checking it. TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS. PARIS, January 11. _ A Berlin message reports that the Supreme Tribunal at Leipsig has begun the trials of German soldiers whose punishment the Allies demanded. EARL HAIG HONOURED. LONDON, January 12. The Bradford City Council decided by 58 votes to 17 to confer the freedom of the city on Earl Haig. The Labour members of the council opposed the suggestio i on the ground that it was the wrong moment to honour militarism. The coun cil will also confer a similar honour on a representative of the rank and file. THE GOEBEN’S ESCAPE. LONDON, January 16. . Admiral Milne has begun the publication m the Sunday Express of the narrative of the German warship Goeben’s escape. He states that Italy’s neutrality prevented the British ships at the outset from entering the Straits of Messina, but a watch was set to the northwards of the mouth. _ The instructions to traverse the strait in pursuit of the Goeben arrived to 0 late, Admiral Milne then running south along the west coast of Sicily. The narrative describes the thrilling exchange of fire with the Goeben and Breslau by Captain Howard Kelly, aboard the Gloucester, until he was” recalled owing to shortage of coal and to avoid capture.