GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17788, 18 July 1916, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

KAISER SEEKS SCAPEGOATS SEVEN GENERAL SENT SOWN (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian &- N.Z. Cable Association.) ROTTERDAM, July hi. Received July 17, 6.5 p.m. The Berliner Tagehlatt says the Kaiser pensioned off seven generals holding important war commands. All tendered their resignations. Generals Von Bredoii, V'mi Weenstknowske, Glokke, Lramer, and Von Bauer will definitely leave Hie army, hut Von Kleist and Khratner have hee.ii give home garrisons. No reason has been assigned for the dismissals. PORTUGAL WILLING TO HELP THE ALLIES. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) PARIS, July 17. Received July 17, 10.80 p.m. •The Eclair publishes an interview with the Portuguese Premier, stating that Portugal is ready' to assist the Allies by sending troops to France or elsewhere whenever the Allies desire., the course of events and Portugal’s financial resources determining the number.

AXiLEGCBS sedittok mw ZEALAND EDITOR CHARGED (Ter Pnited Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, July 17. At the Court this morning charges for alleged seditious publication were preferred against P. C. Preeth, editor of the Manawatu Daily Times, for publishing' a letter signed “Shirker," which, it wa*s alleged, contained matter indicating disloyalty likely u> interfere with recruiting.

Counsel for the Crown said that lie wanted to disavow any suggestion of disloyalty against Freeth nr the managenient. The letter was taken exception to, however, and it contained sentiments verging on rank sedition. The defence admitted publication, and said that it had been done in order to "slate” tlie letter editorially. Judgment was reserved. IS IT A CANARD? GUEYMOI’TH, July JG. At the Greymouth Watersider.s’ Union meeting yesterday u letter from the federation of Labour was read asking whether the local union favoured a general strike as a protest against the National Service; Bill. It was decided to reply with an emphatic negative, and that any further communication from the Federation would he placed In the waste-paper ba-ket unread. With reference to the above message from Greymouth, Mr Hiram Hunter, secretary of the United Federation of Labour. states emphatically, says a Christchurch wire, that no letter has been sent by tlie Federation to any Union . n the subject of tlie Military Service Bill, nor has lie received any instructions from the Federation of Labour to ask the Unions whether they are in favour of a general strike as a protest against that Bill.