COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 305, 23 December 1914, Page 2

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

THE ZAMBESI CASE. [By Elkoteio Telegraph —Copyright] United Press (Association, Sydney, December 22. The Chief Justice, delivering his reserved judgment in the Zambesi case, said the Zambesi whs a'‘British ship, registered in Loudon on August 5. The German officials at Nauri received wireless information that Germany was at war with Britain, France, and Russia, Wireless communication between Nauri and Raihaul failed, and it became important to find other means, because of the large number of coded wireless messages received from Berlin for the German possessions in the Pacific, presumably conveying information required by the existence of the war. The result was that the agents at Nauri placed the ship at the disposal of the enemy Government for the purpose most hostile in character, tor not only had the agent of the enemy Government carried on a mission for the completion of the wireless appara. tus at Rabaul for the important purpose of maintenance of. communication between Berlin and the outlying possessions of' the German Empire, also inter-communication between those possessions and ships of the enemy i carrying wireless, but the same agent was carrying despatches of the utmost importance. Furthermore the agent actually sub-chartered the ship to the enemy Government. Therefore, he held that the Federal Government’s claim to condemnation of the ship and cargo must be sustained.

GENERAL.

Melbourne, December 22

The Stamp Duties Bill, which was read a second time, provides for doubling the present duty. . Sydney, December 22.

The strike at the Newbridge railway works has been settled, and the men have resumed work upon the reinstated workmen joining the union.