ECHOES OF THE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 18

ECHOES OF THE WAR

DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED. LONDON, February 14Recently a London magistrate expressed surprise that a prisoner whom he had convicted had been sentenced to death by court martial for cowardice during wartime, and then released. Inquiries in official circles have disclosed the fact that, since 1914 89 per cent, ot the war death sentences have been commuted. The cases of military prisoners have been reviewed at least three times since the armistice, largely at the initiative of Mr Churchill (Secretary of State for War), resulting in none being now imprisoned for military offences. Only 63 are undergoing penal servitude, and of these 57 will be released within the year. It is estimated that 50,000 soldiers, including numbers who were sentenced to death, benefited under the Suspension Sentences Act. WAR-TIME STATISTICS. LONDON, February 16. The final figures supplied by the Ministry of Shipping show that the total cost of the ships built in the United Kingdom was £36,500,000. They were sold for £17,500,000. The ships built abroad cost £27,000,000, and they were sold for £18,500,000. The operations showed a net profit of £2,500.000, apart from the use of the vessels for the carriage of troops and goods, which saved the country £27,000,000. The total turnover of the Ministry was £1,000,000,000. At the crisis of the war the Ministry controlled three-quarters of the world's shipping. When the U-boat menace was at its severest the Controller ordered 821 vessels, and 225 were completed before the armistice. Of the remainder, the orders for 126 were cancelled at a cost of £500,000, and 279 were transferred to private owners without loss to the department. WAR DEBTS. WASHINGTON, February 15. A message from St. Augustine, Florida, states that Mr T. W. Lamont, who was the United States financial adviser at the Peace Conference, informed Mr Harding (President-elect) that President Wilson made no commitments during the conference, either direct or remote, regarding cancellation of the Allied debts. The Senate’s Judicial Committee op poses the payment of any further money to foreign countries, even on commitments already made, until Congress knows all the facts concerning the loans. , GENERAL ITEMS. PARIS, February 18. Mademoiselle Thullioz, who with Nurse Cavell assisted prisoners to escape from Belgium, after having received many decorations, committed suicide recently. It is alleged that she denounced a number of persons to the German authorities in Belgium, including an architect, M. Bauco, who was shot with Nurse Cavell. GENEVA, February 18. Great Britain, France, and Belgium will probably not attend the meeting of the Red Cross International Committee on the ground of the committee’s indifference to German outrages upon Red Cross formations and the absence of a protest against the execution of Nurse Cavell. The Americans who attend will submit a list of offences of which the committee ought to have complained. ROME, February 15. The Government is issuing a loan of one milliard lire (about lOd) at 5 per cent., to be devoted to the devastated areas. The Pope sent 50,000 lire to relieve the poor of Fiume.