IN AFRICA

Southland Times, Issue 17661, 19 February 1916, Page 6

IN AFRICA

i CONTROVERSY ON FAT OF SOIiDIEEfj <By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) CAPKTOWX, February IT. General Botha declined the Labour suggestion to raise the Egyptian contingent's pay to the level of the Fast i African contingent’s. Ho threatened to j resign if a division was forced on racial lines. Sir T. AV. Sniartt, Avhile disliking the decision, declined to precipitate a crisis, and moved that the previous question be taken. . IN EAST AFRICA. CONQUEST OP THE CAMEROONS COMPLETE. Tito High Commissioner reports, London, 17t.il February, 8.35 p.m.;— •11 to Commandant of tite British East African forces reports that the main German reserves are located in the neighbourhood of t>alata Hill. Our casualties have been 162. Colonel Dobell, in AVest Africa, reports that active, operations are practically ended, and the conquest of the Camoroons is complete, excepting an isolated position at Mora Hill. m tie ooraiofts PATRIOTIC ENGINEERS. A CHANGE IBOm STRIKES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) SVDXKV, February IK. 'J'he Amalgamated Jingiovers have offered to work sixty hours weekly at Walsh Island to facilitate munitionmaking. CHEAP PARES POR SOLDIERS. SYDNEY, February 18. The Commandant has arranged to issue soldiers’ railway season tickets at a I shilling a week. COMMONWEALTH WAR EXPENDITURE. i MELBOURNE, February IS. I Received February 19, 12.ee a.m. ! The Commonwealth revenue for the i half year ended 31st December was ! 111,396,906, to which is added 1 10,100,000 | raised by war loans, making £1)1,796,900. i The expenditure was £21,8011,685, the [chief item £9,792,019, being expended for j war purposes. I . i GEHERAL MEWS ! THE SHIPPING SHORTAGE. EXTRAVAGANT CONTROL ALLEGED. EXPERT AUTHORITY PROPOSED. MR BALFOUR'S DEFENCE OP TEE GOVERNMENT. LIMITATION OP RATES IMPOSSIBLE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, February IT. Received February IS, 3.5 p.m. In the House of Commons, Mr B. E. Peto (Conservative) moved au amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting that measures had not been taken to utilise merchant tonnage economically by placing it under the control of a central expert authority, with power to requisition and direct the movements of vessels, and limit the remuneration for transport services. Bvery ship in our merchant fleet should always make a full voyage out and home. The transport of coal, wheat, ami ore, and the transport of munitions and troops should all be under this control. Air Balfour said that the transport department of the Admiralty had done the worlc with great skill, and it would have been impossible to carry out the many duties hut for the assistance and advice of distinguished shipowners. Mr Balfour said that if the proposal to requisition British shipping was adopted neutral shipping would bo able to continue to earn ttic open market rate. He could hardly imagine a more. impossible proposal. There was now a perpetual conflict between the needs of tonnage and the needs of the Avar. Mr R. R. Huston (Conservative) instanced the enormous freights earned by neutral A’cssels while British ships hud to bo content with the Blue Book rate. Italy and Portugal were constantly applying for more tonnage, Avhich was not exactly playing the game. Italy was using the Austrians’ ships, but avus not using German vessels in Italian ports. If Italy asked for more tonnage she should he asked to utilise the ships in her harbours. MR RUNCIMAN’S STATEMENT. THE COMPETITION OP NEUTRALS. 45 NEW VESSELS BUILT. 140 OTHERS BEING HURRIED ON. LONDON, February 17. Received February IS, 9.50 p.m. Mr Runciman (President of the Board of Trade), said the reason Avhy they did not regard OA’ery ship as a controlled establishment like-the factories ashore, Avas that shipping Avas subject to competition from neutrals. The Government asked that the Blue Book rates be taken as maximum rates. They had requisitioned 172 vessels for the carriage of sugar, meat, etc. Not a single British vessel Avitli refrigerating space was not working under these rates. Regarding the high rates for the carriage of coal to Italy, lie pointed out that the proportion of British vessels engaged Avas 54 against 209 foreign ships. An unfair impression had been given to Italy that British shipowners Avore attempting to suck the blood of the Italian coal consumer. Although neutrals charged higher rates we Avero dependent on (item to a certain extent for the congestion at tiie ports being relieved, giving the transit committee greater poAvers and increasing the labour available. JVI'U-ehantship building was being delayed because the Admiralty had a first mortgage over tbe shipbuilding yards, but about 45 merchantmen had been hurriedly completed and J4» others, which had 'formerly been declared unnecessary were being pushed on. Mr Runciman said that even now the Allies wen- clamouring for more tonnage. Th t-y would nor have got any tonnage at all Iml for the fact that nearly half the merchant service of I lie World was under the British (lag. Not. a single sailor had refused to sign on because of the perils of the sea. It would lie calamitous to lake any step in war lime Avhich would limit the reproductive power of the merchant service, or cripple us from adding to it immediately the Avar Avas over to enable us to compete witli foreigners. It was mainly on tbe auxiliary licet that tile prosperity of the Empire depended. Mr Mae.N'amara said that the Admiralty was doing its utmost not to hold up tonnage not wanted for naval and military service. The amendment was negatived.

