GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17656, 14 February 1916, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

FRENCH MISSION TO ITALY. POLICY AGREED UPON. -J (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) ROME, February 12. Received Feb. 13th. 5.5 p.m. M. Briand conferred with Baron Pennine, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Italy adheres to the proposition which England accepted, namely the creation of two supreme military and diplomatic councils. PREJUDICES CONCERNING ITALY. REMOVED BY THE CONFERENCE. GERMAN TRANSPORTATION ADVANTAGE RENDERED IMPOTENT BY ALLIES’ UNITY. ROME, February 12. Received Feb. 13th. 5.5 p.m. Interviewed after the discussion with Baron Sonnino, M. Briand said that the visit to Rome had removed many prejudices concerning Italy’s attitude. Italy's policy was not only most sincere but was clear sighted. At a banquet at the French Embassy in the evening political societies organised a great public demonstration in honour of the Entente, The most cordial toasts were exchanged. M. Briand addressed a gathering at the Grand Hotel. He said the enemies’ greatest strengtli had lain in their remarkable system of transportation, which permitted the rapid concentration of huge forces on any front. The Allies had now attained perfect union, enabling them to completely encircle Germany and Austria with a ring of steel equally strong and impregnable at every point, and rendering the enemies' means of transportation impotent. THE TORPEDOED TOKOMARU. CONSIGNEES CLAIMS UPHELD BY THE COURT. LONDON, February 31. An action upon the result whereof other claims totalling £200,000 depend arose out of the submarining of the Tokomaru. James Morrison and Co,, the owners and the consigness of 158 bales of New Zealand wool, obtained judgment for £4013 and costs against the ShawSavill Company on the ground that the Tokomaru was not justified in deviating from her course by calling at Havre and landing frozen meat for the French Government Mr Justice Bailhache held that the defendants were tempted by a high rate of freight to run a risk of being torpedoed, which was recognised as possible, but regarded as improbable, and the improbable happened. ALLIES’ AGREEMENT GERMANY CANNOT HOLD OUT BRITAIN’S COLOSSAL WORK MOSCOW, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. M, Sazonoff (Minister of Foreign Affairs) in an interview, said that the Allies are in perfect agreement that Aus-tro-Germany must be rendered perfectly harmless. The war cannot be protracted, as Gemany is unable to. bear the strain of th© present financial position, which is very grave. However, the present year will not see the end of the awr. England is doing a colossal work. The loss of 24,000 officers and 600,000 men proves this. INDIA’S LOYALTY THE KING’S APPRECIATION WIDER LIBERTIES FORESHADOWED LONDON, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The King, replying to an address from Indian officers, said he would be glad to receive in person the Indian officers who had faithfully borne their share in the conflict, and had upheld the honour of the Indians in a world-wide war. I welcome your presence as a symbol of the unity of the Empire, and setting the seal on the heroic efforts of the sacrificing Indians in the war with all the other forces from overseas and Home. 1 am deeply touched by the declaration of loyalty, and grateful for your generous recognition of brotherly feeling four your fellow subjects of the Empire. India lias been consecrated afresit by the blood of Iter sons, shed far from home in a quarrel which, while the might of the Empire protects India’s shores, does not come near the lives and fortunes of your kith and kin. The liberties of the whole Empire have been put into the scale, and please God India will enjoy these in an increasing measure as she advances along the path of social improvement and political experience. GERMAN PEOPLE DESIRE PEACE LONDON, February 13. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Exchange Telegraph’s Copenhagen correspondent states that from Germany one It ears now only the strong cry of the people for peace. SEPARATE PEACE TREATIES GERMANY’S LAST HOPE BRITAIN CAN WAIT LONGEST ZURICH. February 11. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. I’rofessor Carl Binding, a well-known Leipzig jurist, in an article entitled "Two Ways to Peace —by General Peace Congress or Separate Tralles," argues that the Central Powers must insist on separate peace, as the Central Powers would be in a minority at a general congress which Britain dominates. Britain, of all the enemy States, can wait the longest for peace. Professor Binding believes that when separate peace is once successfully entered niton one enemy State after another will accept it when they can no longer hold out. MORE PEACE TALK. STATEMENT OF GERMANY’S AIMS REQUESTED. AMSTERDAM, February 12. Received Fe.b. 13th. 5.5 p.m. Baron von Zeitliz, in a speech in the Prussian Diet, said ; In view of the whole war situation the conclusion of peace in the near future is not impossible, and an announcement of our aims ■•npears to be necessary.

