GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17663, 22 February 1916, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

UNFORTUNATE BELGIUM. IMPOVERISHED BY THE GERMANS SCHEME FOB INDUSTRIAL BELIEF. IGNORED BRITISH ELOCKA.BE MUST CONTINXTE - SIB E. OBEYS MEMORANDUM (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright; LONDON, February 20. Received Februarj r 21, 3.30 p.m. Sir E. Grey has issued a memorandum to be sent to the Belgian Minister in response to frequent representations regarding the impending ruin of Belgian industries and universal unemployment. Sir EL Grey states that he understands there is strong feeling among the Belgians that the distress is attributable solely to tiie action of the Allies in preventing imports. It is often contended that this action does not appreciably harm Germany. While it may involve painful loss to the people of our Ally, Britain is not convinced that Belgian industry can be maintained without considerable gain to the enemy. Still the Government is anxious to assist, and has therefore permitted certain exports from Belgium, and for the same reason has permitted the' importation of raw materials into Belgium through the reliefcommission. The undertakings demanded from Germany were that they would permit the free importation of raw material, and the export of goods manufactured therefrom through the relief commission, also free from embargo or requisition upon the stocks of similar raw materials manufactured or remaining in the country. The scheme was submitted to the Germans four months ago, but no reply had been received. The memorandum shows how Belgium is being used to supply Germany. Sir E. Grey says that the Germans are determined to enter into no arrangements for the relief of Belgium until they have taken, from the country the last ounce of material, and caused widespread destitution, forcing Belgium's labour to emigrate to Germany. The German policy should be fully exposed. The exports from Belgium to Germany in November by one route, were 74,000 tons of coal, 6100 tons of phosphates, 100 tons of lead, 1350 tons of ore, 1600 tons of briquette. Previous exports included 1600 casks of tanning extract. Half the output of Belgian textile mills had been requisitioned. All the most essential materials in Belgium are controlled in the German interest. Now that the fixed policy of the Germans to impoverish the country stands revealed, Britain must disclaim any responsibility towards the Belgians for evils which the enemy has caused and refuses to remove. SERVICE FOB DOMINION SOLBIEBS ABDBESS BY ARCHBISHOP OF CANTEBXUB7 THE NATION’S TESTING TIME LONDON, February 20. Received February 21, 2.25 p.m. The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed a large oversea congregation of soldiers and others at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster. He said that millions of scattered members of our vast united Empire at this time of supreme crisis must searchingly scrutinise the foundation of the national character. The Archhishop’s text was Proverbs, chap. 16, verse 32. He was glad of the opportunity of addressing Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians, worthy sons of the Empire. The whole world was filled with admiration for these young citizen soldiers, whose deeds of prowess were proving the dauntlessness of Christian manhood. While the Canadians in April were earning imperishable honour on the bloodstained battlefields of Flanders, the men from the vast Commonwealth and the Dominion of the Southern Seas were scaling the cliffs at Gallipoli under fearful fire, displaying sheer personal bravery that had since been growing in wondrousness. The Dominionites were unhesitatingly glad to make the sacrifice, which continues strengthening the bond and uniting in a solid phalanx the men and women of the Empire in a purposeful resolve.

\\p. were living in an exciting- horn- of the Empire’s history. Our minds were easily confused by the bigness of events. The main though was that we must carry the war to victory, but remember, the danger of failure lies largely in ourselves. We must not forget that it was essential to build up a cliaracter of self-surrender and self-control in this the Empire's great testing time. huge oeeman war loah. NEW TAXES BEING PREPARED. AMSTERDAM, February 21. Received February 21, 0.15 p.m. German newspapers predict a war loan of £500,000,000 in March. New taxes are being prepared estimated to yield 500,000,000 marks. RETURNING NEW ZEADANDERS ENTERTAINED AT CAPETOWN. CAPETOWN. February 21. Received February 21, 9.15 p.m. The Mayor entertained 125 Xew Zealanders returning by the Arawa. There was a lavish programme of festivities. The men are greatly benefited by the voyage.

GERMANY AND AMERICA. BERNBTORFP’S INFLUENCE WANING. MUST BEHAVE OB GET OUT. PRESIDENT WILSON FIRM FOB ONCE. LONDON, February 20. Received February 31, 9.40 p.m. The Daily Telegraph’s Washington correspondent states that Count Bernstorff’s pernicious influence has commenced to decline. It is believed that Bemstorlt prompted Germany to warn America that armed merchantmen would be treated as warships, thinking he had caught America off her guard and hoping to precipitate a violent controversy with the Entente. Instead President Wilson seems for the first time inclined to force the submarine issue to a finish. Despite the possibility of breaking friendly relations further submarine horrors are almost certain to result in Count Bernstorff following M. Dumb* (the Austrian Ambassador whose recall was demanded). He has already been warned that he must either mend his ways or depart. GERMAN SPY BE-TAHEN NEW YORK, February 26. Ignatius T. Lincoln, ex-M.P., the confessed German spy, who escaped, was raarrested in front of a Broadway restaurant. His capture was due to the proprietor of a lodging house learning hia identity and attempting to extort 256 dollars in return for the surrender of his baggage. UNDONE BY A LOOSE TONGUE. NEW YORK. February 26. Received February 21, 9.1S p.m. Lincoln’s braggart ways led to hia undoing. During the months since he walked out of the restaurant at Brooklyn he has written many letters to the papers, boasting his ability to elude the police. A lodger in the same boardinghouse demanded £SO as the price of silence. This was refused and when waiting for an appointment with his friend at the corner of Broadway the secret police captured him. THE COMPULSION ACT. EXEMPTION OP FARM LABOURERS. LONDON. February 20. During the Kirkby Stephen Tribunal’s sitting many farmers threatened to sell their stocks and abandon their farms if their workmen were conscripted. The Tribunal held that the bulk of the claimants were necessary to agriculture and exempted them. REDUCTION OP RESERVED OCCUPATIONS. THE TURN OF YOUNG MARRIED MEN. LONDON, February 20. Though the first group will be called up it is understood that its members will not begin training unless they have reached the age of 19. The remainder will be sent home until they have reached military age. The advisability of the conscription of the young married men is being discussed. It is generally believed that this is unlikely at present, but much depends upon the percentage of effective recruiting among unmarried men. Thereon also depends the summoning of married Derbyites. The authorities are seeking means of making the recruiting productive. The Central News Agency states that the authorities are touring the counties, investigating the work of local tribunals and their handling of exemption claims. A special committee has been established at the War Office to revise the list of reserved occupations. It is expected that the list will soon be reduced. The first list of instructions to tribunals will shortly be issued, impressing them with the fact that national necessity must have priority over private business. The first group of Derbyites will be called up next week.