GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17936, 30 January 1917, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

THE GERMAN POSITION

WORSE THAN IN 1916

FAILURE OP POTATO CROPS

IMPORTS PROM NEUTRALS DECREASING

DIFFICULTIES IN ORGANISATION

(By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright)

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

AMSTERDAM, January 29 Received January 29, 8.10 p.m.

An official statement by the Imperial German Food Office declares that, despite a favourable crop, the German position is worse than it was in 1916, owing to the failure of the potato crops. A system of economy must be carried out immediately, if it is to he possible for the nation to hold out till next harvest. The imports from neutral countries also are decreasing in quantity and foodstuffs are very scarce. Strict organisation is necessary, and this is difficult owing to opposition and resistance by large sections of the population to the ordinances and restrictions that have been issued.

HUSI GARY IN A PARLOUS STATE

GROWING DESPERATION OP WOMEN

PROHIBITIVE PRICES OF NECESSARIES

PAMINE IN WORST FORM THREATENED

MANY DISAFFECTED ELEMENTS

LONDON, January 29. Received January 29, 8.10 p.m.

The correspondent of the Morning Post at Budapest states that the latest feature of the food crisis is the growing desperation of the women, who are unable to provide their children with the bare necessaries of life. Many are absolutely without coal, and petroleum, wood and milk prices have in many cases risen from 100 to 1000 per cent., while the stock of rice in the country consists of 50 waggon loads. Beef is costing 10s a kilogramme: fat, 7/9: and butter, 10/8. New vegetables cannot be expected before July, and unless a miracle happens famine in its worst form is inevitable. Tbe fixing of maximum prices on stocks has thus far caused a greater scarcity, but some relief was afforded by pig slaughtering. The richer Budapest families bought up thousands of small pigs in the spring, had them fed in the country, and are receiving considerable supplies of pork fat. This wholesale slaughter is going on because the. Government prohibits the use of maize for fodder. It is possible to restrict the feeding of a few hundred thousand in a besieged city, but 120,000,000 people are not easily managed. Hundreds of thousands of Socialists and other disaffected elements must be reckoned with, while millions of women, bereaved and poverty - stricken are possessed of the single thought of how they may feed their children. It is impossible to reason with them on political or patriotic grounds. The next few months will reveal the strength of millions of uninstructcd and desperate women, who have given their sons and husbands to the war, and who now find that they can endure their misery no longer.

HIGH PRICES IN BRITAIN

SHORTAGE IN POOD SUPPLY

LONDON, January 29, Received January 29, 8.10 p.m.

Mr W. C. Anderson, Labour M.P., speaking at a Leicester meeting, protested against the high prices that were ruling, and said that he was not giving away a secret in saying that the population of the countrv was so very short of food that it had been put on a ration system.

BRITISH MINEFIELDS

LONDON, January 29 Received January 29, 9,5 p.m.

The commander of the sinking Norwegian vessel Decax Mytal telegraphed to Scandinavia that Britain was laying a mine-field along the coast of Jutland.

THE PRICE OP PAPER.

EFFECT ON SOUTH AFRICA.

CAPETOWN, January 28 Received January 29. 5.,10 p.m.

Johannesburg newspapers arc raising their prices to twopence, and other South African newspapers will shortly follow, owing to tlie increased cost of paper.

tjte interests or neutrals

COHTEBENCE TO EE HELD

COPENHAGEN', January 2S Received January 20, 5.5 p.m.

Sweden has invited Holland to a conference of neutral countries to discuss their interefsts during the war, and their altitude during the time peace negotiations are In progress.

A FRENCH OPINION, REGARDING GERMANY’S INTENTIONS.

PREPARING FOR VIGOROUS DEFENSIVE,

PARIS. January 28 Received January 29, 5.5 p.m.

Le Matin considers it improbable that Germany will carry out a spring offensive; but, rather, is preparing for a vigorous defensive on all fronts, thus deriving the full benefit of her intense efforts in the manufacture of shells without risking her soldiers.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRO-HUNGARY

UNIVERSAL DESIRE FOR PEACE

ALMOST ON ANY TERMS

STOCKHOLM, January 28, Received January 29, 5.5 p.m.

Dimitri Jantcheevctsky, a Russian publisher, who has been released after thirty months’ imprisonment in Austria, states that there is a universal desire for peace, almost on any terms, in Aus-tro-Hungary, particularly among the Slavs and Magyars, and that there is no feeling of bitterness against the Entente.

The Emperor, Empress and the Court are endeavouring to secure independence from Germany. The food supply is relatively good in the north, but actual hunger prevails in South Hungary and in the southern Slavonic States. Tliere have been desertions, and underfeeding has increased threefold in six months.

A TORPEDO SHOCK ABSORBER.

COPENHAGEN, January 28 Received January 29, 5.30 p.m.

Jansen, a Danish engineer, has invented a torpedo shock absorber, which consists of an armoured belt for placing around warships and merchantmen. It contains thin plates, combined with belleville springs. There is an air vacuum between the plates, which, with the elasticity of the springs, causes an upward explosion, instead of a forward explosion into the side of ships. Prominent financiers have formed a syndicate and will cause experiments to be made with Hie invention.

A SEVERE EXPLOSION.

PARIS. January 28 Received January 29, 5.30 p.m.

An explosion in a melinite factory situated in the Massey Palaiseau was heard throughout Paris. There were many casualties.

EZAGERATEE REPORTS

PARIS, January 29 Received January 29, S.lO p.m.

The fire at Massey Paleiseau spread rapidly and reached the depots containing explosives. Owing to the intensity of the explosion the first reports of casualties were exaggerated, and it is now believed that they are under 20.

TIGHTENING THE CORES.

BRITAIN'S NORTH SEA POLICY.

WASHINGTON, January 28. Received January 29, 5.25 p.m.

The American Embassy in London cables that Britain has enlarged the North Sea area which is dangerous to shipping. American officials say that this is designed to prevent egress from German ports, Heligoland, or Kiel, and banns shipping in most of the area in the vicinity of the Dogger Banks, except a narrow coastal strip. The announcement is regarded as being a most important one.

INTENSE COLE IN BRITAIN.

A SHORTAGE OP COAL.

LONDON, January 29, Received January 29, 11.25 p.m.

Intense cold is being experienced throughout Britain, and there are deep snowdrifts in Ireland. Many districts are suffering from lack of coal, owing to its taking three weeks to deliver orders, which is due to considerable shortage of labour in the mines and on the railways. Many people with empty cellars have borrowed small quantities from more fortunate neighbours.

WINNING THE WAR.

SOME CHRISTCHURCH RESOLUTIONS

(Per United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. January 29.

The City Council to-night appointed a deputation to wait on the Government and place before it the following resolutions; —"That, as there is a considerable disproportion in the equity of sacrifice, and as the burden of sacrifice is falling so heavily on the general body of the community who have sent their sons, and who also have to bear the economic burden of 'the high price of commodities, we ask that the Government logically step out, and, having conscripted men, they also appropriate the extra profits made during the war period"; "that in the opinion of this combined meeting, the taxation of Incomes (other than incomes derived from war profits) is at tire present time inadequate”; "that, as it is absolutely necessary to conserve and concentrate the energy of the people of New Zealand to win the war, we requisition the Government to organise the man and woman power’ either through the nationalisation of industries, or the organisation of private interests, to carry on the industries of the country, and thus free men who are physically fit to prosecute the war”; "that the Government be requisitioned to use every means in its power, consistent ■with equity and justice, to win and finish the war.”