GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17777, 1 October 1917, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

WAR EFFORT. WHAT IS EXPECTED OF AMERICA. ONLY WAY TO CIRCUMVENT SUBMARINES. BUILD MORE SHIPS THAN ARE SUNK. WHAT BRITAIN HAS DONE. (By Telegraph,—Press Assn. —Copyright,) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 29. Received Sept. 30, 5.5 p.m. It is stated, on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions, that the shipping losses since Ist February have been roughly equal to the total previous losses since the war started. Therefore it is necessary that America should turn out all the ships possible. Submarines will not cut off the Allies’ munitions, but the situation will not be satisfactory unless America maintains her ship-building capacity, nor will she be able to send armies, food, and fuel to Europe. The Germans may be expected to destroy a further 200 ships by next spring. The present food supply will be exhausted by then. Also America will be obliged to maintain her armies afield, requiring an enormous number of ships. There is only one standard of building for a country so great in resources as America, namely, to outbuild with the Allies the submarine destructions, even if this mearis building 6,000,000 tons annually, which is twice as much as Britain ever built annually, and five times as much as America ever built. The task is not impossible, provided America makes an effort comparable to the Allies’ achievements during the war period. The Germans are not sinking more than five million tons of steel annually, whereas America’s present output of steel exceeds forty million tons. Labour would not probably require more than half a million men, mostly unskilled. This task is nothing compared with the efforts of the principal Ajlies in other directions. For example Britain, in addition to her now army and great munitions output, ha* trebled the Navy’s size and strength, also adding one milllion men to its personnel. UNIVERSAL OSTRACISM. WEIGHING ON GERMANY’S MIND. HENCE THE PAN-AMERICAN SHRIEKS. (Australian A N.Z. Cable Assn. A Reuter.) LONDON, Sept. 29. Received Sept. 30, 5.5 p.m. Lord Milner, speaking at the American function in his honour, declared that the prospect of almost universal ostracism was beginning to weigh on the minds of the Germans as certainly as it was beginning to depress the spirits of their confederates. For that reason the new pan-German party had arisen to strengthen the waning influence of the junkers, and preach the doctrine that might is right in its most aggressive and repulsive form. GERMANY’S WAR AIMS DR MICHAELIS SHUFFLES

CANDID DECLARATION AVOIDED AMSTERDAM, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 pjn. Dr Michaelis, in a speech in the Reichstag, declared that Germany’s relations with neutrals were satisfactory. Germany would continue to participate in provisioning neutrals. He claimed that only the hope of dissension in Germany caused British statesmen to adhere to their impossible war aims. Germany awaited with calm confidence the military exertions of the United States.

Germany’s reply to the Papal Note obviously epbarrassed the majority of Germany’s enemies. He must at present decline to specify Germany’s war aims. He declared that President Wilson’s Note to the Pope was an attempt to sow dissension between the people and the Government in Germany. It had had the opposite effect, and bound all Germany more firmly together in the resolve to oppose foreign interference.

Dr Michaelis stated that the attitude of the German Government regarding war aims was clearly expressed in his reply to the Papal Note. He declared that the statement that Germany had already communicated with an enemy Government, and in advance had renounced the occupied territory, was untrue. Germany had free hands for the eventual peace negotiations. This also referred to Belgium. BLATANT TIRPITZ STILL PRATES OF VICTORY. VICTORY AMERICA JEERED AT BUDAPEST, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. The Pesti Hirlap interviewed Von Tirpitz, who stated that the British and French monopoly of the Mediterranean must cease. Mere neutralisation of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal was not enough. Only the defeat of Britain would save the Central Powers, who must hold out until the submarines secure victory. The idea of America playing an effective part was a phantom. WHAT ABOUT BELGIUM? GERMANY AND THE POPE ROME, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. The Vatican also denies having received a separate German Note regarding the restoration of Belgium on certain conditions. According to reliable Vatican information the Holy See asked Berlin to explain why the German Papal Note contained no allusion to Belgium and occupied French territory. Germany replied that the acceptance of the proposals of the Pope concerning the evacuation of occupied territories was implied in the decisibn of the Reichstag regarding “no annexations,” to which the German Government still adhered. A PEACE STATEMENT ALLEGED AUTHORISED ANNOUNCEMENT. BY THE CENTRAL POWERS AMSTERDAM, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. The Tijd’s correspondent at Vienna arrived in Amsterdam to-day. He declares that before leaving Austria he conversed with important politicians, who authorised him to make the following statement: — Austria is ready for an honourable peace. She recognises the favourable character of the enemies she is fighting, and if they desire it she is ready to make sacrifices the better to secure a settlement of European questions. Germany is absolutely ready to hand over Belgium to the Belgians, if Belgium unties herself from the Entente. Austria and Germany are ready to discuss the Tyrol and Alsace questions with a view to finding a solution satisfactory to all concerned.

ARGENTINE SABOTAGE. RAILWAYS HANDED TO GOVERNMENT. FIRM ACTION REQUIRED. BUENOS AYRES, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. The Western Railway Company has decided to close terminus stations and place the property in the Government’s hands owing to the lawlessness of employees. Other lines are likely to adopt the same policy. The public demand the proclamation of a state of siege, as the Government must not show further weakness. The strike is causing immense loss, inconveniences, and suffering. ARGENTINE AND GERMANY. RUPTURE IMPROBABLE. BUENOS AYRES, September 29. Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. The President is preparing a message to Congress. It is understood that he contends that it is impossible to sever relations, as, it is considered that Germany's explanation adjusted the Luxburg affair. A GERMAN PLOT. ANOTHER FIND IN SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, September 29. . Received September 30, 5.5 p.m. A further discovery was made of German bombs, rifles, and ammunition in Stockholm in a cellar belonging to Rondorf, a German engineer. They were intended for use in Finland and Russia. DESIGNS ON FINLAND. REACTION AGAINST' GERMAN INTRIGUE.

COPENHAGEN, September 29 Received September 30, 5.5 p.m.

The Aftontidningen, a Stockholm paper, states that the plan was to start a revolution in Finland synchronising with the German offensive at Riga, but the scheme failed as the leaders in Finland were unable to establish the necessary organisation. There was also some reaction against German intrigue, the Finns realising that separation from Russia would make Finland dependent on Germany, which would be no real gain.