ARMED MERCHANTMEN. GERMANY’S CONDITIONS. IVASHINC4TOX, February IT. Received February IS, 2.5 p.m. Germany has informed the United States that if passenger liners leaving American ports with defensive armament are to he immune from submarine attack, as Germany promised through Count Bcrnstorff, Germany expects a definite assurance that the liners will not attack- submarines. AMERICA NOT SATISFIED. LUSITANIA SETTLEMENT ESLD UP. PENDING NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING MERCHANTMEN. XK WYORK, February IT. Received February IS, 5.5 p.m. It is understood that America is dissatisfied with Count BernstorfT’s assurance that Germany will not torpedo liners without warning, and wants a definite declaration from Berlin. Mr Lansing declined a settlement of the Lusitania case, ’which was impossible until the controversy regarding armed merchantment was settled, and regards the position as becoming more difficult. BERNSTORFF OUTMATCHED. PRESIDENT WILSON’S ATTITUDE. POSITION BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT. LONDON, February IS. Received February IS. 10.15 p.m. Tin; Daily Chronicle’s New York correspondent states that Count Bernstorff has been outmatched by President Wilson, who has now announced that he will not accept a Lusitania, settlement until assured in regard to the Teuton’s programme of assassination of the passengers and crews of non-belligerent merchantmen, without warning. Apparently Mr Lansing’s announcements after' tiie Cabinet meeting, indicating that the administration would accept the new policy, is repudiated by President. "Wilson, who holds firstly*, respect of neutrals’ rigbtstsecondly, safety of American citizens; thirdly, strict regard for international law. Instead of the friction being almost entirely removed, the President regards the position as becoming more difficult.

AMERICA’S REQUIREMENTS. PASSENGER LINERS NOT TO BE SUNK. EVEN IF ARMED FOR DEFENCE. WAS I• I XGTOX. February IS. Recoiled February IS, 10.25 p.m. Mr Lansing told Count Bernstorff that the latest proposals were acceptable as far as the Lusitania was concerned, but demanded assurances that Germny would not carry the sinking of armed merchantmen! to the extent of sinking pas-senger-carrying liners, oven it armed for defence. GERMAN CAMPAIGN DISAPPROVED. EY SOCIALISTS IN PRUSSIAN DIET. AMSTKiIDAM, February IT. .Received February 18, 5.5 p.m. Socialists in the Prussian Diet disapproved of the Government’s submarine campaign against merchantmen. ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. EXTRAVAGANCE MUST BE STOPPED TEE RICH MUST SACRIFICE LUXURIES. LONDON, February XT. Reeeived February IS, 5.25 p.m. The Press Bureau states that the National War Savings Committee appeals to all classes to save every possible shilling in order to bring about an early victory protests" against wastefulness and thoughtless extravagance, the stoppage of which would save millions and ena’hle much labour to be transferred to more, useful channels. .It instances the use of motor-ears and motor cycles for pleasure. They cannot ask the poorer classes to save while the well-to-do are "enjoying an expensive luxury. GERMAN STEEL PRODUCTION. SUBSTITUTE FOB FEERO-MANGAN-ES3 DISCOVERED. AMSTERDAM, February 17. Received February IS, 2.5 p.m. A semi-official Berlin message says that a substitute for ferro-maagane.se for the production of steel has been discovered in a substance, which can be produced in large quantities, malting Germany independent of imports. BRITAIN'S BLOCKADE. COMBINED NEUTRAL PROTEST PROPOSED. NEW YORK, February 17. Received Fe.bruary 18, 5.5 p.m. The Evening Post asserts that Sweden invited the United States to join in a conference of neutrals in order to compel Britain to observe the international law which she now violates. NEW AGREEMENT PREDICTED. TO PREVENT SUPPLIES REACHING GERMANY. COPENHAGEN, February 17. Received February 18, 9 p.m. Newspapers predict a new agreement immediately whereby Britain will appoint a resident committee at Copenhagen to prevent illicit trading with Germany. ■i‘H R DERBY GROUPS. YIELD BELOW EXPECTATIONS. LONDON, February 17. The Manchester Guardian states that it is rumoured that, owing to the disappointing vield from the earlier Derby groups, the Government is considering tile raising of the military age to fortyfive before summoning married volunteers. SALVAGING SOCOTRA'S CARGO. LONDON, February 17. The Socotra's salvage contiuues satisfactory. Several hundred hales of wool, all the hides, and much of the zinc and lead, have been salvaged.