GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17969, 9 March 1917, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

COLONIAL SKIP PINO ENDANGERED. RAISER OPERATING IN OUB WATER TRADE DUUiCTIY THREATENED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). MELBOURNE, March 8. Received March 8, 10.15 p.m. The mystery surrounding vague reports concerning the danger to shipping off Australian coasts is now officially verified. The Minister for the Navy announced in the House that definite information bad been received that a raider was operating between Colombo and Aden .on February 27th. The raider was a large cargo steamer of 4000 tons, carrying guns, torpedo tubes, and a Seaplane. The Minister, while uttering a caution against panic or the cheeking of the sailing of merchant ships, pointed ont that a raid on Australian routes was not impossible, and against it we must take precaution. Not since the Sydney sank the 33mden had trade routes in these waters been so directly threatened. The raider had brought the war a little closer to our part of the world.

CHINA AND GERMANY. PRESIDENT AGREES TO A RUPTURE DECLARATION OP WAS EXPECTED. LONDON, March 8. Received March 8, 11.55 p.m. The Morning Post's Pekin correspondent states that the Premier, after tendering bis resignation, retired to the Italian concession at Tientsin, refusing interviewers. The President is endeavouring to persuade him to return, offering to ratify a rapture with Germany and assent to the Cabinet’s further decisions. It is uncertain whether the Premier will accept, but it is regarded as certain that a rapture with Germany will occur almost immediately, and the declaration of wax will follow in a few days.

JAPANESE ULTIMATUM. NEW YORK, March 8. Received March 8, 8.5 p.m. The New York Tribune states that Japan has delivered an ultimatum that China must join the Entente. IMPERIAL WAR CABINET. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 8. Received March 8, 10.30 p.m. In the House of Commons, Sir C. Kinloch Cooke asked whether the Government Intended to hold a series of Imperial War Cabinets, and would they be continuous.

Mr Bonar Law said that the Imperial War Cabinet meets in the near future and until the delegates arrive he cannot answer the point. TRADES OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE POB NATIONAL SERVICE VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, March 8. Received March 10.30 p.m. The Press Bureau states that Mr Neville Chamberlain has issued a list of trades of primary importance, In which national service volunteers will be utilised. The list includes mining, metal, shipbuilding, agriculture, transport, engineering, aircraft, textile, chemical leather, food, and some ciscellaneous metal and other trades. THE DARDANELLES REPORT. ONLY A PEW SENTENCES OMITTED. LONDON, March S. Received March 8, 10.30 p.m. In the House of Lords Lord Curzon said he hoped that the Dardanelles report would be issued on Thursday forenoon. Only a few sentences were omitted with a view to not giving information to the enemy. The full report had not been shown to any politician or newspaper editor. With the Government’s authority the War Cabinet had submitted certain passages to France and Russia, who desired that a letter from one of their Ministers and a few other phrases be omitted.

DIMINUTION IN MEAT CONSUMPTION. LONDON, March 8. Received March 8. 8.30 p.m. In the House of Cpmmons Colonel A. B. Bathurst stated that available returns showed an increased disposition on the part of the public to accept the voluntary scale of rations. There was a substantial diminution in meat consumption, and consequently it was not Intended to propose a compulsory meat’ess day.

CONTROL or food PRICES

LONDON, March 8. Received March S, 10.30 p.m. It is reported that Lord Devonport has decided to control the prices of bacon, butter, cheese and lard. PLOTS IN AMERICA. DIRECTED BY BERNSTORF7. WASHINGTON, March 8. Received March 8, 10.30 p.m. It is officially admitted that seized papers show that Count Bernstorff directed the earliest of the munition bombings.