AUSTRIA'S INDUSTRIAL FLISHT FAMINE OF RAW MATERIALS "PEACE CAN COME OVERNIGHT" LONDON’, February 11. Received February 33, 5.5 p.m. Speaking: at the industrial Club at Vienna on the outlook after the war, Riedl, an officer in the Ministry of Commerce. said that Austria’s commercial situation for the first six months alter war would be extremely dangerous, owing to the veritable famine of raw material. Only two countries, Britain and America, would be able to resume industrial production immediately. Although Austro-German industries were intact, they lacked raw materials, and unless Austria was prepared to prohibit importations Britain and America might take all the profits. The situation. Riedl urged, required prompt organisation in industrial interests. Peace might come sooner than expected. It could come over-nigliL ZEPPELINS AND SUBMARINES GERMANY’S 19X6 POLICY MUNICH, February 11. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Xueste' Nachrichten stales that this year's Zeppelin fighting will be directed above all against the British maritime supremacy. The principal fea» turc of the programme will be the combined playing of Zeppelins and submarines as' trump cards against the most important points of England. TREATMENT OP ARMED MERCHANTMEN AMSTERDAM. February 1L Received February 13, 5.3 p.m. A Vienna telegram states that Austria has issued a Note to neutrals identical witli the German Nole concerning th* treatment of armed merchantmen. AMERICA'S ATTITUDE WAR SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE WORLD WASHINGTON, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. Mr Lindley Gorrison (War Secretary) resigned because President Wilson refused to adopt the proposal to establish a sufficiently strong army to defend the United States. President Wilson declares that he believes that the present programme is all that is required. He complains bitterly of the misunderstanding of the United States’ position throughout the world. He is not afraid of the verdict of history, which will show that lie took theright course in not allowing the world's quarrel to become America's quarrel. He warns the country that the trouble has merely been held at arms' length, and there is no knowing when they might actually be involved. Hence the necessity for preparedness. THE AFFAM PROBABLE AMERICAN ATTITUDE NEW YORK. February 12. ■ Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. It is highly probable that the United States will allow the Appam to remain as a German prize in American waters until the end of the war. TRADE AFTER THE WAR GERMAN MERCHANT GETS IN EARLY PEKIN, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. A German merchant lias secured an after war contract for arms and munitions amounting to seven million taels. SIR RIDER HAGGARD’S MISSION. EARL GREY’S MESSAGE. LONDON, February 12. Before Sir Rider Haggard sailed he received a telegram from Grey, who said: I am sorry that certain newspaper critics object to your mission. If the Empire is to continue there must be great intermigration between England’s dominions. The settlement of vacan£ dominion lands with Britons will contribute to the strength and safety of the Empire. GERMAN BANHS FAIL. THOUSANDS RUINED. LONDON, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Lausanne Gazette states that two of the largest banks in South Germany have filed, with liabilities amounting to 590,000,000 marks. Thousands of depositors are ruined. AD VALOREM TARIFF PROPOSED. LONDON, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Spectator proposes a general ad valorem tariff of 10 per cent., with & rebate of five per cent, on bona fjd« Imperial products. An increase of revenue is necessary, also an increase of taxation which will touch all classes is essential to set more ships free to carry munitions and troops. FRENCH JOURNALISTS VISIT ENGLAND. LONDON, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. A party of French provincial journalists, representing ten million readers, is visiting the fleet and munition areas. The RL Hon. H. Samuel, on behalf of the Government, at a banquet at tha Savoy Hotel, said he hoped the guests would return convinced that the British effort was not unworthy to rank with the mighty supreme struggle Franco herself was making.